Newest Threads

DrBergeron · 11-02-2012, 04:31 PM

I like to bottle 1/2 batches using "recycled" bottles with old labels on them and the other 1/2 bottles i've bought new. This way I have bottles to give away to people and don't have to ask for them back, and bottles for when people come over to share that look nice. Best of both worlds.

johngaltsmotor · 11-02-2012, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mb2658

Hey, if you want to be the kid at school with stains all over his clothes, be my guest.

To quote George Thorogood "I drink alone".

if you're drinking at home, who cares if you've got stains on your clothes, labels on your bottles, or peanut shells on the floor. It's all about the beer.

**unionrdr** · 11-02-2012, 04:39 PM

I just think it's better to serve my beers in clean,delabeled bottled. Clean inside & out. It just makes for a neater presentation. I let them pour there own beer after aquick tutorial. Get's them a little more involved.

**AMonkey** · 11-02-2012, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Herky21

this is exactly why I don't drink people's beer when it still has labels on it. I saw one guy serving his beers at a local bar that has a homebrew happy hour. He had Samuel Smith Bottles with the labels on. Samuel Smith labels fall of in 2 minutes in lukewarm water. He had brought his first 4 batches of beer. It was obvious to me that the bottles hadn't been sanitized. Gross.

Jet washer and vinator. Just saying.

**Mb2658** · 11-02-2012, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johngaltsmotor

To quote George Thorogood "I drink alone".

if you're drinking at home, who cares if you've got stains on your clothes, labels on your bottles, or peanut shells on the floor. It's all about the beer.

True, and if no one sees it, no one will be the wiser. But then again, if you post pictures of your labeled bottles, stained clothes and peanut shell covered floor on the Internet, like some do, you intend for others to see.

For me, it's worth the small amount effort to clean up the bottles. For some it isn't. Fair enough. It doesn't make your beer any better or worse provided that you follow adequate sanitation methods. I would say that it does impact the overall image of the finished package/product. I think that it is fair to say that an outsider trying your beer who sees you pour it from a bottle with a janky faded 1554 label is going to have a different impression of your beer than if it comes out of a bottle that is clean or has a custom made label.

For me personally, it is a pride issue. I don't want someone else's tired old label on the fruits of my labor.

RainyDay · 11-02-2012, 05:14 PM

Just sandblast the bottles. Its quick, easy, and everyone has a sandblaster anyway

**unionrdr** · 11-02-2012, 05:16 PM

I don't,but I guess I could use one for my tuner. I just use PBW,starsan,a dobie & bottle brush for cleaning them. The PBW soak does most of the work.

neko · 11-02-2012, 05:26 PM

I will usually put my brew in 22oz bottles and a lot of those are silkscreened (Rogue, Stone, Hopworks) so the label isn't coming off. A little sharpie on the cap so I know what is inside is all I need.

The beer inside is great. The outside of the clean and sanitized bottle doesn't mean much so I'll spend my time on more important things.

signpost · 11-02-2012, 05:46 PM

Wow. I'm surprised none of you have died from label contamination. Everybody knows that beer labels go bad after their first use. You people must like living on the edge. I'm not even convinced the bottles even last more than a couple uses. If I could, I'd just drink straight from the fermenter and carbonate each gulp in my mouth.

**NervousDad** · 11-02-2012, 05:52 PM

We eat and drink with our eyes, so I would be leery of a bottle with some random label still attached, but really I wouldn't mind too much once I poured it into a pint glass. I mean really I would just prefer it on kegged anyway.