SMC Discussion Areas

Many have talked about bottling their own pop... and now I'm intriqued... but i spent 30 minutes today on Google trying to search sources for either 6.5/7 oz or 10oz or 12 oz clear Glass Bottles  that I can fill and cap?  Nothing.
Anyone here have a source for some plain clear glass bottles... I can find amber beer bottles but want clear.

thanks
john

What about all of the 6.5 oz. Coke bottles that you have?  I'm away this week, but I'll check my computer when I get home to see if I may have something bookmarked.
You might also try posting something at Root Beer World (http://www.rootbeerworld.com/).  They have a home brewing section on their forum.  It's not a high traffic site, but you may get some responses.

Anchor glass sells clear glass bottles. They have many locations but I know the plant in Shakopee Minnesota used to make the clear glass bottles not sure if they still do ore even if they wouold sell in smaller quantities but it never hurts to ask. Their website is www.anchorglass.com

Thanks for the replies... I'll check on  them

yes i have several 6.5 oz green glass coke bottles, and have used them... but also would like some clear glass to do the orange,roobeer and grape pops for the kids... I think that would be cool.
i've checked with several home brew and micro brew places as well without any luck...
Never thought it to be soo hard...I just want a case or two...

Even returnable beer bottles would work, but they don't use them much more either..

Thanks
John

        Sorry I can't help you, but I have a story to share.

        I was given several cases of 16 oz bottles as part of a machine transaction
last year. Well nobody want's tall bottles for thier machines so I was stuck
with them. I can't tell you how many times I almost dumped all these off-brand
bottles in the trash, but just couldn't bring myself to do it  :help:

        A few weeks ago a guy came into the store and asked where he might
get some tall Coke bottles, (everybody always wants Coke)  :tounge:
        When he said he was going to the Mexican market to buy a
couple of cases of the tall Coke  bottles just for the glass, I asked
him why he needed so many bottles? He had 3 young daughters out
in the car and their school was having a carnival. His job was to find
enough bottles to set up a ring-toss booth! I asked if he had to have "Coke"?
When he said no.........I knew those bottles had a reason for survival.
       It was very rewarding hearing the excitement from those little kids
as we loaded all these bottles they had never seen before, into the back of
his Suburban.

       

Signguy,

I am new to the soda machine hobby but a long time home-brewer.  I am also cheap and do not like to pay for bottles.  In Michigan, we have returnables so I traded cans for the bottles that I needed to home brew at my local party store.  Although, I may have emptied quite a few in the process as well! :drinking:

A good clear glass 12 oz. bottle would be Newcastle Brown Ale.  They are not twist off so they can be cleaned and re-crowned.  They are shorter than a typical 12 oz. long neck and should do the trick.  See attached picture.  Of course, if you like Brown Ale, there is none better than Newcastle so you could enjoy your bottle collecting a little more if you want! :happydrinkers:

Homebrewer's bottle cleaning tips:

1.  To remove the labels, fill your laundry room sink/basin with hot water and dish soap.  Submerge the bottles and leave overnight.  The labels should just slide off.  Use dish scouring pad to remove excess glue or label remnants.

2.  To clean the bottles for use, go to your local homebrewing supply store and buy a bottle cleaning attachment for your sink spigot.  They are not too expensive and really do a good job.  Then place bottles on the bottom rack of your dishwasher on the posts and wash on high heat with heated dry.  Let cool and you have some very clean bottles to fill with the beverage of your choice.  You can also get good quality crowns and an inexpensive crowner at your local home brewing supply store.

3.  Rinse well after drinking the pop and then you can just do the dishwasher for future uses.

Good luck!

Tim

Welcome to the site Tim... Thanks for the tip... good info!  :happydrinkers:

So how long have you been making beer?

AWESOME Tip... and I actually like New castle... haven't had it much , but I think I'll become an expert this weekend putting down a case or two... Guess i'll have to have a party!??
oh darn.

Great tip, Thanks!!!

You could always try buying a couple cases of Jarrittos soda. They come in 13.5 oz clear glass bottles.  They have plastic labels that are very easy to peel off. 

I think I'll have more fun putting down a few cases of New Castle to get the bottles? :biggrin:

Also, Technohat, what was that soda that you gave me a 6 pack of when we met a few months ago?  that was good, thank you, but can't remember where those twist offs or pop off?
Those bottles would be good too? maybe I could get a few cases of those???

Those would be Fletcher Street Soda

http://www.fletcherstreetbrewing.com/ourproducts/flavorfulsodas.html (http://www.fletcherstreetbrewing.com/ourproducts/flavorfulsodas.html)

The root beer and diet root beer come in regular brown beer bottles which are pop off. The rest come in clear bottles that are twist off.  However, the last case of grape I bought came in the brown bottles. I'm not sure if they just temporarily ran out of the clear bottles or if this is a permanent switch.

Sign Guy,

Glad I could offer up a good option.  Newcastle is the only beer that comes in clear bottles that I like--a close second to Bass Ale or Guiness Stout depending on my mood.

Bubba,

I have been home-brewing on and off for about 14 years now.  I haven't brewed since about this time last year due to time constraints but it is a fun hobby and it is not that difficult to make a batch of really good beer.  The most important ingredient is bleach--everything must be kept very clean or you end up with skunky beer.

I am glad the tip was helpful to the group because I will be asking a lot of questions after tomorrow when I pick up my first soda machine.  It is a Cavalier USS-8-64 that is in like-new condition.  But someday, I want one of the older round top machines.  My wife's family were Coca Cola bottlers for four generations and her grandfather put a lot of Coke machines in gas stations around Southeast Michigan!  This should be a good starter machine and it can vend bottles and cans so I might even put a little home-brew in there to test it out!

Thanks guys!

Tim

Thanks for the info Tim... Skunk beer has been one of the things I've noticed in home brew. I've done the beer in a bag, but thats it so far. I want to get into it, but haven't had too many good home brews... When you get a chance, can you write up some tips, suggestions, equipment, recipes, whatever... I love beer, and want to get into making my own.

Thanks for the great Tip, We managed to knock off a 12 pack of New Castles last night, so now I have something to work with today.... I'm cleaning them today and should be bottling by tomorrow.
Thanks again!

Signguy--how did the Newcastle bottles work out?

Just curious.  Are you making your own soda or are you just re-bottling soda in the glass bottles for your machine?

Thanks!

Tim

The Bottles worked out great!... then I got to thinking... duh.. I have over 100 cases of the old 6 oz green Coke bottles... so  I went and ran a case of those through the cleaning process and decided to bottle some pop (just orange and grape) for the kids.. .plus I liked the smaller portions rather than a whole 12 oz size...
So long story short... I did use the New Castle bottles and will reuse them for the adults but the small cokes , worked jsut fine as well for the kids, as they don't really care what color the bottle is anyway... and they obviously vend well out of all my machines.
Thanks!

Glen,
Looking at those bottles brings back memories of my dads auto body shop.
There were always a few stacks like that around.
Miss him and the body shop.  :down: