I'm about to do my first batch and wonder will it be fine to use plastic
screw top bottles (1 litre and up) that I've collected such as soda and
juice bottles? Or are the ones I see at the brewers store different and
better somehow?

"gouyou" <gouyou@paradise.net.nz> wrote in message
news:0K9Hb.14583$ws.1469787@news02.tsnz.net...[color=blue]
> I'm about to do my first batch and wonder will it be fine to use plastic
> screw top bottles (1 litre and up) that I've collected such as soda and
> juice bottles? Or are the ones I see at the brewers store different and
> better somehow?[/color]

Generally, glass is better, as it's more durable and better able to handle
pressure. It'll depend on what you're brewing though, and how far along it
is in the process.

Are you talking about bottling for ferment or bottling for final product?

What are you intending to brew?

"Chris" <rrufiange@cfl.rr.com> wrote in message
news:oKfHb.82981$Dt6.2097450@twister.tampabay.rr.com...[color=blue]
>
> "gouyou" <gouyou@paradise.net.nz> wrote in message
> news:0K9Hb.14583$ws.1469787@news02.tsnz.net...[color=green]
> > I'm about to do my first batch and wonder will it be fine to use plastic
> > screw top bottles (1 litre and up) that I've collected such as soda and
> > juice bottles? Or are the ones I see at the brewers store different and
> > better somehow?[/color]
>
> Generally, glass is better, as it's more durable and better able to handle
> pressure. It'll depend on what you're brewing though, and how far along[/color]
it[color=blue]
> is in the process.
>
> Are you talking about bottling for ferment or bottling for final product?
>
> What are you intending to brew?[/color]

Bottling for final product. I've got a Cooper's Ale kit and a plastic
fermenter. I've done a bit of reading and some people say soda bottles are
ok but not juice and non-carbonated drink bottles as they aren't built to
keep carbonation.

"gouyou" <gouyou@paradise.net.nz> wrote in message
news:0K9Hb.14583$ws.1469787@news02.tsnz.net...[color=blue]
> I'm about to do my first batch and wonder will it be fine to use plastic
> screw top bottles (1 litre and up) that I've collected such as soda and
> juice bottles? Or are the ones I see at the brewers store different and
> better somehow?[/color]

I generally keg but any leftovers go into PET bottles. Some things to
consider:
- Apparently PET is not totally oxygen proof - ie don't plan to store it
for a long time in PET.
- You can check the carbonation in PET bottles by squeezing.
- You don't need anything more than an opposing thumb to cap PET.
- Beer is susceptible to light degradation, so presumably darkened
bottles are better.

cheers

"Brian" <gouyou@paradise.net.nz> wrote in message
news:lxmHb.14662$ws.1486990@news02.tsnz.net...[color=blue]
> Bottling for final product. I've got a Cooper's Ale kit and a plastic
> fermenter. I've done a bit of reading and some people say soda bottles[/color]
are[color=blue]
> ok but not juice and non-carbonated drink bottles as they aren't built to
> keep carbonation.[/color]

Well, plastic soda bottles are fine for your final bottling if you're on a
budget. Just make sure they're cleaned free of whatever used to be in them.

Glass bottles will hold carbonated drinks best, as long as they're thick
enough. Generally, if it originally bottled beer, it'll hold beer again,
etc..

I'm using a milk jug for my fermentation vessel, and it has ballooned out
abit, but is intact. I wouldn't try it again though, not with this batch
anyway. It's just too touchy for my taste, as it might make a huge mess if
I didn't carefully regulate the pressure.

Best advice, either use good plastic soda bottles, or glass beer bottles.

I like to do one "party" 2 lt. bottle for each batch I make. This way I can
take a bottle to share with friends somewhere, and not have to worry about
bringing it home at the end of the party. Spray paint the bottle so kids
don't confuse your beer with soda! ;-> It also stops the light.

I do all my other in 12 oz & 24 oz bottles, and 3 gal kegs.

I'd go glass if I were you.

__Stephen


"gouyou" <gouyou@paradise.net.nz> wrote in message
news:0K9Hb.14583$ws.1469787@news02.tsnz.net...[color=blue]
> I'm about to do my first batch and wonder will it be fine to use plastic
> screw top bottles (1 litre and up) that I've collected such as soda and
> juice bottles? Or are the ones I see at the brewers store different and
> better somehow?
>
>
>[/color]