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Using Commercial Beer Bottles
Hi Everyone,
This here is my first post so a big HELLO to everyone. 
I have searched these forums for 'bottles' in an attempt to understand the (re) use of commercial beer bottles for home brew. But I found nothing answering my question. So onto my post.
Is it okay to re-use commercial beer bottles (specifically Beck's bottles)? I ask for a couple of reasons:
1) I read somewhere that you should not reuse such bottles as they're not designed for that.
2) However I've seen and heard of others using such bottles (not sure from which beer though).
3) On the base of my Beck's bottles I notice the embossed words, "NO REFILL".
So what is the verdict? Can you use commercial beer bottles? Can I use my Backs bottles? If not, what characteristics do I need to check for in a bottle for it to be usable (other than crown caps?)?
Hey gregory,
So I guess the reason for not using them is the one you mentioned bottle rocket. That being they're fairly thin and thereby they might EXPLODE! Hmmm. But hopefully as long as I check the SG I should be safe from that - well, assuming I know which SG means it's all done (but anyway).
I've heard of people re-using commercial bottles without any problems. I think as long as you sanitize the bottles properly you shouldn't have a problem - the biggest challenge is actually sanitizing the bottles properly.
Anyone else got some suggestions?
I have always heard that screw top glass bottles should not be used for a couple reasons:
1) The glass is supposedly thinner.
2) They don't receive a new crown cap very well and can not seal properly or can break free of the threads on the glass under pressure.
I know some people have used them with success but I would always recommend using non-screwtop glass bottles. I have some I have used over and over during the course of the last five years without any problem. I like the ones I have gotten from the Deschuttes Brewery in Bend Oregon. They are very thick glass and can withstand many uses.
Having said all that, it has been so long since I have had a Beck's I can't remember if they are screw tops or not. Regardless, I would use the above rule as your guide. Good luck and I hope this information helps.
I've used commercial pry-off cap bottles in 341 ml size and "quarts."
These were salvaged from Canadian beer cases and I never had one explode.
I never have or heard about any explosions with any types of bottles yst and believe in there shall be not explosions if sealing is well .
I believe that some commercially available bottles are thinner and not intended to be recycled.
I suspect that these could explode if the brew is particularly "lively."
Yes i am agreed and these type of bottles donot need proper sealing too for exployed i think we shoulg get away from these thin bottles
I've had success reusing commercial bottles. Just make sure you sanitize them thoroughly, and don't use too much priming sugar. To be safer, you can stick to bottles that were used for bottle conditioned beers, since the glass should be thicker.
I think the no refill thing is just so people don't commercially reuse the bottles. Whatever you do in your own home is your own business.
commercial bottles are almost always thinner than the bottles you buy from a homebrew store. this is because big commercial breweries have their methods down to an exact science, and know exactly how much psi will be exerted on the glass. therefore, they can save money buy using a thinner glass. bottles intended for home bottling are much thicker to accomodate for not being as accurate with your brew methods. sometimes we bottle a day or 2 too early, or accidentally drop a bit too much sugar in one, etc. thicker bottles can handle a higher psi before exploding.
therefore, you can try reusing commercial bottles (i do it all the time) but be aware that they MAY explode if you miscalculated. also, sometimes you find a brand that uses thicker bottles, and those would of course be better.
there is not much difficulty sanitizing these. just rinse them immediately after finishing the last swig, and you will be fine.
always use bottles that have a pry-off cap, not a scew top. you do not get a quality seal from a scew top.
your bottle probably says no-refill for liability reasons. the company does not want you to sue them for injuries sustained when it explodes from misuse.
hope this helps!
I've used literally hundreds of commercial beer bottles to bottle my beer with good success. I've only had one explode and that was a Grolsh bottle. I'd reccomend avoiding the commercial bottles that are green or clear; they are thinner and you'll want to keep your brew out of the light too. I usually look for 22oz brown bottles; I like the bigger ones because it cuts down on the bottle cleaning time. I'm currently trying to convert over to homebrew specific brown swing-top bottles to further ease the bottling process.
I use commercial longneck bottles all the time with no problems. I don't use screw top bottles. They are thinner and more likely to break plus would be harder to seal. Grolsh type bottles work well too.
I'll chime in with a "I've used all kinda of commercial bottles with no problems." Also, like it has been said before, 22oz bottles are awesome, who only drinks 12oz of beer at a time anyway? 
I've reused commercial bottles for years. In fact, the most common source for them is the local recycling yard. They let me go through the glass bins when I bring in my other recycling. I've reused Becks, Sam Adams Guiness, and Heinekin with no ill effect.
The "no refill" admonishment is strictly for the commercial brewers. They are prevented from reusing them for various health reasons based on local laws - not because they can't be reused.
Two things to be aware of:
1. Twist off bottles are capped using a combination crimping and twisting method. Home brewing equipment is not designed for this. Thus, the end result is usually either a cracking of the neck (it's thinner than a crown cap) or a leaky bottle (resulting in no carbonation). Stick with crown lip bottles - those requiring a bottle opener.
2. Sanitation is twice as important with reused bottles. I clean mine with tri-sodium phosphate (TSP) then sterilize them. Once they are clean, as long as I rinse them immeidately after use, I shouldn't have to TSP them again. Check for cracks and chips before every use.
An interesting note - champagne bottles can be used for beer. They will take a standard bottle cap (if you use a bench capper - the hand cappers don't handle the thicker stem), and they are designed to hold pressure. Great for parties and picnics. --Chris
(if you use a bench capper - the hand cappers don't handle the thicker stem),
my "butterfly" style capper can cap champagne bottles. if you pull out the metal semi-circular part (that actually grabs the neck) with a pair of pliers, you can turn it around so that it can handle the larger neck of champagne bottles.
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