Beer/cider bottles

[JonnyD]

Not really sure where to post this, if wrong I'm sure mod will move

It's come to a point now where I've got all 9djs on the go and 2 FV. Only 1 keg. So I'm going to need some bottles. I know the obvious is to just buy some from the supermarket and drink the delicious substance inside but time is pressing on and I will be ready for bottling next week. Anybody have any solution other than to buy tesco out of real ale and to be pi**ed for a couple of weeks?

 

[Dave1970]

Ask a local pub, most are pretty happy for you to have a root through their bottle bins

 

[Fil]

Not the most attractive of bottles but PET ex pop/water bottles come in sizes from panda pop to supermarket bulk buy cider/cola :)
having had carbonated drinks in means they can take the pressure.
and they are available in everyones reycle bin for free.

using larger bottles is great as long as you have a big enough jug to decant off the sediment in one clean pour, and a third hand to tip the jug as you pour you need 2 hands to support/secure the bottle, as if it collapses during the process the sediment will be disturbed

 

[godfrey]

got all my champagne bottles from restaurants about 250 in total
gave about half to my friend who has just bottled his first BBQ punch

they are great for carbonated beverages and 750ml
only problem is you need 29mm crown caps

all my wine is in demijohns to bulk age

pubs are a great source of beer/cider bottles, they are usually more than happy to let you take them away
a busy pub on a friday night could bag you several hundred bottles in one hit.

indian restaurants for cobra bottles

so many places all you need to do is ask the manger :thumb:

 

[iceo]

you could ask friends or family.

i have taken to raiding recycling bins you find in supermarket car parks .

if we get some nice weather :wha: this weekend as its bank holiday pickings should be good

 

[godfrey]

great idea you gave me iceo

bank holiday !

have a bring a bottle party or BBQ :thumb:
make sure you specify the type of bottles
brown / green / clear / 330 ml / 500 ml

 

[iceo]

iv just facebook messaged a few of my locals that i eat at. to see if i can raid there bins after the bank holiday

 

[anthonyUK]

Don't forget that most businesses have to pay to have their recycling collected so by taking some you are helping out and most are normally all for it.
It is also eco friendly.

Regarding Champagne bottles you can also buy reusable plastic stoppers which will need cages but these are also reusable.
You normally only need to replace the wire you twist not the cage part.

 

[Fil]

Don't forget that most businesses have to pay to have their recycling collected so by taking some you are helping out and most are normally all for it.
It is also eco friendly.

Regarding Champagne bottles you can also buy reusable plastic stoppers which will need cages but these are also reusable.
You normally only need to replace the wire you twist not the cage part.

HA in years gone past we would reuse the plastic bungs from the ubiquitous Pomagne bottles and 1.5mmsq solid core copper wire in twin n earth is good enough to re-cage the 'bird'

 

[godfrey]

I have the corks but crown caps are so much easier :-)

now I have the capper bell I can upgrade to a bench capper
for next years elderflower harvest :thumb:

 

[JonnyD]

Thanks for the replies guys. Will have to get raiding :)

 

[chris1643]

Wife went 'off it' but I went to the local bottle bank on a weekend and asked people if I could see what they were chucking out. I figure the bottles would be sterilised and cleaned and ended up getting everything I needed in a couple of trips.

Other option is to buy smart price supermarket water for 20p or something and use the PET bottles they come in?

 

[dozgladman]

I'm quite fortune I have a lad that lives locally that sells 40 bottles for a tenner (empty of course) all de labeled and cleaned :

 

[Mbarn]

The Range has some nice 500ml swing tops. 12 bottles for 9.99. Might be a bit expensive if you've got a lot of brew on the go.

 

[oldjiver]

My local barman saves me all the Magners cider bottles he sells. I just give him a bottle or two of every brew I make. Full bottles for empty ones? I feel like Aladdin "new lamps for old".

 

[stevela]

I purchase all my empties (other than those I drink of course) from Ampulla unfortunately the delivery is a killer so only really an option if it's a drivable distance, stocked up with 200 the other week and thousand crown caps so that should keep me going for a while.