Newb to bottles

[BronxBrew]

Home brew kit inbound. Im in a small space so having 2 cases of 12oz 45-50 bottles is tight. My first thought was growlers in the 1/2 to gallon size. I see that it is shunned on here. I'm a beer drinker when in the mood. I can clear a 12 pack easy!

Im working with a 5gal setup. Choice of bottles has me in a tiff. Do i go with:

Plastic bottles with screw caps ?
Glass with press on ?
Glass with flip top ?

Also since space is tight what about 32oz or half gallon ?

BB

 

[RGillette10]

I'd get something you can cap to reduce the risk of bombs. The more 22 oz bottles the better.

 

[homebrewdad]

The problem with growlers isn't that HBT doesn't like them - it's that they are made to hold carbonted beer, but are not made to withstand the pressure of carbonating beer (they will explode).

 

[BronxBrew]

Got it and thanks guys ! Looks like 22oz would be my best bet. Since i have y'alls attention. where is the best place to get a temp control for a small chest freezer ?

 

[BronxBrew]

Also would you go with a cap or flip top style ?

 

[thatjonguy]

Also would you go with a cap or flip top style ?

Flip tops all the way if you can spend the extra cash. Go for 1 liter flip tops.

 

[DoctorMemory]

If you're really short of space, you can try using champagne bottles. My buddy does this and he loves it -- he puts a full 5-gallon batch in only a couple dozen bottles. Of course, he also makes wine, so he's got a proper corker, not sure how easy it is to cork a bottle.

 

[user 115818]

Get a case of Sam Adams and enjoy the beer. The labels come off really easily after about 10min in (tap) hot water (easiest to remove I have found thus far). Save the case to store the bottles. Ask friends to donate bottles. In fact, have a beer tasting party and tell everyone to bring one or two 22oz bottles to share - then keep all the empties.

 

[Greenbasterd]

Got it and thanks guys ! Looks like 22oz would be my best bet. Since i have y'alls attention. where is the best place to get a temp control for a small chest freezer ?

ebay
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/58-194-Mini-...408?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a7594f898

takes wiring or you can get a johnson controller.. i think amazon is the best

 

[petey_c]

I am a proponent of plastic screw top bottles. I currently use 20 oz. coke bottles. I'm too lazy to do the math, but you'll wind up with fewer bottles. Forty five twelve oz. bottles or 27 20 ounce bottles. I've been using some of the same bottles and caps for two years. When I have a carbonated beverage, I rinse it out and save it. No additional bottle caps to buy or special capper, or corking (I'm beginning to sound like some sort of "kegger" aren't I?) Since I'm pretty good about keeping my beers in the dark, I haven't had any skunking issues either. It's not the classic beer look, but it's good enough for me....

 

[BronxBrew]

Would really like to use 32oz flip tops if i can. who or where would be the best to get them from ?

 

[evrose]

Home brew kit inbound. Im in a small space so having 2 cases of 12oz 45-50 bottles is tight. My first thought was growlers in the 1/2 to gallon size. I see that it is shunned on here. I'm a beer drinker when in the mood. I can clear a 12 pack easy!

Im working with a 5gal setup. Choice of bottles has me in a tiff. Do i go with:

Plastic bottles with screw caps ?
Glass with press on ?
Glass with flip top ?

Also since space is tight what about 32oz or half gallon ?

BB

22oz Bomber bottles are a sure bet.

I (and others) have had good luck with 20oz plastic soda bottles. They aren't much bigger than a 12oz beer bottle, but hold quite a bit more. They likely won't last as long as a glass capped beer bottle, but are easy to replace.

 

[DrummerBoySeth]

New Belgium bottles (Fat Tire, etc...) have labels that practically fall off in warm water. Since my dad is a big Fat Tire drinker, he saves me his empty bottles, and I now have enough bottles to bottle 2 batches at once. No expense at all! I do have to store, them however. I can see where space could be a really big issue. If you are short on space, you may want to look into kegging. I still bottle, but I know of many people who are huge fans of kegging.

 

[thatjonguy]

Would really like to use 32oz flip tops if i can. who or where would be the best to get them from ?

Any LHBS should be able to order them for you, but they might cost more locally than just ordering them from Northern Brewer and paying actual shipping rates. The actual shipping rates aren't that bad, especially if you order a couple cases.

 

[Bamsdealer]

If you're going to down them quickly, go with 2 or 3L soda bottles. It'll cost you a $7 dollar investment in 10, 2L generic sodas. Better yet, try to find 1 or 2L water bottles and you'll have 5 gallons of good spring water for your next batch and no worry of off flavors from soda. Just make sure they're not the cheap plastic ones you'd find in a 24 pack of bottled water.

I advise against buying brown bottles specifically for bottling, buy a couple cases of beer and drink them. No sense in spending $12 on a case of bottles when you can spend double that and find something with beer and a pop top. Two cases really don't take up too much room. They pack away, stack easily and keep light out.

 

[petey_c]

Bamsdealer, are you telling him to bottle in water bottles? Those bottle aren't made to withstand the pressure of carbonation. I think root beer bottles are the only ones that have a residual soda taste.

 

[Bamsdealer]

I was thinking along the lines of the 1L Aquifina bottles. Same shape and seem to be the same feel and plastic as the 1L soda bottles

 

[thatjonguy]

I was thinking along the lines of the 1L Aquifina bottles. Same shape and seem to be the same feel and plastic as the 1L soda bottles

I have put 40 PSI into a 1L Aquafina bottles with a carbonater cap to carbonate water without any explosions or leaks or wardrobe malfunctions.

 

[iambeer]

Flip tops can handle more pressure than other types of bottles (except champagne bottles).

 

[JDFury]

No matter what bottles you decide on, see if you can get yourself one of these.

I know I heard harps playing and angels singing the first time I looked at this ...

For fans of the 22-oz bottles, do you have special glasses you're pouring into? If you're like me and have the typical American 12-oz pint glasses, how do multiple pours affect the sediment inevitably floating around in your bottles?

 

[BronxBrew]

Good stuff all around. Was going to order bottles but the shipping $$. I'll make a trip to my local brew shop and just pick them up. Also ordered a temp control for my small freezer. Looked at all the options on keeping the temps on the fermenter and this seems the best. Anything other than adding the temp control that needs to be done ?