OVHA Chat

I've got more beer to condition than I have regular bottles. I do have 4 Growlers, but wanted to get your input on using them for final conditioning and carbonation.

Main concerns:
A. Will the screw on caps (used) maintain a strong enough seal?
B. Are the bottles strong enough to not explode (I had read online someone had an issue with this.)

Thanks, Tim

I wouldn't use growlers to condition when you can go to the CO-OP and pick up a case for @$12.
If you need caps they also have them.

It's their hours I'm unable to make.

I will and so will most of the club members loan you a case of bottles and caps, and be happy to meet up whenever you can.
This is a big part of the club, I have borrowed and loaned many things and am always willing to help out.


How can we help?

I probably have 8 cases of bottles, no caps, but I live in Madisonville, So I'm no help unless you can wait till the Dec. Meeting and Ill bring you a couple of cases.

I could get you all the aluminum bottles you want just let me know

I condition in flip top growlers all the time. I do one at bottling for brew club.

I can't find any hard facts on the actual pressure rating for a 1/2 gallon growler. Northern Brewer says specifically not for use with carbonated beverages.

http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/1-2- ... -of-6.html

But this is the standard container for take home sales from a microbrewery, off the tap. With the understanding to keep it cold I suppose so little danger for yeast reactivation.

The PolySeal caps will hold some pressure. I've trouble with the metal ones leaking.

Those flip tops Jimmy uses seem to be thicker glass to me and probably have a pressure rating.

I say go for it with some precautions. Put a bag around them just in case.

PS. Lots of guys also use 2L plastic bottles. They hold LOTS of pressure.

I condition using a 1/2 gallon flip-top (Grolsch-style) cap. No problems - I use it for group dinners, etc. I also bottle condition with 16 oz flip-top individual bottles. Again, no issues.

I would expect (in my short experience and from asking around at a meeting a couple of months ago) that it is the cap that is the weak point, not the bottles.