Reusing bottles

[johnc86]

I know it's possible to re use store bought beer bottles for homebrew, but whenever it's mentioned people alway's say its necessary to rinse them straight away.

Well I remembered that my gf work's in a cafe/bar and they serve loads of speciality beers, both local and foreign. Mos of them are larger bottles and they just get taken away and recycled - just like at home. She recon's she can get me as many as I want.....

Thing is they wont have been rinsed so they will almost certainly have risidual sticky beer at the bottom.

With thourough cleaning and sanitising could I use some of these for a batch of homebrew? Iv bought a capper and cap's already. Iv got a barrel, and since today a corny too, but I would like to have as many ont he go at the same time as is possible so Id like to have a go at bottling.

 

[tubthumper]

of course you can use them
cleaning can be a PPITA but custic soda will get rid of anything in the bottle and just send those that dont come clean in to the recycling
also oxi and washing soda can be used if you dont like the sound of caustic soda

 

[johnc86]

Im imagianing its a pita coz theyre awkward to get into to clean right?

 

[A T]

No mate, they're easy clean and you won't often have to use caustic soda, especially if your girlfriend can get you a good supply of them

 

[chiefstoker]

what is the pain is ones where the labels dont come off easily :thumb:

 

[Aleman]

You have access to a ready supply of bottle which means you can pick and choose the type of bottles you want to use.

If they are clear or green glass - recycle them - Brown bottles only for beer :thumb:

If they are really cruddy (*** ends in etc) recycle them - Not worth your time

If the labels (and Glue) don't come off with a 10 minute soak in a dilute bleach/ washing soda solution Recycle them - Not worth your time

Washing soda makes an ideal bottle cleaning solution, I find a 10 minute soak and a hot rinse they come clean. . . . I also fill the sink with hot water and throw a scoop of oxiclean into the water before soaking the bottles . . . rinse well with hot water, invert to drain, when dry cover with squares of silver foil . . . when ready to fill, remove silver foil spray with a suitable no rinse disinfectant, drain and shake to remove excess residue . . . fill . . . cap . . . .Done

 

[johnc86]

You have access to a ready supply of bottle which means you can pick and choose the type of bottles you want to use.

If they are clear or green glass - recycle them - Brown bottles only for beer :thumb:

If they are really cruddy (*** ends in etc) recycle them - Not worth your time

If the labels (and Glue) don't come off with a 10 minute soak in a dilute bleach/ washing soda solution Recycle them - Not worth your time

Washing soda makes an ideal bottle cleaning solution, I find a 10 minute soak and a hot rinse they come clean. . . . I also fill the sink with hot water and throw a scoop of oxiclean into the water before soaking the bottles . . . rinse well with hot water, invert to drain, when dry cover with squares of silver foil . . . when ready to fill, remove silver foil spray with a suitable no rinse disinfectant, drain and shake to remove excess residue . . . fill . . . cap . . . .Done

Are some green bottle glass thick tnough? The lady had a couple of framboos last night, the paper wrapped plain bottle ones, and the empty bottle seemed real heavy.

 

[Aleman]

The issue with green or clear glass is that it allows a reaction between compounds derived from the hops and UV light to take place which produces a compound (Methylmercaptan??? :hmm: ), which smells like Skunk . . .or cat pee . . . the process is called Skunking and the beer becomes light struck. Other than that there is no problem with using green bottles (such as the green Bulmers pear cider bottles), as long as they are thick enough to withstand the pressure . . . and as long as you store them in the dark when filled with beer.

 

[Moley]

So how much of an issue is this for an average bloke like myself with an uneducated palate and no fancy vocabulary for describing what I'm tasting, and how come there are a few commercial beers e.g Newcastle Brown and Speckled Hen which are bottled in clear glass?

 

[Aleman]

The issue is compounded because this has been going on for so long that the palate becomes accustomed to that taste . . . In short we accept that that is how it is supposed to taste/smell . . . it is only when we get a really fresh cask pint / or a new bottle that it tastes different/better