I have just bottled my first NEIPA, (6th Feb 2021). I have read a lot about people trying to purge headspace with CO2 and seen all the 'discussion' that occurs as a result. I don't have a keg setup or any smaller means of getting CO2 into my bottle. So I was aiming to try bottling with a very small headspace remaining, (as many people have suggested), in the hope that that would be enough to reduce the Oxygen levels to a point where it has little effect on the beer. Then I figured that since NEIPA is so susceptible to oxidisation, (hadn't realised this when I planned to do my first NEIPA), I might as well try some Oxygen Scavenging caps.
So to the experiment part. All but three of my bottles have been filled pretty much to the top and capped using the Oxygen Scavenging caps, but in three clear bottles I have filled as follows.
Bottle 1 - Filled using filling stick and left the usual headspace - capped using a standard cap
Bottle 2 - Filled using filling stick and left the usual headspace - capped using a Oxygen Scavenging cap
Bottle 3 - Filled using filling stick and then topped up to a few mm from the top - capped using a Oxygen Scavenging cap
They will be stored in my temperature controlled fridge at room temperature for a week then chilled to fridge temperature. So they will be stored in darkness and chilled. I'll post pictures every few weeks to see if there are any changes.
----- Please can we try not get into any debates about the usefulness or not of purging CO2 into the headspace, thanks ------
Just in case anyone is interested.
I have tried to reduce oxygen to a minimum through out the whole process. I had a dry hop addition after 4 days and didn't want to open the top if possible. So to reduce the oxygen to a minimum I rigged up a way of adding the hops without removing the lid. I use a Big Bubbler fermenter with a wide opening at the top. Using a t-piece, some string, a tube clamp, an ear plug and a hop bag I was able to lower the hops in without removing the lid and keep out pretty much any air, I think. I could even lift the bag up and down to allow it to drain then soak again and then once done with the dry hop I could lift them out so that they hung above the wort. If anyone's interested I can go into more detail in a separate post.
So to the experiment part. All but three of my bottles have been filled pretty much to the top and capped using the Oxygen Scavenging caps, but in three clear bottles I have filled as follows.
Bottle 1 - Filled using filling stick and left the usual headspace - capped using a standard cap
Bottle 2 - Filled using filling stick and left the usual headspace - capped using a Oxygen Scavenging cap
Bottle 3 - Filled using filling stick and then topped up to a few mm from the top - capped using a Oxygen Scavenging cap
They will be stored in my temperature controlled fridge at room temperature for a week then chilled to fridge temperature. So they will be stored in darkness and chilled. I'll post pictures every few weeks to see if there are any changes.
----- Please can we try not get into any debates about the usefulness or not of purging CO2 into the headspace, thanks ------
Just in case anyone is interested.
I have tried to reduce oxygen to a minimum through out the whole process. I had a dry hop addition after 4 days and didn't want to open the top if possible. So to reduce the oxygen to a minimum I rigged up a way of adding the hops without removing the lid. I use a Big Bubbler fermenter with a wide opening at the top. Using a t-piece, some string, a tube clamp, an ear plug and a hop bag I was able to lower the hops in without removing the lid and keep out pretty much any air, I think. I could even lift the bag up and down to allow it to drain then soak again and then once done with the dry hop I could lift them out so that they hung above the wort. If anyone's interested I can go into more detail in a separate post.