(I was going to create a new thread, but this seems like a ..better place to consolidate BB information.)
I’m thinking of purchasing a square 3gal Better Bottle for 3-4 month cold storage of a beer I brewed yesterday. (I assume the 3gal and 5gal bottles have the same opening size.) I’m told by my LHBS guy (half heartedly) to “just” use a #10 stopper. OK… I’m concerned though. If I take room temp beer, stuff a #10 cap, and put that in the fridge, I suspect the volume reduction might suck that stopper right down into the neck such that I won’t be able to get it off easily. It may even crinkle the plastic slightly depending on the bottle thickness. Probably not, but.. maybe that’s what I want; the idea being I don’t want gnarly fridge air sucking into the vessel as it’s cooling. I suspect the refrigerator, no matter how tidy, is one of the home’s hot spots for an untold variety of airborne bacteria. I have zero problem with that for a keg I’m drinking this week, but probably not a good idea for long term storage.
I’m not sure I understand the
Better Bottle Cap mechanism. Will it hold if I store the bottle on it's side? Seems like unneeded complexity (..holes within holes, wheels within wheels.) I can’t find a simple “cap”, so it looks like I would need a BB08, which includes a BB09 inner plug.
Or would a BB08 and a “dry trap” BB17 mechanism be best for my long term cold storage? (albeit, not on it's side.)
Or is there another option or product I’m missing? Maybe I can just reuse an Arrowhead/Sparkletts cap. Does that work?; same exact neck size?
Another Corny keg would be the obvious choice, but a Better Bottle is ~$22 (+19+15?) and another 3gal Corny is like $120. Also, if it’s kegged, I’m going to drink it (duh). Perhaps in this alternate vessel it will have a chance of actually aging.
I also assume that clear plastic is fine, although not optimal, since this fridge gets no direct sunlight when I open it. I suspect the smart money would still cover it.
Any pertinent information/insight is appreciated, as I stumble down the road of knowledge.
(I trust this is a valid addition, and not a hijack. Cheers!)