Lab 10 update 2

Bottling our brew

Purpose 

During the laboratory exercise on November 21, 2012, we bottled the American amber ale we began brewing on October 31 (see Lab 10 blog) and clarified on November 14 (see Lab 10 update 1). 

Materials and Methods 

Bottles and tops 
Bottle capper 
Keg
Siphon
Sanitizer
Carbonation tablets
Carbon dioxide tank

All bottles, the keg and siphoning equipment were sanitized as before (see Lab 10 update 1 in my blog). A carbonation tablet was placed in each bottle before filling with the brew. A siphon was used as before to fill several bottles and then to place the rest of the brew in a keg. The bottles were capped. The brew in the keg also was subjected to carbonation using the carbon dioxide.

Results 

Co-laboratory instructor Dr. Dan Ebbole siphoned the beer from the carboy to the keg.

Carbonation tablets added to bottles before adding the beer. Carbonation will help form the foam (head) you see when pouring the beer into a glass.

Our beer in recycled, sterilized bottles. Capping was done in the lab. The beer will continue to mature in the bottles. Everyone in class got to take one bottle. I plan to drink mine over the Christmas and New Year break from school.

Dr. Ebbole and classmate Xin with keg of beer under pressure using carbon dioxide. Dr. Ebbole enjoyed another sample. Like the carbonation tablets in the bottled beer, the carbon dioxide under pressure will help form the head on the beer when it is dispensed.

Discussion 

I had already left TAMU for the Thanksgiving holiday, as I was traveling half way across the United States, so the pictures are courtesy of classmate Maxwell Handiseni. The brew will continue to mature in the bottles and the keg, the latter at least for another week, when the beer will be consumed during our last lab class.