Brewer on a Budget

Hey guys I'm a noobie brewer on a budget and I am in need of bottles! I got a pale ale fermenting and no bottles, I was wondering if anyone in the San Diego area (I live in Imperial Beach) woods be willing to donate a couple cases? I would gladly repay you in beer

Thanks guys!

 

Every once in a while, I go to one of my local craft-beer-focused bars and put a couple boxes there for them to toss bottles into (instead of the trash can they normally use). They've always been glad to do it -- helps that I bring them tasty samples.

Maybe try that around you?

 

Since my son & I both drink craft beer from pop top bottles,I had him save me his boxes of bottles. I also got some sturdy case boxes that way.

 

Pretty much the only one of my friends that doesn't drink twist top beers. I have collected some bottles from one little bar in the area but most bars sell their bottles to the recycling center so they don't want to part with them. I guess I'm going to just have to wait till payday and buy a few cases, it just seems so wrong to have to buy beer bottles!

 

Seems harder to do now,even with cheaper beers going to twist offs &/or cans. I thought Bud regular cases were still pop tops. Got stuck with a case of twisties. At least got a case box. I'm starting to replace my 12 pack leinenkugel boxes with case boxes to make a shorter stack.

 

I mentioned the need for bottles at a brew club meeting and the next week my awesome club brothers brought in 9 cases

 

Don't buy empty bottles... You know that they sell them with beer in it, right?

anyways, there is a thread on HBT (probably in the bottling section) for people post if they have empty bottles; and look on craigslist too. Brewers who have moved onto kegging often have a lot of empties they can now part with.

 

Buy them just a little over what the recycling center pays. Bring cash. WIN!

 

+1 recycling centers don't give them much per bottle. Here it's 5 cents per. I have paid 10 cents per bottle for clean bottles, that's dirt cheap.

 

The idea of buying bottles full of beer is a good one. After seeing empty Grolsch bottles on ebay selling for $3-4 plus shipping (crazy), I went to the local beer store and bought a dozen full bottles for about $2.25 each.

 

I should join a brew-club.... I cant find any around my area, the closest one is like an hour away.

 

Yeah,a more local brew club closer than Cleveland might be nice. It'd be cool to have someone to share beers with,etc.

 

I'll send you some bottles as long as you send a couple back filled with beer. PM me your address