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Message |
    
marc pullum
Junior Member
Username: Brewinales
Post Number: 100
Registered: 06-2006
Posted From: 72.196.31.243
| | Posted on Sunday, August 09, 2009 - 06:49 pm: | 
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I'm having a friend bring over his relatively new beer gun to bottle a few bottles from the end of a keg. any hints on best results? keg pressure and temp ect, i have pin lock kegs if that matters. i've heard to have the bottles cold but thats about it. thanks |
Graham Cox
Senior Member
Username: T2driver
Post Number: 2248
Registered: 11-2004
Posted From: 72.15.96.251
| | Posted on Monday, August 10, 2009 - 12:29 am: |
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Marc, the beer can't be overcarbonated or even highly carbonated (i.e. over, say, 3.0 volumes) or it will foam badly. Get the beer as cold as you can.
I have found that what works best for me is to tilt the bottle at about a 45 degree angle to begin with and to pour into the low half so that you can submerge the tip as quickly as possible. Keep the tip of the beer gun below the surface of the beer at all times as you are pouring. You can straighten the bottle up after you have an inch or so of beer in there. I then slowly withdraw the "barrel" as the beer level rises, always staying an inch or so underneath the surface - this allows the beer in the lower portion of the bottle to remain relatively unagitated, and it also decreases the displacement caused by the barrel itself.
If it's foaming at first, completely bleed the pressure from the keg, then recharge to no more than a couple of psi. For 12-ounce bottles, you won't ever need more than 4-5 psi max. |
Bob Wall
Senior Member
Username: Brewdudebob
Post Number: 2737
Registered: 11-2004
Posted From: 98.192.7.62
| | Posted on Monday, August 10, 2009 - 01:51 am: |
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My old counter-pressure-filler had the proper diameter to leave it fully in the bottle while filling, and I would remove it after the fill was completed. I have found that if I do that with the Beer Gun, it has a wider diameter, and you will get the dreaded "low fill" comment on your competition score-sheets!
So, Graham offers good advice on pulling the Beer Gun out as you fill. |
ScottDeW
Advanced Member
Username: Scott
Post Number: 593
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 99.7.211.20
| | Posted on Monday, August 10, 2009 - 02:40 am: |
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Funny how often "oxidized" follows "low fill". Visual perception is 1/2 the competition battle, unfortunately.
Scott
http://texanbrew.com |
Vance Barnes
Senior Member
Username: Vancebarnes
Post Number: 3767
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 69.199.10.66
| | Posted on Monday, August 10, 2009 - 07:09 pm: |
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A little foam with the beer gun is good as you pull the gun out of the bottle. You end up capping on CO2 foam instead of air.
I usually bleed the pressure from the keg and then turn the regulator all the way down and then turn it up just enough to get the beer flowing in the line. It's a long line so it usually takes about 5 psi to get it moving. |
JimTanguay
Advanced Member
Username: Pizzaman
Post Number: 741
Registered: 02-2003
Posted From: 71.231.106.194
| | Posted on Monday, August 10, 2009 - 07:34 pm: |
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I suggest hooking up the co2 line to a separate co2 regulator if possible. then you can use a higher pressure to purge the bottles. |
Bill Pierce
Moderator
Username: Billpierce
Post Number: 10582
Registered: 01-2002
Posted From: 24.141.103.148
| | Posted on Monday, August 10, 2009 - 09:27 pm: |
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Sorry if I'm hijacking the thread somewhat, but to add to Scott's comment, it's also true that "undercarbonated" often follows "high fill" on competition scoresheets. |
PaulK
Advanced Member
Username: Paulk
Post Number: 844
Registered: 02-2003
Posted From: 68.63.203.31
| | Posted on Monday, August 10, 2009 - 11:42 pm: |
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My tip for the Beer Gun is to use a CP filler instead. Reducing pressure, chilling bottles and the host of other workarounds highlight the shortcomings of the system. |
Bill Pierce
Moderator
Username: Billpierce
Post Number: 10583
Registered: 01-2002
Posted From: 24.141.103.148
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 - 12:29 am: |
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I also recommend chilling the bottles when filling with a counterpressure filler, for the same reason: it reduces foaming.
