Bottling in plastic?

[Taterbug]

Hi everyone. its been awhile since ive been on the forums,and I have a question for those in the know. Ive read that I can use 2 liter pop bottles for bottling.Could I also use gallon milk jugs?,and if so,what would be the correct amount of sugar to use for each jug?.I thought maybe if I put a small piece of saran wrap over the top,then screw on the lid it might work. Does anybody know if this would work? any input would be appreciated.Also,is there a limit on how long the beer has been in the secondary till i bottle it? I mean,I have some beer that has been in there for months. is it ruined,or can I bottle it and whip up some "magical brew"? Thanks in advance,The Bug

 

[heckels]

I don't think a milk jug's lid could withstand the pressure, nor would it hold pressure. They're normally pretty loose and flimsy.

You could try it though. Worst that would happen is the lid blows off. At least there would't be any shards of glass flying.

 

[audger]

sorry but i have to burst your bubble right now. milk jugs sholdnt really even be used for anything beer related, let alone with pressure. they arent nearly substantial enough.

Also,is there a limit on how long the beer has been in the secondary till i bottle it? I mean,I have some beer that has been in there for months

not really, but beer doesnt last indefinately. some heavier beers are normally aged for a few months. if i were storing beer long term (6 months), i would want it under CO2 at least. refrigerated + CO2 would be best. i would not want to store lighter, or lower-alcoholic, beers for very long. maybe 2 months warm, or 4-8 months chilled, before consuming.

 

[wyzazz]

You can bottle in plastic soda bottles or seltzer water bottles because these can take the high pressures that carbonating a beer produces. Do not use milk jugs, water bottles, gatorade bottles, growlers, mason jars or anything else other than beer bottles or you're asking for flat beer at the very least.

Leaving your beer in secondary or tertiary for an extended period of time isn't usually a big issue depending on what kind of beer you've brewed. Keeping it cold and under pressure is of course better and will make it last longer. The longer you leave it sit, the more of a chance you will need to re-yeast at bottling.

 

[Taterbug]

OK,thanks for the replies,but has anyone actually tried it?, Humbly yours,me. the milk jugs,i mean...

 

[Retrofit]

No one has tried it because they know it will be a huge fail. Make a simple wort, don't even hop it, them carbonate it. Put some rags down because the top will blow and make a mess. Not trying to be snotty, my brewing experience and the others that have commented all thing no way.

 

[glenn514]

Yes, I have tried bottling EdWort's carbonated Apfelwein in two different types of plastic containers: both the #1 PETE container that originally held the apple juice, and also two-liter soda bottles. BOTH WORKED JUST FINE! The apple juice containers were not completely round; the "hand-holds" popped outward with the pressure of carbonation. The soda bottles worked just fine, but make certain that the top gets screwed on good and tight.

When I did the "experiment," an engineer said that the round/circular shape is much better at holding carbonation pressure than a square/rectangular shape.

I didn't try milk jugs. Because of the above problem, I would avoid them.

glenn514