Registration for nationals is now up!

[SpanishCastleAle]

I read somewhere around here that there were occasions where folks had points deducted (or at least thought they did) because they had bottled from a keg and didn't leave hardly any headspace. I guess there was no 'pffffft' when they opened the bottle or something.

Is there any truth to this? Should I mention in the comments that it was keg-carbed and then bottled?

 

[Coastarine]

I remember seeing that too. When I have filled bottles from the keg, I usually get just enough foam to push out any air (the foam bubbles are full to CO2) but still leave proper headspace once it settles down.

 

[SpanishCastleAle]

I must admit I still haven't perfected bottling from kegs. I can get a carbed beer but I haven't gotten it perfect yet. My best bottles-from-keg have very little headspace though.

 

[korndog]

Ok, I got six entries in. Man, I hate bottling! Good luck everybody.

 

[Coastarine]

This was one of my better attempts at bottling from a keg, I must be getting better.

I examined one of my bottles of cream ale today and I must say I'm surprised to see a layer of something, be it yeast, protien, whatever, at the bottom of the bottle. I know I didn't filter, but still, that beer was pouring flawlessly clear. I didn't think there was anything in it to settle.

 

[ohiobrewtus]

I read somewhere around here that there were occasions where folks had points deducted (or at least thought they did) because they had bottled from a keg and didn't leave hardly any headspace. I guess there was no 'pffffft' when they opened the bottle or something.

Is there any truth to this? Should I mention in the comments that it was keg-carbed and then bottled?

I have heard people say that they got dinged for improper fill level. I also bottle from keg, but I haven't had a fill level issue at all since I got my Blichmann Beer Gun. AFAIK, that thing is worth every penny that I spent on it and more.

 

[Beerrific]

I have heard people say that they got dinged for improper fill level. I also bottle from keg, but I haven't had a fill level issue at all since I got my Blichmann Beer Gun. AFAIK, that thing is worth every penny that I spent on it and more.

Fill level should be noted in the "Bottle Inspection" section but should not affect scoring. If I got a score sheet back and it was clear that points were deducted because of improper fill, I would bring it to the attention of the Judge Director.

 

[IrregularPulse]

This was one of my better attempts at bottling from a keg, I must be getting better.

I examined one of my bottles of cream ale today and I must say I'm surprised to see a layer of something, be it yeast, protien, whatever, at the bottom of the bottle. I know I didn't filter, but still, that beer was pouring flawlessly clear. I didn't think there was anything in it to settle.

"Beer will appear clear to the naked eye with a concentration of 10,000 parts per milimeter yeast cells in solution" From Mr. Papazian himself.

 

[carnevoodoo]

I have heard people say that they got dinged for improper fill level. I also bottle from keg, but I haven't had a fill level issue at all since I got my Blichmann Beer Gun. AFAIK, that thing is worth every penny that I spent on it and more.

+1. The design allows for a perfect bottle fill. I really dig mine.

 

[Coastarine]

+1. The design allows for a perfect bottle fill. I really dig mine.

I've never used one, does it fill the bottle to the top like a bottling wand and leave headspace when removed? If so then the headspace has oxygen in it. My method of a tiny bit of foam to purge the air doesn't. Just sayin. imperfect bottle filling.

 

[korndog]

I've never used one, does it fill the bottle to the top like a bottling wand and leave headspace when removed? If so then the headspace has oxygen in it. My method of a tiny bit of foam to purge the air doesn't. Just sayin. imperfect bottle filling.

The beergun has a CO2 purging function. You purge the bottle with the pull of a trigger, then fill. When you pull the beergun out, it leaves the right amount of headspace. You then give it a little shot of CO2 at the surface or just below, like the big boys. Perfect bottling.

 

[carnevoodoo]

The beergun has a CO2 purging function. You purge the bottle with the pull of a trigger, then fill. When you putt the beergun out, it leaves the right amount of headspace. You then give it a little shot of CO2 at the surface or just below, like the big boys. Perfect bottling.

You don't even have to give the second shot of cco2. Because it is heavier than the regular air and you've already purged th bottle, co2 will still be sitting on the top of the beer, and the headspace left is pretty much the same as commercial beer. Ideally we'd all have bottling lines, but the Beer Gun is a great tool.

