Stella bottles OK?

[Craven Brewer]

Are these bottles strong enough for beer? They seem a little lighweight to me or is this because of their smaller size?

 

[RobWalker]

Never had a problem with kingstone press/corona/carlsberg bottles...

 

[Craven Brewer]

I am assuming those bottles are similar. I only have experience of the heavier bottles for 'Real Ales.'

 

[RobWalker]

You read a lot about thin bottles but that was really in the days when cheap bottles were seriously crap. Most these days are adequate for at least a short while, just check that they fit crown caps.

 

[DirtyCaner]

I use stella bottles without any problems. Both the 330ml and the stubbies.

 

[Devonhomebrew]

Are they normal crown cap or are they twist top if twist top ive been told its not good to use them.

 

[Craven Brewer]

Crown cork type, so should be OK from what others have said.

Good news, I have just cleaned and removed labels from a shed load.

 

[BrotherMalice]

I would think that if they have had lager in them they should be fine with ale? - lager is a higher pressure I think due to the higher carbonation

 

[mountain]

Are these bottles strong enough for beer? They seem a little lighweight to me or is this because of their smaller size?

The only issue I can think of with Stella bottles would be the color - i have tried to only use brown glass bottles in my setup. I've heard people say that beer in green bottles is skunky, because the green glass doesn't block UV. That's not really accurate, though.

I did some research and came across this article in BYO:

http://www.byo.com/stories/techniques/a ... -mr-wizard

here's a couple relevant quotes:

A green beer bottle, for example, does not absorb green light, it absorbs all visible wavelengths except green. This is an important distinction; since green bottles do not absorb green light (520–550 nm) this wavelength passes through the glass and catalyzes the reaction that results in the dreaded skunk nose! Clear and blue glass bottles produce the same result.

The color brown is a mixture of red, orange and yellow wavelengths. These colors range from about 580–700 nm. This means that brown beer bottles absorb the shorter wavelengths that damage beer. Brown glass is pigmented with iron oxides, among other metal oxides, and these various forms of iron absorb UV light over a wide spectrum of wavelengths. In a nutshell, brown glass absorbs the visible and UV wavelengths of light responsible for skunkiness. Brown glass is also used to store other light-sensitive products, such as medications and film developing reagents

"But newkie brown is in clear glass bottles and isn't as skunky as corona!" The article suggests that darker beers are less susceptible to skunking, which would make sense. If the liquid itself is absorbing the wavelengths around the outer edge of the bottle, there's less overall damage than if the light is passing through the majority of the volume of beer.

So it sounds like green glass is only an issue if it's stored somewhere well lit and sits around for a while. I suppose you could make a good argument for drinking more in the evening based on these factors.

 

[RobWalker]

Clear glass bottles in a pub are somewhat different to home brew, they go from fermenter to pub cellar to pub fridge to mouth in what, 2-3 weeks? :p

 

[Craven Brewer]

Looks as though I will be OK with the green bottles as I intent to store in an attic, with no direct light.

Of course, this will only be short term, I intend to drink the stuff, :drink:

That's what it's for, right :thumb:

 

[mountain]

Clear glass bottles in a pub are somewhat different to home brew, they go from fermenter to pub cellar to pub fridge to mouth in what, 2-3 weeks? :p

If I'm lucky!

 

[cutnrun]

as ppl have said i am sure stella bottles are fin... as long as they are empty.

if full :sick:

just kidding!

 

[Craven Brewer]

Probably best to just use one per batch, as a test bottle, that way it will not have time to spoil.