Twist cap

[brew-T]

Hi guys,

Here in sweden we don´t get any bottles with twist-cap from our domestic breweries. However, I got my hands on quite a few beers from Rogue. Dead Guy Ale and Mocha Porter. And damn, they were good.
Anyway, I´ve cleaned them up and was planning to use them this weekend bottling my latest brew. Now I´m wondering if the caps are more likely to leak with the "twist-threads" on the neck than from a regular bottleneck?

cheers

[fretlessman71]

The twist off bottles aren't as reliable to get a good seal. I'd avoid them.

However, you might use one as an experiment - I have a friend who says that he's successfully recapped a twist off bottle... not sure I buy it, though.

[brew-T]

Originally posted by fretlessman71
The twist off bottles aren't as reliable to get a good seal. I'd avoid them.


Ok, thanks. I´ll use two or three of them. And put them on the side to see if they leak.
I mean, they do get away with it at the breweries. Maybe it will work with more pressure on top of the wing capper...i don´t know.

[brewmonkey]

If your bottles are not designed for twist tops you are wasting your time. You also cannot re-use a twist cap.

[danno]

the other issue is twist off bottles use much thinner glass, so they tend to break pretty easily. be careful when you're capping to apply even pressure...

[fretlessman71]

I really wouldn't do any more than ONE, if you have to at all. Your homebrew is far too precious to waste on an experiment based on third-hand information!

[fretlessman71]

Try an experiment first - take some carbonated soda and slowly pour it into a twistoff bottle, cap, and leave around for a day or two. Open it and see what you get.

[brew-T]

I think I´m going to listen to wisdom. I usually don´t but... ;)
Seems that to much can go wrong here.
And you are right Fret - why waste precious beer if I don´t have to.

Thanks for good advice all of you

Tom

[griff]

I am trying out some plastic soda bottles right now, with there recycled caps , doesn't look like I'm going to have any trouble with them. Will let you know when I open them. It has been almost 2 months so far. I also have a friend that used twist type caps and bottles with no problems. I think more of us should experiment with the plastic bottles and twist caps with a small amount of homebrew. Lets find out the facts.

[fretlessman71]

I think using plastic soda bottles with twist off caps stands a better chance of working well than using glass bottles with the standard cap that is still a twist-off (i.e., Sierra Nevada, RedHook, etc.). Aren't you supposed to release the pressure every so often as it's carbonating?

[brew-T]

I usually use 1,5 litre plastic bottles with twist-on cap. They work fine. I just recently got myself a capper and started using glass bottles. Mostly because it looks and feels better.
I´ve only had one plastic bottle explode so far (been at it for 2 years). It sat in my cupboard and the cap split in two. All my shirts got a shower of dark ale. I guess I had over primed that batch a bit... I did let some pressure out of the rest - the caps were not flat on top anymore, they were bulging from the pressure. Armed and ready, you know :-)
But other than that I have had no troubles at all with plastic bottles. Since they are not brown I keep them in the dark. I have had porters sitting for a year and they came out just fine. No off tastes or anything like that...hmm...at least not from the bottle.

[Jackal1]

I`m a little confused here. Maybe I`m not understanding what type twist off caps you are referring to.
I have been using 40oz twist off bottles and caps with no loss and no problem at all.
They are much easier at bottling time. Take up less space and work great.
I have a neighbor who keeps me well supplied with these , so that is an added extra bonus.

[21st-Amendment]

I just grabbed some IBC rootbeer bottles that come with a plastic twist cap. They're made of brown glass AND 32 onces $$. Im gonna call em double pints, "share one with a friend". :D