messy preparation

hambone · Post by **hambone** » Tuesday Mar 07, 2006 10:49 am

Hi New brewer here! Any short cuts! Have made a few brews now but don't have a lot of space. I find the whole cleaning bottles,drain on top wash m/c, filling, capping etc time consuming and awkward. Working on laundry floor and handling about 30 bottles at a time. Have room in shed but too hard to control temp out there. I need to streamline the process a lot more. Any ideas are welcome! thanks all, really enjoy the forum!

Hashie · Post by **Hashie** » Tuesday Mar 07, 2006 11:03 am

Get a keg system, that'd sure take some hassle out of bottling.

Maybe a new bench to work on rather than the floor?

All my bottles and kegs live in the shed, with no temp. control. Once bottled, temp. is only required for the first 2 weeks to ensure carbonation. After that it doesn't matter.

BeerFrenzy · Post by **BeerFrenzy** » Tuesday Mar 07, 2006 11:25 am

Im considering buying one of those bottle draining trees....its too hard to stand 30 bottles upsidedown anywhere else. I cant find a picture anywhere...otherwise I would post it...

Bottle preparation takes time...its probably the longest and most boring part of brewing...the only thing that makes it fun is the knowledge that those bottles will soon be filled with sweet, sweet beer

dags64 · Post by **dags64** » Tuesday Mar 07, 2006 11:43 am

I wash my bottles at the kitchen sink then stand them upside down in the dishwasher using the things that stick up to hold the plates up

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Tuesday Mar 07, 2006 12:05 pm

I used to wash bottles the hard way, then bought a bottle tree, and the washing thing that goes on top. Bloody useful things. It is sooo easy, and saves water and oneshot. Simply push the bottle down on the plunger 4 or so times, then put on the bottle tree. It is that easy.

Stangas · Post by **Stangas** » Tuesday Mar 07, 2006 12:09 pm

i'm with hashie on this one..

kegs are the best, the easiest, most efficient, more rewarding (nothing better than a beer tap in you shed!!)

It takes me not even 10 minutes to rack into the keg, seal, burp then into the fridge.

they may have an initial setup cost, ie fridge, kegs, regulator, CO2 cylinder hire but is well worth the effort

Cheeno · Post by **Cheeno** » Tuesday Mar 07, 2006 3:32 pm

Hambone, if you are going to stick with bottles for a awhile you must get a bottle tree and a bench capper. They may seem like expensive items now, but two brews later you will have forgotten what you paid for them. Consider them an investment in your beermaking future; if your brewing routine is too onerous you will stop making beer. Space (room) can be an invaluable help. Don't be afraid to go out to the shed there are many ways to control or stabilise the temp. of your brew just search this site. Hope it all goes well.

shane_vor · Post by **shane_vor** » Tuesday Mar 07, 2006 10:43 pm

I went back to bottles from kegs! What? I hear you say? Yes 'tis true.

For draining bottles I use the crates they came in. Just tip em upside down in the crate. I don't have to scrub the bottles becuase I rinse them out after use...or the next morning (hic). Dishwashers a good idea though.

In hindsight taking the beer fridge on the ute to parties was a pain in the arse. Still, having a tap in the fridge was nice...

As for the problem at hand, just have everything prepared. It all runs smooth as silk after a couple of runs.