Wax Coatings / Storage of Bottles

[Trizza]

Got a bit of an interesting problem...

I've got a growing supply of high alcohol beers that need several years of ageing. But as storage is limited, I’ll be moving them down to the beach house where the air is a little bit more corrosive than in Melbourne. I'm wondering if anyone has had any success with coating the crown seals with wax? Is there a brand to use and any techniques to be observed?

Moving on from the wax coatings, I’m also looking for a storage solution for these bottles. (which are the 650ml, bought from G&G) Can anyone suggest a store that specialises in decent storage solutions that would last decades, as that’s how long I may age this beer for...

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[earle]

Can't help on the wax but for long term storage I would suggest knocking up some boxes from ply and light timber framework around the edges if your handy that way. Plastic came to mind because it is supposed to last for years polluting our planet but some gets brittle with age

[Bum]

Not help as such but I recall a product that used to be available (pretty sure it still would be but haven't had reason to look for a long time) that was like a liquid plastic that came in a little paint tin and you dipped whatever in it and let it dry and you've got a perfect seal. Not as traditional as wax but might be worth thinking about?

[SuperBroo]

I think you can get the plastic stuff Bum was talking about from auto parts shops for dipping tools etc, or electronics places like dick smiths...

[Trizza]

I think you can get the plastic stuff Bum was talking about from auto parts shops for dipping tools etc, or electronics places like dick smiths...

The plastic might be a good solution, as I remember that crown ambassador doesn’t have wax, but some sort of plastic. Cheers guys!

[Oliver]

Hi Trizza,

Did you ever proceed with the wax seal?

Geoff lives down the Surf Coast and the bottles of the Millennium Ale that he's custodian of have developed a bit of rust on the caps. Like you, we were thinking that wax might stop the rusting.

Cheers,

Oliver

[Trizza]

Unfortunately no, I got busy making some regular beer (people kept on bitching about my beer being too strong - bloody pansies) not to be aged for several years and decided against looking at wax coating. I’m currently on my summer beer schedule making lighter beers & GB, but I’ll be back onto high gravity brews come April & May. I’ll revisit the wax coatings around then and figure out a solution for my upcoming batches.

I’ve also moved away from the 650ml bottle and managed to acquire 500 500ml bottles, which are more space efficient. I fit twenty in a milk crate and that’s doing the trick nicely!
Cheers for the follow-up!

Trizza