LukeJ Posted September 26, 2013 Share Posted September 26, 2013 After my third K&K brew i want to make the step from PET to glassies and Managed to find a small supply of 20 x 375ml pickaxe Glass bottles on Gumtree and the guy threw in some bottle caps he had laying around. Just noticed that some have a cork seal and others plastic. What is the difference are the ones with the cork for storing? Also anyone know of places here in SA to get cheap glass bottles for homebrew or is it just a matter of finding them listed on gumtree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otto Von Blotto Posted September 26, 2013 Share Posted September 26, 2013 No idea about those types of bottles mate.. I just use Sierra Nevada stubbies and assorted UK 500mL bottles, both types pry off crown seal style. Best part is you get awesome beer as well as bottles! I have used twist top stubbies but making the transition to all pry off now. Are those ones you got like the flip-top Grolsch type things? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rossm Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 G'day Luke, being an old codger, I remember when bottle tops had cork seals in them, it is just the way things were, I don't know if the ones you have are that old or just a cheaper brand from somewhere, personally I would ditch them and get some plastic ones, however, depending on their condition they are probably okay. as for bottles, the Coopers longnecks are the way to go, if you are a bit strapped for cash and don't want to buy the full ones, I am sure you would be able to con some out of the local bottle recycling yard with out any drama. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BradP4 Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 Hi Luke, I find Coopers longnecks are great, buy a carton and enjoy the Ale in them while you give your home brew a chance to bottle condition, that way you're less tempted to drink your home brew before it's reached it's potential. You can gradually move to glass from PET of course. Just keep your eye out for what you can find. If you do try and get some from the recycle depot, I'd be interested to know how you go. I also have a friend who drinks the 500 ml Rekorderling ciders, those bottles are good. I'd say any pry off stubby will work OK. Maybe have a BBQ and invite mates who drink beers with pry off lids, then collect the bottles?? As for the lids, considering the cost of new crown seals if the ones you have look dodgy I wouldn't risk wasting your beer you put the effort into creating for the sake of the cost of a crown seal. Anyway there's my 2 cents worth. Cheers - Brad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otto Von Blotto Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 Anyway there's my 2 cents worth. Which is probably about what it costs to make a crown seal. [lol] I usually order mine in packs of 1000 from a mob in Victoria for around 20-25 bucks, they come printed from random beers from breweries which is a bit of a novelty. Currently using ones from Baltika in Russia. [joyful] FYI - twist top bottles work just as well as pry offs as the crown seals are crimped onto them in exactly the same manner. I never had any seal problems with twisties, I just personally prefer pry offs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BradP4 Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 FYI - twist top bottles work just as well as pry offs as the crown seals are crimped onto them in exactly the same manner. I never had any seal problems with twisties, I just personally prefer pry offs. Agreed, I've still got a number of twist tops that I use when I run out of pry off's, they just take a pit more force on the capper to crimp and take a bit more effort to get off. I'm still building up stocks of long necks, only got about 150 at the moment and most have beer in them. Which makes me wonder......... Am I obsessed with home brewing???? I've got the Coopers Extra Strong Vintage Ale 2013 kit to do and am thinking it only deserves the good bottles to go into. That is after I bottle the Herritage lager that's in the FV now. So maybe I should drink some of the European Lager, Golden Ale kit version and Golden Ale all grain, Nut Brown Ale, Pale Ale, Dark Ale, Amber ale and wheat beer before I brew the ESVA..... Again I wonder... :) Luke, also I usually do about 3 or so PET's with each brew, that way you can tell how the carbonation in the bottle is going by giving the PET a squeeze. Oh and appologies for going off topic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otto Von Blotto Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 [lol] Yeah I think I might be slightly obsessed with it myself. I'm currently throwing all my twisties and other random bottles out as they get emptied, and replacing all with SN stubbies (apart from a few 500mL UK bottles), so every bottle is the same and I don't get disappointed when I find a 330mL bottle in the fridge. Which is such a chore. [innocent] My plan is to bottle about 5 or 6, maybe 7 500mL bottles per batch and the rest in the SN bottles. I agree that there is a bit more force required on the capper to crimp the seals around twist tops, even with my patented drill press bottle capper. It's not difficult but the pry offs are just a breeze! [cool] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilboBaggins Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 I don't get disappointed when I find a 330mL bottle in the fridge. Agreed. I hate my 330ml bottles. I know it's just a sip or two, but damn it, they are my sips![lol] [lol] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LordEoin Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 i just dump all twisty tops and 330ml bottles as i get them. I don't trust the sea on twisties or the strength of most megaswill bottles. my bottle stash is pretty respectable at the moment with 100 X 500ml brown fliptops (scored for 30cent each), about 150 X 500ml brown brewery bottles, and 48 X 750ml brown magnums for special occasions [joyful] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeJ Posted September 28, 2013 Author Share Posted September 28, 2013 The bottle i got were pry off stubbies apparently pickaxe was a good SA brand of old school pryoff bottles They look in great condition Ross so i might try a few of both just to see how they go with the cork Thanks brad for the PET squeeze idea i think i will make a mix of bottles types. Its great to read the feedback and stories on here and i am amazed at how much there is to learn and try ... im already slightly obsessed. In terms of mate who drink pry offs I have a mate who only drinks Corona are these bottles any good for home brew or too thin? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilboBaggins Posted September 28, 2013 Share Posted September 28, 2013 Corona bottles would be fine if they weren't clear. Home brew in clear bottles is very susceptible to light-strike and 'skunking'. Man, if you have pickaxe bottles, you're one the right track. I'm always on the lookout for them. I have a few hundred that I've collected over the years, but would gladly take on more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Del Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 i managed to pick up a couple hundred old style glass pry off bottles via an old home brewer on Gumtree.. he still had heaps of bottles left at 10c each. but i think he has now traded them in at the recyclists. i made the offer a month ago to anyone who wanted bottles.. but.. alas.. that was a month ago! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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