d510addict

Recipes 

Hello all,

I'm a first time brewer and have my first 1 gallon batch going. I'd like to start a few new batches hopefully before Christmas, 1 would be Appelwein and the other Graff but I have a few questions. I know that Appelwein ages well but how does Graff do? Also would a growler with a screw on type lid or a flip top work for long term storage of both? I don't have bottling equipment and don't plan to prime/carb anything so using a larger container is ideal.

Thank you for the help in advance, I really just need to figure everything out in advanced so that I am prepared and nothing goes to waste.

jezter6

Recipes 

Growlers with screw on lids are notoriously bad and aren't for long term aging.

If you're aging, you really should put it into bottles. Every time you open the growler to sample, you're adding oxygen into the mix and will eventually make for the last bit to be crappy and oxidized.

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d510addict

Recipes 

For bottling all I need is a capper right?

jezter6

Recipes 

Capper, caps (cheap) and bottles...

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I am a member of the Maryland Brewday Group - http://www.homebrewtalk.com/groups/md-brew-day/

MD Dec Brewday 12/11/10 - http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f20/md-pa-de-dc-winter-brew-day-195534/

jcobbs

Recipes 

I do mostly gallon batches myself--if you're not going to carb you could also cork it in wine bottles. I got one of those $5.00 plastic corkers and some corks from the LHBS. Those little hand corkers are not something you'd want to do a lot of but since you only get about 4-5 wine bottles to a gallon it's not that big a deal. If I were doing large batches I'd definitely go with a better corker, but for now this does what I want.

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Hickory Glynn Winery & Brewery

d510addict

Recipes 

Well heres my ideology on this, I was something for longer term storage and I will be drinking this in 1/2 gallon type quantities as It would be with friends.

Are the only disadvantages to bottling in growlers is the fact that to taste you would have to crack open one and reseal which would oxidize it? How about if I use growlers and do not open them till its time to drink up? Bottling in 12oz bottles or even 20 oz bottles is a bit time consuming and with no real way to buy a good bottler it would be tedious.

jezter6

Recipes 

I'm sure you can find 32's or maybe 40s somewhere to cap...

Either way...screw cap growler - no.

The flip top should be ok for months, but I don't know if I'd trust that seal for years and years.

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I am a member of the Maryland Brewday Group - http://www.homebrewtalk.com/groups/md-brew-day/

MD Dec Brewday 12/11/10 - http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f20/md-pa-de-dc-winter-brew-day-195534/

d510addict

Recipes 

kk Thank you good sir for the help, once I get my car going I'm gonna hit up the brewshop and get stuff for brewing up a graff for the rosebowl.

Kauai_Kahuna

Recipes 

Another option is re-using 2 litre soda bottles, I have been using them to store things for many months without any problems. Of course once opened they don't last long.
Currently I have a number of beers, ciders and meads bottles in wine bottles, 2 litre PET soda bottles, and smaller bottles to test at times. And once again, I have not been able to see a difference in taste between them.
Just make certain you clean and rinse the PET bottles very well, unless you like the flavour of the soda added to your brew.

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In Primary: Belgium Chimay clones.
In Secondary: Braggot, pale ale, end of the world white.
Conditioning: Mead, Cider, braggot, Belgium Wheat.
On Tap: Clones, Chimay Blue, Red, Porter, malted cider.
Bottles: Far, far, too many to list.

wreckinball9

Recipes 

actually growlers work great if you have the right caps.

http://www.austinhomebrew.com/product_info.php?products_id=2446&osCsid=d8e285e77 2611f887b63ce19f09acb29

these polyseal caps are way better than the single use caps you normally get.

now obviously once you open the growler oxygen is introduced so you do want to consume the cider within a few days. but especially if its not carbonated to begin with, there is no reason no to use growlers with the polyseal caps.

there are a LOT of people on HBT that regurgitate stuff they have read like it is fact, when in truth they have no experience on the subject. i use growlers all the time. I even carbonate in them! ( A big NO-NO most folks on here will tell you.) the key is the poly seal cap, don't over prime if you are naturally carbing, and once a growler is opened it should be kept in the fridge and consumed withing a week or two.

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And how is education supposed to make me feel smarter? Besides, every time I learn something new, it pushes some old stuff out of my brain. Remember when I took that home winemaking course, and I forgot how to drive?- Homer S.