Champagne Bottles

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Blackjack

Champagne Bottles

Post by Blackjack » Sat Feb 16, 2013 5:13 pm

Hi, while I have avoided bottling because my life was too short to muck around with 500ml bottles. I was thinking of scouring round for all the champagne bottles I could muster and using these for beer.

I discover they use 29mm caps and will need a 29mm adaptor ring on a capper, but apart from that are there any issues and comments that can be offered on using them please?

I have tried and failed to find a source of 2 litre bottles or Growlers as the americans call them. Does anyone know of a source in the UK?

Rookie
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Re: Champagne Bottles

Post by Rookie » Sat Feb 16, 2013 5:16 pm

I some times use Martinellis sparkling juice bottles. I get most of my bottles from the curb side recyclng bins on pick up day.
I'm just here for the beer.

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a-slayer
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Re: Champagne Bottles

Post by a-slayer » Sat Feb 16, 2013 6:44 pm

Sounds like you want to be looking on Ebay for the old 2 pint screw top bottles, I can bottle 10 gallons and clean up in a hour.

AnthonyUK

Re: Champagne Bottles

Post by AnthonyUK » Sat Feb 16, 2013 9:46 pm

You could also use plastic 'corks' and a wire cage.

sheffstevie

Re: Champagne Bottles

Post by sheffstevie » Mon Feb 18, 2013 1:51 am

Hi

I bought a 29mm adaptor for my bench capper with some 29mm crown corks and have used these sucessfully with the 750ml Hoegarden bottles - so no reason why champers bottles wouldnt work.

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Re: Champagne Bottles

Post by wilfh » Mon Feb 18, 2013 1:28 pm

I bottle about 200 a year and the 29 mm caps work a treat . You shouldn't have any problems.
Wilf

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jmc
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Re: Champagne Bottles

Post by jmc » Mon Feb 18, 2013 1:35 pm

sheffstevie wrote:Hi

I bought a 29mm adaptor for my bench capper with some 29mm crown corks and have used these sucessfully with the 750ml Hoegarden bottles - so no reason why champers bottles wouldnt work.
+1

Hoegarden bottles are great.
Just make sure the champagne/fizz bottle have a 'lip' for cap to grip onto.
A small number of cheap fizz bottles don't. (They have a 'square' edge.)

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jmc
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Re: Champagne Bottles

Post by jmc » Mon Feb 18, 2013 1:42 pm

Blackjack wrote:...
I have tried and failed to find a source of 2 litre bottles or Growlers as the americans call them. Does anyone know of a source in the UK?
I don't think Growlers are designed to be pressurised.
Aren't they just a container to take home beer?

Nearest we have are 2 L bottles of Old Rosie from Tescos, Morrissons & the like.
Image

Lovibond from Henley on Thames use Growlers in their shop in Henley-On-Thames. See pic on right -->
Image

Maybe they'd point you in the right direction for a UK supplier?

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dean_wales
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Re: Champagne Bottles

Post by dean_wales » Mon Feb 18, 2013 6:51 pm

Same here.

I bottle half of my belgian and wheat brews into champage, leffe and ho' bottles.

Saves time and effort bottling and is a good encouragement to drink more when you open one!

Worth mentioning that very high ABV brews which you are going to keep for years supposedly age better in these bigger bottles.
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6470zzy
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Re: Champagne Bottles

Post by 6470zzy » Mon Feb 18, 2013 7:17 pm

Blackjack wrote:
I have tried and failed to find a source of 2 litre bottles or Growlers as the americans call them. Does anyone know of a source in the UK?

The American "growler" is just a 64 oz screw-top jug which is meant for short term beer storage only. The champagne bottle with a beer cap though is ideal and is something that I do on a regular basis =D>

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Re: Champagne Bottles

Post by guypettigrew » Mon Feb 18, 2013 7:52 pm

a-slayer wrote:Sounds like you want to be looking on Ebay for the old 2 pint screw top bottles, I can bottle 10 gallons and clean up in a hour.

Or drop it into a King Keg and be done in about 15 minutes!

Guy

sheffstevie

Re: Champagne Bottles

Post by sheffstevie » Thu Feb 21, 2013 10:50 pm

sheffstevie wrote:Hi

I bought a 29mm adaptor for my bench capper with some 29mm crown corks and have used these sucessfully with the 750ml Hoegarden bottles - so no reason why champers bottles wouldnt work.
Just finished bottling a pale ale and besides normal pint bottles I used a couple of Hoegarden bottles, 2 proper Champagne bottles a Cava bottle and a cheapo Italian fizz bottle - no problems with any of 'em.

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Re: Champagne Bottles

Post by mooj » Fri Feb 22, 2013 5:48 pm

I got some magnum bottles of beer which I may re-use :D

Had to buy six to make it worthwhile the postage though :oops:
A fine beer may be judged with only one sip, but it's better to be thoroughly sure.

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