Little Bottler and conditioning questions....

RubbleUK · Post by **RubbleUK** » Sat May 12, 2012 5:56 pm

In anticipation of my first brew completing its initial fermentation in a week or so, I'm now considering the issue of bottling and would appreciate some advice.

My brews will likely be export lager/pilsner kits (I'm trying the Better Brew kits to start with) and I'll be bottling into 2L fizzy drinks bottles. I was thinking of getting a dedicated bottling bin with a tap that I can siphon my brew into from my primary FV. However, the taps on them look a bit too big to bottle from directly so I'm considering either the Little Bottler or a bottling stick. The issue with the former is apparently it's not long enough to reach to the bottom of a 2L bottle. Is it possible to extend the tube as I understand it fits standard 5/16" tubing of which I have plenty? The plan would be to cut off the top inch or so of the tube below the tap and insert a length of 5/16" tubing between the 2 sections of the tube so the end of the tube reaches the bottom of my 2L bottles. Would this work?

My next question is about conditioning. I'm fortunate enough to have a dedicated beer fridge (it's one of those under counter glass fronted ones) so should I condition at 5'C straight from bottling or should I keep the bottles at room temperature for a few weeks before chilling? Either way, do the bottles need to be stored vertically to ensure any residual sediment settles in the bottom of the bottle or given my bottling technique should minimise any sediment, is it OK to store them horizontally?

Any alternative bottling or conditioning suggestions would be much appreciated....

Thanks in advance!

Chris

winka · Post by **winka** » Sat May 12, 2012 6:09 pm

My lil botler reaches 2l pet bottles fine. I think 1-2 weeks in the warm before fridging or I've heard it takes forever sticking them straight in the cold.

There will still be sediment. I rack to a bottling bucket and still have sediment.

Cheers

RubbleUK · Post by **RubbleUK** » Sat May 12, 2012 7:15 pm

winka wrote:My lil botler reaches 2l pet bottles fine. I think 1-2 weeks in the warm before fridging or I've heard it takes forever sticking them straight in the cold.

There will still be sediment. I rack to a bottling bucket and still have sediment.

Cheers

Thanks, any chance you could post the length measurement of the tube please? I've had a quick google hunt and can't find anything conclusive....

Chris

Mo06 · Post by **Mo06** » Sat May 12, 2012 7:35 pm

I've just measured mine, and it's 328mm.

Little Bottler that is, from the end of the tube which connects to the tap/syphon tube to the valve which rests on the bottom of the beer bottle.

winka · Post by **winka** » Sat May 12, 2012 8:11 pm

Mines bigger than Mo's

At a whopping 330, 340 with the pin not pressed in.

There is about 1 cm left at the tap when I raise the bottle and the beers flowing.

I also have a bottling wand to attach to the syphon and that's just as easy. I actually found it easier as you just dip the wand in and it saves holding the bottle up and in a static position, although syphoning is a bit more of a pain than turning the tap on so 6 and 2 3's

Cheers

Pinto · Post by **Pinto** » Sat May 12, 2012 9:33 pm

On the bottling - you need to leave the newly bottled brew in somewhere at room temperature for at LEAST a week to ensure a good secondary fermentation ( I let mine sit @ 20 degrees in a carboard box for a fortnight before transferring to the conditioning cupboard)

Brews with a high ABV such as my turbo ciders spend a fornight in my airing cupboard @ 24 deg as the tired yeasties will require more persuasion to perform again

On the other issue...

Trust me.... its worth the investment

- the tap comes with the little bottler, so its the right diameter for the bottling tube.

mickhew · Post by **mickhew** » Sun May 13, 2012 3:18 am

RubbleUK wrote:is it OK to store them horizontally?

Store them vertically. I stored some horizontally once, was a bit of a nightmare. I had a long strip of sediment along the side of the bottles, that was stuck, and didn't move when I stood them up. When I served, it just went into the beer and it turned cloudy.

mickhew · Post by **mickhew** » Sun May 13, 2012 3:20 am

And don't forget, if the 2 ltr bottles are clear, keep them out of the light.

AnthonyUK · Post by **AnthonyUK** » Sun May 13, 2012 8:45 am

If the tube doesn't reach on your bottler then you can remove the valve and just open/close the tap. You may get a bit of frothing until the bottom of the tube is submerged but it won't be much. This wouldn't be too much extra work with 2l bottles.

Mo06 · Post by **Mo06** » Sun May 13, 2012 11:49 am

"I also have a bottling wand to attach to the syphon and that's just as easy. I actually found it easier as you just dip the wand in and it saves holding the bottle up and in a static position, although syphoning is a bit more of a pain than turning the tap on so 6 and 2 3's"

When I bought my 'Little Bottler', it arrived with a tap, but I prefer to use it in the same way as above - I attach it to the end of my syphon tube, then just fill the bottles on the floor. Works fine for me.

Also, I didn't fancy putting a hole in the FV and perhaps ruining it.

winka · Post by **winka** » Sun May 13, 2012 11:57 am

When I bought my new fermenter from the LHBS I wanted one with a tap but they didn't have any. The woman said to come back and they would fit it. So bought the lil bottler there and then and left the tap with her. Came back next week and it was all done and even checked under pressure with water for leaks.

Brilliant service and all at no extra cost. I was the same Mo, really didn't want to do it myself as I'm crap at DIY and no doubt would have ruined it.

Cheers

Mo06 · Post by **Mo06** » Sun May 13, 2012 12:07 pm

Yes, one disadvantage of being about 1300 km from my nearest home brew shop I reckon ......

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