Question about bottles

[Homercidal]

I think that getting a case of mixed beers is the best thing. If you need to try out different styles, that is (and who doesn't??) Sam Adams and others have some great mixups and the bottles are usable.

Bud American Ale should not be confused with their American Lager (classic Bud). There is a def difference! As far as I know, they only make one Ale. They may have bottled some with twist-offs though. Some breweries will start with pry-offs and then switch as production moved to others facilities or they save money by using common equipment.

Now, I have heard, though have not tried myself, that you can actually use twist off bottles for homebrew. The bench capper (with handle you pull down on) is supposed to cap them nicely. Not sure if you can twist them off again, and it seems as though the threads would get crushed, but that's the rumour.

Also, Plastic PET bottles work well.

 

[woollybugger2]

yes, beware the bottle! there are a few different styles that won't work with your capper, I think Wychwood Brewery uses an odd bottle.... the first time I bottle I tried one of those and ended up drinking it because I couldn't cap it..

oppps wrong post...

 

[Dennis1979]

I would do what revvy said and take those buds back. Tell them you were supposed to get American Ale and the label was misleading. If you keep them then, 1) you have to drink a bunch of Bud, yuk!, 2) you end up with bottles you don't want, and 3) your plan for cheap is starting to get expensive.

Get a few of cases of the right American Ale and throw a party, you'll have all your empty bottles in no time.

Then start going to the liquor store and, assuming they have a wide selection of beer from around the world, begin trying different things with an eye towards whether or not you like and can re-use the bottle. What this also does is let you begin to understand what styles of beer you want to brew after batch #1.

I actually started the beer sampling and bottle hoarding part about 6 or 9 months before I ever brewed. I knew I wanted to brew but I wanted to get a feel for styles. I drank a lot of stuff, some I liked, some I didn't. One beer I found that I liked was a brand called Svytury's from Lithuania. It was being discontinued at my store so I bought several cases. The bottles are real solid and they hold 16.9 oz. I use these almost 100% for my bottling. I like the larger size better than 12oz bottles.

Grolsch are good bottles. The swing tops are easier to deal with on bottling day. I can get them for about $1.50(US) a bottle which is cheaper than buying the empty swingtop bottles at the LHBS. They are green though so you have to keep them out of the light.

To the guy that mentioned Fisher - I really love that beer. They cost me about $3.25(US) each so I just get them now and then. I get the Amber and the Blonde and love them both. Also love the 22oz swing top bottle. I have about 15 of the Fischer bottles. Whenever I get 30 of them, I'll use them for a full batch.

Dennis

 

[llazy_llama]

I'm weird with my bottles. It really drives me crazy how many breweries put their logo directly onto the glass. I mean, isn't the label enough? Guinness bottles are still my all time favorite. No Oxyclean soak to delabel, and they have that sexy curvy shape. It's $10 for a 6-pack of Guinness here, but I do like the beer and it has an awesome bottle.

 

[Hopmunky]

I have a little tip for getting tough labels off. These Sierra Nevada labels are pretty tough so I soak them in scalding water for a while and then peel the label off. The remaining glue gets scrubbed off with a dish scrubber under running tap water. Works like a charm.

 

[Tim_the_Enchanter]

I have a little tip for getting tough labels off. These Sierra Nevada labels are pretty tough so I soak them in scalding water for a while and then peel the label off. The remaining glue gets scrubbed off with a dish scrubber under running tap water. Works like a charm.

Use the Oxiclean method (soaking bottles in warm water with ~1 scoop of Oxiclean for a few hours) and you'll find Sierra Nevada labels are among the easiest to remove. Redhook and New Belgium are also extremely easy, the labels pretty much slide off on their own.

 

[ScottyT]

My LHBS is owned by the same people that own the best beer bar in town (30+ on tap, 200+ bottled, etc). They sell used bottles, already delabeled for $5 a case.

 

[SpaghettiMonster]

Use the Oxiclean method (soaking bottles in warm water with ~1 scoop of Oxiclean for a few hours) and you'll find Sierra Nevada labels are among the easiest to remove. Redhook and New Belgium are also extremely easy, the labels pretty much slide off on their own.

FWIW you can use ammonia to in you have that handy and don't have any oxiclean. Works just as well in my experience.

 

[bull8042]

Unless you are looking for something to drink while you wait, your LHBS should sell new bottles for around $14 per case. That would be cheaper than buying even cheap beer....

 

[Beau815]

I dont like them lint roller american ale bud bottles. Its got the bud stamp on the glass and it doesnt make my beer look unique. it looks like a bud, and thats sad, i threw mine out even after de-labeling. Its just a personal thing, i didnt want my beer to have anything to do with a BMC

 

[llazy_llama]

I dont like them lint roller american ale bud bottles. Its got the bud stamp on the glass and it doesnt make my beer look unique. it looks like a bud, and thats sad, i threw mine out even after de-labeling. Its just a personal thing, i didnt want my beer to have anything to do with a BMC

I feel your pain. I have a few Michelob bottles that were donated by a kind, yet ultimately misguided friend. I'll use them if I run out of other bottles on hand, but they'll hide in the back of my fridge so I don't accidentaly give them out.

 

[SumnerH]

The Anchor labels just float away, and those are some cool bottles.

 

[KailuaBrewer]

Sub-question: Are there any bottles that are notoriously thin or difficult to cap that I should avoid?

Bass Ale bottles.

They don't seal correctly. If your kit came with the red two handle capper as mine is it won't cap right.

The problem is the shape of the top of the bottle top. The Bass bottles have almost a double lip or something that there isn't room for the bottom of the cap to seat up snug under the top of the bottle. Other bottles have a longer flanged neck under the first ridge.

Hopefully these pics will show you what I mean.

( Good beer ) Bad bottle:
http://www.badapplegraphics.com/octbeerbuild/pictures/bass ale.jpg

Good bottle:
http://www.micromatic.com/images/3/300x300/5424.jpg