11 replies to this topic

[Deerslyr]

I thought this was an intersting article on Returnable Bottles. I still save bottles that can be reused. Hell, even my neighbor will bring over a case of empty Pacifico's every once in a while.My Link.Mods, if you feel this belongs in the PH, please move. I thought it would get better attention and discussion over here.

[tag]

In Germany they all use the same bottles so they can be returned and re-used by any brewery.

[Deerslyr]

It's interesting... as recently as about 10 years ago, I remember the liquor store taking cases of empty Miller High Life bottles back when you went into buy more.

[chuck_d]

In Germany they all use the same bottles so they can be returned and re-used by any brewery.

Not all, but most. You still get bottles that won't work for your brand and need to be sorted out. There is no way I would use returnables in America though, you gotta just work within the culture's system. It's not just cleaning them, you gotta inspect them too, people put all sorts of nasty stuff inside bottles.

[Deerslyr]

Not all, but most. You still get bottles that won't work for your brand and need to be sorted out. There is no way I would use returnables in America though, you gotta just work within the culture's system. It's not just cleaning them, you gotta inspect them too, people put all sorts of nasty stuff inside bottles.

There isn't anything that can be put into a bottle that a long soak in very hot water + Oxyfree will take care of! Yes, it's work, but its possible.

[chuck_d]

There isn't anything that can be put into a bottle that a long soak in very hot water + Oxyfree will take care of! Yes, it's work, but its possible.

Condoms? Syringes? Motor Oil?

[Deerslyr]

Condoms? Syringes? Motor Oil?

I stand corrected...I've cleaned out plenty of cigarrette butts and caked on ash though.

[chuck_d]

I stand corrected...I've cleaned out plenty of cigarrette butts and caked on ash though.

I mean, technically, the bottles need to be inspected to make sure there is no cleaning solution left in them either. I mentioned motor oil because it requires a different kind of inspection device than is used for residual liquid in the bottle. Beyond also what's inside the bottle, the bottle itself must be inspected, a broken mouth is one example of a bottle that should be rejected. All these things are done with fancy equipment, they used to use people, but people suck at it.

[stellarbrew]

If I were to buy some beer in these heavy-duty returnable bottles, I would most likely hold on to them for homebrew. I wonder if the heavy wall thickness would make them suitable for bottle carbonating highly carbonated Belgian beers.

[chuck_d]

If I were to buy some beer in these heavy-duty returnable bottles, I would most likely hold on to them for homebrew. I wonder if the heavy wall thickness would make them suitable for bottle carbonating highly carbonated Belgian beers.

This PDF suggests that you can get up to 3.5 Volumes of CO2, compared to 3 in the 12 oz bottles we normally use.https://www.northern...onditioning.pdf

[stlinch]

I can't even recycle glass!! I'm glad I keg!

[brewguy]

These guys do this, linky.