How to Bottle Your Home Brew: Priming, Capping & Carbonation

When Is Your Beer Ready to Bottle?

Always confirm fermentation is complete before bottling. Use your hydrometer to take two gravity readings 24 hours apart — if both are identical, it's safe to bottle.

What You'll Need

• 500ml glass beer bottles
• Crown caps and a hand capper
• Syphon with sediment trap
• Carbonation drops or brewing sugar
• Steriliser
• Bottle brush for cleaning

Step 1: Sterilise Your Bottles

Rinse every bottle with sterilising solution. Use a bottle brush for stubborn residue. Also sterilise your caps and syphon.

Step 2: Prime for Carbonation

Drop one carbonation drop into each 500ml bottle — pre-measured and hassle-free. Alternatively, dissolve 80–90g of brewing sugar in boiled water and stir into your batch before bottling.

Step 3: Syphon into Bottles

Position your fermentation vessel above your bottles. Use your syphon to fill each bottle to 2–3cm below the top. Avoid splashing — oxygen at this stage causes off-flavours.

Step 4: Cap and Seal

Place a crown cap on each bottle and crimp firmly with your hand capper. Each properly sealed bottle should feel rigid.

Step 5: Condition and Wait

Leave at room temperature (18–22°C) for 5–7 days, then move somewhere cool for at least 1–2 more weeks before drinking.

Get all your bottling supplies at Brewco.uk: bottles, caps, cappers, carbonation drops, and syphons.