Recapping large format bottles

I use one of these:
http://www.metrokane.com/product/27/rabbit-winechampagne-sealer.aspx

It adapts to any size bottle, and completely seals (you hear a hiss when you re-open the next day). I have had some very low carb big beers stay perfectly fresh for 24-48 hours with it

 

Yeah, I should add that I don't recommend this for IPAs or other hop-forward beers...some of those hop aromas/flavors drop off really soon after opening. Stick to using this approach for big stouts, barleywines, etc.

 

I use a vacu-vin works fine for around 48 hours

 

The Beer Savers mentioned upthread have worked well for me saving imperial stouts or barleywines to finish the next day. Only downside I've felt (aside from the same sort of loss of carbonation I get when I come back to a growler on day 2) is that they're sized for bombers but not 750 mL. So the 750s still require one session.

Unrelated to the original question: I also use the Beer Savers when I put a half-filled bomber in the fridge for an hour or 2 to chill while I drink the first half, so it doesn't pick up off flavors from whatever else is in the fridge.

 

You can cap a beer bottle for a day or so with rabbit wine stoppers. Please do not remove the carbonation from your beer with a champage or wine resealing system.

Rabbit

 

I will vouch for these. It's not often I let a bomber sit overnight, but last summer I had a Lagunitas cappuccino stout I was way too tired to finish and sat on it until the middle of the next day and it poured just as good the second pour. I was impressed. They won't fit on 25oz bombers though, you need a wine stopper for that.

 

I didn't see this post. Yeah. This is spot on.

 

Been mentioned already, but I'm part of the Rabbit wine stopper crowd

(image source)

I think they're excellent, and any loss of carbonation overnight is negligible as far as I'm concerned.
You'll lose more carbonation from a next-day growler pour.

 

Hey BA folks! My first thread here and I figured this fits best here.

My girlfriend recently got a job as a sales rep for mostly import beers, when she does demos and tastings shes been trying to figure out the best way to recap/seal large format 750ml bottles or 1 pint 9.9 fl oz bottles from location to location without them going flat. On average for retailers to try its around a 3oz pour so a single bottle should be used for a few places at first I thought she could use my homebrewing capper but since all the beers are imports it doesnt quite fit. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on how you keep an import large format from going flat over the course of the day.

Thanks!

 

Wine stopper

 

Wine stopper works or a stopper for champagne which is specifically designed to keep carbonation in the bottle.

Something like this http://www.amazon.com/Winco-811642017703-upc-Champagne-Stopper/dp/B005I4GP3Y/

 

You could also likely buy the larger bell housing for you homebrew capper and some 29 mm caps.

http://www.amazon.com/European-Bottle-Capping-Housing-Capper/dp/B0064OEDB8

 

That's pretty slick, and cheap! So that thing fits right over your standard bottle capper? I've always wanted to cap bottles from The Bruery cuz their bottles are real nice, but they've got that larger size opening.. as well as some cool Belgian bottles that I can't cap

 

Yeah, the bell actually unscrews so you may need to check to be sure you don't have a weird capper that isn't compatible. It's nice for heavier duty champagne and Belgian style bottles for sours and high carb beers.

 

The red wing cappers usually have removable bells. The black wing cappers typically do not. You'll also have to buy 29mm caps, which aren't as cheap as 26mm.

Wine stoppers or plastic champagne corks would be easier options. There are much nicer, and more expensive, metal covers for the 750ml bottles that clasp on and keep a seal. The Bruery sells branded models but I'm sure they are available unbranded for less elsewhere.

 

This. I had to buy the Red Baron capper after I bought the 29mm bell and found out that the black capper that came with my homebrewing equipment set could not be unscrewed. Also, if you decide to go this direction, be careful not to use too much pressure when capping. I have only bottled one batch with 29mm caps (only use those bottles for sour beers), but some of those bottles have a tendancy to break more easily. I don't know if its the bottles, the slightly bigger size of the caps, the capper itself, or what, but on one of the first few bottles, the neck basically shattered while I was capping it. I made sure to not push down as hard on the rest of the bottles...

 

Long time lurker. Joined up because I had problems with broken necks before sorting out the issue.

You'll need to switch out the plates (crescent shaped metal pieces) which grip the neck of the bottle. Then you'll be able to cap 29mm bottles easily without the risk of cracking the neck. There are also some thick necked bottles that accept standard caps (Crooked Stave, Trinity style 12oz), you'll need to reverse the plates on those but use a standard crown.

Description here also explains the plates: http://www.homebrewit.com/brewing-equipment/red-baron-beer-bottle-capper/

 

A little off topic but I use American champagne bottles for high carb beers. They take a regular size cap.

 

Thanks for all the replies we went to Adventures In Homebrewing in Ann Arbor,MI and got the 29mm Bell as mentioned and it works perfect for her! No more beers going flat, and I got a new capper for when I homebrew next!

 

Couldnt find a thread upon searching.
Often with higher ABV brews, I find myself pouring only half or less of the 22oz/750ml per glass, and placing the bottle back in the fridge. I have a few different style bottle toppers used for wine, but they usually come out due to carbonation build up or not fitting well. I have tried cellophane and combining the two. Even paper towel. Nothing has been terribly successful. Without having to buy some specific beer topper, do y'all practice any DIY methods besides "drink it quicker"?