Question for the keggers out there.
Most of my batches are 20-23 litres, so it wont quite all fit in the 18L kegs i have. Plus i'd like to have some beer of each batch bottled so i can see how it ages, and for taking to parties etc.
So i was wondering how exactly should i prime the mixture so that i can bottle the left-overs. I've had the following thoughts and suggestions
a) Bulk Prime the whole lot
I could bulk prime the lot, bottle a 1/2 dozen bottles, and then wait a week for the yeast to clean up the extra fermentables in the main lot before kegging.
But won't this kind of be introducing more flavours and "haze" that i've spent that last 4 weeks CC'ing etc to clear?
B) Bulk prime just enough to bottle
I guess the problem here is that i lost a couple of litres to the priming / bottling fermenter. Normally that litre or two doesn't matter, but when i'm only doing 1/2 dozen bottles this is kind of wastefull.
c) Make up DME mix and pour into bottles
This seems to be to be not only a pain, but hard to manage. Sure, i know each bottle takes 750ml, but who here can claim to fill each bottle to the exact same amount each time?
d) Carbonation drops
Seems easiest way, but i don't like the fiziness these things make
Anyone got a way i haven't thought of?
Most of my batches are 20-23 litres, so it wont quite all fit in the 18L kegs i have. Plus i'd like to have some beer of each batch bottled so i can see how it ages, and for taking to parties etc.
So i was wondering how exactly should i prime the mixture so that i can bottle the left-overs. I've had the following thoughts and suggestions
a) Bulk Prime the whole lot
I could bulk prime the lot, bottle a 1/2 dozen bottles, and then wait a week for the yeast to clean up the extra fermentables in the main lot before kegging.
But won't this kind of be introducing more flavours and "haze" that i've spent that last 4 weeks CC'ing etc to clear?
B) Bulk prime just enough to bottle
I guess the problem here is that i lost a couple of litres to the priming / bottling fermenter. Normally that litre or two doesn't matter, but when i'm only doing 1/2 dozen bottles this is kind of wastefull.
c) Make up DME mix and pour into bottles
This seems to be to be not only a pain, but hard to manage. Sure, i know each bottle takes 750ml, but who here can claim to fill each bottle to the exact same amount each time?
d) Carbonation drops
Seems easiest way, but i don't like the fiziness these things make
Anyone got a way i haven't thought of?