Cider Bottling and Storing

[tomakana]

Finished my first batch of cider recently, and since it seemed to work, I've got two more simple recipes working their way through 1st and 2nd fermentations now. Couple of questions for when I eventually rack to bottles.

1. I have a combination of swing top and recycled beer bottles - I'm planning to experiment with carb-ed and still versions of each batch. How important is the color of the bottle? Some of the swing tops I have are clear - everything else is brown. Should I avoid the clear, or will I be OK as long I'm storing them in a dark place?

2. Assuming clear is fine, I have a number of glass jugs that the base cider came in (Martinelli's 1.5 liter bottles). I'd like to reuse them, but I only have the lids they came with. The 38mm spare lids I have look like the right size, but aren't threaded right. I'm thinking the original lids aren't going to be airtight enough for long-term storage, even I bottle it still. Are there replacement lids for this type of bottle available anywhere, or should I just assume I can't use these bottles?

Thanks - been lurking for a couple of weeks and have found a lot of great information on the boards!

TPA

 

[dmtaylor]

Clear bottles are fine for cider.

You're right about the Martinelli's bottles. The caps might be difficult to get on right. You could use them for a still cider if you fill them all the way up to the tippy top. They will not hold any carbonation and could explode if you try. If using them at all, it would have to be only for still cider, and kept cold to prevent carbonation and preserve freshness. However you'd be better off using beer or wine bottles and capping normally.

 

[Drewed]

You could cap the Martinellie's bottles with their caps, and then seal them with wax. Again, I wouldn't do that with carbonated cider. And with new beer bottles at less than $0.50 a bottle at the LHBS why take the chance? Also make sure your recycled beer bottles are not screw caps, and have been soaked in Oxy-Clean.

 

[madscientist451]

I store my cider in gallon & 1/2 gallon jugs and recycled 1.5 liter wine bottles with screw caps. The cider sits in carboys 6 months or more before I get around to bottling it. Spoilage hasn't been an issue and I don't sulfite the cider. If I open a jug it goes into the fridge until its done.
I have found that drinking the cider young is a good practice, its not like wine that improves with age, but that may have something to do with not using preservatives.

 

[tomakana]

Thanks all! I've got a pretty good supply of beer bottles (and I'm adding to it fairly steadily), but also have all the swing tops so wanted to make sure I wouldn't be hurting anything if I eventually put the cider in the clear ones for a while.

Guess I'll pass on the Martinelli's bottles as long-term storage - think I might keep them around as pseudo-growlers or something. Seems a shame to just get rid of them...