one of the local wineries retail stores sells me a case of empty bottles for $2. You can try checking there.
Beer bottles are not good for aging wine in but if you are doing something like apfelwein that isn't going to be aged they are fine.
My banana wine took about 2 months to clear. What recipe did you follow?
I followed this one for mine:
http://www.winemakingtalk.com/forum/f2/banana-wine-recipe-2-a-3629/
http://www.greenhousewinery.com/product/specialty/red-hot-diamond/#.UgDn65LVBmo
Here is a local place, it tastes pretty good you get the sweet niagra at the start and then the hot of the pepper on the end.