Corking a Belgian???

HomerT · 10-26-2006, 06:23 PM

For X-mas gifts, I was planning on bottling a batch in 750ml Blegian bottles and completeing them with a cork and wire cage. I don't want to put alot of money into a hig end corker, as it will be used only occasionally for beer. I have only seen the big floor corkers (>$120) listed as inserting champagne corks. I don't want to spend that much.
NB sells plastic campagne corks that can be inserted by hand and then caged. WOuld these work for a beer? Anyone hae any experience with these? ANy experience for corking a beer?
-Todd

HomerT · 10-26-2006, 08:34 PM

Well, over the the NB forums, people are a bit split on this.
http://forum.northernbrewer.com/viewtopic.php?t=36981

What I really want to know is if I can use plastic champagne corks andwire cages in the Belgian stlye bottles. I called NB and they said no. SOmeone else called and they said yes.

ANyone here ever try something similar?

sonvolt · 10-26-2006, 08:46 PM

They make cheaper corkers than those big floor models. Like this one.

Sean · 10-26-2006, 08:48 PM

Champagne builds up so much more pressure than beer, I don't see why this wouldn't work. Thogh I've never done it.

HomerT · 10-26-2006, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sonvolt

They make cheaper corkers than those big floor models. Like this one.

http://www.midwestsupplies.com/products/ProdByID.aspx?ProdID=4351

Yes, but they don't work with champagne corks. I have verified that with a few people.

**Pumbaa** · 10-26-2006, 09:03 PM

I bottled my braggot in champagne bottles with plastic corks and cages. I rubber mallet works just fine if you are carefull. I did ruin 2 corks (out of 24) though so like I said just be carefull.

What I did was put the cork into the top of a bottle and draped a towel over it to hold them in place. 2 or 3 good whacks drove the cork in until it was well seated then added he cages using a needle nose plyers to twist them until secure.

Caplan · 10-26-2006, 09:49 PM

Plastic 'corks' secured with wire cages work for me. I've aways applied them by hand with no worries.

**Brewtopia** · 10-26-2006, 11:31 PM

The only problem I had with the plastic Champagne corks is when I attempted to use recycled 375ml Liefman's Goudenband bottles. I found that the interior diameter of the bottle opening was not consistent. Some bottles I could tap in tightly with a rubber mallet as suggested above, others would drop right into the bottle and not seal. Morebeer.com sells Belgian Corks that work great. http://morebeer.com/product.html?product_id=6632&PHPSESSID=295fca8d349 d8df5313c4e8aa6e3efa4 I use this corker and it truly is effortless. http://morebeer.com/product.html?product_id=19436

**Brewtopia** · 10-26-2006, 11:36 PM

Quote:

They make cheaper corkers than those big floor models. Like this one.

I also own that corker and it doesn't work with the belgian corks. They are too dense to compress by hand.

HomerT · 10-27-2006, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caplan

Plastic 'corks' secured with wire cages work for me. I've aways applied them by hand with no worries.

Have you ever done them with Belgian bottles or bombers?