Beer Bottles

[liamtmt7]

As mentioned in a few of my other posts - I am just starting out and had a look online for some bottle offers.

ended up going with these on ebay, ordered Sunday night and delivered

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251373528209? ... 1497.l2649

Seen a few posts about getting them from recycling plants, pubs etc... but the idea of not knowing who has drank from them before, hairline cracks etc.. put me off.

seemed like a good deal to me.

 

[LeithR]

Don't be put off, before you use them you will need to wash thoroughly and sanitize then rinse. Any evidence of previous use by others will be obliterated.

Point taken about cracks in bottles, you should be able to weed these out rather than take them in the first place. If you visit your pub regularly to pick up bottles then the bottles wont have been empty long enough to get too dirty or damaged.

 

[bobsbeer]

I agree. Cleaning and sanitising gets rid of any evidence of previous use no matter who or what has drunk out of them. I use Black Sheep bottles as the labels just float off with a bit of a soak. I now have a good collection, and they cost me nothing.

 

[iceo]

a good over night soak in oxy gets them clean and most of the labels float off

 

[nobyipa]

£125 ish for 100 bottles full o beer
drink the beer over night with 20 of you mates
then its been a
£47.50 saving

i have over 300 bottles cost nowt

 

[Drunken Horse]

Because I'm building up a stock (I hold back half of each batch in my shed for next year) I have to buy some beers from the shop.

I've had to buy a couple of boxes of coopers plastic bottles where I have found myself short But I'm now close enough to not needing any new bottles (other than replacing any bottles I damage.

Just give yourself time to build up a stock. You can use screw top pop and water bottles in the meantime. Just keep them out of the light if its only you drinking it it really doesnt need to be in a nice bottle in the short term

 

[Stone Cold]

these are a good company, i get my pallets of bottles from them, good heavy bottles

 

[morethanworts]

And if you ever want smaller bottles for strong ales or Belgians, I just pushed my way through 24 out of date Shepherd Neame Master Brews, in 330ml bottles (ed. And it's only 11.30 in the morning ) . Pretty boring drink, but better than bud multipacks and the full 330ml rather than 300/275, and the labels almost float off. 50p a bottle, I paid. :

Nice plain bottles too... No embossing.

 

[iceo]

i picked up 2x12 330ml bottles of alc free ale from b&m for £3.98p =16p each.

as its coming up to xmas ask friends and family to save you any bottles it dot take long to get a stock or if you want more storage easy/mini 5L kegs are £6 and can be reused a few times

 

[liamtmt7]

Thanks all, some interesting points mate re used bottles.

As I am just starting out I thought it would be the best way to get me going. More bottles will be required as we go I suspect.

I do prefer the idea of bottling, rather than keging - for storage and for the amount I will be drinking as well.

Small bottles is an interesting point though, 330ml bottles - my plan is to keep some of these bottles as I drink them and have the option of 500ml and 330ml.

On a side note, my beginner kit has been dispatched last night - safe to say I am like a kid at Xmas and cant wait to try it out on Saturday!! :drink:

 

[wezil]

£125 ish for 100 bottles full o beer
drink the beer over night with 20 of you mates

It wouldn't take that many of my mates (probably only 4 of them) :rofl:

 

[marksa222]

Collecting your bottles is half the fun! *hick

I started with no bottles, now have about 150 in circulation. It's good to try new beers and this is a great excuse!

By the way, 5 beers a man? What kind of party are you throwing haha.

 

[liamtmt7]

Collecting your bottles is half the fun! *hick

I started with no bottles, now have about 150 in circulation. It's good to try new beers and this is a great excuse!

By the way, 5 beers a man? What kind of party are you throwing haha.

I appreciate it's half the fun. Fun probably starts now for me to be honest.

 

[Drunken Horse]

Collecting your bottles is half the fun! *hick

I started with no bottles, now have about 150 in circulation. It's good to try new beers and this is a great excuse!

By the way, 5 beers a man? What kind of party are you throwing haha.

I agree with this. I've been looking out for beers which tell you what hops they use to try to learn the kinds of flavours you get. Will definetly be getting some Citra for my next IPA

 

[kentmark]

Keep an eye out on freecycle, homebrew stuff (including bottles) comes up from time to time.

 

[fizz head1982]

these are a good company, i get my pallets of bottles from them, good heavy bottles

Same mate, I ordered 50, they are fine. Unfortunately, I now need another 50... as I have gone brewing mad for crimbo.

150 bottles plus a keg and I need another 50 bottles? When is enough enough?

 

[marksa222]

Collecting your bottles is half the fun! *hick

I started with no bottles, now have about 150 in circulation. It's good to try new beers and this is a great excuse!

By the way, 5 beers a man? What kind of party are you throwing haha.

I agree with this. I've been looking out for beers which tell you what hops they use to try to learn the kinds of flavours you get. Will definetly be getting some Citra for my next IPA

Yeah I want to use Citra. I drank a nice American IPA which had a lovely grapefruity aroma and a sort of residual sweetness that was really nice. It was a little too bitter for me though, and noted the IBU's on the bottle. I decided to make one that had similar characteristics but drop the IBU's. I used lager malt and a touch of caramalt. Wanted a bit of head retention so used a bit of wheat, even though not typical for that style (i think). Then hopped with Amarillo and cascade (didn't have citra so used cascade instead), also dry hopped with cascade.

I only bottled it yesterday, so it might be well off the mark from what I wanted, but it certainly got me thinking more about making a recipe, and I wouldn't have though about it unless I tried this beer. It's research!

 

[Fil]

pet pop bottles work fine too, and last time i bought tesco water in a pet bottle it was 20p for 2l so 10l of bottle for a quid.. if you have to buy em..

and if your local water isnt the best, well buy the water in bottles brew the beer and put the beer back into the water bottles. just use the pop style bottles and not the square ridged ones that dont take pressure

 

[rpt]

You'll need to store your clear bottles in the dark to stop the hops skunking.

 

[kentmark]

You'll need to store your clear bottles in the dark to stop the hops skunking.

I've got a 5' tall metal cupboard unit in the garage in which i keep my brews safe (and dark).