Expert: Keith Patton - 8/17/2007

Question
I've read where you can reuse commercial glass bottles, but have to beware of capping challenges.  What about reusing commercial plastic bottles?  If so, any capping advise?  How about reusing the caps?


Answer
Mike:

I would avoid the screw on types.  I don'tuse them, but do use the regular 12 oz and the 16 oz german bottles.  I have for years.  The challenges refered to is the screw on tops do not have the pronouned lip on the top and the swage in your capper may not give you a good seal on the small diameter threaded bottle lip.  Do not reuse caps. They are too cheap to ruin a bottle of beer over.

I make a habit of rinsing all my bottles after use.  I run them through the dish washer to remove the labels.  The hot dry cycle should be avoided as it bakes the labels back on if they are not completely off.  Also clean out the washer drain screen of all labels or you might ruin the pump.

Plastic bottles work if they hold a seal.  Only problem is the color.  Clear and green are not good colors as they do not keep out UV light which reacts with hop compounds and can give you a skunky flavor and odor to your beer.  If you do use them ( a co-worker does) store them in a dark place and in boxes.

Keith