Corona Bottles

[geoffny25]

Hey,

So I went to a local bar and picked up 3 cases of mixed bottles for 7 bucks, and about half are Corona's. Besides for them being clear, I noticed that at the base of the bottle they had a little indent. Do corona bottles have a weaker structure (more apt to bottle bombs?).

Oh, and fishing out all the lemon/lime chunks was a b*tch.

-Geoff

 

[CarsonCE]

I'm not sure about them being weaker, but I wouldn't use them because of them being clear (as you stated). Are you planning on just leaving them in the dark at all times? It doesn't take long for light to ruin beer.

 

[geoffny25]

Yea, my basement receives no sun, so that's where they'll live. Muahahaha... *cough*

But yea, they wouldn't be seeing the sun until they are drunk.

 

[Grinder12000]

They should work out fine, I've never had any problems. That indent I THINK is because in exico they have a bottle opener on the bottom of the bottle

 

[phatuna]

Its been a while since I've used corona bottles. dont worry about them being weaker, you're good there.
You may want to do a test drive and cap an empty one just to make positive that it will cap correctly. There are a few bottles that don't, can't remember if corona is one of them.

 

[geoffny25]

Its been a while since I've used corona bottles. dont worry about them being weaker, you're good there.
You may want to do a test drive and cap an empty one just to make positive that it will cap correctly. There are a few bottles that don't, can't remember if corona is one of them.

Right, I'll have to try that. Thanks

 

[niko]

Right, I'll have to try that. Thanks

I use Corona bottles all the time, no problems.

 

[bknifefight]

Oh man, the bar charged you for the empty bottles?

I don't know if smoking is allowed in bars where you are but it is here and I would never get bottles from bars because of the risk of cigarette butts in the bottom. Yuck!

 

[geoffny25]

Oh man, the bar charged you for the empty bottles?

I don't know if smoking is allowed in bars where you are but it is here and I would never get bottles from bars because of the risk of cigarette butts in the bottom. Yuck!

Yea, I the only thing floating in the corona's was the Lemon/Lime chunks. I couldn't complain though, most of the places refused to give me their bottles. And I can't drink enough to keep up with my demand, lol.

 

[bknifefight]

Yea, I the only thing floating in the corona's was the Lemon/Lime chunks. I couldn't complain though, most of the places refused to give me their bottles. And I can't drink enough to keep up with my demand, lol.

Part of the fun when I started homebrewing was all the beer I "had" to buy and drink so I could save the bottles haha

 

[noble13]

Regarding capping, the black capper works (and I suppose a bench capper would also), but my red capper doesn't. Look at the distance between the bulge where the cap goes and the bulge below it that the capper works against. They're closer together on Corona bottles than on most domestic long necks.

I've expelled the lime by firmly holding the bottle and smartly swinging my arm down so the lime goes out the opening at the bottom of my swing. I've done this outside to minimize the mess from the lime and just in case I loose my grip on the bottle.

 

[geoffny25]

Yea, I shook the lime to the neck, and then used a skewer to fish the lime out. Took a while for 3 cases, but it worked pretty well.

 

[thebigt85]

Regarding capping, the black capper works (and I suppose a bench capper would also), but my red capper doesn't. Look at the distance between the bulge where the cap goes and the bulge below it that the capper works against. They're closer together on Corona bottles than on most domestic long necks.

That's interesting. I just bottled my first batch a few days ago and about 8 or so of the bottles were Coronas and I was able to cap them with the red capper. Oh well, we'll see how they turned out in a few weeks

 

[HABIT]

GEE-OFF,
I to have used corona bottles with no worries about the sunlight . . . I'm in a simular situation as you with the basement and no daylight. I still store my bottled beers in milk crates with cardboard cutouts on the sides and cardboard case boxes. That being said . . . I would only use them as a last resort. I would try to use Heineken, Becks and St Pauli's Girl bottles before you use the clear ones.
Don't scrape other peoples crap out of those bottles. I have access to quite a few bottles through a couple different party stores and bartenders in the area. My personal favorite is Michelob Lager 2 12's at a time. $9 for 12 bottles with decent beer in them. I grab them when going to go hang out with friends and family for card night or whatever. I have a buddy that likes Sam Adams and have them collecting the 24.oz ones and really like using these.
Give me a weeks notice and I'll empty some back rooms if your really in need. There is also a thread giving away "Free Bottles" in the classified section with at least 1 person giving some away in MI. You might feel its worth the ride.

Sorry about the GEE-OFF crack it was a BAD HABIT I got into with a buddy I used to work with.

 

[dae06]

I used Coronas for my first batch and use the winged capper. I had many flat beers, but don't know for sure if it was the caps or the mixing of the priming sugars. I'm am now collecting different (brown) bottles. My 2 cents

 

[dae06]

I bottles again last night and ran out of dark bottles: Sam Adams and Michelob.

All of these capped great. But had to use some Corona bottles. Right away I could feel a difference while capping (I use the red winged capper). I used 8 Corona bottles and after capping them I was able to pop the tops of with my thumb. I did this to 4 of them and all 4 popped off way too easily.

I did recap them and none of the 8 seemed to leak, but they definatly are not on as well as the other dark bottles. We'll see if they can hold the pressure. This may have been my problem the last time I used the Corona bottles (many flat bottles).

I have heard/read that the bench capper does works better on these bottles.

 

[BigB]

Oh man, the bar charged you for the empty bottles?

Michigan has a 10 cent per bottle deposit. The bar just charged for the deposit. (3 cases x 24 bottles x .10 = $7.20)

As far as capping goes with the red wing capper: I just tested a bunch of different bottles (Bass ale, Modello *****, Bud Light Wheat twist off, and Blue Moon twist off). Although so far they have all held pressure just fine, it is a PITA to use that red wing capper.