Bottling buckets... What the?

Yes you should use one.
See how-to-brew.
End thread

 

I'd venture to say that 95% or more of us have used a bottling bucket at some point. What carbonation method do you want to compare to, i.e. what are you doing now?

 

I think they use those carb tablets down under.

I can not think of any downside to batch priming with dextrose in a bottling bucket over carb tabs. thinking... no. none.

Cheers.

 

Biggest advantage is that it is cheaper than carb drops and allows for more precise varying of carbonation levels without doubling (or halving) carb drops...oh..., and you don't have to use dextrose...table sugar is fine...just make sure you weigh your priming sugar instead of using volume measurements.

http://www.brewersfriend.com/beer-priming-calculator/

Cheers, mate.

 

Besides better/easier/cheaper carbonation control, you can use the little filler gadget that makes life on bottling day a bit easier. I'm kinda struggling with the "how else would you get the beer in the bottle otherwise" than rack off from fermenter into bottling bucket (equipped with spigot/filler gizmo) and mix the sugar solution into the bucket contents and be done with it is pretty much all I can picture. Siphoning into bottles - all I can envision is aggravation.

 

Larry, that is how I do it. My 'bottling system' is a racking cane, tubing, and bottle filler. FWIW, I suffer no aggravation with this system.

Cheers!

P.S. I do use a bottling bucket, just a bucket with no spigot.

 

Given the beginner nature of the question, don't forget to gently stir after adding the priming sugar. Also, I keg mostly now, but experiment with some different sugars such as corn sugar, table sugar, maple syrup, honey, agave nectar (just has to be fermentable). Those last three will not ferment out completely and therefore leave a light lingering taste which can be a plus with certain styles.

 

Yes, but you have the filler gadget - I was picturing just siphoning without the filler and beer ending up all over the floor...it's been a long day I like the bucket/spigot since I can put it on the counter with the spigot hanging over the edge. I cut the tubing on the filler down so it is only about 2" long and just let it hang off the spigot. Hands-free, open the spigot about halfway.

 

Is the tubing reaching the bottom of the bottle? Filling up bottles from the bottom is 'better' since it mitigates agitation of the beer with the air in the bottle, less dissolved air/oxygen from a process such as this.

Cheers!

 

Of course - I snipped the poly tubing where it connects to the spigot. Lift the bottle up rather than handling the filler. Full case of empties on right side, small table on left side like a little one person assembly line. Do a few at a time and cap.

I have this one and it came with a mile of tubing, so I cut the tubing short rather than wrangling the tubing to the bottles. Lift, open the spring valve with the bottle, fill fill fill, repeat

 

I think I know what you mean, but just for clarity... The sugars in maple syrup, honey, and agave nectar will completely ferment. But there are lots of other non-sugar compounds, including water, in them. These unfermentable compounds (except for the water and I imagine some other flavorless compounds) add their own flavors.

When using honey/syrups for carbonation, it's important to know the sugar content in order to figure out how much of the honey/syrup to use. It's not a 1:1 substitute for corm sugar or table sugar.

 

I thought all bottling buckets came with spigots ...in case you want to use it as a 2-4 gal fermenter when siphoning got old

 

Crap. Forgot to do this when bottling my second batch over the weekend.

I love this idea, but my bottling device likes to drip. I guess it will drip one way or another, won't it... I might have to try this.

 

Barry,

I did take note of the smiley emoticon but you got me thinking. I purchased my homebrewing equipment over 20 years ago at my LHBS. The starter set of equipment came with a ‘plain’ bottling bucket (no spigot). I have been using this same bucket for the past 20+ years (and 364 batches, so far).

Maybe this type of equipment is passé?

I went to the Northern Brewer website and I took note that as part of the Essential Brewing Starter Kit they do indeed provide: “6.5 Gallon Bottling Bucket, Bottling Spigot”

http://www.northernbrewer.com/brewing/beer-equipment-starter-kits/essential-brewing-starter-kit

I suppose this just goes to show that I am ‘old school’.

Cheers!

 

It does drip a bit, but I put a tray on the floor or a wad of old towels. Way worse until I closed down the spigot a bit. Just seemed the logical way to go when I didnt know any better!

 

Most bottling buckets with or without spigots were only 5 gal originally (if I remember right) which is why I suggested using for a 2 to 4 gal fermenter...you obviously don't like spigots on any size bucket or you wouldn't be siphoning at this point...you are "old school", Jack, but the real dinosaurs are using carboys

 

Sounds like you're getting inconsistent amounts of sugar in each bottle. Weighing would be better than measuring by volume, but that would be a real PITA for individual bottles.