Up to date information on beer guns vs. counter pressure fillers

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griffr311

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Hey everyone,

I've been scouring the web for up-to-date information, but have been unable to find a good, clean answer that breaks down the decisions surrounding beer guns and counter pressure fillers. I've considered purchasing a new filling solution (I use Biermuncher's design, but it isn't the most efficient of a process for me when bottling solo, which is most of the time) for a while now, but with some requests for large amounts of bottles for parties, I'm thinking I'll finally pull the trigger.

So the big question for 2024 is: Should I grab a BeerGun, Last Straw, or a counter pressure filler? I'm not looking for the site sales pitch, just the raw thoughts on ergonomics, efficiency, and final product. I want to make sure that I'm making the right decision, especially for the long-term storage aspect.

Other considerations:
I use Intertap forward-sealing taps on my keezer.
I want the beer to be fully carbed and non-oxidized at least 3 months after capping (ideally).
I have had awful service in the past from NB (and would prefer not to be forced to go through a card dispute with them again).
 
Hey everyone,

I've been scouring the web for up-to-date information, but have been unable to find a good, clean answer that breaks down the decisions surrounding beer guns and counter pressure fillers. I've considered purchasing a new filling solution (I use Biermuncher's design, but it isn't the most efficient of a process for me when bottling solo, which is most of the time) for a while now, but with some requests for large amounts of bottles for parties, I'm thinking I'll finally pull the trigger.

So the big question for 2024 is: Should I grab a BeerGun, Last Straw, or a counter pressure filler? I'm not looking for the site sales pitch, just the raw thoughts on ergonomics, efficiency, and final product. I want to make sure that I'm making the right decision, especially for the long-term storage aspect.

Other considerations:
I use Intertap forward-sealing taps on my keezer.
I want the beer to be fully carbed and non-oxidized at least 3 months after capping (ideally).
I have had awful service in the past from NB (and would prefer not to be forced to go through a card dispute with them again).
The KegLand mini sized to 5 g PET bottles is another option in lieu of bringing bottles to the party. Hmmm. You can do oxygen free transfers on those puppies without much trouble. Curious if any bottle folks switched to the oxebar and what was the experience like?
 
Being disabled, ease of use was paramount for me so I got a Blichmann beer gun and I love it...maintenance and storage are no big deal and it's very easy to use while sitting cross-legged on the floor...but: Just after I bought it I saw the Tapcooler show up and most users who have one love it. Since you already have Intertap faucets, it'd fit right in. I can't imagine an easier to use filler. https://www.morebeer.com/products/tapcooler-counter-pressure-bottle-filler.html
:mug:
 
I have both gun and tap cooler and the gun has been hanging on the post since I got the cooler.
1- keg stays in kegerator so no sediment is picked up
2- Way easy to clean and sanitize.
3- No need to bleed pressure
I bottle myself also and use swing tops and can clamp the top while filling another one. I've gotten 4 weeks with no change from the keg pull.
My advice is to bottle the old fashion way for cellar beers and tap cooler for tacking beers out.
 
Since you already have Intertap faucets, it'd fit right in. I can't imagine an easier to use filler.
Totally agree. I've used Beer Gun and WilliamsWarn fillers in the past, but get the most consistent results with the Tapcooler. It's quick and easy to set up, operate and clean .... a very convenient little gadget.
 
I also started with the Biermuncher, then moved to a Beergun, and now also have a Tapcooler. If the kegs are in my keezer, which uses picnic taps, I usually just do the Biermuncher rather than setting up the Beergun. If the kegs are in the kegerator, which has actual taps, the Tapcooler is soooo easy to use. I think the Tapcooler gives me the best results for consistent bottle filling, but the Biermuncher is just so simple. It's a tough call.
 
I just got a nukatap counter pressure bottle filler and after a lame start (user error by me) I really like it. Does a great job.

What made it work great? Reducing the serving pressure down below 5 psi. On both the keg you are drawing from and also the gas into the nukatap counter pressure filler.

I am off to the mountains for a vacation with the grandkids and kids.
Who else makes signature brews for grandkids?
 
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Used to use the BeerGun, found it to be a pain at times. Purchased the TapCooler when it came out and after filling 20 bottles of various beers for comps with it, I immediately sold the BeerGun. It works great, don't need to lower keg pressure to fill (though I have not tried filling bottles of beers that have over 3 v of CO2. For the author, you would need to get the Intertap connection add on, as the base TapCooler works for Perlicks.

The one con of the TapCooler...filling directly from the tap for competitions means you want to keep your lines and taps super clean. I break down my taps once a month and clean then and replace my lines every other month (which is a snap with DuoTight fittings). I have seen people run a seperate bottle filling line directly from keg in order to bypass the beer line and taps, so that's another way to do it.

Another competitive brewer I know swears by the Boel iTap Counter Pressure Filler, but that is hard to find in the US lately, but it's available from AliExpress in China.
 
when I use the Tap Cooler for taking brews to gatherings I just sanitize the device and bottles, they last a week or so. If bottling for storage I disassemble the lines and tap and sanitize everything.
 
I had beer gun which worked ok for comps, but I sold it once I got the Tapcooler. There is a learning curve though. I bottled for a comp and my bottles didn't stay carbed well. Each beer got dinged for quick dissipating head. I find if you purge the bottle with CO2 until you hear an audible change, then pour beer until it comes out the adjustable pressure relief valve you get a more stable fill. It does help to have another person with you to cap, but it's not a necessity. That said, I still hate bottling...
 
