No Bottling Bucket - Coleman? Hand Pump?

[intothegreatwideopen]

Hey folks! Brewing in a dry country in the Middle East. Very little access to supplies, normally stock up on trips. But, the beer I have been making is a hit, and I am making more and more! I'm getting tired of siphoning by hand and pinching the tube between filling 1L bottles. It gets messy and is just annoying.

I will get proper bottling gear in a few months on my next trip, just gotta do it step by step. No racking cane yet either. I have been searching to see if a simple water cooler could work, but have not seen anything on it. There must be a reason.....

I can get a 5G cooler like the one on this link:
http://www.indianyellowpages.com/mansooraljudaie/products.htm?slno=360185
Maybe attache a hose to it? The spout comes apart, and I think I could soak/clean/sanitize the hell out of it. Would this be terrible for a few batches? I can get it cheap, like 20 bucks. Could probably mod it after I get the right gear. Is there something I am missing? Will the beer get too much oxygen in it or something? I cannot see why this will not be perfect, feels like I am missing something.

I could also just use a hand pump like this:
http://tjyemen.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/picture-0731.jpg
Just pump the beer into the bottles? I use them for my water already, and a new one is about 5 bucks. I could pump boiling water into it? Pump sanitizer through it? It does get a bit "vigorous" though, might add air.

Thoughts? No good hardware stores? Will these work for a month or two?

 

[Homercidal]

I would definitely go with the cooler over the pump. I fear the pump will introduce too much oxygen into the beer.

Best bet would be a simple bucket and a cheap spigot, but the cooler is similar in that way. I think you will be golden once you have a bottle wand.

For a racking cane a rigid piece of plastic and some clear hose is suitable.

 

[intothegreatwideopen]

Thank-you so much! Cooler it is. I will just have to be clean (as usual).

I cannot wait to get the proper gear.

I am guessing nobody uses a Coleman is because it's much more expensive than a bucket and has zero advantages.

Once again, thanks!

 

[jtratcliff]

See if you can swap out the spigot. Those push button jobbies are a pain in the keister.

 

[Cyclman]

Can you get a spring loaded clamp to use on the siphon tube?

 

[intothegreatwideopen]

spring loaded clamp could work too! i could just siphon and strain out of the primary into the bottles. but, i would probably need a person or two helping. that always seems to be a cluster***k. but it might be the cheapest way, and pretty easy.

finding a spigot here is a long shot. i will have to look this weekend at the hardware store. i know they have clamps. definitely will get one on my next trip out.

the bucket would be nice. i could bottle solo and just get someone to seal the bottles. i use the cheap ikea bottles. they work great! i know people on here have asked about them. you just need to keep them out of the light. but, they can take the pressure and seal well.

it's sure fun trying this out here, so many improvisations. on a side note, i also play in a band out in the middle east, and that is interesting to say the least. the gear and venues and restrictions, yikes! it's all an adventure i guess!

any thoughts on this post of mine? trying to frankenstein something with the extra ingredients i have....

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f12/middle-east-beer-na-near-beer-500232/

 

[steelsoldier77]

Just curious, where do you live? I live in Israel and we have a few homebrew supply shops here, but I know a lot of the muslim countries have laws against alcohol.

 

[intothegreatwideopen]

a certain place that was invaded in 1991 and the oil wells were set on fire.

as far as i know, brewing and consuming in your own place is legal. it is an adventure!

http://248am.com/?s=alcohol

this is interesting, i can handle a fine..... might lose my job if word got out.... i'm not too worried.

 

[HB_in_Subic]

Good find on the Ikea bottles. Eventually you will need to get some replacement gaskets for the caps.

If you run out of Ikea bottles, Plastic soda bottles work great as they handle the pressure and seal tight. Also, the yeast collects in the recesses in the bottom of the bottle.

When you get the tubing, get some zip ties to help seal the connections and prevent bubbles from getting into the beer.

 

[Sir_niveda]

About using an igloo type rectangle cooler as a bottling bucket. I had a ~10 gallon one that I converted into a MLT/HLT and I used the spigot that came with it on a DIY bottling bucket (5 gallon food safe bucket with a hole drilled in it). The standard tubing that I use with my auto siphon fit perfectly into the igloo's spigot and sealed perfectly with no leaks. However, it was not a push button spigot so the bottling wand is still necessary. If you can, bring some of your tubing and see if it fits well into the cooler's spigot.

 

[madscientist451]

The first thing that comes to mind is a stainless steel coffee urn with the spigot at the bottom. If you are in the military, I'm sure some of these are around. There must be some other drink dispenser type containers you could liberate from the supply area, especially if you have some beer to trade.
The cooler would work as well. I use a 2 gallon plastic water dispenser from walmart. I siphon from the carboy to the dispenser, add the priming sugar and give it a shake. Works great and cost about $7.

 

[intothegreatwideopen]

not in the military.

the water dispenser is brilliant. you can get them for about 2 bucks here. i could drain the water to a big jug and use for drinking. the dispenser is very sanitary, i could rinse with starsan. get a new one each bottling day. attach some tubing.

this could work.