I was just filling some bottles off a keg when my capper failed. It was a cheap Italian wing capper, and it quickly became evident that the spring steel would never spring again. I finished bottling with another cheap capper and tossed the broken one. I was surprised to feel a little sad seeing it go. It was the capper I bought at High Country Homebrew in Steamboat Springs on February 1, 1987, the day before my very first brew day. It was subsequently with me for just over 27 years, through being a broke ski bum (the reason I started homebrewing), the horror of being captured by a 'real job', several moves around the country, a marriage and divorce (what was I thinking???) and landing in VT and meeting my wife of 12 years who loves big stouts and barley wines and has been known to tell me it's time to brew when I have no immediate plans to do so (yes, she is a catch). It capped a beer that a grand master judge gave a score of 46, and another that was awarded a richly deserved 19. Goodbye old buddy - but you're staying in the trash and now I have the perfect excuse to buy that nice bench corker/capper
I'm only three years older than that capper! As a mechanic I highly value any tool that has served me longer than a few years (they don't make them like they use to). I might be young to make that statement, but I grew up with tools from the 50's and prior, thanks to my pops. Needless to say, it's sad to see old friends go. The capper I bought new a few months ago probably won't last more than five years. I'm sure there's better ones out there that will last, but I don't plan on capping most of my brew for too much longer. Regards, Chris
They don't make 'em like that anymore. I'll have to rely on the 16 yo knockoff until I buy something new. Buying a new tractor this week too. The old one was about the same age as the capper but only lived with us for a bit over 10 years. My wife will tell you that I'm hard on equipment but I just use it to its full potential
My first capper was an all-metal wing capper from DeFalco's in Houston. I don't remember when I bought it, but it was probably about '89 or '90. I used it on many a batch. When I started brewing again, I went and bought a bench capper. I was very surprised to see that all the available models have some plastic on them. They even had some wing cappers that were entirely plastic, except for the springs & the die. I will be happy if I get 5 years out of this one. I don't know how you guys feel about this, but to me, if it ain't steel, it ain't real!
Ahh, I know how you feel man, I have the same bottling bucket and spiggot that I have since 1989. So cool that your new wife is into fine beer, I actually gave up homebrewing in 1994 for the love of a wife who swore she would leave if I didn't stop, which I did. Took it up again five years ago, really got into it, then and since. Five years later she's true to her word. Blessedly so. Cheers man, and I'll lift the next one to your capper.
