Aussiekraut Posted October 17, 2021 Share Posted October 17, 2021 6 hours ago, Panther Branch Brewing said: Maybe, but, I don't have to worry about... Faulty o-rings, faulty regulators, faulty taps, faulty gauges, faulty valves, running out of CO2 when I can't get more for a couple days, bad keg seals, leaking hoses, dead kegerator (bottles fit in the household fridge a lot easier than kegs do). I've never once had a beer fail to dispense from a bottle. Never. True but these things don't constantly break do they? If you look after them, you don't get to that point anyway. A little keg maintenance every now and then keeps problems at bay. If you don't service your car, it'll develop issues before you know it, the same goes for kegs. And just like you can have a jerry can of petrol in your car in case you run out, you can have a spare gas bottle. And while a kegerator can of course die, so can the household fridge There are pros and cons for both but IMHO, the pros of kegging outweigh the cons. Bottling a double batch of beer used to be almost a day's work, with kegs, it takes an hour and a half max. The time saving alone is worth it. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmar92 Posted October 17, 2021 Share Posted October 17, 2021 (edited) Of course there is absolutely nothing wrong with bottling. I bottled for years and I never had any issues with failed bottles, I still bottle the occasional batch. However for me the amount of work involved in cleaning and bottling is very time consuming compared with kegging. Bottling also requires a lot more space for storing bottles that a similar volume that is kegged, requires. I have been kegging for over 12 months now and I have had zero failures with kegs and attached equipment. As has been mentioned a bit of maintenance on kegs and equipment keeps everything running trouble-free and the spare parts that are needed, from time to time, are cheap and easily obtained. Another advantage is that kegged beer is available for consumption much faster than bottled beer, there is no waiting for secondary fermentation to take place and I find that beer matures much faster in kegs v bottles. Of course every persons experiences are different but for me kegging is the way to go. Edited October 17, 2021 by kmar92 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ozdevil Posted October 17, 2021 Share Posted October 17, 2021 16 hours ago, Panther Branch Brewing said: Maybe, but, I don't have to worry about... Faulty o-rings, faulty regulators, faulty taps, faulty gauges, faulty valves, running out of CO2 when I can't get more for a couple days, bad keg seals, leaking hoses, dead kegerator (bottles fit in the household fridge a lot easier than kegs do). I've never once had a beer fail to dispense from a bottle. Never. my comments way back on the 23rd of june was a bit tongue and cheek fella not knocking anyone that likes to bottle or keg after all whats in these bottles and kegs are the more important thing to worry about is the beer we like to drink i am basicly a kegger , but i still like to bottle a few up every now and then from the keg i wasnt having ago at anyone that chooses to bottle , in fact i dare say some beers are better in a bottle then a keg enjoy your brewing fella 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panther Branch Brewing Posted October 17, 2021 Share Posted October 17, 2021 Maybe it's me cleaning the bottles before bottling day but I can have a batch bottled in less than two hours, cleaned up stored away and done. I'm hand priming each bottle too with 2cc of sucrose. There are advantages to kegging. One issue I have though is room. I'm in in smaller house with no garage. I don't have room for a kegerator. Bottles can be fit in nooks and crannies throughout the house if needed. Just got to keep some in the fridge for when I want one. Also, I've heard of and actually had one bottle bomb. Never heard of a keg bomb. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shamus O'Sean Posted October 17, 2021 Share Posted October 17, 2021 8 hours ago, Panther Branch Brewing said: a keg bomb One imagines that would be bad 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackSands Posted October 17, 2021 Share Posted October 17, 2021 For those worried about the time-consuming prrocess of bottle washing I'd suggest you rinse immediately after use. Once I've poured the beer I immediately rinse out the bottle, was and sanitise. Sometimes I wait til I've got say half a dozen empties on hand I give them all a clean, followed by a quick blast of starsan and then seal them up (flip tops/screw caps) ready for next bottling day. Bottling a batch takes no time at all when the bottles are already cleaned, ready and waiitng. 9 hours ago, Panther Branch Brewing said: There are advantages to kegging. One issue I have though is room. I'm in in smaller house with no garage. I don't have room for a kegerator. Bottles can be fit in nooks and crannies throughout the house if needed. Just got to keep some in the fridge for when I want one. Likewise. I'd like the option of kegging but aside from the initial up front costs which I can't really justify - kegs, fittings, CO2 cylinder & regulator, gas refills etc, like you say there's also the requirement for yet another fridge to chill the kegs and I simply don't have the room! My bottles are stored in plastic crates which are stacked neatly on some light -weight glavanised shelving I purchased from Bunnings. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Classic Brewing Co Posted October 17, 2021 Share Posted October 17, 2021 2 minutes ago, BlackSands said: For those worried about the time-consuming prrocess of bottle washing I'd suggest you rinse immediately after use. Once I've poured the beer I immediately rinse out the bottle, was and sanitise. Sometimes I wait til I've got say half a dozen empties on hand I give them all a clean, followed by a quick blast of starsan and then seal them up (flip tops/screw caps) ready for next bottling day. Bottling a batch takes no time at all when the bottles are already cleaned, ready and waiitng. I totally agree, my bottle cleaning/sanitising practice is a cinch & as @BlackSands states clean the bottles as soon as you empty them, sanitse, store in boxes & they are ready for bottling day. It saves you heaps of time on bottling day. