Reusing beer bottles

[retread2]

Not to quibble, but I seriously doubt the breweries cap with antique bench cappers.

They also do not refill and cap twist off bottles. They get new bottles and caps and they run through very expensive filling/capping machines.

Really? You think breweries employ an army of people on the assembly line - standing there capping twist-offs with antique cappers?

Now that the smart a$$es have shown their ignorance read this: http://byo.com/stories/item/416-can-homebrewers-use-twist-off-bottles-for-their-beer

 

[MaxStout]

Boochuckles:

Have you checked around a few area bars to see if you can score some free bottles? Ask your neighborhood bartender if you could pick some up after a weekend. You might have to cull out undesirable ones, but I'll bet you would turn up a bunch of good pop-tops in the process.

This hobby isn't cheap, but there are some ways to save a few bucks along the way. Hard to beat free stuff!

 

[SEndorf]

Now that the smart a$$es have shown their ignorance read this: http://byo.com/stories/item/416-can-homebrewers-use-twist-off-bottles-for-their-beer

Nobody's been harsh other than your post.
The OP can't afford a capper and caps. If you actually read the article you referenced, you can't use twist offs with a cheap hand capper. You need a more expensive bench capper. How does that help him?
Even still I have my doubts about "mr. Wizard". But hey.... If someone posts it on the web, it must be true...

 

[ColdToes]

Boochuckles:

Have you checked around a few area bars to see if you can score some free bottles? Ask your neighborhood bartender if you could pick some up after a weekend. You might have to cull out undesirable ones, but I'll bet you would turn up a bunch of good pop-tops in the process.

This hobby isn't cheap, but there are some ways to save a few bucks along the way. Hard to beat free stuff!

This is my method, and it has yielded a bunch o' bottles. I got some strange looks but once I explained what I wanted them for they went gung-ho, and placed them in boxes on the tops of their dumpsters if I can get em' great if not no big deal. Needless to say, but I have a good variety of bottles all for free. No shame in saving money.

 

[boochuckles]

Well I bottled last night using my 1L PETs. I bottled 2 of the Shipyard bottles with the twist cap. I used the jar opener to get as tight of a seal as i can. I took those bottles and put them in a grocery bag JIC. I'm not sure if they will bottle bomb, leak out the top, or just plain not carb. Trial and error seems to be the method that helps anyone grow the most as a brewer.

So when you go to the bar you just walk right up and say "Hi, I'm not a crazy person, I just brew my own beer and I like your beer bottles"? Seems simple enough, I think I can do that...

I like the idea of the Sierra Nevada bottles. They have some tastey brews and those bottles do seem like tanks...

Well thanks for all ideas. I'd say keep this discussion going, there has been some great ideas for me and any other n00bs out there. I'll keep everyone posted as to how my 2 bottles turned out. Now it's on to brewing my first non-Mr Beer brew day!

 

[unionrdr]

I've got a big box full of cleaned but yet to be delabeled bottles. Sierra Nevada,Victory (the hop devil was interesting),Sam adams & the like. I save a seperate batch like this for replacing bottles that get sent out from the main body of delabeled bottles already in rotation. CYA,you know. It's also a good thing to keep an eye on weather fronts miving in & out of your area. Cool front comes in,have brewing ingredients ready for that moment. When it gets cool out,brew like crazy. It's that way now around here on & off the last couple weeks. Got two partial mash IPA's past initial fermentation & cooling down nicely. Yhe US-05 rehydrated seemes to love it.
And boochuckles,you have some PM's to read...

 

[kh54s10]

Not to quibble, but I seriously doubt the breweries cap with antique bench cappers.

They also do not refill and cap twist off bottles. They get new bottles and caps and they run through very expensive filling/capping machines.

Really? You think breweries employ an army of people on the assembly line - standing there capping twist-offs with antique cappers?

Now that the smart a$$es have shown their ignorance read this: http://byo.com/stories/item/416-can-homebrewers-use-twist-off-bottles-for-their-beer

Ok a reply to your reply by one of the smart A$$es:

Did you even read what these two comments were? It was in regards to commercial companies using bench cappers to cap twist off bottles!!!

Did you read the article you linked? It talks of HOMEBREWERS using bench cappers.

The article is also misleading. There is absolutely no shortage of pry off bottles!

