Not sure if this belong in the homebrew section, but it isn't really a homebrew question. Just one that may involve the use of homebrew tools. Anyone refill a bottle and use priming sugar from a growler for shipping or longer aging? There are some amazing beers that are draft only in brewpubs, and I would like to share them but don't want to ship a whole growler (for multiple reasons). Thoughts? Advice? Just a dumbf*ck idea?
Transferring beer from a growler to a bottle will introduce oxygen to the beer, beer will become oxidized.
But when transfering beer from fermenter to bottling bucket isn't there some introduction to oxygen? hence the addition of the priming sugar in the bottling bucket to add the carbonation once in the bottle? I'm just wondering if adding some priming sugar would recarbonate the beer in the bottle from growler and keep it from oxygenization.
I just started brewing but I'm thinking after fermentation and before bottling there are still many active yeast cultures which is why you add the priming sugar so they can snack on them and produce more carbonation. After it has been kegged and sat for a while the yeast is constantly degrading so not sure if there would be enough active yeast to do anything. Anyway just a guess I suppose you always experiment and report back your findings.
Ya, if you siphon from growler to bottle it would be better than pouring it for sure. Adding extra sugar would be sketchy especially if you're only adding it to 12-22 oz of beer, you'd have a high potential for bottle bombs, or as Fremontbar said above, no fermentation activity at all. Too much potential to receive bad beer in the end for it to be worth it IMO.
If the beer you like is filtered at all then there will be no yeast to feed on the sugar, then you end up with sweet flat beer I usualy never let beer sit in a growler for more then acouple days. What beer are you trying to age or store?
Bah! Yeast! I knew there was something I wasn't thinking about that would make this a not so great idea. I was hoping to share some DRIPA with others not local to my area.
I hear ya. Been thinking about it, just exploring all possible (or impossible) options. F it. Growler heading out.
If you are worried about the cost of shipping an entire growler, you could purchase a 32oz Grumbler (or whatever people in your area call them) and ship that instead.
If I were trading with you I wouldn't want you messing with the beer you were sending me like that. Nothing personal, just saying.
What Hanzo said. I'd rather have a growler carefully (correctly) filled, tightly capped with a good cap, packaged well, and shipped promptly. Messing with the beer just introduces too many variables. Even if you do it once and it works, it's hard to guarantee it'll work the next time.
To address a couple more recent posts: Its not a cost issue. I just think that a securely fastened cap has a better chance of arriving without issue than a screwtopped growler. I've not seen a grumbler. This thought was not stimulated by any trade negotiations. This was strictly a pay it forward (and surprise) shipment. I keep raving about a tap only beer to a long time friend. I want him to try it. Without his knowledge its coming. Thats all. Hanzo, I would NEVER think to do this on any negotiated trade unless the potential damage to the brew was all in the stipulations and warranty free.
