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Also, you probably won't need to depress the tire valve to release pressure. Mine just pushes the pressure out as it's filling.

I didn't even plan on using the tire valve thing with this method. I was just going to do it like Bobby did in the video by squeezing the side to depressurize...

The only other problem I noticed with using the carboy stopper is that the whole is to big for the racking cane. I guess if I really wanted to I could go back to the LHBS and just purchase a non-drilled carboy stopper and make the hole the proper size for the cane.

It sounds like it would work in theory but has anyone actually used this method?
 
Now I am wondering how easy it would be to depress it to relieve the pressure as you fill like the other stopper.

You don't really squeeze. Just grab around the stopper and sort of tilt it to the side a bit to break the seal. Hard to describe, but you will know what I am talking about if you do it. Just be sure to keep pushing down.
 
Ok, cool! I will just have to try this myself and see what works...what stopper sizes would you guys suggest besides #2 stoppers? If I am going to order it off the internet I might as well pick up a couple other stoppers for various different projects as well. Any suggestions on other size stoppers and what they could be used for?
 
I used this method to bottle my kolsch for a local competition. Bottled 16 days before judging. It took 1st place among 20 entries in public judging, and 3rd place in BJCP sanctioned judging. Quite pleased.

The only downside really is that it is a little messy. I might try to shorten the piece of racking cane I use. It tends to drain a bit between bottles. It is much simpler than using a counter-pressure filler though.

Thanks for the great tip BM!
 
I dont feel like I got an answer to this fully.

My problem is, I am moving back on campus, and unfortunately, I can't have alcohol in my room due to a university policy. Therefore, I'd like to have my minifridge to use for normal stuff. This means I either need to finish two 3/4 kegs, or leave the fridge here.

Would bottling this way cause the beer to spoil if I bring it back to room temp, or even cellar temp? Id like to throw them in bottles for possible "long term storage" at a friend's house. (like the remainder of the semester)

As long as I am cleaning and sanitizing my bottles and picnic tap, should I have a problem bottling the rest of this PA and Apfelwein?
 
Built this, used this, I love it.

POL APPROVED

Great idea, great explaination.
 
I dont feel like I got an answer to this fully.

My problem is, I am moving back on campus, and unfortunately, I can't have alcohol in my room due to a university policy. Therefore, I'd like to have my minifridge to use for normal stuff. This means I either need to finish two 3/4 kegs, or leave the fridge here.

Would bottling this way cause the beer to spoil if I bring it back to room temp, or even cellar temp? Id like to throw them in bottles for possible "long term storage" at a friend's house. (like the remainder of the semester)

As long as I am cleaning and sanitizing my bottles and picnic tap, should I have a problem bottling the rest of this PA and Apfelwein?

I wouldn't count on it for long term storage. This is a technique that would work if you're trying to bottle them for a month or two. I could be wrong. I've never left them for longer than a month.
 
I wouldn't count on it for long term storage. This is a technique that would work if you're trying to bottle them for a month or two. I could be wrong. I've never left them for longer than a month.

I have some 1+ old beers in the basement brew shop and they're fine.

One thing is that if you rushed the beer from fermenter to keg...chilled and then bottled and returned to room temp, any residual sugars will resume fermentation and you'll have some highly carb'd beers. So anything you plan to bottle for longer term...make sure you've given those beers plenty of time in the fermenters.
 
I, too, have many beers that are over 6 months old using the BMBG. Perfect carbonation, just like it came from the faucet.

If you cap on foam and, like BM said, condition the beer right, I see no reason why these shouldn't last a long time.

Why do you think the carbonation level will drop? Same caps, same crimp, CO2 foam...?
 
I just wanted to chime in and say thanks! There is a home brew comp coming up in about 20 days and I just bottled my entry from the keg using this method. Really was pretty easy :) Any ideas on how to clean the picnic tap easily after you remove it?

Thanks again!
 
I just wanted to chime in and say thanks! There is a home brew comp coming up in about 20 days and I just bottled my entry from the keg using this method. Really was pretty easy :) Any ideas on how to clean the picnic tap easily after you remove it?

Thanks again!

I usually just lock the tap open, drop it into a sink of sanitizing solution, give a healthy suck and let it sink to the bottom of the sink for a while.
 
I tried using the racking cane into spout method. my cane felt loose in teh spout so I swapped in a piece of tubing that felt snug. Well I got my two bottles filled but beer was slowly running out around the outside of the tubing as well. I went with it cause I was only filling two bottles for a coworker to try. Regardless of the fill, the comment I got about it today, It was awesome, You definitely know what you're doing!". I though. SWEET. Thanks for making me look good BM. It was your Black pepper Wit recipe.
 
I tried using the racking cane into spout method. my cane felt loose in teh spout so I swapped in a piece of tubing that felt snug. Well I got my two bottles filled but beer was slowly running out around the outside of the tubing as well. I went with it cause I was only filling two bottles for a coworker to try. Regardless of the fill, the comment I got about it today, It was awesome, You definitely know what you're doing!". I though. SWEET. Thanks for making me look good BM. It was your Black pepper Wit recipe.