If you want to risk your beer using twist off bottles, go ahead. There are plenty of threads where people using bench cappers have had problems.

 

[Puddlethumper]

Take a close look at the bottle cap the next time you pull the cap off a twist-off bottle. It is designed differently than a press-on cap. Twist-off caps are engineered to fit twist-off bottles. Press-on caps are designed for pry-off bottles.

Although you might get a decent seal by pressing a cap onto a twist-off bottle you are simply not using the cap that was designed for that bottle. Personally, I put a lot of time and money into every batch of beer I make. I see no reason to jeapordize the finished product by taking a short-cut.

I throw out the twist-off's when they are empty. That way they never get mixed into my brewing bottle supply.

Talk your friends into trying some Samuel Adams, Sierra Nevada or even the Costco brand ale sampler packs. They all have good bottles for brewing. (Stay away from New Belgium's beers- cheapo bottles) The Costco beers are a great way to get started. A case of empties cost 12 bucks, so why not get a case full of beer + good bottles and a case for storage if it only costs $17? Then just tell SWMBO that you're buying beer not supplies for your hobby.

 

[MaxStout]

So when you go to the bar you just walk right up and say "Hi, I'm not a crazy person, I just brew my own beer and I like your beer bottles"? Seems simple enough, I think I can do that...

Yep, basically that simple--just go in and ask. But I usually like to order a couple beers there just to show my appreciation--it's good karma.

 

[petey_c]

boochuckles, I've been using (I guess I should say "re-purposing") PET soda bottles for about three years with very few problems. I use mostly 20 oz. coke bottles. They're twist-off so, no capper required, they're cheap and usually come filled with your second favorite beverage, they are easy to judge carbonation level. Glass bottles are kings when it comes to looong term storage. PET bottles do the job just as well for just about everything else.
BTW post 1000!
PS - I've used the alumi-can bottles (BMC lights or Coke products) with success. Unfortunately, they usually come filled with "schist-y" beer.

 

[boochuckles]

So the verdict is in....



:rockin:

 

[fixitoscar]

Personally, I put a lot of time and money into every batch of beer I make. I see no reason to jeapordize the finished product by taking a short-cut.

Talk your friends into trying some Samuel Adams, Sierra Nevada or even the Costco brand ale sampler packs. They all have good bottles for brewing. (Stay away from New Belgium's beers- cheapo bottles) The Costco beers are a great way to get started. A case of empties cost 12 bucks, so why not get a case full of beer + good bottles and a case for storage if it only costs $17? Then just tell SWMBO that you're buying beer not supplies for your hobby.

I completely agree with this.
on a side note the costco beer boxes are the best for storage of empties and storage of full beers getting carbed up. full case, strong box, and a divider that stays in place.

 

[Epimetheus]

dont' sweat the small stuff.

Many types of bottles are suitable IF they originally contained carbonated beverage. These types have worked for me:

• Plastic soda bottles of any size
• -- Leave the label on and you can take your brew to the public park. Just a thought.
• Twist-off bottles (requires attention to set the cap, but work just fine)
• Malta Goya bottles for "pony" size homebrew.

And I have successfully used Malta Goya for yeast starter, even though they have a little preservative. So there.

 

[boochuckles]

Oh I have about 20 1L PET Mr Beer bottles I got from my cousin who stopped brewing. I just want to get into glass and not have to always drink one liter of beer if I open one...

 

[Epimetheus]

Oh I have about 20 1L PET Mr Beer bottles I got from my cousin who stopped brewing. I just want to get into glass and not have to always drink one liter of beer if I open one...

Understood. I also disliked the large Mr. Beer bottles for the same reason. Unfortunately a 20oz soda bottle is now the smallest and that is about the size of a bomber. (Yes, one can get the 10 and 12 oz bottles for a premium)

Someone mentioned Aldi markets has spiced cider in brown flip-tops for $2. search this week and you will find the ad.

I used Grolch and soda bottles until I got a clean, old, bench capper from epay. It took a month or so for an old one to come up at a reasonable price ($15 to $30 or whatever your budget)

 

[unionrdr]

I got the Wernesgruner pils pop tops at aldies for like $6.99 a 6'r. Cool shield on the neck surounded by hop bines,brown glass too. Interesting that they've been brewing since 1436!