Marstons bottles

[Marcuswarren71]

Hi,
After starting off using pet bottles for my brews and then getting bored of drinking grolsch to get some decent glass ones, I've started collecting ale bottles to try my hand at crown capping. I've noticed a massive difference in the weight of bottles, I got some marstons ones that are 100g lighter than the grolsch ones! They have a statement about being better for the environment on the back, but I want to know if they're still up to the job of holding pressure, I bought some marstons craft lager (£1.19 from b and m, very nice) so they can take fizz, just wondering if weight has a bearing on strength/ durability?
Thanks.

[Exiled Bradfordian]

It will have a bearing—the thicker the glass the better. The old style Fuller's bottles are great. That said I've got a fair few Marston's bottles in my collection and they've been fine. Never weighed em. Don't use a hammer capper! People often recommend a bench capper, but I find my £10 Wilko twin lever one just peachy.

[Marcuswarren71]

Cheers, I'm going to pick one up next week, they're at £7.50 at the moment. Tried my first batch out of plastic bottles and felt cheap, so I'll give glass a go.

[cumbrianwolf]

Newcastle brown ale bottles were always a good choice for my beers and pretty sturdy.
Unless you seriously over prime or knock the bottle I doubt that they will go far wrong and no doubt they have been made to be sturdier than was needed due to the rough handling they receive in transit to the shops/pubs. Twin lever capping tools are excellent and the best of the best, I would not touch one of those hammer on capping tools to save my self!

[Marcuswarren71]

Thanks, is yours a wilko one too, a few people complain of poor quality but the vast majority rate it highly. I've never been much of an ale drinker so at least I'm discovering some decent beers whilst collecting the bottles, beats paying for empty ones

[Exiled Bradfordian]

Newcastle Brown bottles are clear which puts you at risk of 'light striking' your beer though I have personally never experienced that despite using Shepherd Neame clear bottles regularly. I have no complaints about my Wilko capper. I did start with a hammer capper and broke a few bottles that way; it's defo worth paying the extra for a twin lever one.

[Wherryman13]

I have both Swing top and standard bottles and I use the Wilko Crown capper and find it easy to use and does the job well ---only ever had one bottle smash and that was a flimsy Stella. 330ml lightweight that took some force to get tops on ---would not use those bottles ever again . All std crown topped bottles are fine

WM13

[Hopping_Mad]

Only ever had one recycled glass bottle break, and never under pressure.

It was a Hobgoblin one. They have a wider bit just under the lip that 2 lever crown cappers don't like too much.

Don't mind Hobgoblin beers, but chuck their bottles in the recycling bin!!!