How to Bottle Homemade Brew

Hello fellow homebrewers/acoholic drink makers.  Glass beer bottles are a great way to store your homemade liquors and in this instructable I will attempt to cover all the basics of bottling.

1.       Gathering Bottle Supplies

2.       Cleaning and Sterilizing

3.       Filling the Bottles

4.       Sealing the Bottles

Equipment:
Cleaner
Sterilizer
Bottle Brush
Handheld Drill (optional, may need a hacksaw if using the drill. I’ll tell you why later)
Bottling Bucket
Plastic Tubing
Bottle Filler Tube Attachment (or funnel or hose clamp, but you really want the bottle filler wand)
Bottle Drying Rack (optional)
Bottle Caps
Bottle Capper
Bottles!!!

Step 1

Ok so when gathering bottles remember we do NOT want twist off tops!  I repeat, we do NOT want twist off tops.  Here is where you can get bottles:

Purchase from liquor store (Will need to clean and sanitize after you finish digesting the contents)
Free from your local recycling center (make sure to clean and sanitize those bad boys, they can get bad)
Free from friends (will still need to clean and sanitize) 
Purchase from local brew store (bottles already clean, still need to sanitize) 

I’ll let you choose which way you want to get the bottles.  But for this instructable, I’m am going to assume the bottles need cleaning.

Comments

[hitachi8]

i always bottle to the part where the bottle is getting narrower. is there any problem with that? (heineken bottle- nonbeer brew)

[beerbrewer76]

We sell easy clean in our shop, although I am not a fan of one-step cleaner/sanitizer & believe iodophor or star san is best for sanitation: easy clean IS a no-rinse sanitizer.

[MrBippers]

Easy clean is a cleaner, not a sanitizer. It's pretty similar to the oxyclean you are using in the first step. If you want to sanitize after cleaning, you should use something like Star San.

[beerbrewer76]

We sell easy clean in our shop, although I am not a fan of one-step cleaner/sanitizer & believe iodophor or star san is best for sanitation: easy clean IS a no-rinse sanitizer.

[Davidmattera]

This layout for bottling would be great. So methodical, you'd never have to worry about contamination.

I am a homebrewer and my girlfriend, inspired by our constant confusion over what is in each bottle, made these awesome chalkboard labels. Check them out.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/SillyLadyHandsomeMan?ref=pr_shop_more

[jessyratfink]

This is a great overview! Lots of good tips. :)