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thirsty Jim Posted October 18, 2021 Share Posted October 18, 2021 As above, me too. I use a six milk crate system. Each crate holds 14 bottles. One brew = 2 crates. As I drink I rinse the empties, apply sanitizer of choice, shove a piece of paper towel in the neck and return the empties to the crate, upside down. When I have a full crate of empties I prepare to brew. When I have two crates of empties I brew. It is a self regulating system. I only brew as fast as I drink and I always have a stock of between 60 and 90 bottles (6 x 14 = 84. Where did the other 6 come from ? The fridge) I use glass Cooper's 750ml bottles. I have 100 PET's stowed in the ceiling that I doubt I will ever use again. I have no issue with them. It is just that I like glass and the six crate system works so well. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Worts and all Posted October 18, 2021 Share Posted October 18, 2021 Much wisdom has been written on here of the simple delights of bottling. Let me say plainly and unequivocally that no one need be humble for being a bottler. I love it! Keggers no doubt have their own secret pleasures, but for me bottling pleases and satisfies the inner brewer . As others have noted, cleaning is not an onerous task, and sanitising couldn’t be easier. Then on bottling day comes the incomparable delight of filling all those shiny bottles with the flowing promise of future pleasure. Then into the warm cupboard for carbonation, checking the couple of PETs for hardness every once in a while. Life has such simple but delightful pleasures! All of this, of course, is before getting to drink the magic stuff. It’s then the real pleasure begins. If you are patient (and have adequate supplies) you can then marvel at how your brew improves over the coming weeks or months. Happy bottling! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Classic Brewing Co Posted October 18, 2021 Share Posted October 18, 2021 3 minutes ago, Worts and all said: Much wisdom has been written on here of the simple delights of bottling. Let me say plainly and unequivocally that no one need be humble for being a bottler. I love it! Keggers no doubt have their own secret pleasures, but for me bottling pleases and satisfies the inner brewer . As others have noted, cleaning is not an onerous task, and sanitising couldn’t be easier. Then on bottling day comes the incomparable delight of filling all those shiny bottles with the flowing promise of future pleasure. Then into the warm cupboard for carbonation, checking the couple of PETs for hardness every once in a while. Life has such simple but delightful pleasures! All of this, of course, is before getting to drink the magic stuff. It’s then the real pleasure begins. If you are patient (and have adequate supplies) you can then marvel at how your brew improves over the coming weeks or months. Happy bottling! I concur. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terminal2k Posted October 18, 2021 Share Posted October 18, 2021 1 hour ago, Worts and all said: checking the couple of PETs for hardness how effective is this method supposed to be. I did a PET on a few of my original batches, and they got very hard but my beer was never very carbonated 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Classic Brewing Co Posted October 18, 2021 Share Posted October 18, 2021 15 minutes ago, terminal2k said: how effective is this method supposed to be. I did a PET on a few of my original batches, and they got very hard but my beer was never very carbonated From my experience hard PET bottles are an indication that your beer is carbonated, of course if you store them correctly & fridge them it wouldn't want to be too cold as this could affect the carbonation. If they were as hard as they were when you put them in the fridge you should be right. I have only ever had 1 or 2 over the years that have gone a bit softer but still drinkable. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Worts and all Posted October 18, 2021 Share Posted October 18, 2021 1 hour ago, terminal2k said: how effective is this method supposed to be. I did a PET on a few of my original batches, and they got very hard but my beer was never very carbonated How effective? Very effective. Assuming you have primed correctly and stored at 18 deg or over you should have your desired level of carbonation in all bottles, PET or glass alike. I find them noticeably firm after 24 hours and rock hard by 36. As @Classic Brewing Co says, if the bottles are hard your beer is carbonated. I suppose the description “hard” is a subjective one. They should in fact be very hard, so it is almost impossible to depress the sides if you squeeze them. The only failures I have had were due to faulty or carelessly fitted lids.I bulk prime, by the way, so get nice even carbonation in all bottles. I hope you find an answer. Cheers. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldbloke Posted October 21, 2021 Share Posted October 21, 2021 Only use glass bottles (coopers long necks) or glass stubbies ( Bundaberg ginger beer) Always wash the bottles on the same day. I then use an old crown seal to cap them while waiting to fill again. ( the paper towel is a good idea. Also heard of people using al foil and glad wrap.) If they look grubby on the inside they go in the dish washer. That's it, fillem and bobs your uncle. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spursman Posted October 21, 2021 Author Share Posted October 21, 2021 On 10/18/2021 at 1:27 PM, terminal2k said: how effective is this method supposed to be. I did a PET on a few of my original batches, and they got very hard but my beer was never very carbonated Inconsistent carbonation was the bain of my brewing life until I stumbled upon Muzzys method on this forum. Version 2.1 is 2 CSR sugar cubes per large PET bottle and that works great for me. Now considering bulk priming in the fv under the guidance of the esteemed Aussiekraut who is a font of knowledge on these things. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Classic Brewing Co Posted October 21, 2021 Share Posted October 21, 2021 9 minutes ago, Spursman said: Inconsistent carbonation was the bain of my brewing life until I stumbled upon Muzzys method on this forum. Version 2.1 is 2 CSR sugar cubes per large PET bottle and that works great for me. Now considering bulk priming in the fv under the guidance of the esteemed Aussiekraut who is a font of knowledge on these things. I would definitely agree with all of the above but for me it is 1 x scoop ( 1 tsp - 4gms ) of white sugar in all of my bottles, none any smaller than 450ml & I always do at least of carton of 12 x glass longnecks that are stored a little longer than the smaller ones as I tend to drink the smaller ones first. My beers are always carbonated, some slightly too much but I do like a head on my beer. I have never tried bulk priming but I will to see the difference. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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