Beer gun, worth it?

[RubberToe]

I just bottled 15 500ml bottles from the keg. My Pale Ale went really well but my Porter foamed like a SON of a bitch.

I set the PSI really low, about 3 psi. Half the problem was my beer line on the Porter was foaming a lot too. No clue as to why. All equipment was chilled (all in my keezer) as well. I poured straight from the tap but added a piece of tubing to reach the bottom of the bottles after the first few bottles of Porter weren't pouring well. I've tried everything, BMBF, etc. Getting fed up....

So, who here has a Blichman beer gun? I am tempted to drop the hundred bucks for one now. I'd love to enter my brews into competitions too, I am really proud of this Porter and pissed off I couldn't bottle it well.

-Rob

[Jimmy]

I just use a racking cane with a stopper over it and have never had any foaming issues. I can't comment on the beer gun though.

[mr x]

Nash has one.

[RubberToe]

I just use a racking cane with a stopper over it and have never had any foaming issues. I can't comment on the beer gun though.

Is your racking cane connected to a thumb tap or perlick? I've tried the racking cane + stopper method too with a bit of luck but the way I had it set up was still a pain in the ass.... maybe I should try again.

[Jimmy]

Thumb tap and a few psi

[Tony L]

I have one. I love mine. It is so easy to use, once you know the limits to it. For example, it isn't a CPBF so to get the same level of carbonation
you would from a CPBF you would need to slightly over carbonate your beer to compensate for the little loss of carbonation you would get while
filling and capping the bottle.

But for a piece of equipment that you can use with one hand, to me, it is worth the price.

As for the issue of foaming mentioned above.. having a beer gun wouldn't help that situation. Either the beer is over carbonated or there is some restriction
causing the foaming. I don't think you would have any infection problems......

Some times when I'm going somewhere and just want a quick fill, I'll use a picnic tap with a short piece of racking cane to reach the bottom of the bottle inserted in the picnic tap to fill a couple of bottles. Never have mush issues with that either. Saves me cleaning the beer gun.

[thirdeye]

Here's a super cheap option:

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f35/we-no-n ... gun-24678/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[RubberToe]

Yeah, the BMBF, tried it with mixed results.

[John G]

I have a beer gun and use the racking tube with thumb tap. Beer gun is great, but a pain to clean and get ready to use (partially my fault for not have dedicated QDs and hoses for it). Thumb tap is good for quick bottle or growler fills to head out to a party. I use the beer gun for competition beers or if I'm filling a large number of bottles to make use of a keg for something else. I like both options.

[mr x]

I just jam a piece of tubing into my perlick and pour straight from the tap at probably 3 psi. Works like a charm if everything is cold.

[RubberToe]

I just jam a piece of tubing into my perlick and pour straight from the tap at probably 3 psi. Works like a charm if everything is cold.

Tubing into the inside of the tap? If so, what size?

[mr x]

My heavy simgo beerline fits in the 575, I think it fits the 425 too, but I heat it first to make it easier to jam in.

[Jayme]

I've been happy with my beer gun. It did take a bit to get the hang of it - essentially exactly for the issues Tony pointed out. But it's perfect for anything you're going to keep around a while. I don't find the clean up to be bad at all either - it's pretty easy to take apart. If you're lazy like me, you can even just clamp the trigger while filling large bottles - then it's hands free!

[NASH]

I like the gun too and it's easy as balls to clean and sanitize in a brewery. I use a 12' - 14' choker line on it so I don't need to lower the pressure on the tank much if at all. No foaming issues and it's fast

[RobD]

but I heat it first to make it easier to jam in.

That's what she said.

[Timothy Doane]

No way!
I saw a youtube you can make one for $10.00 - I have one it works great - can't find the video - call me 445.5770

[Timothy Doane]

On youtube - from keg to bottle for $10 bucks - check it out!

[RubberToe]

Yep, racking cane + thumb tap + stopper, as stated earlier. I think I'll try that method again the next time I bottle. On a side note I racked two kegs tonight and now I'm out of CO2. Doh!!

[Tony L]

I assume those of you just using the racking cane method, are bottling and drinking it very soon.
Otherwise, how are you purging the air out of your bottles. I use the gun to shoot CO2 into the bottle before filling and even a little after.

[RubberToe]

With the racking cane or straight from tap method you need to cap on foam to avoid oxidation.

[Tony L]

Yeah, I can see that. It can't be easy getting a full head of foam though, especially when you withdraw the tube.
I imagine you would then have some space left with air there.
I know it is impossible to vent all the air out, even for commercial brewers, but it would seen like there would be enough
there to really affect the beer.
I don't know, I'm just asking and surmising.

When I fill a bottle from the tap it is into a PET bottle, and I then put a carbonator cap on it, squeeze out the excess gas until
I get liquid coming out. Then I re pressurize it with CO2. This is for a bottle that I will use that night.
If it is for a bottle I will use on the weekend, I'll get CO2 into the bottle first before I start to fill it to keep oxygenation
down a little more.
Perhaps I like to waste CO2

[mr x]

I never have an issue capping on foam as I leave the tap open as I take the tube out. And when I use pet bottles, it's a simple task.

[Jimmy]

I've been using the racking can method for bottles I've had stored for about 3 or 4 months now, and they all seem to be holding up fine.

[sleepyjamie]

if you put the bottles in the freezer before hand it helps reduce foaming.

[hogie]

Did you end up getting a Beer Gun? I'm seriously considering getting one too. $70 here. Will likely order a bunch of things to make up for the shipping.