I have used both the Blichmann gun and a CP filler. Neither is perfect. Overall my opinion is that the CP filler does a little better job but the Blichmann gun is more convenient and a little easier to use alone. To do a really good job with a CP filler it helps either to have a stand to clamp the bottle in place, or to have an assistant.
I have a CP filler I bought more than 10 years ago. I don't feel the Blichmann gun is worth my spending the extra money now. |
dhacker
Senior Member
Username: Dhacker
Post Number: 1760
Registered: 11-2002
Posted From: 98.66.4.194
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 - 01:02 am: |
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Well, that's just great. 
I bought a BE Beer Gun two weeks ago so I could (at least I thought I could) bottle some beer for the brew fest with out the aggravation of a CP filler.
Probably would have been just as well off to get some stethoscope hose, stretch it over the Ventmatic spigot, stuff it down the bottle neck and let 'er rip.  |
Graham Cox
Senior Member
Username: T2driver
Post Number: 2249
Registered: 11-2004
Posted From: 72.15.96.251
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 - 02:05 am: |
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Pay no attention to the nattering naybobs, dhacker. It's a very good tool, IMHO. |
marc pullum
Member
Username: Brewinales
Post Number: 101
Registered: 06-2006
Posted From: 72.196.31.243
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 - 06:27 am: |
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Nattering Nabobs, that brings back some memories. Many a moon ago my best friend was busted for attempting to "pie" Spiro Agnew. I was the getaway driver and I got away fast lol. 
We still meet every year for the beer festival in Co. Thanks for the hints, even Paul for the "You'r doing it wrong". You work with the best choice you have even when thats the "lagering in the garage during fall instead of a temp controlled chest freezer set just right" type of thing. We are going to do this tomorrow eve, will let you know what i learned and thought during the night. thanks again |
marc pullum
Member
Username: Brewinales
Post Number: 102
Registered: 06-2006
Posted From: 72.196.31.243
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 - 06:29 am: |
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Hey: i just noticed that i broke the "junior member" after 2 years. I tole ya someday I was gonna be somebody! |
Bob Wall
Senior Member
Username: Brewdudebob
Post Number: 2739
Registered: 11-2004
Posted From: 24.248.72.254
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 - 06:37 am: |
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Navin R. Johnson? |
ScottDeW
Advanced Member
Username: Scott
Post Number: 594
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 128.129.13.2
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 - 12:34 pm: |
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Yeah, I love the Beer Gun. I think my counterpressure filler was only good for covering me and the ceiling in beer.
Cold bottles help but low pressure from the serving keg is the key. If you can split the CO2 so you can flood the bottle, all the better for long term storage.
Scott
http://texanbrew.com |
Vance Barnes
Senior Member
Username: Vancebarnes
Post Number: 3770
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 69.199.10.66
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 - 05:17 pm: |
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CFP's are generally a 3 handed operation and as Scott mentions often the source of a big mess. A friend mounted his to a contraption that slides down to the bottle and allows you to operate the valves without having to hold the filler at the same time. Even with that I've seen beer on the ceiling there at times.
The beer gun is really quite simple to use and "almost" as good results as a CPF. YMMV |
Steve Jones
Advanced Member
Username: Stevej
Post Number: 658
Registered: 08-2001
Posted From: 164.89.253.21
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 - 07:00 pm: |
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Dang it Vance ... now I'm going to have to bring my cpbf to the campout so that you can see how easy it is to use.
 |
Dan Listermann
Senior Member
Username: Listermann
Post Number: 6727
Registered: 03-2004
Posted From: 74.83.191.159
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 - 07:38 pm: |
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The use of a three way valve, a check valve and placing the keg higher than the bottle allows one to need only one valve to operate a CFC. Further it halves the number of steps involved for far less squirtage. |
Kevin Kowalczyk
Advanced Member
Username: Itsfunbrewingbeer
Post Number: 707
Registered: 10-2007
Posted From: 209.252.39.59
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 - 08:22 pm: |
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Steve, it's hard to tell from that small photo...what is the dohicky coming off on the right side? |
Steve Jones
Advanced Member
Username: Stevej
Post Number: 659
Registered: 08-2001
Posted From: 164.89.253.13
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 - 08:48 pm: |
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Kevin,
That is a vent valve to release the pressure from the bottle. Here is a link to a page with more pictures and a full explanation of the design and the process:
Steve's Counter Pressure Bottling Station |
Hophead
Senior Member
Username: Hophead
Post Number: 2852
Registered: 03-2002
Posted From: 167.4.1.41
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 - 09:15 pm: |
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The Jerk. He's after the cans!..
