One of the less rewarding aspects of our homebrew hobby is the chore of racking (moving beer from one vessel to another). The pros enjoy the benefit of pumps that do the heavy lifting, but few of us hobbyists have access to such technological convenience. So we usually rely on a siphon to get beer from Point A to Point B.
In theory, the siphon is an elegant solution to a challenging problem. You simply elevate the source vessel above the destination, and let gravity do the work. And it is an elegant solution, once the siphon has actually started. But getting the siphon going in the first place isn’t always a straightforward task. Here, then, are four popular ways to start a siphon.
Avoid It Altogether
Okay, this has nothing to do with starting a siphon, but it’s worth mentioning. The siphon problem can be avoided completely by selecting a fermentation vessel that has a spigot near the bottom, as with a bottling bucket. When it’s time to transfer your beer, just connect the tubing and open the valve. Gravity naturally pulls the liquid through the racking tube, and racking is off and running.
Pros: Easy peasy.
Cons: Potential to pick up more trub than you’d like since the position of the spigot is fixed, and the height of the trub layer can vary. Placing the spigot higher risks wasting beer.
Auto-Siphon
This popular device has become all but standard issue for new homebrewers who purchase bundled equipment kits. A plastic racking cane slides within another plastic tube of larger diameter, which features a one-way valve at one end. Simply submerge the closed end of the device into the elevated vessel of beer, place the free end of the hose into the destination vessel, pull up on the racking cane, and plunge it down. In most cases, one plunge of the racking cane will do the trick, but if not, a second is all that’s needed. Beer flows, and your siphon goes.
Pros: Easy to use and keeps your environment dry. Sanitary if you keep it clean.
Cons: Becomes useless if the little one-way valve at the tip breaks. May develop scratches over time, which could harbor bacteria and cause contamination. No stainless steel option available.
Carboy Cap
Ever wonder why carboy caps have two little stems protruding from them? It’s to help you start a siphon. Simply push a racking cane down through the center stem and then blow into the angled stem. The elevated pressure you deliver to the headspace is enough to force beer through the racking cane. Of course, human breath isn’t the most sanitary source of air pressure, so many brewers who prefer this method either blow through an in-line HEPA filter or use a quick blast from their kegerator’s CO2 system.
Pros: Dead simple. If you use a stainless steel racking cane and a sanitary source of gas pressure, it is very clean.
Cons: Potential for contamination if you use your lungs.
Good Old-Fashioned Racking Cane and Tubing
This timeless solution is about as simple as it gets. If you’re willing to tempt fate, you can always suck on the free end of the tubing, but you do so at your own risk (enjoy a shot of your favorite high-proof spirit first if you do). A better option is to pre-fill the whole assembly with sanitizer and, plugging the free end of the hose with a thumb, place the cane into the source vessel. Then, when you release your thumb from the tubing, sanitizer will flow, followed shortly by beer. Of course, getting the timing right takes some practice.
Pros: Incredibly simple equipment, not much to break.
Cons: Can be messy and awkward. Timing is tricky.
So there you have it: A handful of solutions to prime your siphon. Have you developed an innovative way to start the flow of beer? If so, let us know!