It's time to bottle, but of course, it's complicated

[N4teTheGreat]

Definitely learned a lot by screwing up this round! Given I came out with a drinkable (if a bit low ABV) beer, I'm considering that a win. My brother will be visiting in October so I'm planning to brew with him then. If I'm lucky these will have aged reasonably well so we'll have something to drink while brewing. Appreciate all the advice so far!

-- Nathan

 

[Jiffster]

Here is my two cents on bottling....from emptying a full bottle to refilling it. Sorry the volume is kind of low.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5oIhI2XLZY&list=UUdObnyKPx3hfPdYd9-PcuUg

This was excellent C-Rider. Your passion for your craft shows and I appreciate it. Thanks for sharing!

Getting ready to bottle my first batch This Sunday!

 

[N4teTheGreat]

Well, finally got around to trying the beer after 4 weeks in the bottles at room temp (roughly 70 - 75 in my condo). I bottled directly from the bucket after letting the trub clear from the spigot. Beer coming through the wand was clear after an initial cup or so of trub.

I invited my buddy who helped with the brewing and bottling over, we bought a commercial stout as a reference point and cracked open a bottle. The beer was carbonated nicely and, while hard to tell with a stout, perfectly clear. The taste was very close to the commercial beer, though the commercial beer was slightly sweeter (malty-er?). I will probably have a few more bombers this month and will save some to try at 6 months and a year.

-- Nathan

 

[TxBigHops]

Congratulations! You made beer! And it sounds like it's tasty. Each brew is a learning experience, so you have nowhere to go but up.

 

[fuelish]

I would've sanitized the carboy, boiled/cooled a priming solution, poured that in said carboy, siphon from the bucket to carboy and bottle from that. I never use a bucket with a spigot, I bottle from a bucket (having racked into it from carboy) using a cane/hose/wand, like I've done since the '90's ... no big deal.....glad it worked out for you, and yeah, get a few more batches under your belt and you'll figure out a method that works best for YOU, as, everyone has their own "way" with stuff, and all

 

[slym2none]

Some people use it for priming. I have heard it might take longer to work, and it takes more due to it not being 100% fermentable, but that would be my guess.

 

[slym2none]

*redacted*

Sorry.

 

[TxBigHops]

...and yeah, get a few more batches under your belt and you'll figure out a method that works best for YOU, as, everyone has their own "way" with stuff, and all

THIS! No truer words. Everyone will over time develop their own methods and procedures. I've made a couple batches with a buddy who bottles your way. (racking cane) I prefer a bottling bucket with spigot and wand and bottle over my open dishwasher door. My way drives him crazy, but we each do what works best for us.

 

[N4teTheGreat]

THIS! No truer words. Everyone will over time develop their own methods and procedures. I've made a couple batches with a buddy who bottles your way. (racking cane) I prefer a bottling bucket with spigot and wand and bottle over my open dishwasher door. My way drives him crazy, but we each do what works best for us.

Probably shoulda been clearer I used the wand attached to my bottling bucket (which I'd mistakenly fermented in). I have a bar height table and a counter height stool which let me sit at the perfect height and bottle away. I had a towel down to catch any spills but after the second bottle I had a decent feel for it and spilled very little.

I definitely agree, the more brews I do, the more refined my process will get! Now to see how this stout ages, yum!

-- Nathan