Possible to prime in carboy?

[fezzman]

I got excited and made a small boo-boo this weekend. My first batch has been sitting in my carboy for a week. I got the brilliant idea of loading up my primary with a new batch, so it will be ready for the carboy when I empty it.

Shortly after that I realized my first mistake...my primary and bottling bucket are the same. Now, how am I supposed to bottle from my carboy. I then figured that I would just use my siphon with the bottle filler on it, bottle right from the carboy.

The only problem is, how do I prime first and get it mixed up well? Should I just not attempt anything until I can make it to the lhbs and pick up another bucket?

Thanks

 

[EdWort]

I'd get a dedicated bottling 5 gallon bottling bucket and be done with it.

Relax, you have plenty of time. You beer in the carboy will only get better while you wait for the bottling bucket. You don't need a lid, just a bucket with a spigot will work fine. Connect a bottling wand to the spigot with a 2" piece of hose and your are ready to go.

 

[NoBull6]

So, is the answer that he shouldn't try to add priming sugar to his carboy?

I've got a similar problem. I had the bright idea that my bottling bucket would be a perfect secondary since it had a spigot - no need to siphon! D'oh! I forgot about priming. In my case, I have a spare glass carboy at the moment - would it be best to rack from the secondary to the carboy, clean the secondary/bottling bucket, then siphon back to the bottling bucket with sugar?

 

[tockeyhockey]

So, is the answer that he shouldn't try to add priming sugar to his carboy?

I've got a similar problem. I had the bright idea that my bottling bucket would be a perfect secondary since it had a spigot - no need to siphon! D'oh! I forgot about priming. In my case, I have a spare glass carboy at the moment - would it be best to rack from the secondary to the carboy, clean the secondary/bottling bucket, then siphon back to the bottling bucket with sugar?

i've had poor results bottling directly from the spigot on my priming bucket. the beer tends to foam the spigot leaks a bit. plus, you can't get that last inch or two of beer that sits below the spigot inside the bucket.

i've moved to bottling from the priming bucket with a racking cane, some tube, and the bottle filler attachment. i just make sure to take the little black knob off of the racking cane before i do so (you don't need it when you're siphoning clear beer that's not sitting on a yeast cake). i think it takes a little bit longer to do it this way, but you get cleaner results, less oxydization, and more uniform bottling results.

another option you might choose if you don't want to put the sugar into the carboy is try the cooper's bottling sugar capsules. just add one to each bottle. they're not ideal, but they do an ok job.

 

[sirsloop]

yeah... you dont want to ferment your beer in your bottling bucket. Its kinda defeats the point of a spigot...if you cant get all the beer out without having a slurry sunday.

 

[Fatabbot]

i've had poor results bottling directly from the spigot on my priming bucket. the beer tends to foam the spigot leaks a bit. plus, you can't get that last inch or two of beer that sits below the spigot inside the bucket.

Foaming can be eliminated by simply squeezing the tubing in order to reduce the liquid flow when you're first filling each bottle.

You can easily get the last couple of inches out. Just find something to wedge under the bucket to lean it over slightly.

As for as the leaking goes, maybe yours is just defective. Mine has no problems with that.

 

[fezzman]

Thanks for the replies. I'm going to the lhbs on Sat. to get a proper primary bucket.

Until then I suppose I'll RDWHASBB (Relax, Don't Worry, Have A Store Bought Brew )

 

[david_42]

About the only alternative would be to use carb drops or make your priming solution and put a small amount into each bottle. Adding the sugar to the bottles results in massive foaming. A cup of priming solution means one teaspoon per bottle.

 

[gauthierk]

First of all, the two buckets that comes with the kit are awsome for everything but fermenting. <my opinion> hehehe The fermentation bucket is awsome for holding sanitation fluid for brewing, bottling and everything else. The bottling bucket, well is a good bottling bucket. I went ahead and got two carboys, a 6.5 and a 5. 6.5 for fermentation and the 5 for conditioning. As for your current brew, I would just hold out until you got your additional carboy or fermenter. The beer will only get better with an additional week in the carboy. Relax and have a Maudite...

 

[fezzman]

First of all, the two buckets that comes with the kit are awsome for everything but fermenting. <my opinion> hehehe The fermentation bucket is awsome for holding sanitation fluid for brewing, bottling and everything else. The bottling bucket, well is a good bottling bucket. I went ahead and got two carboys, a 6.5 and a 5. 6.5 for fermentation and the 5 for conditioning. As for your current brew, I would just hold out until you got your additional carboy or fermenter. The beer will only get better with an additional week in the carboy. Relax and have a Maudite...

Maudite? I don't believe my taste buds have ever had the pleasure. I'm all out of Sam Smiths NBA so it looks like I'll be relaxing with Steel Reserve tonight instead. I like all flavors of the beer rainbow.