Tap-a-Draft concern

[mortong]

I was thinking about investing in a Tap-a-Draft system to save time on bottling my beer. I talked to my LHBS staff, and they said they've had two customers come in saying that they've had the bottles explode.

Anyone have a similar experience, or know if this is common?

These things are supposed to have a release valve for pressure, but does it work well? I'd like to hear a bit of feedback before I fork over $60 for something that might ruin my beer. =/


Geoff

[fuji6100]

If you run a search on this site for tap-a-draft, you will probably find several threads by ray M, b3m, and myself on the system. All 3 of us love it and are firm belivers in it's cost and space effectiveness. I've never had a bottle explode and I've never had any problems except when I lost one of the rubber O rings down the sink when washing (easily and cheaply replaced)

The only time I could think of it exploding is if you overprime and try to naturally carbinate with the CAP on the bottle (rather than the regulator with the pressure valve). Some people don't read the directions which state that you DONT USE AS MUCH priming sugar when carbinating in the tap-a-draft bottles. A heaping tablespoon of corn sugar has always worked for me. Adding 3/4 cup to 5 gallons (about 1/4 cup per 6L bottle) could very well explode it.

The pressure valve is also under 1 year free replacement warrenty, so if it ever did go, you get it replaced for free. No problems with mine though.

[mortong]

I did a search before posting, and didn't find anything about exploding bottles. I figured it was better to ask that specifically just to be safe. ;)

I was thinking it was probably something along the lines of user error that caused it, but wasn't sure what kind. I didn't realize you need to use less corn sugar for a batch - do you mean 1 tbsp per 5gal or 1 tbsp per 6liter bottle?

Geoff

[fuji6100]

the directions say 1 heaping tablespoon per 6L bottle

I've followed that and it has worked fine for me so far.

I typically fill one 6L tap a draft bottle from each batch, and then bottle the remaining 3 1/2 gallons in typical glass 12 oz bottles. To do this, I transfer to the 6L bottle first, and add a heaping tablespoon of corn sugar to that. Then, since i've got about 2/3 of my original volume left to prime, I add 1/2 cup corn sugar to the rest of the batch and bottle normally.

[mortong]

Sounds good, I think I'll give it a try. I also like that you can also use Nitrous cartridges - I think I might try a Guinness clone when I get it. =)

Geoff

[Beerconnoisseur]

Originally posted by mortong
Sounds good, I think I'll give it a try. I also like that you can also use Nitrous cartridges - I think I might try a Guinness clone when I get it. =)

Geoff

You mean Nitrogen cartridges.... unless you plan to drink before seeing your dentist. :p

[mortong]

hehe, you're right. Of course, that would have the added benefit of giving you a cheap high if you breath deeply over the beer. ;o)

Geoff

[b3s]

no exploding bottles here. either they overcarbonated or overfilled, but that's all i can think of that would cause that problem.

[kevin]

do you add the corn sugar (dry) directly to the 6L bottle? I too have been thinking about buying a tap a draft.

[b3s]

no, i don't do that...i boil it in water...actually, my process is:


boil .5 C corn sugar with 1 C water.
boil .25 C corn sugar with .5 C water.
let cool.
put first sugar-water mixture in bottling bucket and add beer.
fill tap-a-draft bottles.
add second sugar-water mixture in bottling bucket and gently swirl.
fill bottles.


that way i get properly carbonated bottles as well. sometimes i just get lazy and do the full .75 corn sugar with 2C water and let the tap-a-draft be a bit too carbonated on the first couple of pulls. the system, like beer, is pretty forgiving. just don't overfill the bottles!

[axis714]

I finally made up my mind to heed your good advice and invest in a tap-a-draft. you guys have me convinced its the answer to my dilema. not enuff funds for a full kegging setup yet but sick of all the bottles. I ordered mine from http://www.morebeer.com/
and got free shipping. im really looking forward to trying it out.

[Professor Frink]

The suggestion that has given me quite good results is:

Use 2/3 cup corn sugar(boiled in water), add to 5+ gal of wort at bottling

Then any leftover you aren't putting into the TAD 6L, add 1 prime tab (corn syrup tablets) to every 6 oz. in your glass bottles to make up for corn sugar decrease.

So fill your PET plastic, but put prime tabs in glass bottles, (2 for 12 oz, 3 for 16, etc...)

Does this make sense? The suggestion never specified any volumes of corn sugar/prime tabs, but after doing some math, I came up with these amounts. I haven't had any explosions yet.

I am starting to get a little worried that I may have forgotten prime tabs in my last batch, it's almost 4 weeks old with no carbonation yet. It went 3-4 weeks in secondary though, because we bought a house/moved, bottling got postponed a bit, so that might cause the delay, but have never had anything take this long.

[Heycock]

I just got my tap-a-draft in the mail and had a few questions. Someone mentioned not to overfill, how much do you normally fill the bottles?

Also the directions I got said to use 6 teaspoons per bottle, which is 2 level tablespoons. The difference between this and a heaping tablespoon isn't much but, in your opinions would this be too much?

Thanks

[Steve16823]

Originally posted by Beerconnoisseur
You mean Nitrogen cartridges.... unless you plan to drink before seeing your dentist. :p

Actually, I think they actually are Nitrous (N2O) and not simply Nitrogen (N2). The same cartridges used in whipped cream makers, right?

Breathe deeply when you take that first sip of your stout.