As far as bottling goes, I vastly prefer kegging and screw or swing top growlers. I have used CPFs with disdain. Now when I bottle (rarely) I just use the picnic tap with an 8" piece of tubing on the end and fill from the bottom.
Good luck with the gun!
(Message edited by hophead on August 11, 2009) |
Brewzz
Advanced Member
Username: Brewzz
Post Number: 703
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 70.112.225.127
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 - 10:25 pm: |
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I do the same thing HH....don't know what all the Hoopla is about.....Cheep and works well for me.
Cheers,Brewzz |
ScottDeW
Advanced Member
Username: Scott
Post Number: 595
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 99.7.211.20
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 12, 2009 - 01:48 am: |
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To be honest, I more often go the picnic tap route. It is when I'm bottling for long term storage (and more than a bottle or three) that I pull the beer gun out.
Honesty, bottling an entire keg with the beer gun is an exercise in simplicity.
Scott
http://texanbrew.com |
marc pullum
Member
Username: Brewinales
Post Number: 103
Registered: 06-2006
Posted From: 72.196.31.243
| | Posted on Saturday, August 15, 2009 - 02:59 pm: |
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Brewzz and hop head: you missed the point. these were specifically the very nice remnants of a keg of special stash sammiclone being entered into competitions coming up. wanted the beer in the best possible condition for competition. It turned out we had exactly 6 bottles left. 4 for the comps and 2 to taste afterwards. beer gun was pretty easy, especially when only wanted a few bottles done. |
Belly Buster Bob
Senior Member
Username: Canman
Post Number: 3088
Registered: 02-2003
Posted From: 131.137.245.197
| | Posted on Monday, August 17, 2009 - 05:42 pm: |
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I purchaesed a CPBF 4 or 5 years ago.....it has yet to touch beer |
Brewzz
Advanced Member
Username: Brewzz
Post Number: 704
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 70.112.225.127
| | Posted on Monday, August 17, 2009 - 10:00 pm: |
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I still gotta say,if the beer and bottle are good and cold,filling the way H.H. and I do,will produce just as good of a bottled beer as a beer gun.You cap on foam,and the oxygen is forced out of the bottle from the bottom....just my.02
Cheers,Brewzz |
Hophead
Senior Member
Username: Hophead
Post Number: 2855
Registered: 03-2002
Posted From: 167.4.1.41
| | Posted on Monday, August 17, 2009 - 10:06 pm: |
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I understand completely. I just don't think it would be better/worse using tap or gun, IMHO.
Good luck with your scores! |
Kevin Kowalczyk
Advanced Member
Username: Itsfunbrewingbeer
Post Number: 719
Registered: 10-2007
Posted From: 209.252.39.59
| | Posted on Thursday, August 20, 2009 - 03:41 pm: |
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I was at Piece, my local brewpizzeria last night, and noticed for the first time how they fill their growlers from the tap. They have a short length of tube that fits right over the tap which is attached to a longer, smaller diameter tube with an oetiker clamp. The bartender puts the smaller end into the bottom of the growler and just lets her rip. No foaming, and since it fills from the bottom, theoretically, all the air should be pushed out.
Granted, their beers aren't highly carbonated, and a growler is meant to drink fairly soon, but I'm tempted to give this method a try when bottling, because it was so simple.
I have a counter pressure filler, and I have to admit, it's a bit of a PITA. I have also filled off the cobra tap, by inserting a rigid tube (my bottle filler with the spring valve removed) into it, but that also means I have to open the kegerator, attach the cobra tap, dial down the pressure, fill the bottles, reattach the beer line, and dial up the pressure. I think I'll be rigging up the fill tube tonight. |
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