Are all non-twist bottles safe for bottling?
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If they're beer bottles, yes. There's an industry rated standard volume of co2 that all beer bottles have to be rated at, and it is higher than the 2-2.5 volumes of co2 that we typically bottle are beers at. Obviously when bottling higher carbed beers like belgians, you want to use belgian beer bottles or champagne bottles. Though folks have been known to bottle beers around 3 volumes in standard bottles. IIRC the industry standard volume is 3.2 on normal beer bottles. But don't quote me on that.
grimzella
Well-Known Member
well you can assume that.. but i bought 24 bottles from my LHBS and they are VERY thin.. even thinner than sam adams. I use them .. but i am very careful when i handle them.. i wrap a cloth around it everytime i pick one up. i wont waste another 12.99 for bottles again, i will now just buy beer with pry-off tops and enjoy some beer while collecting homebrew bottles at the same time. Duvel has nice dark Thick bottles.. chimay's are pretty thick also. Mostly this is what i have.. roughly 100 - 110 bottles... o yea and 24 of the paper thin LHBS bottles. 
Oh yea,, and 24 Grolsch bottles.
Oh yea,, and 24 Grolsch bottles.
WesleyS
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I found out the hard way that some bottles can't be reused. I ended up with a case of beer from real ale brewing. Didn't like the beer so I dumped it all and washed and used them for a batch that was ready to bottle. I did nothing I haven't always done and yet every bottle is cracking at the top when I start to remove the cap. I've never had that happen before. I'm just throwing away the remaining unused bottles.
McGarnigle
Well-Known Member
Some Europeans bottles don't really fit the caps well.
bighorn_brew
Well-Known Member
The Old Foghorn bottles from Anchor brewing co. We're noticeably thinner and when I capped a few the top just disintegrated in the capper.....moral: look for the heavier gauge bottles.
Thought it might be a good thing to post the bottles I've been using once again;
Paulaner
Franziskaner
DFH
Sierra Nevada
Lexington Brewing (Kentucky bourbon barrel ale)
Sam Adams
Great Lakes brewing
Left Hand Brewing
Harpoon
I'm sure there are more that can be re-used safely. But I know these are good. Never broke any,except for the Sierra Nevada stubbies...two bottles I think. But I may have gorilla'd those with the capper.
The German bottles seem to carb the best with their longer,narrower neck. I noticed the Bud Light Platinum bottles have that same neck style. Too bad they're twist-offs.
Paulaner
Franziskaner
DFH
Sierra Nevada
Lexington Brewing (Kentucky bourbon barrel ale)
Sam Adams
Great Lakes brewing
Left Hand Brewing
Harpoon
I'm sure there are more that can be re-used safely. But I know these are good. Never broke any,except for the Sierra Nevada stubbies...two bottles I think. But I may have gorilla'd those with the capper.
The German bottles seem to carb the best with their longer,narrower neck. I noticed the Bud Light Platinum bottles have that same neck style. Too bad they're twist-offs.
I really like the Fat Tire & Sierra Nevada bottles. In fact just bottled 10 gal of a SNPA clone. We also have a local brewery, Back Road Brewery, that uses very heavy, thick rimmed bottles. Great beer also, but I think they use super glue and vinyl for labels.
Yeah,it seems like some breweries use computer labels. Those are a bear to remove regardless of the method used. Like GLB for one.
Unionrdr had a good point, taking off labels and cleaning the bottles is probably the longest process involved in bottling. I like to use guinness bottles, the new labels are just shrink wrapped so a quick swipe of a utility knife and they come right off. It is super convenient, reasonably priced, and not a bad beer. Most bottles are reusable, you'll have trouble with a lot of european bottles because they dont have a think lip underneath the mouth that your capper grabs onto. Hope that helps
LeverTime
Well-Known Member
I've had trouble capping some bottles. The only one I can think of off the top of my head is Pilsner Urquell. I think the lip is not made for a standard cap.
A lot of German bottles feel really good and solid. Ayinger Celebrator and Warsteiner both come in really good bottles, although the beer in the latter is not that great IMHO.
A lot of German bottles feel really good and solid. Ayinger Celebrator and Warsteiner both come in really good bottles, although the beer in the latter is not that great IMHO.
gladius270
Well-Known Member
Mine are made up mostly of Bells and Schlafly. These have worked great. I also have a few O'Dells. O'Dells has the coolest looking bottles of all.
rusjmichael
Member
Maybe it's just me but I've had the tops of a few redhook bottles break off when capping....other than that I don't see why any other non screw off top wouldn't work.
(Some) European, and domestic bottles take a 29 mm crown cap. Most US bottles take the 26 mm cap.
Magic hat bottles are great, the labels slide right off in hot water and there is no raised lettering
+1 to Magic Hat bottles. Those seemed like the heaviest bottles and were far and away the easiest labels to remove. And I enjoy their beers, so its not a problem to me if I need to stock up on some new bottles.
grimzella
Well-Known Member
yup.. thats why i have many Chimay & Duvel bottles. aint it great. enjoy great beer, then re-use the bottles. mmmmm.... beer.
I've used them twice or thrice. Others I've used more than once:
Sierra Nevada
Mendocino Brewing
North Coast
Belhaven
Samuel Smith
Pacifico
Corona
