can I bottle condition in a standard screw-cap growler?

Wed Feb 23, 2011 11:23 am

Got a couple growlers that I bought (filled, from a local small brewery). Wondering if there's a reasonable method to bottle condition in these. A co-worker mentioned he tried it recently, but it's still conditioning. He melted wax over the screwed on cap.

Thoughts?
• considering: first lager
• primary:
• secondary:
• drinking: JBA batch #2
• bottle conditioning: Best Bitter
• recent past: (AG) Rye IPA rebrew; rye saison; BCS Cal Common, Rye IPA, Tasty APA, JZ's Cowboy Altbier
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jimlin
 
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Re: can I bottle condition in a standard screw-cap growler?

Wed Feb 23, 2011 11:49 am

I've had success doing this. Technically I don't think the screw top growlers are rated for pressure, but this did work for me. You'd probably would not want to do high levels of carbonation in these.
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stadelman
 
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Re: can I bottle condition in a standard screw-cap growler?

Wed Feb 23, 2011 12:05 pm

stadelman wrote:I've had success doing this. Technically I don't think the screw top growlers are rated for pressure, but this did work for me. You'd probably would not want to do high levels of carbonation in these.


Did you simply just screw on the cap, or did you do anything else to seal it? Certainly would make bottling day a lot easier. A couple growlers, a handful of bombers, and the remainder in 12 oz bottles.

I've got a low alc (4%) amber fermenting now. Figured I'd shoot for around 2.3 CO2 using corn sugar added to the bottling bucket.
• considering: first lager
• primary:
• secondary:
• drinking: JBA batch #2
• bottle conditioning: Best Bitter
• recent past: (AG) Rye IPA rebrew; rye saison; BCS Cal Common, Rye IPA, Tasty APA, JZ's Cowboy Altbier
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jimlin
 
Posts: 271
Joined: Tue Feb 15, 2011 9:20 am
Location: MA/NH border

Re: can I bottle condition in a standard screw-cap growler?

Wed Feb 23, 2011 12:09 pm

I just screwed the lid on very tightly.

I believe the nicer German growlers are rated for pressure-
http://www.northernbrewer.com/default/2 ... andle.html

The price isn't as friendly though. :)
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stadelman
 
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Re: can I bottle condition in a standard screw-cap growler?

Wed Feb 23, 2011 12:34 pm

One issue with growlers bottle conditioning is that if you are pouring into pint glasses, that up and down sloshing may kick up your yeast sediment in the later pours. If this doesn't matter to you, then whatever, but if you are concerned, just pour it all into a couple of steins in one fluid motion :aaron
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