Beer Gun + accessories - $90-$100
Counter-Pressure Bottle Filler - $30 DIY
http://www.byo.com/stories/projects-and-equipment/article/indices/20-build-it-yourself/364-build-a-counter-pressure-bottle-filler-projects
Is the Beer Gun really worth it? I could use that extra $60-$70 on another fermenter for conditioning or a few extra kegs…
Another option is the picnic tap with the short racking cane tube:
This costs you nothing if you already have a picnic tap and some broken racking cane.
I love this set-up. Key is to bottle when the beer is at ~32-34F and to keep the bottles at the same temp. Then you push the beer into the bottles with about 2-3 psi. Cap on foam and you are done.
CP fillers are nice for bottling something that is not as cold (e.g. from the serving fridge) but they need more cleaning. The beer gun seems like a waste of money for $100.
Kai
Forgot to mention…
I’m using this to fill bottles for competition at the end of the month… I’ll occasionally use it to fill bottles for poker games, bbq’s, etc., but it’ll mostly be for competitions.
I’ve been using a CPF for years and love it. It’s a little harder to figure out how to get it to work with only 1 person, but once you figure that out it’s really easy to use. The BeerGun seems easier right out of the box, but I agree with you that it’s not $60 - $70 easier. Just my .02.
+1 on this. If I’m bottling for competition, I purge the bottles with CO2 first, otherwise I just fill from a sanitized picnic tap. Now, if I was bottling 2 cases…
Dave
I can easily fill a whole keg worth of bottles this way. This is what I do with my Doppelbock in order to free up a keg and allow the beer to age in the bottle.
Since the beer has to be near freezing for this to work well I always bottle 6-12 bottles before I rack a batch to its serving keg. Those bottles are primarily for sharing and comparative tasting.
Kai
Do you bottle those 6-12 from the carboy and prime?
If so, how is the comparative tasting between bottle conditioned and force-carbonated?
Do I smell an experiment?
No, they are bottled from a cold conditioned and carbed keg
What I mean to say I always use a bottle for personal beer tastings where I take notes. It provides me with a more consistent beer presentation.
Kai
I have the BBG and really like the performance. I suppose if you need the money, the CPF will do the job but you won’t be able to purge with CO2. That’s the only real difference. If you can come up with the extra cash the BBG will be worth it for you in the long run. It’s very easy to use and maintain as well.
if you go to the main website there is a section on free downloads. one of these is about making gadgets. there is a great description of something similar to what Kai is talking about that seems to work great. it also has some interesting ways of filling plastic 2 liters from your keg to take to parties (boundary waters canoe trips, camping, etc)
A real counterpressure bottle filler will let you purge the bottle with CO2. Then you pressurize it to the same pressure as the keg (I like to overpressurize it at 18-20 psi). Turn off the CO2, turn on the beer valve and adjust the pressure relief valve for a smooth fill. When full, turn off beer valve, let out more pressure from the relief valve, remove CPBF and cap on foam.
I bottle using exactly the method that Kai uses…a cobra tap with a tube jammed into it… and it works great.
As far as purging the bottles, I manage to do that too…I have a manifold on my co2 tank connected to another cobra tap that has a stopper attached…I give each bottle a shot (usually 6 at a time) then fill the forzen bottles with the nearly frozen beer, then cap 'em. Works great, it retains the carbonation level I like, and I have subsequently kept beers bottled that way for a year or more with no problems whatsoever.
The Beergun and the homemade CPF’s are both great, but by no means are they necessities for bottling up to a case or two of beer at a time.
I’d either get a real counterpressure filler or got the DIY route… the beer gun seems expensive for something lacking true counter-pressure…
Also, regarding the DIY version: If you get the right sized tubing, you can put it through a drilled rubber stopper and stick it right in your draft spout. This eliminates the need for a picnic tap. This only works with the widest spout attachment on my ventmatics, though, so if you have regular rear-seal faucets it may not be possible… not really sure.
I have a BBG and it is one of my top 5 gadgets for ease of use and functionality. I generally prime in a keg and bottle but I do some times bottles carbonated samples. The one handed operation is far superior to a CP filler in my opinion. I usually fill 3-6 kegs worth in a session - 4-5 hours from set up to break down. My 0.02.
Good point about the temperature. Keep the beer, bottles and hoses as cold as possible to minimize foaming.
Kai, what’s the longest you’ve kept unpurged tap-filled bottles, and what temperature were they stored? How long did it take for oxidation to show up, if it has yet? I’m considering this method to free up keg space since I don’t have a special filler, and it will probably be the higher alcohol beers that require 6-12 months of aging.
they really should last for a long time without oxidation. for the most part as the beer is filling the bottle the air in the bottle has to leave the opening. their should be very little dissolving of the oxygen (only 18-20%) of the air into the beer during this. especially if no turbulence. if you completely top off in the process and cap on the foam, there is really limited ability for the oxygen to affect the beer. if still worried, an oxygen scavenging cap can be used for those long storage beers.
The beer I keep the longest ist my Doppelbock which, fortunately, benefits from some oxidation. Other beers have been kep as long as 4-5 months w/o problems I think.
Kai
Just adding my two cents in that the Beer Gun is quite nice and perhaps worth splurging on. You may also be able to forgo the accessories kit if you have enough fittings and connectors around in your collection of beer things. It seems that it’s almost a matter of preference between BG and CPF. I know I’ve built all kinds of DIY gadgets for brewing that do bring some personal satisfaction. But, how much is your time and effort worth? As much as I like DIY, I also like having something that’s ready to be used from the get go.
I will add that I have never used a CPF so I’m only stating my preference for what I have used. I’ve tried the picnic tap with a jammed piece of a racking cane method with less success.
I also second the idea of a very cold keg and cold bottles to help keep the CO2 in solution. Otherwise, it’s a foamy mess even if you go from the keg that’s in the kegerator at optimum serving temperatures.
Just to add my $0.02 on CPF fillers. I made a really nice one and expected to get rid of my Poor Man’s. Turns out they are a PITA to clean and so for anything less than 12 bottles I use the Poor Man’s and only pull out the full blown one for large bottling sessions. My version and KS Poor Man’s are on my page www.ipass.net/mpdixon