Transfer with CO2 or autosiphon?

[haeffnkr]

Hello,
I am rethinking everything now...
Maybe a simpler approach is better for me.

I have CO2 right next to my primaries and racking canes and all that is needed.
I also have an autosiphon that I used to use before I pushed beer out of primary carboys and kegs with CO2.

Is there any reason not to use CO2 to push beer out of primary fermenters vs use an autosiphon?

Seems like there would be less to clean with the CO2 racking cane vs the autosiphon.
Not sure if the whole "closed system" and fear of oxygenated beer is really relevant.

How do you all transfer beer and why?

thanks in advance
haeffnkr

 

[day_trippr]

I've totally switched to CO2 purge and push for all transfers.
Aside from a bit longer setup time, the actual transfers have gone markedly easier than when dealing with my nemesis the *&%$#@! autosiphon...

Cheers!

 

[Falcon3]

CO2- way easier for me- less risk of messing things up- also the margin of error for oxidation is much smaller- get a stainless cane, too, for crazy easy cleaning! I don't transfer IN to keg via the Out post though- it was way too slow- I just purge the keg with CO2, then put my siphon hose all the way in the bottom- much faster and easier.

 

[grathan]

Is cleaning the auto siphon the issue? I could share my 10 second method.. I want to use co2, but mainly so I can use a larger fermenter that won't require lifting.

 

[haeffnkr]

Is cleaning the auto siphon the issue? I could share my 10 second method.. I want to use co2, but mainly so I can use a larger fermenter that won't require lifting.

Cleaning the autosiphon was not a big deal for me... immediately was after use and spray it all down with starsan and hang it up to dry....spray again before use...seemed to work fine for me the few times I used it.

I do 12 gallon batches now in one primary, so yes, CO2 was/is needed so I did not have to lift the primary on the table.

Keep the comments coming

 

[day_trippr]

Is cleaning the auto siphon the issue?[...]

Not here. The primary problem is when air suddenly decided to sneak around the plunger gasket into the beer stream. Didn't happen all the time but when it did it pissed me off in a major way, and inspired changing techniques.

It's all about the quality of the product...

Cheers!

 

[AnonyBrew]

I'd be curious to see if anyone has taste results from an experiment involving each method.

 

[vNmd]

Curious, those of you who spoke of using co2 to transfer are you going from a bucket or going from a keg? I just read some posts on fermenting in a keg and using co2 to push the liquid from one keg to another. I still use the 5 gallon bucket fermenter and I transfer to a keg to carb. I give the sanitized keg a blast of co2 or Nitrogen to get co2 out before using an auto-siphon and gravity to transfer. If there is an easier way - I would like more details please.

 

[grathan]

Not here. The primary problem is when air suddenly decided to sneak around the plunger gasket into the beer stream. Didn't happen all the time but when it did it pissed me off in a major way, and inspired changing techniques.

It's all about the quality of the product...

Cheers!

I wonder if you couldn't just fill above the plunger with star San or beer..

 

[day_trippr]

I wonder if you couldn't just fill above the plunger with star San or beer..

Beer. But now you're pulling beer out from somewhere and pushing it into the autosiphon barrel hoping to plug the transient leak, with another opportunity to oxidize or even contaminate the beer.

With the setups I've put together it takes only a couple minutes longer to get the first beer moving with the CO2 rig versus gravity, whether it's carboy to carboy or carboy to keg. Consumable cost might be 50 cents per batch. Rather cheap insurance, imo.

So, I'm not advocating this technique as a necessity - heck, I went over 14 years before switching. But based on the merits I am committed to it now...

Cheers!