Expert: Ed Westemeier - 4/4/2004

Question
You are the third expert I have presented this question to, and hopefully I will get an answer form you.  I have been told that I can use "twist top" beer bottles in home brewing.  Is this true, and if it is, would you use a regular capper with regular lids?

thank you,
Jon

Answer
Yes, you can, but there are a couple of things to be aware of.

The caps used on the twist top bottles are made of a softer metal than regular caps. That lets them deform a little more, so they make a better seal with the threads on the glass.

You can use regular caps with a regular capper, but be aware that you may have some tiny gaps, leading to either:
- flat beer (because your carbonation escaped)
- stale beer (because air got in under the cap

Bottom line: regular bottles and caps are a safer bet, but it's sometimes possible to buy the special twist caps, which would be a good compromise.

Ed