Using champagne foils

[Danek]

I've managed to acquire a load of empty champagne bottles which I intend to use for bottling a future batch of beer. I can get plastic corks and wire cages to seal them, but I think the finished product would look better with foils over them to hide the crappy looking plastic corks. Has anyone used foils before, and if so, how do you get them to fit snugly on the neck of the bottle? Do you need any extra equipment for it?

 

[rtp-brew]

We used them on some homemade wine. The ones we had were heatshrinking. A boiling tea kettle produced just the right amount of steam from the spout to do the trick.

Hope that helps!

 

[Jmac00]

Are you talking about the foils you use for wine bottles? heat gun shrinkes them nicely...I used champagne bottles for apfelwein and i've capped them with regualar beer caps with a bench capper...

 

[Danek]

Are you talking about the foils you use for wine bottles? heat gun shrinkes them nicely...I used champagne bottles for apfelwein and i've capped them with regualar beer caps with a bench capper...

Thanks for the comments guys. I'm not sure if the champagne foils are heat shrinking - I mean ones like these from NB:

The foils I've seen have been metallic rather than plastic, which makes me wonder whether they are heat shrinking, whether you just squish them down with your hands, or whether there's some kind of application device for them. I'll drop the supplier an email to ask and see what they say.

If they are heat-shrinking then that kettle tip is good to know. Cheers!

 

[llazy_llama]

If they are heat shrink, a hair dryer turned up on high works well too. For me, that would be much easier than dealing with a kettle full of boiling water.

 

[Jmac00]

I find heat gun works best....much better heat and works very quick, especially when you have alot of bottles to do....Good luck...

 

[CBBaron]

If they are heat shrink, a hair dryer turned up on high works well too. For me, that would be much easier than dealing with a kettle full of boiling water.

Heat gun on low works well also just keep your distance.

Those foils look metallic so i doubt they are heat shrink. Probably just crush into place. However check with the vendor or someone who has used them first.

Craig

 

[bsay]

I don't think champagne foils are heat shrinking. Rather, you crimp them (by hand) and then put a label (or sticker, or tape) over the bottom. Next time you're at your local champagne retailer, check out the bottles there for some ideas.

 

[cimirie]

To echo some comments already made...

I've used the plastic corks with a wire twisty topped off with those foil toppers before on batches of sparkling mead. They worked fine in hiding the plastic cork. To be honest, though, unless you'll be giving some bottles away as gifts or trying to impress somebody, I wouldn't bother with them again. If you're just at home drinking with friends and family, they're not worth to extra work (albeit small work), at least to me. I found that working the foil around the little wire ties to be tiresome on some bottles. Just my two cents!