Oxidation at bottling

[uwmgdman]

My bottling session today prompted some questions, so I figure I'll put this thread here. Sorry if this is long, but it always seems like details are good for people to get a handle on things. So here's a description of what happened and a couple questions I'm hoping people with lots of batches under their belts can help with.

I've had some problems with where my siphon tubing connects to my auto-siphon (I know I could just do without the auto-siphon, but let's just go with it and I want it to work since it's so easy to use when properly working.) Where the tubing connects it clearly is not holding a proper seal and the beer will gurgle and bubble and the siphon will be lost. I had this problem when transferring my batch from primary to secondary, but got through with pinching the tubing with my fingers.

So before bottling, I bought a clamp, but still had the same problem today when bottling, but again managed to get through siphoning from secondary to primary (with priming sugar already inside) by again pinching the tubing with my fingers and then bottled fine with just having the siphon tubing in the beer with bottle filling attachment on the end.

Now the questions.

1)Oxidation at bottling: While transferring from secondary to primary (that's what I use for mixing priming sugar and beer) there was lots of problems with siphon being lost, lots of gurgling and bubbles, etc. (at least until I gave up on the clamp and used my finger to pinch the tubing). Is the only problem I need worry about with the beer is how long it will store? So if I drink it relatively quickly, no worries?

2) Siphon tubing and auto-siphon problems:Anyone that uses an auto-siphon. Have you had problems with keeping a siphon going, specifically where the tubing goes over the auto-siphon rod? I had zero problems for my first batch (transferring from primary to secondary, and secondary to primary during bottling/filling bottles). Now my second batch, problems described above, that even clamping did not fix.

Is is possible I've cleaned my siphon tubing in too hot of water, maybe warping it? If case no problem, just by more tubing and don't use as hot of water. But I was curious if anyone else has had this problem and that be the problem before I buy any replacement tubing.

Sorry for the length. I hope the beer turns out ok and did not become infected at bottling and will store for at least a little while, as it was GREAT! I think the beer at bottling today tasted better than my first batch does now (already in bottle the bottle for 6 weeks).

Thanks everyone,

Justin

 

[budbo]

I once had a Carboy tip over on the table pouring a gallon or so of Wort into the bottling bucket (talk about lucky, the beer gods smiled on that batch) anyway there was much foam.. I let it settle then bottled as planned... no issues at all with the beer.

 

[magno]

I have had similar problems with my auto-siphon, but not since buying a new racking cane. I think mine was leaking around the connection with the cane on outbound side of the system. I think it also helps to make sure that the rubber that makes the seal to start the siphon, on the inside of the auto siphon, is moist befor attempting to siphon. Check that you are using the correct diameter hose with your autosiphon, they come in two sizes.

Also I think that if the beer makes it to bottling without infections, you should be pretty safe on that front. The alcohol in the beer doesnt provide a very good environment for bacteria.

Hope this helps

- magno

 

[Kaiser]

I have had similar problem, but not as serious as you describes. When the hose didn't make a good seal on the racking cane or bottling wand, I needed to use a hose clamp. But then I noticed that there are slight differences in I.D. for these hoses and that one of my hoses actually fits tightly w/o a hose clamp. Maybe you should take your autosiphon to your LHBS and see if the current lot of 3/8 I.D. hoses fits tightly.

With regards to the oxygen. I'm not sure how bad it will be and luckily the yeast may be able to help you out by taking up some of the O2 before it oxidizes components of your beer. Let us know how it develops and when it goes stale (if it goes stale ).

Kai

 

[HomerT]

Had the same issue, tilli started using a tightly wound rubber band around the hose on the racking part of the siophon. Never an issue since...one pump and she pulls hard till the end.

-Todd

 

[cweston]

I think the auto-siphon racking cane is designed to work with either 3/8 or 5/16 ID tubing, but from what a number of people have posted here, the 5/16 (that's what I have, and have had no problems) fits much more snuggly over the racking cane.

See if your LHBS or hardware has 5/16 ID tubing and try that.