Syphoning into another fermenting bucket to add carbonation sugar

[lms94]

Hey,

So I've just bought myself another fermenting bucket to try making some wine eventually!

I've seen some people talking about syphoning their beer into another bucket to add the priming sugar so there's an even distribution of priming sugar.

My question is, will I be okay syphoning my beer into another bucket, add the sugar, give it a stir and then syphon it back into the other bucket to then bottle it? (This is because my new bucket doesn't have a tap!)

 

[20grit]

Multiple movements ups the risk for oxidation. But, you will probably be fine. Once this batch is done, make the one without the spigot your fermenter. Then siphon into the one with the spigot for bottling.

I bottled my first batch using a ladle and a funnel. The risk for oxidation was very high. Luckily, I was saved from having the associated flavors... by chloramines.

 

[lms94]

Multiple movements ups the risk for oxidation. But, you will probably be fine. Once this batch is done, make the one without the spigot your fermenter. Then siphon into the one with the spigot for bottling.

I bottled my first batch using a ladle and a funnel. The risk for oxidation was very high. Luckily, I was saved from having the associated flavors... by chloramines.

So either syphon into the other bucket, prime, syphon back, or risk having more sediment in my bottles..

I will do what you suggest next time but I had bought this second bucket after starting this batch so in a crap position at the minute..

 

[mongoose33]

They rack into another bucket called the "bottling bucket" which has a spigot on it; you attach a bottling wand via some tubing and you fill the bottles from there.

Probably the best way to mix bottling sugar into the beer is to boil a little water, mix the sugar into it (boiling to kill any nasties that might infect the beer), then into the bottling bucket. Rack the beer into the bottling bucket and it'll mix up all that sugar into the beer.

That way you rack once, reduce oxidation potential, and it's easier.

 

[lms94]

They rack into another bucket called the "bottling bucket" which has a spigot on it; you attach a bottling wand via some tubing and you fill the bottles from there.

Probably the best way to mix bottling sugar into the beer is to boil a little water, mix the sugar into it (boiling to kill any nasties that might infect the beer), then into the bottling bucket. Rack the beer into the bottling bucket and it'll mix up all that sugar into the beer.

That way you rack once, reduce oxidation potential, and it's easier.

Yeah, that's what I plan on doing with my next batch anyway, would I just be better of botting straight from the bucket the beer is in now and add the priming sugar per bottle?

 

[mongoose33]

Yeah, that's what I plan on doing with my next batch anyway, would I just be better of botting straight from the bucket the beer is in now and add the priming sugar per bottle?

There is a product called "fizz drops" or "carb drops" or something similar; little lumps of sugar you just drop in the bottles.

If you add sugar directly to bottles you want to have the same amount in each bottle, else carbonation will differ. And be very careful you don't overcharge the sugar or you may get bottle bombs.

I personally like the idea of mixing it all together so the sugar is evenly distributed throughout the beer (and ultimately in the bottles). I've done the carb drops, they work. No reason theoretically why adding sugar directly wouldn't work, though you want to ensure you're sanitizing everything.

 

[lms94]

There is a product called "fizz drops" or "carb drops" or something similar; little lumps of sugar you just drop in the bottles.

If you add sugar directly to bottles you want to have the same amount in each bottle, else carbonation will differ. And be very careful you don't overcharge the sugar or you may get bottle bombs.

I personally like the idea of mixing it all together so the sugar is evenly distributed throughout the beer (and ultimately in the bottles). I've done the carb drops, they work. No reason theoretically why adding sugar directly wouldn't work, though you want to ensure you're sanitizing everything.

So are we saying in this occasion, add the sugar to the bottles but going forward, add the sugar to the bucket once syphoned?

 

[kh54s10]

Get another bucket for fermentation, without a spigot. Then use the one with the spigot for your "bottling bucket". Siphon into this bucket with the tubing curled around the side of the bottom of the bucket. It will create a vortex, add your priming sugar solution as soon as the siphon is started and it will mix well. A little VERY gentle stirring will make sure it mixes. I usually don't stir.

This sticky will give you all the information you need: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=94812

 

[mongoose33]

So are we saying in this occasion, add the sugar to the bottles but going forward, add the sugar to the bucket once syphoned?

I think that's what I said....I didn't even like using the carb drops because, well, I don't know what's on them when I drop them in. Sugar presumably is sterile, but I am a suspenders and belt man, so I don't like to take any chances I don't have to take.

The original issue, as I understand it, was racking into the new bucket (the one w/o the spigot), cleaning your fermentation bucket which does have a spigot, then racking the beer back into that and bottling from that bucket.

If you can be fast, and avoid splashing, you'll probably be OK to do that. Cover the new fermentation bucket once you have the beer in there, clean the original bucket (including the spigot), reassemble it, sanitize it (and the spigot--let a little run out of it), then add the sugar water and rack back into that bucket.

Given the choice of trying to add exact amounts of sugar into each bottle or moving the beer back and forth--since you're new, I'd suggest you go w/ the moving the beer back and forth.

And FYI: you can add spigots to buckets that don't have them. It's just drilling a hole the same height above the bottom as your existing bucket. You might even consider doing that as the best of all worlds.