Glass or plastic?

[Greatcthulhu]

I've never come across a 500ml beer bottle that wont accept a crown cap fitted with a two handled capper........

You obviously haven't tried a Wychwood bottle.

It's not impossible, but can be very awkward for a 2 lever capper. Bottles can end up on the floor quite easily.

I'll have to remember that. Most of my bottles are Old Peculiar, including a few that are a good few years old and are about 3 times the weight of the newer ones- cost cutting, I suppose.

[Jim]

I've never come across a 500ml beer bottle that wont accept a crown cap fitted with a two handled capper........

You obviously haven't tried a Wychwood bottle.

It's not impossible, but can be very awkward for a 2 lever capper. Bottles can end up on the floor quite easily.

I'll have to remember that. Most of my bottles are Old Peculiar, including a few that are a good few years old and are about 3 times the weight of the newer ones- cost cutting, I suppose.

I gather that the lighter bottles these days are something to do with environmental factors - less glass = less waste.

[mattwilson]

I can just see a new ruling come into effect which will make sourcing decent homebrew bottles very difficult...thin glass, cans or plastic bottles as standard.

[Aethelstan]

I have collected loads of the Wychwood bottles and have no bother capping them with the wilkos lever capper. In fact, they are my 500ml bottle of choice but for smaller bottles I find the Budweiser ones are easy to cap.

[WalesAles]

When I first started brewing I used plastic but over the last few years I have amassed a fine collection of several hundred glass swing tops.

I admit I have only had them all full once, it was a true thing of beauty. Brought a tear of pride to my eye and I don't think plastic would have done that.

Cellone,
Have you got a photo of the bottles? It would probably bring a tear of pride (or jealousy) to most peoples eyes!
I thought my stash was good with just 168 bottles!
WA

[tazzymutt]

When I first started brewing I used plastic but over the last few years I have amassed a fine collection of several hundred glass swing tops.

I admit I have only had them all full once, it was a true thing of beauty. Brought a tear of pride to my eye and I don't think plastic would have done that.

Cellone,
Have you got a photo of the bottles? It would probably bring a tear of pride (or jealousy) to most peoples eyes!
I thought my stash was good with just 168 bottles!
WA

I got up to about 230 bottles at one time, but have no pictures as I made a point of keeping them in several different locations so that my good lady would never quite realise how much beer was in the house. If she ever did a stock check and counted up the number of units of alcohol I'd be rationed to drinking them one per night with two nights per week off and no more brewing until I was down to the last 30 or so bottles. I am NOT going to risk that...

Happy brewing,


Ian.

[cellone]

When I first started brewing I used plastic but over the last few years I have amassed a fine collection of several hundred glass swing tops.

I admit I have only had them all full once, it was a true thing of beauty. Brought a tear of pride to my eye and I don't think plastic would have done that.

Cellone,
Have you got a photo of the bottles? It would probably bring a tear of pride (or jealousy) to most peoples eyes!
I thought my stash was good with just 168 bottles!
WA

No I didn't but am planning a 3 day brewing fest soon so should have them all full by June. Will take a pic then.

[cellone]

When I first started brewing I used plastic but over the last few years I have amassed a fine collection of several hundred glass swing tops.

I admit I have only had them all full once, it was a true thing of beauty. Brought a tear of pride to my eye and I don't think plastic would have done that.

Cellone,
Have you got a photo of the bottles? It would probably bring a tear of pride (or jealousy) to most peoples eyes!
I thought my stash was good with just 168 bottles!
WA

I got up to about 230 bottles at one time, but have no pictures as I made a point of keeping them in several different locations so that my good lady would never quite realise how much beer was in the house. If she ever did a stock check and counted up the number of units of alcohol I'd be rationed to drinking them one per night with two nights per week off and no more brewing until I was down to the last 30 or so bottles. I am NOT going to risk that...

Happy brewing,


Ian.

I'm guilty of soaking labels off still full brand new bottles when asda had them at 3 for £5 so Treacle didn't suss I'd spent £50 on beer/bottles.

[Exiled Bradfordian]

My favourite bottle supplier is Home Bargains - they've opened one in London now (I think previously they were only up north). They normally have a reasonable selection of ales between £1-1.50; last time I was in I got a few Old Golden Hens at a quid each and a rather delicious Thwaites porter called 'Nutty Black' for either £1.19 or £1.29 - bottle conditioned, too.

Come to think about it the selection was better than the Sainsbury's I popped into on my way home tonight.

If you're not fussy about what you drink (yeah right) they often have Carlsberg cider in for well south of a pound which comes in 500ml bottles, but if it came to that, I'd rather buy empties from Wilko/LHBS.

I do wish I had a LHBS in London ):

[Maysie]

I bought 1400 new brown beer bottles off ebay for £65 as it was cheaper than getting the 200 that I wanted.
The plastic wrapping around the pallet had split and they had got soaked in rain, so they all need a really good wash.

All of my bottles are now identical and I have the added bonus of having loads of spares to give to friends and neighbours who want any for their brews.
No labels to clean either!

If anyone wants to collect any, then let me know. I don't have time to pack and send them though.

[Manngold]

I bought 1400 new brown beer bottles off ebay for £65 as it was cheaper than getting the 200 that I wanted.
The plastic wrapping around the pallet had split and they had got soaked in rain, so they all need a really good wash.

All of my bottles are now identical and I have the added bonus of having loads of spares to give to friends and neighbours who want any for their brews.
No labels to clean either!

If anyone wants to collect any, then let me know. I don't have time to pack and send them though.

Wow, 1400. That must have taken up alot of space! How many do you currently have beer in?

[Exiled Bradfordian]

Blummin' 'Eck. Just goes to show what the markup is on Wilko's 6 bottles for three quid. In the sale.

[Maysie]

Wow, 1400. That must have taken up alot of space! How many do you currently have beer in?

Fortunately I have an old barn on the side of my house, so they are all stacked up in there.

So far I have managed to brew around 300 bottles, but my retained stash is a bit like filling a sink with a leaky plug, as I just keep drinking the bloomin things! Only have about 140 of them left.....

[davew]

I use the cider bottles from Lidl. Pint bottle 99p each and the contents are very drinkable.

[Wekslap]

Can you still get replacement tops for old alpine pop bottles?