To buy a case of beer bottles it usually costs about $15.00+ depending on size and type. Times that by how much beer you brew and how much you share with friends this price can quickly get out of hand! Save some money by recycling your own bottles right back into your next batch, don’t be afraid to ask your friends to chip in and save a few bottles for you also(No twist offs). After all i’m sure some of the beer they are drinking comes right from your private stock.
Now, in order to get extra life from your bottles it is important to take care of them as if they were still full! Whenever you finish drinking a beer or pouring a glass of beer take a second to rinse out your bottle with a little warm water to help remove any sediment before it starts to stick to the inside of your bottle. This will help ease your cleaning and sanitation process come bottling day and help prevent possible off flavors in your beer and even cause your bottles to explode. Some people rely on a bottling brush to clean before they sanitize, this is how I do it. Others will use a brass bottle washer(providing it fits their kitchen or bathroom sink) I have one of these as well and I never had to use it cause of the simple step I take by rinsing the bottle out prior to storing until needed again.
On bottling day I get my bottles together usually about 45 and begin by running warm water into each one with a few turns of the bottle brush, rinse again and set aside until all are finished. When this is done I submerge the bottles in a no rinse sanitizer for about 30 seconds and hang them on a bottle tree to air dry.
This method has been very effective for me, I have saved hundreds of dollars(which usually goes right back into more brew ingredients) and have never had an off flavored batch nor an exploding bottle!
Save your bottles and brew more beer!
