Houston Beer Bottle Manufacturer closing

[TexasTea]

Ardaugh Glass, employing 220 workers is closing its Houston TX facility . It's also halting production at its Seattle wine bottle factory.

See Beer and wine bottle maker closing some US sites

I may try to call them and see If I can get bottles on the cheap since I'm in the area. I hope they make non screw tops. FYI - You wine guys may want to call the Seattle facility to see if they are giving any deals on wine bottles.

 

[Malticulous]

Bottle are getting hard to find.

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

Bottle are getting hard to find.

“Mini kegs” keeping contents fresher longer that are lighter to transport. When I need to buy a can seamer and cans to compete in homebrew competitions, I’ll be done competing.

 

[MaxStout]

The company laying blame is just a parting shot. They are merely victims of changes in the marketplace. Cans are the packaging of choice now.

 

[TexasTea]

Thanks for the insights everyone. I called Ardaugh Glass and couldn't get anyone to pick up the phone. Yep mostly I drink canned beer since this is my first shot at brewing. I am starting with bottles for brewing though. I had saved up quite a few, brown, non screw top bottles (mostly Sam Adams and Sierra Nevada). Do those 2 brands work OK when bottle conditioning? These new bottles don't seem as thick as the old days. Well I'm ready to pitch yeast so gotta run.

 

[MaxStout]

Thanks for the insights everyone. I called Ardaugh Glass and couldn't get anyone to pick up the phone. Yep mostly I drink canned beer since this is my first shot at brewing. I am starting with bottles for brewing though. I had saved up quite a few, brown, non screw top bottles (mostly Sam Adams and Sierra Nevada). Do those 2 brands work OK when bottle conditioning? These new bottles don't seem as thick as the old days. Well I'm ready to pitch yeast so gotta run.

I've had good luck with SA and SN bottles in the past. But it doesn't surprise me that they are getting thinner. Same is true with 12oz long necks. They'll all work fine, but I don't like carbing in them much above about 2.6 vols or so, just to be safe.

Get your hands on some 500ml euro type bottles. Those things are built like tanks.

 

[TexasTea]

Get your hands on some 500ml euro type bottles. Those things are built like tanks.

Thanks Max Stout for the bottle recommendation. I will keep an eye peeled for those.

 

[PberBob]

Concur with Max re SN and German 500 ml bottles. Another favorite of mine are Kona brewing bottles. 12-packs are priced reasonably. Bottles are durable an have HI islands embossed on bottom.

 

[TexasTea]

Thanks Pber Bob. This is the first time I heard of Kona. I will look for them when out and about.

 

[MaxStout]

Another thought: if you know someone who runs a bar or restaurant that serves a lot of bottled craft beer, ask them to save bottles for you.

 

[TexasTea]

Thanks MaxStout. I don't know anyone who runs a bar or restaurant but I'll ask friends and maybe they do.

 

[DBhomebrew]

Besides the usually thicker glass, the labels on European bottles often come off when you look at them.

 

[TexasTea]

Besides the usually thicker glass, the labels on European bottles often come off when you look at them.

You mean they don't epoxy the labels on, or weld them on like the US beer bottles? All joking and kidding aside, what do you glue your labels on with? I was going to use milk as an adhesive.

 

[DBhomebrew]

Labels? Sharpie on the cap.

 

[TexasTea]

Labels? Sharpie on the cap.

Thanks, Thats a great idea. Old married guy here, I designed a label and named the beer after my wife (Ann's Amber Ale) to try to get some buy in from her. I figured it couldn't hurt. But after the first batch, I think I'm doing sharpies.

 

[MaxStout]

You mean they don't epoxy the labels on, or weld them on like the US beer bottles?

You're not too far off the mark there. I'm finding many breweries now using vinyl labels, sort of like bumper stickers. You need mineral spirits to get the adhesive off.

Ain't nobody got time for that.

 

[hotbeer]

It's been a couple years since I've had to clean and remove labels. But I thought that those plastic labels came off with a good soak in water mixed with laundry detergent.... Tide Free in my case. I'd leave them to soak in the bucket overnight and deal with them the next day.

I might be wrong though. Like I said it's been a while.

 

[MaxStout]

If you want to be real fancy-schmacy labeling your bottle caps...

 

[InspectorJon]

Similar what @MaxStout said I use these: Avery 3/4 inch round labels

 

[madscientist451]

If anyone needs any bottles, I have 10-20 cases 12 oz and bombers; will trade for one beverage per case. Located western PA. Brew on!

 

[doug293cz]

Moderator note: Some posts in this thread have been edited to remove political commentary, so that this thread can stay out of the "Debate" forum. Please avoid making anything that could be interpreted as a political comment in this thread.

doug293cz
HBT Moderarot

 

[bike2brew]

Similar what @MaxStout said I use these: Avery 3/4 inch round labels

Like these. I'm sure I picked it up on this forum from someone.

 

[TexasTea]

Those labels are nice.

 

[mac_1103]

Caps come in lots of different colors nowadays. I count at least nine at MoreBeer. So I just color code my brews.

 

[bike2brew]

Yes, I also color code in addition to the label information.

 

[TexasTea]

Thanks Mac_1103 and Bike2Brew. Color code plus labels is a great idea.

 

[Skeeter686]

Thanks, Thats a great idea. Old married guy here, I designed a label and named the beer after my wife (Ann's Amber Ale) to try to get some buy in from her. I figured it couldn't hurt. But after the first batch, I think I'm doing sharpies.

I still do labels on some "presentation" bottles, but mostly do a round label on the cap for identification (ABV, date, name).

We do names our beers and the labels can be kinda fun, especially for the bottles we give away.

 

[bf514921]

found these round lables pretty quick, dont know about the price but may try something like that, it looks like a fantastic idea https://www.avery.com/blank/labels/94504?msclkid=8a44a1ef2ce510d80729c767192559a5&gclsrc=3p.ds

 

[bf514921]

for bottles , i use new glarus bottle if you in an area where you can get new glarus, they match exactly the other bottles i have bought in the past. lable comes off pretty easy, and the glue too.