Swing Stoppers and Sourcing the buggers

[FreakWhenSee]

Hi all,

So I'm very much considering bottling my first ever brew rather that using the much maligned plastic keg. So my question is twofold;
Firstly, is swing top a bad idea for a first brew?
Secondly, has anyone tried using World of Bottles? (Can't post link, too "spamy" for a new member :nono:) Ignore the name, they are based in Germany and have a very good rate on dark brown 500ml swing stopper bottles. Has anyone used them?

Thanks chaps,

-Jay

 

[jasea3632]

I have seen bottles at The Range priced at 12 for ten quid dont know if this is cheap as i always keg my brews

 

[Titus A Duxass]

I use World of Bottles - so far I've had no problems but I am based in :-) Germany.

 

[PD]

Swing top bottles are the " dogs danglies " re bottles.
They can be sourced from your local pub throw outs but its a long slow process.
My lhbs occasionally has a dozen in and I've managed to source enough for 2 x 23 liter brews over time.
If using second hand ones make sure you get new washers to fit, then get ready for popping the bottles ... lovely feeling on your brew.

 

[FreakWhenSee]

Again, thanks for all the info guys. I live opposite a pub and have 3 more I could visit in 15 minutes total walking! So I will definitely be tapping them up for spare bottles at some point.
I think for now I will order some of those cheap ones from World of Bottles! I was mainly concerned re: the washers/stopper reliability and build-quality. I reckon I'll take the plunge!
As one final question; I wanted to order a few special bottles for my best mates (c'mon, it's my first brew!) but these are cork stoppered. Would I be likely to encounter any problems with these?

Thanks chaps!

-Jay

 

[PD]

corks aren't very good for carbonated beer/ales, better with screw top or metal caps.

Most homebrew shops will sell the new washers for swing tops

 

[droche]

There are loads for sale on e bay at the moment. Very tempting especially if you live near Cambridge to pick them up and new washers are easy to get and very cheap.

 

[IPA]

Here is a link for everything to do with swingtop's. They even sell something to convert ordinary bottles to swingtop.
http://www.brouwland.com/en/
Click on Brewing and then on Swingtop Bottles and Closures

 

[FreakWhenSee]

Well I took the plunge and ordered 50 brown 500ml Swing Top's from World of Bottles. Will give a review on the company + product when I get them :)

 

[FreakWhenSee]

Well here they are!

So, I was already getting a delivery for something else when the deliveryman for the swing stoppers trundles over with the massive box and throws it on the pavement in front of my door -- I nearly killed him. Loud clanking sound as it hit the pavement.

Must not swear... fortunately I had nothing to worry about; the bottles are very, very well packaged (I can attest to personally having seen the box thrown onto pavement... let it go...)
Packed almost to bursting with foam packing peanuts, separated by four levels of cardboard, with 12 bottles on each, two in the very bottom along with all the stoppers. Lots of bundles of shredded cardboard to pad the bottom as well.

Very impressed. Bottles are thicker than I imagined and for what I paid for, quite a good bargain.

In an e-mail I got from their customer support;

"...the only bottle certified to hold carbonated drinks we are able to offer is the following:

http://www.world-of-bottles.co.uk/shop/ ... lassic.htm

For all our other products we cannot give any guarantee if you wish to store beer in them.
Should you be in doubt, you are very welcome to order a sample.

Kind regards,
Jan Schnegotzki"

So that's lovely, he's going to guarantee my beer :mrgreen:

Cheers,

-Jay