Was just wondering if there is any reason that it seems more people don't
use these? There's the entire thread right there about breaking bottles with
the capper, and a handful of people that suggest getting another capper, but
no one suggests buying the flip top bottles. Is there an issue or a dislike
with them that I don't know about? Of course, the gasket could wear out, but
it seems like buying new gaskets every dozen or so batches and new caps
every batch would be somewhere close to each other in price.

I'm not claiming to know anything. Just getting ready to start shopping for
my supplies for the first time, and have been curious about this.

[color=blue]
> Was just wondering if there is any reason that it seems more people don't
> use these?[/color]

People use them all the time! They're great! (The gaskets do usually
last a long time if take some care with them).

It's just that they are not easy to get free (unless you drink a lot
of Grolsch)! You could always buy a case of empties at the LHBS. In
states that require recycling, it's been said that you can sometimes
get them at the recycling centers.

Derric

Derric wrote:[color=blue][color=green]
>>Was just wondering if there is any reason that it seems more people don't
>>use these?[/color]
>
>
> People use them all the time! They're great! (The gaskets do usually
> last a long time if take some care with them).
>
> It's just that they are not easy to get free (unless you drink a lot
> of Grolsch)! You could always buy a case of empties at the LHBS. In
> states that require recycling, it's been said that you can sometimes
> get them at the recycling centers.
>
> Derric
>[/color]
I found a local pub that sells bottles of Grolsch in the fliptops - it
seems they are fairly popular now. They were more than happy to give me
their empties - and they didn't even charge met he 10 cent
deposit/bottle to take them away. I now have enough for 2 full batches.

I will, however, be bringing him a few bottles of homebrew to sample, so
it's clear who really is the winner here :)

I use them quite often.
I drink Grolsch every now and then so I get some for "free".
I have a few friends that give them to me when they have empties, and I
also have bought new ones from homebrew suppliers.
If you buy new ones they are a little more than the "standard" bottles,
but not that much more when you figure in caps.
They also come in handy for mead, since I don't have a corker yet.
Michael Herrenbruck
DragonTail Ale
Drunken Bee Mead

jeff wrote:[color=blue]
> Was just wondering if there is any reason that it seems more people don't
> use these? There's the entire thread right there about breaking bottles with
> the capper, and a handful of people that suggest getting another capper, but
> no one suggests buying the flip top bottles. Is there an issue or a dislike
> with them that I don't know about? Of course, the gasket could wear out, but
> it seems like buying new gaskets every dozen or so batches and new caps
> every batch would be somewhere close to each other in price.
>
> I'm not claiming to know anything. Just getting ready to start shopping for
> my supplies for the first time, and have been curious about this.
>
>[/color]

Jeff:

These bottles are great for beer or for wine. I just wish I could get
more without paying the price of new ones. However, there seems to be
some mis-information about these bottles.

Some people think that the gaskets have to be replaced each time, and
don't have a place to buy them. Not true, as already stated, they
last a long time.

A couple of people have told me that the swing-cap bottles can't be
re-filled. When I asked why, they didn't have an answer, they'd just
heard it.

Somebody else said that they were too hard to clean because they have
a narrow neck. Well rinse 'em right away.

I forget what else I've heard.

Steve

[wild]

I use Grolsch and Fischer fliptop bottles for personal use only. Capping regular bottles lets me give beer to friends without the trouble of trying to get the fliptops returned.

Wild

[briggsbits.co.uk]

I've got a couple of crates of them which I use for my stout.

Whilst they are very practical and it always feels good pouring beer from them. I prefer to use clear glass bottles for most brews just so I can see how it is clearing. It is also easier to avoid the yeast dregs dropping into the full glass of nice clear beer.

I have used every bottle type & size under the sun.
The "bottle rules" which I have sort of formulated to guide my acquisition
of gear generally are:

1) Use coloured bottles, green or brown; but in emergencies clear bottles
are fine for short duration storage. especially if kept away from light.
2) Think about bottle size in terms of how much you like to drink. I used to
handle one or more 750cc bottles but now prefer the size 375 or 500 ml. Of
course this smaller size results in more handling.
3) Plastic is better than glass. The screw closures used with plastic
bottles are very reliable. Plastic bottles are very easy to wash, handle, &
store, with no concerns about accidental or capping breakages.
4) For the "flat earthers" who insist on glass (it's a free world) the
Grosch style swing top closures are very good & the seal will last for up to
5 years (& god knows how many brews) in my experience. They are however,
becoming very hard to locate these days.
All other glass needs a quality capper, new crown seals, or you have to risk
re-using the screw type closures found on most small glass beer bottles.

Good luck & let us know how things go
Pete



"jeff" <lastsoundcheck@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:Npt7f.6705$p_6.1132@trndny07...[color=blue]
> Was just wondering if there is any reason that it seems more people don't
> use these? There's the entire thread right there about breaking bottles
> with the capper, and a handful of people that suggest getting another
> capper, but no one suggests buying the flip top bottles. Is there an issue
> or a dislike with them that I don't know about? Of course, the gasket
> could wear out, but it seems like buying new gaskets every dozen or so
> batches and new caps every batch would be somewhere close to each other in
> price.
>
> I'm not claiming to know anything. Just getting ready to start shopping
> for my supplies for the first time, and have been curious about this.
>[/color]

[hevimees]

[QUOTE=peterlonz]I have used every bottle type & size under the sun.
The "bottle rules" which I have sort of formulated to guide my acquisition
of gear generally are:

1) Use coloured bottles, green or brown; but in emergencies clear bottles
are fine for short duration storage. especially if kept away from light.
2) Think about bottle size in terms of how much you like to drink. I used to
handle one or more 750cc bottles but now prefer the size 375 or 500 ml. Of
course this smaller size results in more handling.
3) Plastic is better than glass. The screw closures used with plastic
bottles are very reliable. Plastic bottles are very easy to wash, handle, &
store, with no concerns about accidental or capping breakages.
4) For the "flat earthers" who insist on glass (it's a free world) the
Grosch style swing top closures are very good & the seal will last for up to
5 years (& god knows how many brews) in my experience. They are however,
becoming very hard to locate these days.
All other glass needs a quality capper, new crown seals, or you have to risk
re-using the screw type closures found on most small glass beer bottles.

Good luck & let us know how things go
Pete

[/color][/QUOTE]


The wavelenghts of light that produce the skunky flavor in beer will go
through green glass just as easily as clear glass. Brown glass absorbs these,
and thus they are the only color of bottles that don't need to be kept in the
dark. If the bottles are stored in dark, it doesn't matter what color they are.

Plastic bottles are good for short term storage of beer. Plastic bottles let
some air through them, and so your beer will oxidize and go flat in them if
stored for a very long time. So if you're making a barley wine and planning to
age it for a year or two, stick to glass bottles. Otherwise plastic is ok.