Mason jars for bottling?

[NoviceBrewer420]

Can you use mason jars to bottle? I ran out of bottles and filled a few quart mason jars. Do yall think they can withstand the pressure

 

[doug293cz]

I wouldn't risk it. I'd store them in a covered plastic tote box. Wearing some PPE when opening might be a good idea.

Brew on

 

[NoviceBrewer420]

I wouldn't risk it. I'd store them in a covered plastic tote box. Wearing some PPE when opening might be a good idea.

Brew on

Alrighty thank you

 

[AkTom]

Keep some plastic soda bottles. When they get hard you know they are carbed up. Buy a few more 12 packs. Inexpensive bottles, you just have to drink them first!

 

[doug293cz]

Keep some plastic soda bottles. When they get hard you know they are carbed up. Buy a few more 12 packs. Inexpensive bottles, you just have to drink them first!

Just don't buy bottles with twist-off caps.

Brew on

 

[IslandLizard]

Keep some plastic soda bottles. When they get hard you know they are carbed up. Buy a few more 12 packs. Inexpensive bottles, you just have to drink them first!

That's the best alternative. ^
You can (still) buy glass bottles at your homebrew shop. At least one here does online ordering with curbside pick up. Like a drive by.
Or call some (homebrew) friends or contact a homebrew club on Facebook for spare bottles. I have a few cases.

I store yeast slurries in mason jars, mostly small 4 and 8 oz "jelly" jars, sometimes in pints, but not often. Occasionally they continue to ferment a little or start to referment (Belgian yeasts are the most tenacious), which makes the lid bulge. In more severe cases a wrinkle (or 3 wrinkles) appear along the edge of the lid. I've had some serious hissing, even yeast gushers from those when opened, always using a towel or cloth.

I have the feeling the lid may give out before the glass bursts, but I wouldn't like to bet on it, especially with larger, quart size jars.

 

[NoviceBrewer420]

What about growlers can you condition in those?

 

[IslandLizard]

What about growlers can you condition in those?

Generally no, but it depends.
At least not the glass screw cap ones you buy in the breweries or growler fill places for $5-7. I've had one explode just from sitting in a cooler.
The glass growlers with the metal handles and large diameter gasketed flip tops are supposed to be stronger and OK for carbonating. I've never tried.
Those (fancy) stainless mini-kegs/dispensers are safe. Some feature a mini cartridge.

I've filled plastic liquor bottles ("handles") with beer and force-carbonated those using a (modified) carbonation cap. They seem to hold up well.

Soda bottles, small (16-22 oz) or larger (1-2 liter) are probably your easiest substitute.

 

[DonJuan7]

This idea needs to be explored. Maybe find the pint or quart size of these - canning jar amber. Or to hell with it try the 64 ounce. Or on masonjarlifestyle.com

 

[cgriffith]

My first knee-jerk reaction to OP's question was, "No way, those things are not pressure rated". But after reading on and thinking it through a bit more, I realize this does need to be explored. Personally, I used quart mason jars for storing items vacuum sealed. I usually take them down to -20inHg which is close to -10psi.

 

[IslandLizard]

My first knee-jerk reaction to OP's question was, "No way, those things are not pressure rated". But after reading on and thinking it through a bit more, I realize this does need to be explored. Personally, I used quart mason jars for storing items vacuum sealed. I usually take them down to -20inHg which is close to -10psi.

I think there's a difference to how pressure is exerted, from the inside (pressurized) or from the outside (vacuum).

Most mason jars feel very sturdy, having fairly thick glass. I used to freeze cooked, homemade dog food, gravy and all, in quart-size mason jars, leaving about an inch of headspace. Only 2 times I had a jar crack over all those years.

She loved those cut up gizzards mixed in with her dry food. But what she really liked, was to steal steaks and bacon off the countertop. She was very subtle and pretty stealth about it. And did so for years, until one day I caught her leaving the kitchen, totally nonchalant, with a large steak in her mouth. Suddenly it became clear why sometimes one seemed to be missing...

 

[NoviceBrewer420]

So far so good with the mason jar. I decided to transfer all but one to bottles. The top is bubbled bit no leaks or explosion yet. Cheers

 

[murphyslaw]

masonjarlifestyle.com

There's something I didnt expect to see.

 

[DonJuan7]

There's something I didnt expect to see.

I try not to use Amazon, Walmart, Target or Home Depot for a number of reasons. I spend almost nothing at those places.