How do I cap the green plastic bottles used for home brew beer?

Question

I want to learn how to brew my own beer. I was given 48 used green plastic bottles. But I am not sure how I meant to seal the bottles.

Answer 1

There is an nifty gadget you get from where you get the rest of your brewing supplies. It has two handles that swing up and down and a cylinder that the cap sits in. You mash down the handles and it caps the bottle.

Answer 2

Well since you're using green plastic bottles you'll need caps similar to those found on a 2 liter of soda. Once you really get into homebrewing you'll most likely switch to glass bottles and real bottle caps. Then you'll just need to save all the non-twist off beer bottles you can and get a capper. Bottle caps for glass bottles are cheap like $2 for 144 of them. Don't get the crappy bottle capper, it doesn't do as good of a seal on the bottle. I learned this the hard way. I'd recommend one of the $20 bench cappers. Go to www.austinhomebrew.com. They've got tons and tons of excellent homebrew recipe and equipment. Also check out www.realbeer.com

Answer 3

Never EVER use screw-on glass bottles. That is the way to create bottle bombs.Even if nobody gets cut by the shrapnel, it results in a nasty mess. You can use the returnable bottles (preferably brown); they are heavier and can take the pressure generated by home brews. The Swing-top (Grolsh-type) bottles are popular too, if pricey. In an emergency, you can use the PET bottles that soda come in. If your Dad really gets into the hobby, he may start using kegs and growlers but avoid them for now. Get cases of empties from a distributor, wash the heck out of them after you soak off the labels (I soak in water + TSP + bleach.) and then sanitize.

Answer 4

Don't user plastic. They effect taste of the beer and allow carbonation to seep out. They also allow sunlight in which alter the taste of your beer as well.

The only bottles you should use for your homebrew are the brown glass bottles that are NOT threaded. You can by a capper at whatever store you by the bottles from.

If you already have the brew in the plastic bottles transfer to the brown glasss. Otherwise what is the point of making something tasty if you are going to store it in something that makes it taste like crap.

Answer 5

I'm not sure if this is what you want but I'll tell you anyway.
A friend of mine uses 1.25 litre coke bottles and just screws the old caps on.Because they are clear he wraps newspaper around every bottle.The beer is spot on,the best home brew ever and I think its the plastic bottle what make it so.Hope this is of some help.

Answer 6

I was using Grolsh® beer bottles with the swing top cap. Less hassle and you can used them over and over.

Answer 7

You need to buy a capping machine and bottle caps. It is cheap and easy to use.

Answer 8

Learn it.