BeerBorg

Screw tops seem to work for a variety of other carbonated beverages; they work fine for PET, and the "wear out" part of the threads are in the replaceable cap, even if you used a new cap for every batch (a la conventional caps). In fact, you have "hybrid" screw tops for commercial beer. I'm guessing "tradition"....

When I did use the glass twist offs, I was careful to make sure the cap got on there correctly and I only used them the one time, never twice. The beer did carb decently and I didn't have any bombs, but I only used twist offs 2 different times.

It seems to me that screw cap glass bottles tend to have thinner glass then regular capped bottles. That would seem to make them more likely to turn into bottle bombs. So I'd not go there unless I was sure that the glass was as good. Since I brew lots of beers that I carb somewhat aggressively, I'm more likely to force myself to consume a bunch of Duval and then re-use those bottles as my glass.

I think you're right about the thickness of the glass as currently manufactured. Could have something to do with the needed thickness of the threads plus required thickness of the glass bottle top would be too much glass on top compared to conventional bottles. May be a reason for tradition....

Well based on all the reply/feedback I think I am going to slowly move away from the PET Bottles and make the move to 12/16 oz. glass. Easier to store, easier to clean, more convient size for personal consumption, and a gift 6 pack for the guy's looks better than a plastic bottle.

Where do you all get your bottles, caps, and is there a supplier for lables, and six pack bottle holders (cardboard) type.

Brew Demon has bottles and caps what do you guys think about their product. I like to try and use the sane supplier as much as possible. Straight shipping at $8.00 and product cost combined seems to be the best deal out there.

For my 16 ounce bottles, I like the green glass swing type bottles, I am going to talk to a few of the local pubs for recycling there.

RiteBrew seems to have competitive prices. 144 gold caps for $2.79. That is where I ordered my stuff from but they don't do flat rate shipping so it just depends on how much you'll be ordering. Other suppliers are http://labelpeelers.com/ http://www.midwestsupplies.com/ http://www.northernbrewer.com/ http://morebeer.com/ If you have any of the large beer, wine and liquor stores around like BevMo, Specs or Total Wine, you can sometimes find the cardboard 6 pack holders or boxes with cardboard divider inserts free when you're buying from them. I've just been saving pry off bottles from beers I've bought rather than buying empty bottles. RickBeer and some others have mentioned using Craigslist to find empty bottles.

RickBeer wrote: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.

Nice, another great example of how valued this forum is to me. I never even gave it a thought to post on craigs list for bottles, TKS again guys.

I got over 20 cases that way, sold what I didn't need for a profit . One of the people I got bottles from was a homebrewer who was moving. I traded him moving boxes for bottles, on a $x per box rate. Then I said "all set" and he told me to take the rest since he was just going to trash them. That was like another 10 cases (couldn't fit anymore in the car...).

Just finished posting add on craig's list. cash paid for your bottles. I will post about outcome lets see if it works here in the Republik of Kaliforna.

dad2all5 wrote:Where do you all get your bottles, caps, and is there a supplier for lables, and six pack bottle holders (cardboard) type.

Most grocery and party stores have bottles with free beer inside. That is a good start.

If you have a deposit law, party stores are chock full of bottles in their back room. When I decided I was on the verge of alcoholism buying bottles with free beer inside, I talked to the owner who sold me volumes of bottles filled with free beer and asked if I could buy his returnables or trade in twisties, cans, and pop bottles for them. He thought I was nuts until I explained I wanted them for brewing. He also has no problem with me scamming an empty case here and there for storage as I am still there on a regular basis "checking out the competition" (and getting more bottles).

If you have your pick, Ive found Sam Adams are quite reliable and in a steady supply.

dad2all5 wrote:Where do you all get your bottles, caps, and is there a supplier for lables, and six pack bottle holders (cardboard) type.

Brew Demon has bottles and caps what do you guys think about their product. I like to try and use the sane supplier as much as possible. Straight shipping at $8.00 and product cost combined seems to be the best deal out there.

For my 16 ounce bottles, I like the green glass swing type bottles, I am going to talk to a few of the local pubs for recycling there.

If you want six packs, here's a place that does custom ones. I think they sell blanks too.

http://www.labelsonthefly.com/6-pack-carrier.html

Another with plain ones
http://www.beerboxes.com/plain-white-si ... boxes.html

Monty