Opening a Wax-Topped Bottle

With the opener I have I don't need to cut wax or anything. I can usually just pry it right off with the wax on. But I know some people cut along the cap with a knife before hand. And the wax isn't to brittle so you don't really need to worry about pieces falling in (Or at least I haven't had a problem with it)

 

Only wax top I have ever had is Behemoth and I opened it no different than any other bottle although it took me a few attempts before the cap actually popped off. What is the point of wax seal anyways?

 

Others have said this also, but you can score the side of the wax so that your opener can get in there a little better. Also, if you open it slowly, you shouldn't get wax chips in there... So far, this year's BBPlead is the worst I've seen! The wax is so thick I could barely score it at all...

 

Picture or link to said opener? I need to invest in one before I cut my finger off.

 

Yes this has been asked, and you just edge it with your opener. By also a simple 7 dollar wine waiters opener. Comes with everything you need in that situation:

Bottle opener for the cap
foil cutter you can use on the wax
corkscrew for corks (beer too)

You really wont get any wax when opening, and if so pick it out, and if you ingest some you will live.

 

I run the bottle opener under hot water, it helps to melt the wax to reveal the edges of the cap. It may take a few attempts with thick wax.

 

My two cents.

1.) I typically cut across the wax on top of the bottle. This allows me to get under the wax and pull it off in two halves.
2.) From what I have heard, the wax is to prevent oxygen seepage so that you can age your beers longer.

 

its actually built on a counter top can opener. But it works fantastically. Better than any other bottle opener I've used. I'll post a pic of it when I get home from work if youd like.

 

It just depends on the brewery that's bottled it. New Glarus wax tops their bottles but it's very thin and you can easily just pop them with a bottle opener. The Bruery wax is incredibly thick and tends to be pretty tough to get off in my experience. With them I tend to use a knife to just chisel a little of the wax away under one side of the cap so I can get the opener underneath of it.

 

Correct. That recent thread re: "Why wax?" can be found here: http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/wax-top-bottles-whats-the-point.151894/

 

I collect my caps, and so I pop em off with the bic lighter method, I swear they look brand new with not even a bit of curling on the edges. Im able to put them back onto the bottled and "reset" them. Ive done this with water in the bottles and have fooled my friends. Suckers.

 

But trojanshawn, don't you risk damaging the art that is on the bottle cap?

 

The key is leverage. Those little keychain bottle openers won't get it done. Anything over 3 or 4 inches will pop off most waxed caps easily.

 

Cut the wax from the bottom of the wax up to the cap. Then do this same thing on the other side. Slide the knife under the wax from the "incision", and you should able to "pop" the wax in about 2-4 pieces. If its really thin wax, just use a wine key, and pop the cap like usual.

 

I second the use of a waiter's opener (wine key).


Just use the foil cutter to score under the cap edge, holding it the same way you might hold a paring knife, with the blade edge towards you and your thumb on the other side of the bottle neck for stability as you work the blade around the bottle. For really thick wax--think The Bruery--this is the only way I've been successful, and I usually use that scoring to peel the wax off before opening, because most of my bottle openers just slip and slide on the thick wax.

For thinner wax--think Logsdon or New Glarus--a blade opener...

...can usually get medieval enough with the wax to make it through without the need for a knife/blade.

 

this years BB plead really makes you work for the beer. i think i broke a sweat and took a break trying to open my first one this year. its certainly nothing like FFF or Bruery wax that just pops off.