The power of free beer is amazing.
 
I was told the other day to put a plastic stir stick inbetween the stopper and the bottle and use your thumb to release the co2. Just thought to share!
 
Ok. I just bottled a case of special bitter with the BMBF. I really like it! It took a little getting used to, but it worked great. However, try as I might, I could not get foam to the top of the bottle after removing the wand. I saw in the posts that it is important to "cap on foam". Looking back at Bobby M's vide he said to "loosely cap" after removing the wand to allow C02 to evacuate the remaining head space. Ain' t that the same thing? I think I have about 2 volumes on this beer in the keg. I want it kind of low carbonation anyway, to go with the style. But I don't want it to go flat. Am I worrying too much?
 
Ok. I just bottled a case of special bitter with the BMBF. I really like it! It took a little getting used to, but it worked great. However, try as I might, I could not get foam to the top of the bottle after removing the wand. I saw in the posts that it is important to "cap on foam". Looking back at Bobby M's vide he said to "loosely cap" after removing the wand to allow C02 to evacuate the remaining head space. Ain' t that the same thing? I think I have about 2 volumes on this beer in the keg. I want it kind of low carbonation anyway, to go with the style. But I don't want it to go flat. Am I worrying too much?

You'll be fine. The reason for capping on foam is that foam is CO2 and where there is foam...there is no oxygen which can cause beer to go stale faster.

I generally will place a cap on the bottle, give it a quick sideways tip (holding the cap in place with my finger of course) and when the beer begins to foam up to the cap....then crimp it.
 
Jeesh, I feel stupid. I forgot to place the cap on when I tilted the bottles. Just couldn't get any foam to come to the top, Duh! Anyway thanks for the reply. The BMBF is one great idea you had!
 
Just one more person chiming in that this works great. I've filled both a 12oz bottle and a 2L pop bottle without even bothering to bleed off keg pressure first (~12psi). As long as I keep the pressure up the beer doesn't foam up at all while filling. Props!
 
Just one more person chiming in that this works great. I've filled both a 12oz bottle and a 2L pop bottle without even bothering to bleed off keg pressure first (~12psi). As long as I keep the pressure up the beer doesn't foam up at all while filling. Props!

You might want to watch out if you don't release the pressure. I'm not sure which model you're using. If it's the Poor Man's CPBF, I've had mine shoot right out of the bottle and hit me in the face while I'm filling. It doesn't feel too great.
 
Just using the simple stopper+cane filler. For the very last part of the fill I wasn't keeping the stopped pressed on for this very reason! I did a short squirt from the cane and then let the remaining beer in the cane drain in, and then I capped & repressurized the pop bottle.
 
Just using the simple stopper+cane filler. For the very last part of the fill I wasn't keeping the stopped pressed on for this very reason! I did a short squirt from the cane and then let the remaining beer in the cane drain in, and then I capped & repressurized the pop bottle.

+1 works perfect this way. I don't even know why I put the stopper on anymore but I do. "Just in case" I guess.:D
 
Does anyone know what size rubber stopper a standard grolsch bottle uses, is it still size 2? If so what the heck do you use size 3 for?
I believe that's the one I use for 1 and 2 liter plastic soda bottles. Great for when you can't bring glass to an event.

Or *ahem* when you want to bring it to work so it looks like Diet Coke :)

-Joe
 
I just filled a Grolsch with the same #2 that I filled a dozen 12 ouncers...

What's the word on refridgeration after filling? Is it cool to let the bottles return to room temperature?
 
I just filled a Grolsch with the same #2 that I filled a dozen 12 ouncers...

What's the word on refridgeration after filling? Is it cool to let the bottles return to room temperature?

My opinion on this subject is not scientific at all...it's purely experience based.

I think it's wrong to let a beer warm up at any point and then re-cool it. I learned this before I even began homebrewing. If I went to the store and bought a 12 pack, then didn't finish it, I would set it aside and finish it at a later time. It would get warm, I would re-cool it, and it tasted horrible.

I concider it beer abuse, and it's why I don't buy beer cold unless I plan to drink it that night or have spare room in the fridge. Once it's cold, it needs to stay cold.
 
My opinion on this subject is not scientific at all...it's purely experience based.

I think it's wrong to let a beer warm up at any point and then re-cool it. I learned this before I even began homebrewing. If I went to the store and bought a 12 pack, then didn't finish it, I would set it aside and finish it at a later time. It would get warm, I would re-cool it, and it tasted horrible.

I concider it beer abuse, and it's why I don't buy beer cold unless I plan to drink it that night or have spare room in the fridge. Once it's cold, it needs to stay cold.

The only problem that I see with this is if we bottle from a chilled keg, then how do we share them? lol

I'm doing a beer swap with some guys from work...I bottled mine from the keg. Surely, they'll get warm merely from travel to work, hand-off, wait time, and then travel to final destination.

I didn't think that off-flavors would occur, but that the change in temperature would impact carbonation levels...has there been any experiences with this?
 

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