I had beer gun which worked ok for comps, but I sold it once I got the Tapcooler. There is a learning curve though. I bottled for a comp and my bottles didn't stay carbed well. Each beer got dinged for quick dissipating head. I find if you purge the bottle with CO2 until you hear an audible change, then pour beer until it comes out the adjustable pressure relief valve you get a more stable fill. It does help to have another person with you to cap, but it's not a necessity. That said, I still hate bottling...
Hate bottling... Me too. I can do it, but I do not have the usual beer joy attitude. Ugh.
 
A very timely post for me since I’m getting ready in the next few days for a comp.

In my experience, I got a counter-pressure filler in the 90s when I finally outgrew the wand and bucket method. It was a no-name DIY contraption like so many other hand-crafted devices you find on the interwebs even today.

It works really well, but is a pain to set up and clean after using. So after using it for 15 years I was looking for something else that was easy to use and easy to clean. Blichmann came out with the beer gun and I bought one.

It checked all the boxes for me concerning use and cleaning. But….

Getting the bottles filled uniformly to the ‘proper’ ullage to please the BJCP judges (yeah, I know Appearance is only worth a few points) was always a problem. But the deal killer for me was long term oxidation, even if I capped on the foam. Even after only a few days in the bottle, I could notice staling. Any bottle over a few weeks old was either less pleasant or undrinkable compared to the beer still in the keg.

The last straw was about 5 years ago when every.single.entry in one comp I entered got demolished by the judges. A few suggested possible contamination, but in my mind it was oxidation. The Beer Gun got boxed up and the DIY counter-pressure bottler got dusted off. I now sacrifice ease of use for complexity, and tedious cleaning for convenience and speed.

I’ll admit to lusting after Nukatap filler, which is a counter-pressure filler. But since my kegerator is only two taps, and I’ll generally enter 6~8 beers in a comp, I’d have to swap kegs around numerous times and probably have to clean the kegerator afterwards.

So for me at least, Old Reliable gets the nod whenever I need to fill more than a six pack or less for a party or camping trip. Then I’ll just fill direct from the tap, or use a growler filler for my ‘portable’ beer.

But for serious bottling, I don’t think you can beat a counter-pressure bottler. My $.02 cents.
 
I fill both cans and bottles for competitions, so for me the Beergun has been my choice since I can handle both with one setup. With a proper purge and careful filling, you can achieve very low oxygen pickup in either format. If I was bottle only, I certainly would have given the Tapcooler a go by now.
 
I fill both cans and bottles for competitions, so for me the Beergun has been my choice since I can handle both with one setup. With a proper purge and careful filling, you can achieve very low oxygen pickup in either format. If I was bottle only, I certainly would have given the Tapcooler a go by now.
Can’t say I agree. The ‘purge’ with the Beer Gun can’t completely displace air/O2 since there is no seal. You can “burp” the neck as you withdraw the filler from the neck, but you’ll also receive a foam bath as often as not. And the amount of head space (ullage) in the neck varies from ¼” to all the way down the neck.

With a counter-flow filler you displace all the air/O2 by filling to the top of the neck (at least to the bottom of the sealing cork). As the filling wand is removed, the volume level in the neck is replaced with rising foam and restricts air/O2 from re-entering the bottle if you immediately crown cap it. It also results in uniform ullage in the neck.

I was never able to achieve that successfully or completely with the Beer Gun, and I used it for several years. The counter-pressure filler is more cumbersome and awkward to use, there is more wastage and more cleanup involved. But it’s the only method I’ve used that gives me the consistent results I’m looking for.

The beer has a longer shelf life and the bottles present better in competitions. The Beer Gun is simpler to use and cleans up easier. It just doesn’t work for me.
 
Can’t say I agree. The ‘purge’ with the Beer Gun can’t completely displace air/O2 since there is no seal. You can “burp” the neck as you withdraw the filler from the neck, but you’ll also receive a foam bath as often as not. And the amount of head space (ullage) in the neck varies from ¼” to all the way down the neck.

With a counter-flow filler you displace all the air/O2 by filling to the top of the neck (at least to the bottom of the sealing cork). As the filling wand is removed, the volume level in the neck is replaced with rising foam and restricts air/O2 from re-entering the bottle if you immediately crown cap it. It also results in uniform ullage in the neck.

I was never able to achieve that successfully or completely with the Beer Gun, and I used it for several years. The counter-pressure filler is more cumbersome and awkward to use, there is more wastage and more cleanup involved. But it’s the only method I’ve used that gives me the consistent results I’m looking for.

The beer has a longer shelf life and the bottles present better in competitions. The Beer Gun is simpler to use and cleans up easier. It just doesn’t work for me.
Filling technique with any of the methods discussed here are important. I was fortunate enough to have a local brewery allow me to test this using their Hack 3100 dissolved oxygen meter. Using a 10 second purge and careful filling I could repeatably hit low DO levels (< 15 ppb) with the Beer Gun, so I know that it is indeed quite possible.

Would a counter pressure setup reduce DO further or make it more repeatable? I don’t know, but it would be an interesting experiment to run…
 
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