Splitting a batch between bottles and keg - best way to transfer?

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by MCBanjoMike, Sep 21, 2015.

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  1. MCBanjoMike

    MCBanjoMike Initiate (0) Aug 7, 2014 Canada (QC)

    Here's something I've never done before: I have a 5G batch of 80 shilling in a fermenter (bucket) and I want to bottle half and keg the other half. What would you folks recommend as a method of transferring that will cause the least oxidation? Here's what I have so far:

    Option 1) Siphon half the beer into the bottling bucket or keg, then pull the siphon end out to stop the transfer process until I can move the tube into the second container. Requires me to start the siphon a second time, but if I use sanitizer then I might not oxidize very much?

    Option 2) Block the liquid flowing out of the tube with my hand to transfer from bottling bucket to keg. This will case the least splashing, but it requires me to stick my hand in the bottling bucket (sanitized, of course).

    Option 3) Use my bottling wand for the transfer? I'm guessing this would take forever, but it would allow me to pretty easily move the tube from one container to the other.

    Option 4) Transfer everything to the bottling bucket and then use the spigot to drain half into the keg (not sure I have enough 3/8 tubing to do this, though)

    Option 5) Transfer everything to the keg and then use CO2 to send half of that into the bottling bucket.

    I'm leaning toward option 3 at this point, but I'm definitely curious to know what people do when they want to split a batch. I feel like I'm missing a really obvious, easy solution right now...

    EDIT: I actually just realized I have another option - use two siphons. That might wind up being my best bet, really, since I have an extra one already.
     
    #1 MCBanjoMike, Sep 21, 2015
    Last edited: Sep 21, 2015
  2. DarrenE

    DarrenE Initiate (0) Jan 21, 2015 Minnesota

    Variation on option 2 - you can kink the tubing the stop flow. There's no need to stop flow at the end of the tube when you can kink it.
     
    #2 DarrenE, Sep 21, 2015
    jbakajust1 likes this.
  3. Tebuken

    Tebuken Initiate (0) Jun 6, 2009 Argentina

    I would use option 4 , previously purge the bottling bucket with CO2, once you have transferred the whole bulk of beer to this vessel purge the keg and pour beer using the shortest 3/8 tube to avoid hard splashings.
     
    #3 Tebuken, Sep 21, 2015
  4. jbakajust1

    jbakajust1 Pooh-Bah (2,552) Aug 25, 2009 Oregon
    Pooh-Bah

    I would use @DarrenE variation on #2, or do #5.

    Another option is to prime the entire batch with the sugar needed to carbonate the entire batch in the keg, then use the bottling wand in the end of the picnic tap to fill the bottles, then cap. Leave them both at room temp for 2 weeks. Both will be carbonated. Then do whatever you want with them from that point.
     
    #4 jbakajust1, Sep 21, 2015
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  5. PortLargo

    PortLargo Pooh-Bah (1,831) Oct 19, 2012 Florida
    Pooh-Bah

    I do this all the time, my co-brewer is a bottler and I'm a keg-thumper. Use option #5 and let it age another week at cold temps to clear up (I add finings). Then CO2-it to the bottling bucket. The extra time usually makes it taste better and definitely helps in clearing.
     
    #5 PortLargo, Sep 21, 2015
    jbakajust1 likes this.
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