Most cost efficient bottles?

[BobShandy]

I am in South East London.

My local waitrose has 440ml grolsch 4% beer in the swing top bottles for £1.70. I wonder if drinking my way through grolsch is the most cost efficient way to pick up these bottles, if I am going to drink 'nornal' beer until I do another batch of my own anyway.

I see swing top bottles of 500ml and 1000ml on ebay for quite high prices.

I also see plastic food grade bottles on ebay for sale.

Does anyone have a suggestion for how to pick up cost efficient bottles?

I could start to collect beer bottles and buy a bottling device to put on new caps. Perhaps I could buy bottles from pubs?

I probably only want 24 or 48 bottles, of whatever size.

 

[Agentgonzo]

Probably buying 500ml bottles from Aldi/Lidl would be the cheapest way to get them. And with free beer inside.
Keep an eye out on ebay/these boards. Occasionally brewers are getting rid of kit and it comes up cheap (local collection only). But on the most part, ignore ebay as it's just people trying to make a quick buck by selling crates of grolsch bottles for more than it cost them to buy from the supermarket

 

[ChilledGecko]

I don't use bottles but I have noticed that Ikea sell swing top bottles
0.5l @ £1.50
1l @ £2
Guessing that the Grolsh bottles (complete with fluid) may be more value add for you?

 

[Agentgonzo]

I don't use bottles but I have noticed that Ikea sell swing top bottles
0.5l @ £1.50
1l @ £2

Are these designed for pressurised liquids? ie, how likely are they to break when you bottle condition in them?

 

[AJA]

I am in South East London.

My local waitrose has 440ml grolsch 4% beer in the swing top bottles for £1.70. I wonder if drinking my way through grolsch is the most cost efficient way to pick up these bottles, if I am going to drink 'nornal' beer until I do another batch of my own anyway.

I see swing top bottles of 500ml and 1000ml on ebay for quite high prices.

I also see plastic food grade bottles on ebay for sale.

Does anyone have a suggestion for how to pick up cost efficient bottles?

I could start to collect beer bottles and buy a bottling device to put on new caps. Perhaps I could buy bottles from pubs?

I probably only want 24 or 48 bottles, of whatever size.

I'm in SE London too. Ask at your local bottle shop if they will keep some by for you. e.g. Waterintobeer in Brockley.

 

[ChilledGecko]

Are these designed for pressurised liquids? ie, how likely are they to break when you bottle condition in them?

I have no idea, I've never used them.
Just pointing out availability.

 

[moto748]

IMO buying empty bottles is bonkers when you can buy them full of beer for not a lot more. And why does it need to be swing tops? Ordinary beer bottles and crown tops are fine. And bottles shoulld *never* break during bottle conditioning. If they do, you're doing something seriously wrong. Or the bottle has a flaw in it.

 

[dad_of_jon]

4 duvel / MC Chouff 4 for 3 so £1.50 a bottle and great beer inside plus brown glass.

 

[Agentgonzo]

4 duvel / MC Chouff 4 for 3 so £1.50 a bottle and great beer inside plus brown glass.

Where? That's a fantastic deal - they are normally about £2.50/£3 per bottle

 

[Agentgonzo]

IMO buying empty bottles is bonkers when you can buy them full of beer for not a lot more. And why does it need to be swing tops? Ordinary beer bottles and crown tops are fine. And bottles shoulld *never* break during bottle conditioning. If they do, you're doing something seriously wrong. Or the bottle has a flaw in it.

I use both crown caps and swing tops. I find swing tops a lot easier to use, though it's not a necessity. I got all of mine cheap second hand though

 

[BobShandy]

I love this. I ask a question and the problem is solved by drinking more beer.

The world will be a more happy and peaceful place when people understand the answer to many questions is to drink more beer.

I am going to Asda to get the 4 for 3 bottles of 8.5% Duvel for £6.

I will buy a crowner. I have to get a few things anyway. Thanks for the tip about Waterintobeer, as that place is local to me.

 

[AJA]

I love this. I ask a question and the problem is solved by drinking more beer.
The world will be a more happy and peaceful place when people understand the answer to many questions is to drink more beer.
I am going to Asda to get the 4 for 3 bottles of 8.5% Duvel for £6.
I will buy a crowner. I have to get a few things anyway. Thanks for the tip about Waterintobeer, as that place is local to me.

Then you should definitely go more often! We do a homebrew club the first Sunday every month, you should come along!

 

[Clint]

Recycling bins...free.

 

[BobShandy]

Recycling bins...free.

Doh! Of course. Good suggestion, which I should have thought of.

 

[Cwrw666]

I wanted to start bottling in 330 ml bottles a few years ago and just found an online bottle supplier. I got about 50 for 54p each delivered which I thought was quite good value.
Or you could try your local microbrewery if they bottle their beer themselves. They get bottles really cheap.

 

[dad_of_jon]

Where? That's a fantastic deal - they are normally about £2.50/£3 per bottle

adsa £2 a bottle but with 4 for 3 only £6 for 4. fill your boots my friend

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Doh! Of course. Good suggestion, which I should have thought of.

Pubs throw them away why not ask your local if you could take some and buy a beer while you are there.

 

[Benfleet Brewery]

IMO buying empty bottles is bonkers when you can buy them full of beer for not a lot more. And why does it need to be swing tops? Ordinary beer bottles and crown tops are fine. And bottles shoulld *never* break during bottle conditioning. If they do, you're doing something seriously wrong. Or the bottle has a flaw in it.

Agreed. Biggest pain is getting the labels off them.

 

[Nicks90]

Pubs throw them away why not ask your local if you could take some and buy a beer while you are there.

Yep, and it generally costs the pub money to dispose of them as well.
Go in, buy a few pints as 'compensation' to the landlord and ask if you root through his bottle bin the next morning.
95% of landlords empty the bottle Bina in the morning before opening (not something you can be arsed to do at midnight) and will happily let you take what you want when he does this.
And if the pub sells grolsch/other swingtop beers , even better!

 

[MrJay83]

Most efficient way is just asking in a pub for some (exactly how I built up my stash). I find Bulmers/Magners Irish Cider ones to be the best. Very easy to cap (I'm using a hand capper).