Commercial bottles for home brewing

[ronb454]

Thanks for all the replies. It sure helped answer my questions.
ron

 

[ronb454]

I have never had a problem capping any bottles with either a bench or hand capper. Don't use twist off. They will not work.

Not sure if it was just a choice of words or commentary on how you are using your cappers but there is no " yanking" involved. No pressure adjustment. With the hand capper place the capper on top and just pull the handles down evenly. Don't rush. Just pull evenly and smoothly. Once the handles are down it is done. No additional squeezing needed. With the bench capper again apply smooth even pressure. Don't slam it down. It will pop into place. Don't try to crush it. You should feel it when the cap is mounted.

I think this is a DUH! moment.

However, a little grease inside the bell was needed and I took care of that.

 

[jtratcliff]

Just a note that Bass Ale bottles are a bit of a pain to cap with a wing capper... They will seal but they're a bit more fiddly than others. Something to do with the size of the little collar part at the top of the neck.

Sam Adams is also my bottle of choice for re-use.

 

[ronb454]

Just a note that Bass Ale bottles are a bit of a pain to cap with a wing capper... They will seal but they're a bit more fiddly than others. Something to do with the size of the little collar part at the top of the neck.

Sam Adams is also my bottle of choice for re-use.

I think the lip on a Fortune bottle is the same way...just enough bigger to cause one to have to use extra pressure. Kind of proprietary bottles.

 

[Kent88]

I frequently re-use New Glarus bottles. My sister and bro-in-law saved some Sam Adams bottles I was able to re-use as well.

New Glarus bottles are great for the homebrewer, most of the label and adhesive comes off without a cleanser. I usually just heat some water in a kettle, rinse out the bottles, fill them with hot water, and stand them up in the kettle, and top off with more hot water to get the water level above the neckerd. Neckerd? Neckard? Neck Label? Whatever. Once the temp settles and cools off to about 115F to 120F (preferably after at least 15 minutes) the bottles are cool enough to handle and whatever labels didn't just float off should peel off no problem.

Something just seems wrong with buying clean bottles from the homebrew supply when I can re-use, but I am finding that my belgian style cork-finished bottles are very handy. I can use them for beer I want to age, but I've been using them more for mead that I suspect hasn't completely fermented. Not exactly something I find at my local craft brew store.

 

[ronb454]

I frequently re-use New Glarus bottles. My sister and bro-in-law saved some Sam Adams bottles I was able to re-use as well.

New Glarus bottles are great for the homebrewer, most of the label and adhesive comes off without a cleanser. I usually just heat some water in a kettle, rinse out the bottles, fill them with hot water, and stand them up in the kettle, and top off with more hot water to get the water level above the neckerd. Neckerd? Neckard? Neck Label? Whatever. Once the temp settles and cools off to about 115F to 120F (preferably after at least 15 minutes) the bottles are cool enough to handle and whatever labels didn't just float off should peel off no problem.

Something just seems wrong with buying clean bottles from the homebrew supply when I can re-use, but I am finding that my belgian style cork-finished bottles are very handy. I can use them for beer I want to age, but I've been using them more for mead that I suspect hasn't completely fermented. Not exactly something I find at my local craft brew store.

Thanks. All good info.

 

[ronb454]

May or may not be a reason the Fortune bottles are hard to cap: Mic ing the lip thickness of a Fortune bottle and a 12 oz bottle from Home Brew Supply, the Fortune lip is .2345" and the HBS bottle is .230". Fortune lip diameter is 1.049; HBS bottle is 1.044". Not a lot of difference but I can see how there would be a tighter fit in the bell with the Fortune bottle.


I capped a HBS bottle just for S&G and it is not much easier than the Fortune bottle to cap. I think it has a lot to do with the counter height. I have a lower table that I will attach the capper to. It is about 4" lower and gives me better leverage.


Now, that I have satisfied myself that I can cap empty bottles, I will have to wait for 10-12 days or so for this batch of IPA to be ready to bottle.


I noticed a crescent dent, not a circle on the Fortune cap and not even a dent on the HBS cap. I felt the handle settle and the sides were flat so maybe this capper style does not dent like the Super Agata. O well. Onward and upward.
Cheers.

 

[ronb454]

Bottling went well and all caps held. No bottle bombs and now I know I do not like the hop bitterness in an IPA...at least in this batch. I have a friend who does though and he will be getting it tomorrow.

 

[allanmorgan]

Ron,

Glad to hear you are getting the caps on successfully now and with little difficulty.

Allan

 

[ronb454]

Ron,

Glad to hear you are getting the caps on successfully now and with little difficulty.

Allan

Thanks. It is kind of fun after I figured it out.

 

[allanmorgan]

It's fun for sure. Then the fun starts to wane. Then you discover kegging.

 

[allanmorgan]

Edit: double post

 

[ronb454]

It's fun for sure. Then the fun starts to wane. Then you discover kegging.

Nope. I won't be kegging. I don't brew enough to go that route.

 

[allanmorgan]

They make small kegs too.

 

[ronb454]

No kegging. I don't have room in my apartment and I am not interested in kegging.

 

[slym2none]

Bottles for lyfe!

*fistbump*

 

[ronb454]

Bottles for lyfe!

*fistbump*

After all, real beer only comes in bottles. I've never seen a nipple on a keg.