Home Brewing problems and inventions / remedies

FOF · Post by **FOF** » Saturday Sep 16, 2006 12:42 pm

I would be interested to know your home brewing problems and how you fixed them.

The first obstacle I had was how to clean and drain my bottles.
I built a bottling bench (http://www.users.on.net/~rawlco/bench2.jpg) that allows the bottles to stand upside down to drain and sterilize (using Neopink).
It is 1285mm / 4â€™3â€ long, 655mm / 2â€™ 2Â¾â€ wide and 800mm / 2â€™ 7Â¾â€ high with 50mm / 2â€ mesh welded to the top. There are 18 Holes length ways and 12 holes sideways.
This allows 9 rows x 6 rows of large bottles as well as the bucket and bowl for washing and rinsing. I had intended getting a galvanized sheet folded to sit over the top (not done yet) to make it a flat topped bench as well. The bench is light enough to carry so can be used anywhere.

This works for meâ€¦â€¦..

Cheers,
FOF

Schooner · Post by **Schooner** » Saturday Sep 16, 2006 5:18 pm

yup got pretty much the same thing here FOF, good to keep the inside of bottles untouched , unlike wooden peg style or plastic racks - 4 years and not even 1 bad bottle

FOF · Post by **FOF** » Saturday Sep 16, 2006 5:26 pm

Schooner
My thoughts too
Must be some terrible nasties on some bottle trees

Schooner · Post by **Schooner** » Sunday Sep 17, 2006 11:44 am

FOF · Post by **FOF** » Sunday Sep 17, 2006 12:21 pm

Schooner,
I'm not into kegging, the missus thinks i would drink more beer

My intention in starting this thread was to show that there are many ways to do things and others may wish to adopt an idea to suit their purpose.
"If it works for you"

Cheers

Schooner · Post by **Schooner** » Monday Sep 18, 2006 5:15 pm

sorry FOF , I didn't mean to take your thread off track.....

and your missus is right.... you would drink much more

, i do

lethaldog · Post by **lethaldog** » Monday Sep 18, 2006 5:22 pm

Schooner wrote:sorry FOF , I didn't mean to take your thread off track.....

and your missus is right.... you would drink much more , i do

Dam i was thinking of getting a keg setup to

Cant afford a new liver though

rwh · Post by **rwh** » Monday Sep 18, 2006 5:42 pm

Yeah, I was seriously thinking about getting a kegging system too. But I figure putting the money into a weekend away with the GF would be better for the relationship, as well as the figure!

Some things in a relationship require compromise. I think I spend enough time and money on HB as it is. If my relationship goes to hell, maybe I'll buy the kegging system to cheer myself up!

FOF · Post by **FOF** » Monday Sep 18, 2006 5:50 pm

Schooner,
You are not taking the thread off track --- the more ideas, inventions and remedies the better.

RWH,
Can the Girlfriend help with a couple of lots of cleaning bottles.. SHE may just suggest a kegging system

Cheers,
FOF

FOF · Post by **FOF** » Monday Sep 18, 2006 5:53 pm

Lethal,
Have a holiday in the hill and we'll do that liver of yours some serious damage

Cheers,
FOF

lethaldog · Post by **lethaldog** » Monday Sep 18, 2006 6:30 pm

FOF wrote:Lethal,
Have a holiday in the hill and we'll do that liver of yours some serious damage

Cheers,
FOF

The missus just heard your message ( i read it to her of course

) and she actually said she wouldnt mind goin to the hill some where down the track so i may just take you up on that offer m8

FOF · Post by **FOF** » Monday Sep 18, 2006 6:39 pm

Lethal,
When I'm sober I make a helluva tourguide and not a bad brew either.
When pissed I dribble Sh%t.

It's your call...

Cheers,
FOF

lethaldog · Post by **lethaldog** » Monday Sep 18, 2006 6:53 pm

FOF wrote:Lethal,
When I'm sober I make a helluva tourguide and not a bad brew either.
When pissed I dribble Sh%t.

It's your call...

Cheers,
FOF

Well i like touring and i dont know to many who dont dribble shit when we are full, i can dribble shit with the best of em, just look at some of my late night posts

also dont make a bad drop myself so it would be a good excuse for a hol and some taste testing, ill let you know when we are getting closer to working it out

FOF · Post by **FOF** » Monday Sep 18, 2006 7:07 pm

Ok so back to the thread....
Bottling is made easier using a magic wand http://www.users.on.net/~rawlco/wand.jpg .
To make this you will need 1.5 metres of food grade tubing ( Home Brew Store ) to fit the top of your bottler.
Cut 35 mm from the top of your bottler to make an adapter to fit between the tap and the tubing. Insert the bottler into the other end of the tubing. Don't forget to steralize the lot before use.
Now you can take the beer to the bottle instead of the bottle to the beer

Krusty · Post by **Krusty** » Thursday Sep 21, 2006 3:07 am

Yep, have to agree the "magic wand" is a time and effort saver. I made up a two headed one to bottle with, using a garden irrigation tee from bunnings. Trouble was having to try and fill two bottles, watch two bottles, drink from another bottle, and try to prevent beer coming out of one while you transfer the other.
So, I suggest only making a two headed "magic wand" if you have eyes like a chamelion.
I have reverted to the single one since I don't have eyes like that.