Mason Jars
Ok folks, for what's it's worth, I gave a mason jar a shot today at the end of my batch. I had just enough left to fill a quart jar leaving what I considered the appropriate amount of head space....I'll let everyone know in a few weeks what the verdict is.
Cheers
Good call, Gizmo. I'm curious, too, but wouldn't want to lose a whole batch. I have to ask, though, was it really much less difficult filling and sealing that jar than capping a bottle? Actually, I guess I should compare it to the work of at least a couple of bottles...
I ran out of bottles recently and searched for anything I could put a little beer in. I used one wide mouth quart mason jar and two regular mouth jars. I don't think the wide mouth will work- the wide mouth jar lid puffed way up and kinked, letting pressure out. The other two puffed up, but not as much. I left an inch of headspace, which was probably too much, but the beer tasted fine. It was not very carbonated, however and I don't know if it was a headspace issue or a leak issue. (I also did not use new lids which I think is a big canning no-no) I am going to try again because a case of 12 quart jars from Walmart is $8.64 and it doesn't get much easier.
Well, to each their own, but here's my update....I lost 32 oz of beer because just like Leeler5, my lid swelled up and kinked and let off pressure. I've seen enough to know that the little bit of effort this saves is not worth losing the beer.
cheers
Gizmo, did you use a wide mouth or a regular mouth jar? If you had the kinking problem with the narrow opening I may not try again.
Mine was the quart jar with the narrow opening. I left about an 1" down of head space and in about 5 days it pushed through. What's more is that because I was sceptical, I had it down in my laundry room which stays at about 65F. I wonder what would have happened if I had stored it at normal room temp....
I'm sticking with my bottles. Until I decide to get into kegging, I'm not sure there's any other way to make it easier/better.
I'm not sure a Mason-type jar will do well with internal pressure. When you can you form a partial vacuum in the jar. The seals are designed to keep outside air at a relatively higher pressure from getting in. Carbonated beverages would be just the opposite--higher relative pressure inside pushing out. Interested to know how it works out.