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.