Twist-offs

NickSawyer · Post by **NickSawyer** » Wednesday Oct 31, 2007 7:59 pm

Hi again everyone,
Some of you may know that i recently (yesterday) purchased myself my first homebrew kit. It is a Coopers Microbrew kit and my first impressions on it are great so far.

The only think i do not like too much about it is the plastic PET bottles it comes with. Im sure they are fine however i would much prefer to bottle in glass than plastic. Dont ask me why, just a preference thing for me. I have also heard that the PET bottles degas over time and as a beginner i was hopping to keep some of my original batch for many years when i may be producing some nice quality brews and can look back at my first batch.

Anyway, after having a look back over old threads ive noticed many people saying that "twist-top" bottles can not be reused although many say a benchcapper works quite well.

Im hoping to reuse twist bottles as im able to collect them very easily however do not want to risk breaking many bottle (have read up to 2/3). Do you think a benchcapper will do the job? Is it still a risk? and also do i need a new and perhaps "improved" design bench capper or are the old second hand ones on ebay just as good?

Another thing i was wondering was, how do you guys collect the large number of "pop" bottles? do you just choose beer with these bottles when buying a carton or is there some other way?

Any help would be appreciated,
Thanks in advance
Nick.

Also, thought i should mention. I started my first brew today. An Australian Pale Ale with BE2 and it is currently fermenting on around 23*C. Hopfully the temperature does not vary tooooo much during the heat of the day within the next couple of weeks.

thanks

gregb · Post by **gregb** » Wednesday Oct 31, 2007 8:30 pm

With a bench capper, twisties work fine. A good rolly has class, but the twisty will get your brew bottled.

Cheers,
Greg

Iron-Haggis · Post by **Iron-Haggis** » Wednesday Oct 31, 2007 9:24 pm

Twist tops bottles also aren't as strong as crown tops. I also find that Twist tops bottles are much harder to get a good seal on aswell.

warra48 · Post by **warra48** » Wednesday Oct 31, 2007 9:53 pm

A proper bench capper, like a superatomatica, will have no trouble getting a good seal on roll tops and twist tops.

A couple of threads which might help you:
http://www.homebrewandbeer.com/forum/vi ... ht=bottles
http://www.homebrewandbeer.com/forum/vi ... ht=bottles

wambesi · Post by **wambesi** » Thursday Nov 01, 2007 5:00 am

Exactly what the above posts say, I have lots of crown seals as well as twist tops both in longneck and stubbie sizes, as well as PET.

Don't discount the PET straight away though, I find bottling a few into the plastic is a good way to feel for carbonation levels and to try that "first bottle", that way you wont get a flat one.

About getting bottles my collection has been mixed from buying from a homebrew store to "hand me downs" and e-bay.

Cheers

Edit: Go the benchcapper as stated already, I had a hand held one years ago and lost quite a few bottles, bottled about 15 batches now with the bench capper and not lost one.

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Thursday Nov 01, 2007 6:46 am

You want to try your beer a few years later? Most ales hit there peak at around 2-3 months, and decline from there. Your average ale- excluding things like barleywines, RIS etc, don't have much left after 12-18 months IMO. I was told this when I started brewing, but was keen to store them anyway. I bottled a batch- in Coopers PET, and put them away. I rediscovered them 2 years later, and it was terrible. That beer tasted wrong, but it wasn't infected. Incidently, it was still fully carbonated.

Anyway, back on point, the PET shouldn't de-gas before your average ale has past its 'best before' point.

That said, glass has a better feel about it.

scanman · Post by **scanman** » Thursday Nov 01, 2007 7:44 am

Yer I dunno about storing beer for years myself either. Not sure it would be much good after a few years, but it depends I suppose what styles you make.
Personally, once a batch is ready to drink, its lucky to last a few weeks, let alone a few years.

earle · Post by **earle** » Thursday Nov 01, 2007 8:22 am

Nick,

When I use twist tops, as I invert them a few times to mix in the priming sugar I listen for the tell-tale gas escaping sound that means I need to redo the cap.

Incidentally, the other day I came across a few tallies of ginger beer (Brigalow I think) that must be 10 years old. I've just never got around to tipping them out. Then again most people suggest that leaving a bad brew can sometimes lead to it improving. This ginger beer certainly had a lot of room for improvement. I wonder what it tastes like now?

NickSawyer · Post by **NickSawyer** » Thursday Nov 01, 2007 8:26 am

haha ok thanks guys,
i was under the impression that they got better with age much like wine and whiskey etc. The only reason i wanted to keep a few for years was because it was my first ever batch.

oh well, looks like ill have to drink a little faster

will try and get a bench capper anyway as it will prove very handy in time.

thanks

TommyH · Post by **TommyH** » Thursday Nov 01, 2007 3:11 pm

Hi Nick

Personally I would put maybe half dozen twisties away. Try one after 2 months. Then 4. Then 6 etc. Let your taste buds determine what you think is right. You will see a big difference.
Some beers do age quite well.

Cheers

petesbrew · Post by **petesbrew** » Thursday Nov 01, 2007 3:34 pm

The PET's are nice and easy, but yeah, glass is nicer.
FWIW, I find twist tops harder to cap than crownseals.
Nothing wrong with getting a workout while capping though...

ryan · Post by **ryan** » Thursday Nov 01, 2007 4:14 pm

earle wrote:Nick,

When I use twist tops, as I invert them a few times to mix in the priming sugar I listen for the tell-tale gas escaping sound that means I need to redo the cap.

Incidentally, the other day I came across a few tallies of ginger beer (Brigalow I think) that must be 10 years old. I've just never got around to tipping them out. Then again most people suggest that leaving a bad brew can sometimes lead to it improving. This ginger beer certainly had a lot of room for improvement. I wonder what it tastes like now?

Go and Hoover the lot down, then come back and tell us.

Kevnlis · Post by **Kevnlis** » Thursday Nov 01, 2007 4:20 pm

Always tastes good after 3 or 4

Trough Lolly · Post by **Trough Lolly** » Thursday Nov 01, 2007 6:44 pm

I made a godawful batch of apple cider about 10 years ago - but didn't have the heart to toss them. They're still in the cellar, crystal clear and as dry as a nun's nasty....

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Thursday Nov 01, 2007 8:59 pm

Hmmm. I'm interested- in the cider, not the dry nun

earle · Post by **earle** » Friday Nov 02, 2007 8:11 am

Go and Hoover the lot down, then come back and tell us.

If I did the first I'm not sure I'd be around to do the second Ryan. But I'll look at it as a challenge....

ryan · Post by **ryan** » Friday Nov 02, 2007 8:53 am

Attaboy earle.
You are a credit to our home state

{don`t forget to let Brigalow know what you thought of it}

earle · Post by **earle** » Friday Nov 02, 2007 1:11 pm

Perhaps if I use a funnel and a piece of hose I won't have to taste it

KEG · Post by **KEG** » Friday Nov 02, 2007 1:41 pm

depends how far you stick the hose

Kevnlis · Post by **Kevnlis** » Friday Nov 02, 2007 1:55 pm

KEG wrote:depends how far you stick the hose

From "Twist Offs" to... just like that!