Bottling cooler?

[Brownbeard]

I am going to bottle today, and just realized my bottling bucket is in use as a primary right now. Anybody see a problem with using my 5 gal rubbermaid picnic cooler as a bottling bucket? I like the spicket much better than the idea of filling the bottles from the siphon.

[toneyc]

As long as it is sanitized, there shouldn't be a problem with using the cooler. The only thing that concerns me is the sentence "filling from the spigot". I like using a bottle filler (when I used to bottle) because it reduces the amount of potential splashing, therefore the amount of oxygen that the beer is exposed to. G'luck!

:)
Toney.

[wortchillergoal]

I agree. Could you fit some tubing to the spigot and the fit your bottle filler to the othe end? If not, as already stated, just be careful to avoid splashing the beer into the bottle.

[danno]

I just took out my cooler yesterday, and once again had to scrub it out before using it because of all the accumulated nasties. I'd be excessively careful about cleaning and sanitation, but maybe you keep your coolers cleaner than I do....

[Tweek]

why not just bottle out of the secondary? less chance for infection than if you put it into a cooler.

[michaewa]

Probably late on this one Brownbeard, but in the same situation I used my brewpot as the bottling bucket.

I have only bottled once, but was under the impression you had to transfer to a second container in order to mix the beer with the priming sugar.

Tweek, do you just pour it (the solution with the priming sugar) right into the secondary? I guess it would save a trip through the siphon, but does it get mixed in?

[wortchillergoal]

Originally posted by michaewa
Tweek, do you just pour it (the solution with the priming sugar) right into the secondary? I guess it would save a trip through the siphon, but does it get mixed in?

I am not Tweek but I'll answer. You can just pour it in to your bottling vessel. Gently stir so as not to splash and add oxygen. Bottle,wait, and then drink.

[michaewa]

Very nice. That sounds like it will be much easier.

Any worry that you will stir up sediment, etc. that goes to the bottom of the secondary? In this case my bottling vessel would be the secondary fermenter.

[wortchillergoal]

That is another reason to gently stir. I transfer from my secondary to a bottling bucket. There is very little trub left by that point. It does not take much to get the priming sugar dispered through the beer. Also, after stirring you can cover your fermenter and wait a bit for the trub to settle back to the bottom.

[Brownbeard]

The cooler worked great. By using the spicket on the cooler I was able to get a nice slow flow into the bottles. Saving me the hassle of bottling from the siphon.

[YamahaXS]

Originally posted by Brownbeard
The cooler worked great. By using the spicket on the cooler I was able to get a nice slow flow into the bottles. Saving me the hassle of bottling from the siphon.

Sounds like a working solution, however, I worry that you might of oxidized your beer. Check with your LHBS and rig up something that will allow you to fill the bottles from the bottem up.

[Brownbeard]

Oh, I am worried about that myself. My bottle filler spring went into the sink drain as I was cleaning yesterday. So, I did not have it to use. I was able to get a very slow pour from the cooler, I hope it will not be ruined. I am going to purchase a 2nd carboy soon, then this will not be an issue.

[Brownbeard]

If we quickly drink the beer after carbonation, would that reduce the risk of off flavors from oxidation? It is going to get 3 weeks in the bottle, then I am putting it out for a hockey party, it will all be gone that day.

[Tweek]

I am glad you got the job done. in the future if you ever find yourself needing to bottle straight out of your secondary you can add your priming sugar and then just let it sit a few hours. The priming sugar will mix itself no stirring necessary.

Oxidation will occur anytime the beer is exposed to oxygen , so no drinking it fast will not really reduce it, however it may not be as apparent in the flavor profile early on due to hopping ect. basically oxygenation will not get worse once it is in a sealed conatiner, just more apparent sometimes, as the other parts of your beer mellow.


anyway, glad it worked out for you.

[Brownbeard]

Well, after a week in the bottle, I decided I better give one of these a try, not only was it not bad, it was great. I think I avoided any oxidation. After only one week, this was almost fully carbonated. I have since realized I used a full cup of priming sugar as opposed to the 3/4 I would normally use. Hope they don't explode.