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Beer in wine bottles?

Posted: Sunday Aug 20, 2006 7:47 pm
by Tourist
Was wondering if anyone has ever bottled beer in empty screw-cap wine bottles (either by resealing with screw-cap or with a normal bottle top). Do you reckon it would work?

Posted: Sunday Aug 20, 2006 8:24 pm
by lethaldog
I think you would find it hard to use a bottler with them and i dont recommend just pouring it in, but saying that, No i have never done it, dont know how well wine bottle caps would seal because they arnt containing carbonated beverages.

By the way how have you got so many screw top wine bottles, isnt it a sin for a wine drinker not to by corked bottles :lol:

Posted: Sunday Aug 20, 2006 9:51 pm
by NTRabbit
Wine bottles no, but I've been collecting Champagne bottles as a prelude to buying a Tirage sized bell for my superautomatica :)
lethaldog wrote:By the way how have you got so many screw top wine bottles, isnt it a sin for a wine drinker not to by corked bottles :lol:
It was in the past, but us wine drinkers have had to adapt to modern times as well - with so many wine producing countries in the world now, the supply of genuine cork has been stretched so far that quality control has slipped dramatically. Its actually become far more acceptable, and even preferred, to drink wines with synthetic corks, and because of a perceived plasticy taste from those, the Stelson screwcap has seen a similar rise in fortune.

Predictably, both are still not used in French winemaking, but the other premiere world wine regions are already on the move.

Posted: Sunday Aug 20, 2006 9:53 pm
by halminator
To be honest, I don't reckon the screw top cap will hold with the pressure that builds up inside the bottle. You maybe able to get away with it for a low carbonated beer, but suspect you may have problems.

If you do decide to go for it though, make sure you use the coloured glass bottles and not the clear white wine bottles.

As a wise tradesman once told me during the first year of my apprenticeship - "always use the right tool for the job."

Posted: Monday Aug 21, 2006 4:47 am
by gregb
Wine bottles - no. They are not designed to hold pressure.
Champagne bottles - yes. See NTRabbits post above.
PET Soft drink bottles - yes. However I have found that over time (>6 months) they lose pressure, but they will cover your short term quaffing requirements.

Cheers,
Greg

Posted: Monday Aug 21, 2006 7:58 am
by blandy
As for corks vs screw tops, if Penfolds are trying it out on their Grange Hermitage, then there must be something in it.

Posted: Monday Aug 21, 2006 11:00 am
by rwh
Hey NT, before you buy the new bell for your capper, check out how much the champers bottle caps are. I've heard they're expensive...

Posted: Monday Aug 21, 2006 7:39 pm
by NTRabbit
Crown Seals TIRAGE x 100s $11.50 from Grumpys

Posted: Monday Aug 21, 2006 7:45 pm
by lethaldog
NTRabbit wrote:Crown Seals TIRAGE x 100s $11.50 from Grumpys
Each to their own but compared to ordinary crown seals thats like almost 6 times the price :lol:

Posted: Monday Aug 20, 2007 9:52 am
by Noodles
NTRabbit wrote:Crown Seals TIRAGE x 100s $11.50 from Grumpys
I know this is an old thread, but i've recently started collecting champagne bottles for my homebrew and the price of the tirage crown seals has almost halved. They're down to $5.95 per 100 at the Grain & Grape. So don't let the price of the caps put you off. Champagne bottles are very easy to come by especially if you've got a contact at your local Wedding Reception place.

Posted: Monday Aug 20, 2007 10:38 am
by rwh
How do you cap them? Do you have another fitting for your capper, and how much was it?

Posted: Monday Aug 20, 2007 10:43 am
by Noodles
Ordered the tirage bell from Grain & Grape, it was about $6 and it screws straight on to my Super Auto capper.

http://www.grainandgrape.com.au/advance ... 6&x=19&y=8

Posted: Monday Aug 20, 2007 11:11 am
by Kevnlis
Do the Tirage seals work on Magnums?

Nevermind I found my answer at Grumpys ;)

Posted: Monday Aug 20, 2007 12:37 pm
by gregb
Kevnlis wrote:Do the Tirage seals work on Magnums?

Nevermind I found my answer at Grumpys ;)
Care to share?

Cheers,
Greg

Posted: Monday Aug 20, 2007 12:40 pm
by Kevnlis
The tirage bell and seals at Grumpys are labeled as being useful for the 1.5L magnums which is exactly what I was after! :lol:

http://www.grumpys.com.au/phpshop/?page ... 8&keyword=&

Top of that page explains it a bit better.

Posted: Monday Aug 20, 2007 1:58 pm
by Noodles
Kevnlis wrote:The tirage bell and seals at Grumpys are labeled as being useful for the 1.5L magnums which is exactly what I was after! :lol:

http://www.grumpys.com.au/phpshop/?page ... 8&keyword=&

Top of that page explains it a bit better.
Can't believe Grumpy's are double the price on tirage crown seals & the tirage bell compared to G&G.

Posted: Monday Aug 20, 2007 2:22 pm
by gregb
Thanks Kev.

Cheers,
Greg

Posted: Monday Aug 20, 2007 4:23 pm
by Kevnlis
I will also add that there seems to be no difference between the gear at Grumpys and the gear at Grape and Grain, at less than half the price I know where I will be shopping :lol:

Now I just need to visit a few of the local bottle shops and let them know that I will pay for empty magnums!

Posted: Monday Aug 20, 2007 4:33 pm
by Noodles
Never thought about bottling in magnums, I guess they'd be hard to come by, but they'd be handy to have for a celebratory occassion.

Posted: Monday Aug 20, 2007 4:33 pm
by Rod
Been using champagne ( sparkling in Aus) for about 5 years

works well

another excuss to buy Jacobs Creek

nice dark bottles