Bottling

[DirtRacer]

So I've got a birthday coming up next month and with the money I get, I'd like to buy myself a bench capper, caps, and maybe some ingredients. If I remember right, the highly recommended, or maybe just most common, was the Super Agata capper. What do you all use/recommend in the way of capper and website to get supplies/ingredients from? I have no LHBS otherwise I'd visit them. So for now it will have to all be done online.

[Gymrat]

I have and love the agape super capper. And I buy the American flag caps at midwestsupplies. They look cool and they are oxygen barrier.

[Bluejaye]

I love my Super Agata capper, got it from Northern Brewer which I have had no complaints about so far.

http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/supe ... apper.html

[jimjohson]

i too have a super agata capper. i got it from the lhbs and have had no problems to date

[BigPapaG]

Super Agata is the way to go!

[SelfFueled]

You know me like to look for deals...

I got quite a few items at http://www.ritebrew.com/

Plain caps gross $2.79
Oxygen are $4.79, which I passed on because my local has em for $4.25 (yesterday I got 3 gross)

Super agata $34.99


Shipping is pretty fair and quick same day shipping (times at top of site)

[DirtRacer]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Putting a list together and saving bottles for now.

[John Sand]

I save bottles too. But I got started by asking my local beverage distributor for bottles. He lets me (or anyone) have them for the 5c deposit. I get a case for $1.20, even swing-tops when he has them. I do buy there, and owe him a couple of homebrews for the courtesy.

[SelfFueled]

That right there is a good thunking!

You can always ask if you can leave a posting or note at the counter.....would make it easier if you shopped there before.

In PA there is no deposit or recycling centers, but if you have them in your state, that could be a place to ask also. Many said they do it that way.

I went to a private owned hippy owned place.
$2 case,
got me 25 cases!

[DirtRacer]

Yea I'm out in California so it's CRV, still not a bad deal if I can get it. I might know somebody who works at the local bottling co. via a friend of a friend so it's worth asking. Also, I've been just using the one-step stuff that comes in the refills but I have seen alot of Star-San use mentioned and wondered if that's a better/more convenient way to go. If so I'll add it to my list of what to get. Thanks.

[RickBeer]

I put an ad on Craigslist offering the deposit and to meet people in the parking lot of the grocery store. I got 20+ cases across three people very quickly, too many for me, sold some back again. Ended up making a small profit .

Ad wording:

I am interested in beer bottles that fit the following qualifications:

Brown in color
Pry off caps (no twist-offs)
Rinsed clean (nothing found on the street)
Must be at least 12 bottles, preferably more

Sam Adams is a sample of the type of bottle. Killian's is a twist-off, so it would not be of interest.

I will give you the deposit money, and I will pick up at your house, so you don't have to put them in the car, drive to the market, wait in line, stick them in the grungy machine...

LOCATION - You must live in the general area of _______, within 2 - 3 miles of there, or it's not worth my effort. I am happy to meet at the Park N Ride if you'd like, or Kroger's parking lot.

[philm00x]

star san is probably the best thing to use for sanitizing. since it is an acid based sanitizer, it sanitizes on contact. you don't have to wait minutes for it to sanitize properly. and you can make a decent amount, then just pour it into a spray bottle and spray things when needed, so it goes a really long way.

[Brewbirds]

star san is probably the best thing to use for sanitizing. since it is an acid based sanitizer, it sanitizes on contact. you don't have to wait minutes for it to sanitize properly. and you can make a decent amount, then just pour it into a spray bottle and spray things when needed, so it goes a really long way.

+1 I found chemical resistant spray bottles in the cleaning section of the store. I love having it full of Star San ready and waiting. I spray down the whole top of the LBK before dry hopping and spray the spigot before and after taking a hydro sample.

Be advised that you should mix the Star San with Reverse Osmosis water not tap water. With RO water it should last a long time but Star San can go bad which would be a very bad thing for your beer.

For bottling I highly recommend getting a bottle tree and vinator, add a couple of inches of Star San to the vinator place on top of the bottle tree throw your bottle caps in there shoot a few in each bottle dip the lip of the bottle in the vinator and your good to go.

Bottle Tree & Vinator.JPG (97.57 KiB) Viewed 3561 times

Edit: looks like I'm going to have to go through all my photos and photoshop some glassware. :opps:

[DirtRacer]

Going to place my order on Monday and here's the list:
Bottle Caps
Super Agata Capper
32oz. Star San
Sulfiter/Vinator http://www.ritebrew.com/product-p/863230.htm?CartID=2
Bottle Tree http://www.ritebrew.com/product-p/863235.htm?CartID=3 - Hoping the handle comes out so I can place the vinator at the top like in BrewBirds photo.
Hydrometer Test Jar
Hydrometer - Triple Scale http://www.ritebrew.com/product-p/863021.htm?CartID=7
Anything else you'd recommend? I plan on picking up a bottle brush here locally because I think I can get one for less than RiteBrew's price, but if not I'll add it to cart.

[Brewbirds]

Going to place my order on Monday and here's the list:
Bottle Caps
Super Agata Capper
32oz. Star San
Sulfiter/Vinator http://www.ritebrew.com/product-p/863230.htm?CartID=2
Bottle Tree http://www.ritebrew.com/product-p/863235.htm?CartID=3 - Hoping the handle comes out so I can place the vinator at the top like in BrewBirds photo.
Hydrometer Test Jar
Hydrometer - Triple Scale http://www.ritebrew.com/product-p/863021.htm?CartID=7
Anything else you'd recommend? I plan on picking up a bottle brush here locally because I think I can get one for less than RiteBrew's price, but if not I'll add it to cart.

You might consider some nylon hop sacks and a bottling wand will make bottling day go smoother.