How long can I use botttles for?

[holmw13]

So I'm relatively new brewer (a little over a year now) and I've been using the same 12 oz bottles since I started. Is that ok? I clean and sanitize them so that's not an issue. Is it alright for me to continue to reuse the bottles or should I toss them?

 

[Doghouse-gav]

Re-use re-use re-use. Been using mine for ages now and I was given them so god knows how old they are. Never had a problem!

 

[Bombo80]

You can use them almost indefinitely. Just as long as they aren't chipped or anything like that. The big breweries reused bottles many times, back when they all used returnables.

 

[Golddiggie]

Keep using them until they either won't come clean, or break...

I've only brewed 11 batches so far, with 9 being bottled. I've picked up bottles every few batches, as needed, so that I at least have enough to bottle new batches, while keeping some of older batches on hand. I hope to eventually not need to buy more bottles, but have enough on hand to take care of my needs. Not sure when that's going to happen yet... I am working on getting some more bottles empty before I need to package the latest batch... I have about three weeks left before I need to have about 3 cases of empty bottles (I use 16oz flip-top bottles for most of my brews, so about 36 per batch works)... I also use Belgian bottles, when needed. I split my cream ale into one case of flip-top bottles and the balance went into 13 Belgian bottles.

 

[Clann]

Although I add to my bottles once and a while, I have never removed a bottle that diddnt break.

 

[glenn514]

Clann and I are on the same page. I don't take a bottle out of my circulation unless it breaks. I add to my "collection" from time to time, especially when one of my daughters brings a load of pop-top bottles home! But those "new" bottles must be de-labeled AND SCRUBBED CLEAN! I've had to pitch only one bottle that I could not get cleaned. So, reuse, reuse, reuse...you get the idea.

glenn514

 

[holmw13]

Thanks for the info. I figured that was the case. Of course I'm too lazy to de-label them so they still have the Sam Adams and other beer's labels on them. Maybe I'll get to it some day.

 

[coypoo]

Soak them in oxyclean for a few days. Then just rub off w/ some fine steel wool. Super easy

 

[jonmohno]

Apparantly heat wears them, but unless you are baking them every time to sanitze i think if properly cared for will last as long as you dont drop em.

 

[DosGatosBrewing]

I have many of the old returnable bottles. I just rinse them as I empty them, sanitize and re-use. I can't say how many times they have been filled and emptied.

 

[rxp]

Thanks for the info. I figured that was the case. Of course I'm too lazy to de-label them so they still have the Sam Adams and other beer's labels on them. Maybe I'll get to it some day.

Overnight in PBW usually has my labels falling off in my hands or lying at the bottom of the bucket.

 

[holmw13]

Pbw?

 

[o4_srt]

Pbw?

Powdered brewery wash. Your lhbs should carry it. Oxyclean free is also supposedly really good at removing labels.

 

[jonmohno]

soak your bottles for a while in hot water,most of the time they come off,sometimes with the help of a scouring pad(not much).Good to go.

 

[RumRiverBrewer]

10-4 on that: Soak them in oxyclean for a few days -

After first use and after every 3 or 4 uses to remove any brew film if necessary, before sanitizing.