Champagne bottles

[RichC]

I'm getting ready to bottle some cider(Ciderheads group buy last year) and some elderflower champagne I made up a while ago. I bought a load of cages and plastic corks, thing is I dont have any bottles. I intend bottle priming and carbonating both fairly highly, probably 3~3.5vols so I think Id like to use champagne bottles. Is there a suitable plastic option or do people just scavenge bottles from restaurants? I'd expect most plastic bottles would deform. Going to take ages to accumulate enough champagne bottles for about 40litres......

Thanks

R

[Jacob]

Not sure where to get bigger once but HERE's an option ...

[Ciderhead]

I'm getting ready to bottle some cider(Ciderheads group buy last year) and some elderflower champagne I made up a while ago. I bought a load of cages and plastic corks, thing is I dont have any bottles. I intend bottle priming and carbonating both fairly highly, probably 3~3.5vols so I think Id like to use champagne bottles. Is there a suitable plastic option or do people just scavenge bottles from restaurants? I'd expect most plastic bottles would deform. Going to take ages to accumulate enough champagne bottles for about 40litres......

Thanks

R

I am guessing you are going to re-prime with some more yeast as mine all settled out of the juice at this stage?
Be very careful with the quantities

[RichC]

Thanks Guys, I was hoping to use big bottles becuase thats the way I'll be drinking my cider and elderflower champagne. Didnt want to use my beer bottles for this but I just migh end up doing that.
Ciderhead, what do you mean about being careful about quantities? I assume I'd calculate priming sugar in the same way as I do with beer? Are you referring to the quantity of yeast? I probably would have just dumped another packet in, would this be a mistake?

Thanks!

[Chris]

I've used sparkling wine bottles in the past. Called to a couple of restaurants on a Monday morning and they had no problem with me taking them away.

[RichC]

Thx Chris, I think I can get some Prosecco bottles but I'm not sure if they've a standard neck size

[Chris]

Thx Chris, I think I can get some Prosecco bottles but I'm not sure if they've a standard neck size

I think you said you would be using the plastic corks and cages, if so it shouldn't matter if there is a little variation in neck size. The way the plastic corks work is that as the pressure builds the cork is expands and creates a seal. That is why the corks are hollow.

[TheSumOfAllBeers]

I'm getting ready to bottle some cider(Ciderheads group buy last year) and some elderflower champagne I made up a while ago. I bought a load of cages and plastic corks, thing is I dont have any bottles. I intend bottle priming and carbonating both fairly highly, probably 3~3.5vols so I think Id like to use champagne bottles. Is there a suitable plastic option or do people just scavenge bottles from restaurants? I'd expect most plastic bottles would deform. Going to take ages to accumulate enough champagne bottles for about 40litres......

I am in England, and I can reuse Meantime Porter and Meantime IPA 750ml bottles. Work great for highly carbonated sparkling wines.

I have also used the Lorena (sp?) lemonade bottles (flip tops). They are tough as hell.

PET bottles that normally take carbonated drinks will work in a pinch. Coca-cola are best, and I have used San Pellegrino bottles a lot. They can deform, but they are single use in this regard, they take a lot of pressure.

If you need a lot of champers bottles in a hurry, parties are the best.

[newToBrew]

What about the 1 litre bulmers bottles from off licences ?

[RichC]

Thanks guys, if I'm stuck ill end up using PET bottles but I really fancy the idea of Prosecco or champagne bottles. I just love popping open a bottle, they'll also be nicer to pass around to friends and family.

R

[TheSumOfAllBeers]

They go down a hit alright.

No option except to scavenge them. I have found that large 750ml belgian beer bottles will do in a pinch (think Leffe, Duvel etc). Its a cheaper way of getting robust bottles than buying loads of bubbly.

Over the last year and a half, I have been able to accumulate enough bottles to store about 60+ L of bubbly. But it took its time.

[Hop Bomb]

Anyone know the wholesaler for those white gypsy/meantime style 750ml bottles? I want to cork & cage my spoils of the barrel RIS. Cant find anything solid on google. (i dont want alpack flip tops  )

[Ciderhead]

750Mls is some session  us lightweights in Wicklow are on the lookout for 330's, you going to bottle condition or are the cages just for show?

email them and ask them? or looking at the white gypsey website www.dela.ie serves it, ask what they do with their empties?

[Hop Bomb]

Some will be 330ml personal use but most hopefully will be 750mls which are to be shared (it means the stash will last longer also) Cork & cage look classy - Im also planning to do sours so I can reuse the empty RIS bottles for that. Ive mailed White Gypsy but I dont hold much hope for a reply.

[Eoin]

I'm just about to put up an ad for 8 champagne bottles and 35 geueze bottles in for sale.

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