 

[Coastarine]

Well I'll be...that thing IS fancy.

 

[carnevoodoo]

Well I'll be...that thing IS fancy.

I have to say, Blichmann makes some really cool stuff. Nice guy to boot.

 

[joety]

You don't even have to give the second shot of cco2. Because it is heavier than the regular air and you've already purged th bottle, co2 will still be sitting on the top of the beer, and the headspace left is pretty much the same as commercial beer. Ideally we'd all have bottling lines, but the Beer Gun is a great tool.

Maybe I'm missing something, but if you are filling to the top with the gun nozzle in, then pulling the nozzle out and thereby creating the headspace, you would have chased out any remaining CO2 and the headspace would be regular air.

Edit: I bought a beergun six months ago and have yet to assemble it, so I'm not speaking from experience. Just seems logical to me.

 

[carnevoodoo]

Maybe I'm missing something, but if you are filling to the top with the gun nozzle in, then pulling the nozzle out and thereby creating the headspace, you would have chased out any remaining CO2 and the headspace would be regular air.

Oh, well there's logic for you. I suppose you're right about that. Typically there's enough foam there to keep me satisfied though. Your beer is also releasing gas until you cap, so I'm not too concerned. I've never had an oxygenation issue.

 

[korndog]

Oh, well there's logic for you. I suppose you're right about that. Typically there's enough foam there to keep me satisfied though. Your beer is also releasing gas until you cap, so I'm not too concerned. I've never had an oxygenation issue.

Probably no concern as you say, but that little spritz on top is a simple move and part of my bottling routine. Give it a try.

 

[SpanishCastleAle]

When you remove the wand/cane the level in the bottle goes down...something has to replace that volume of liquid at the top of the bottle and unless you do something about it it's gonna be air. But most of that is prob quickly purged out.

Anybody know what a standard 'competition pour' is? Some brews seem more finicky about how you pour them and I was curious if there is a 'standard competition pour' that all the judges are supposed to perform. I'd like to know so I can try to simulate that pour at home and see what kind of presentation it yields.

 

[carnevoodoo]

Probably no concern as you say, but that little spritz on top is a simple move and part of my bottling routine. Give it a try.

I absolutely will. Sometimes my brain doesn't like working through all the steps, and that one makes total sense.

 

[korndog]

When you remove the wand/cane the level in the bottle goes down...something has to replace that volume of liquid at the top of the bottle and unless you do something about it it's gonna be air. But most of that is prob quickly purged out.

Anybody know what a standard 'competition pour' is? Some brews seem more finicky about how you pour them and I was curious if there is a 'standard competition pour' that all the judges are supposed to perform. I'd like to know so I can try to simulate that pour at home and see what kind of presentation it yields.

Generally about 1 1/2 inches in a plastic cup, enough to produce a head. The problem with visual is that aroma is the first field filled out on the scoresheet, with appearance second. It's only worth 3 points though.

 

[ohiobrewtus]

Blichmann Beer Gun = pure awesomeness.

 

[SpanishCastleAle]

I think this is a recent addition/update to the NHC site.

The NHC First Round Results will be posted between May 1st and May 8th.

Let the humbling begin Friday.

 

[korndog]

Score: Got a first with a co-brewed Marzen in first round.

Category 3 European Amber Lager
Sponsored by How to Brew by John Palmer
1 3b Matthew Bourbeau, Larry Konis of Woodland Hills, CA, Maltose Falcons Home Brewing Society
2 3a Harold Gulbransen of San Diego, CA, QUAFF
3 3b Craig Corley of Santa Monica, CA, Pacific Gravity Home Brewers Club

 

[carnevoodoo]

Score: Got a first with a co-brewed Marzen in first round.

Category 3 European Amber Lager
Sponsored by How to Brew by John Palmer
1 3b Matthew Bourbeau, Larry Konis of Woodland Hills, CA, Maltose Falcons Home Brewing Society
2 3a Harold Gulbransen of San Diego, CA, QUAFF
3 3b Craig Corley of Santa Monica, CA, Pacific Gravity Home Brewers Club

Yay! You beat QUAFF!