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I picked up 30 second hand Coopers bottles a little while ago. I put them in the garage knowing that one day I'd run short of my present bottle stock and then I'd call them into service. Well that time came today. I pulled the bottles out ready to hit them with the no rinse steraliser ready to use them and was I surprised when I took of the lids. The bottles hadn't been washed after their last use. The stench that came out was terrible. Some of them had what looked like mould on them. I tried to salvage some but I washed and washed and in the end I just gave up and threw them away.

To the seller, thanks mate. Good on you for screwing a fellow homebrewer. Perhaps you'll feel guilty and send me my money back. Well you live and learn I guess.

that sucks, sorry to hear.. you'd think they might've washed them, hey... it's standard practice for me.. finish a bottle, rinse it out twice.

You try soaking with alkaline salts in hot water followed by a scrub with a bottle brush? That normally dislodges just about anything.

rwh wrote:You try soaking with alkaline salts in hot water followed by a scrub with a bottle brush? That normally dislodges just about anything.

To be honest, I couldn't be stuffed. I'm not sure you're meant to scrub inside the Coopers bottles as they have some sort of protective coating in them. I did give them a significant clean with both neo pink and the non rinse santiser. I was just so angry at getting screwed over, the bottles went in the bin.

I bought some tallies from a brew shop second hand. Totally disgusting. I soaked them in bleach and they came out fine. But yeah, know how you feel.

Jub

Oh, didn't realise you were talking about the PET bottles; thought they were longies.

The longnecks i am using have been stored in a mates shed the past 3-4 years while we took a break from brewing. Very very dirty but found that soaking in near boiling water plus detergent for a few hours clean them up fine and then hit them with bleach. 400+ but only got through 150 so am doing a few extra each brew. Once they are clean its easy but agree that if they are growing and smell best to ditch them.

Does anyone brew in 2L softie bottles?

Cheers
DrSmurto

I soak any mold cultures in a strong solution of Napisan for at least a few days. It seems to lift all the nasties out without scrubbing.

I've sometimes had a "yeast shadow" type stain in some bottles that no amount of brush action will shift. Some fresh Napisan for a few days has lifted the stain off.

I have found the Coopers PET need to be rinsed immediately as the sed seems to stick to the bottom.

I know of people who put their quaffers into the 2L (and the 3L Coke when they sold those) PETS as their party starter beers. Have never heard a single complaint about soft drink containers.

I've bottled a few into 1.25 and 2 litre Coke bottles. Problem is, the bottles are clear so I usually wrap them in newspaper to keep the light out.

I've got three different households collecting their 1.25 litre soft drink bottles and now have (I guess) equal numbers of Coopers and clear bottles (about 100 each).

I almost always get an initial query from guests, etc about using them, but the taste of the beer usually wins them over.

I make it a habit to store all of my beer in a cool, dark place so the UV skunking issue isn't one (he says confidently).

Heh, the best idea I've ever heard is stout in coke bottles, for taking to the cricket. Haven't actually tried it though. Maybe I'll try it with some of my upcoming Honey Porter. :p

hehe what a good idea...

If you use a diet coke bottle, you can use a standard white PET cap (complete with seal) to cap onto it.

Otherwise, if you use a Coke bottle they will see the cap isn't red (and you need the seal to be unbroken.)

Coke Zero has black caps doesnt it?

Yep, Zero has black as does Pepsi & Pepsi Max

I have recently modified my pressure cleaner to clean bottles.

As they usually com with a few attachments, only one ever bening the one you use, I cut the end off, cut a thread into the handle part and got a piece of 3/8 copper tube and threaded it and stuck it into the handle. The other end of the coper tube is then pinched and soldered closed with two small holes drilled that point downward at about 45degrees.

Works well for me.

Jub

Hi, spillsmostofit.
Bout the 1.25l coke bottles, do you use new caps with them and what's the longest you'd leave them in the bottle for? Like the sound of this as i have been using PET and want to keep the fermenter full at all times which results in a hell of a lot of PET.
Cheers, Rysa.

Rysa wrote:Bout the 1.25l coke bottles, do you use new caps with them and what's the longest you'd leave them in the bottle for?

I've been using the 1.25l bottles (and 2.0, and 1.5, and 600ml) since just about the beginning. I just soak the caps that came with the bottles in the same sterilizer, rinse 'em, and fill 'em. Never had a problem - I've got one batch in these for over six months now. I know that's short term for some brews, but I've got this unquenchable thirst sometimes....

Rysa wrote:Hi, spillsmostofit.
Bout the 1.25l coke bottles, do you use new caps with them and what's the longest you'd leave them in the bottle for? Like the sound of this as i have been using PET and want to keep the fermenter full at all times which results in a hell of a lot of PET.
Cheers, Rysa.

I reuse my caps. Some of them have been reused maybe three times. I like the new Pepsi and Schweppes caps as they are the one-piece deal which ... just appeals.

I have read that standard PET bottles will lose pressure eventually - which is why Coopers line their insides with Nylon. The assertion is about three months. That isn't an issue in my house.

When my Australia Day Stout needs bottling it will go into Grolsch bottles, Wild Turkey & Cola bottles and Coopers PET as I don't expect to be going near it for several months (except as I reach for something else in the Beer Storage Facility).