Self-Bottle Waxing Help

I don't wax to cellar but I do wax homebrew from time to time. You can get wax from a homebrew shop that comes in pellets. I used a soup can and put it on my grill. Once the wax is liquid just dip the top of the beer, swirl it, then let the excess drip for a second.

As a side note, never age KBS. After a year it goes downhill fast.

 

save your wax from waxed bottles you drink. when you reach critical mass, melt it down in a soup can on the stove (I have electric stove, might be trickier this way with gas).

heat, dip, repeat. be careful, but if you're paying attention, relatively idiot proof.

make sure bottles are dry, no condensation. I've had a few rusty mistakes when not following this rule.

I find it fun, makes my cellar look fancy. I don't know how much it helps the beers with aging properly, but I have convinced myself it does.

 

I used crayons and glue sticks to wax some homebrew bottles and while it looks very cool, it's near-impossible to get off. I think it was a 1:5 crayon:glue stick ratio.

 

I have used the below thread as a nice starting point to homemade waxing. I personally don't believe waxing bottles serves any purpose other than a cosmetic one though.

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f35/hot-glue-bottle-wax-experiment-127485/

 

Try to find a particularly narrow can. The biggest problem I have had is not having the wax be deep enough in the can, which you can compensate for to an extent by tilting the can and spinning the bottle in the wax, but it's better if you can just completely submerge the portion of the bottle you wish to wax.

Also, it takes a lot more wax than you might expect, so build up a good collection.

 

Waxing bottles may or may not allow your bottles to age better, but it gives beer geeks something to do and it looks pretty cool. I've done it several times and its pretty simple. Go to any homebrew store (or order on-line) and get bottling wax. It costs ~$10 for a bag and you can wax 50-100 bottles. Others will say you can use crayons and glue, but I really don't want glue sticking around something I intend to drink. Also, if you spend the kind of money on beer that many on this site do, a few bucks for a bag of wax is nothing. In addition to the bag of wax, I toss in remnants from bottles I've opened to mix up the colors, in this photo it gives the wax a marbled look.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/54681182@N06/6091758218/in/photostream

 

+1

 

I use a red bull can. Work perfectly.

 

I was going to post a thread on this subject, so this is timely. My question is whether or not it is effective. Many people seem to wax-dip bottles to combat/prevent the effects of oxidation. How much does it really help? This is just me, but I'm not going to take the time to wax-dip a fairly sizable cellar for cosmetic purposes only. How much of a difference is there between wax-dipped and standard bottles?

 

This is what I am wondering too. I know most of you say you don't know how much it helps, but here's a good question: Have any of your wax bottle been total oxidized messes? Do they seem to be better in general than non-waxed bottles? I don't plan on keeping most beers more than 1-2 years but there are a handful I want for 4-7 years and I'd like a way to help prevent oxidation. I think I had an oxidized bottle of Bitches Brew the other night and it made me

 

I use a tomato paste can. I also use a double boiler method.

 

This.

http://www.passionbeer.com/2010/09/02/making-bottle-wax-for-your-beer/

 

I use store bought wax pellets (pick a color, any color), melt them in a metal coffee can right on my stove slowly. I always double dip them to make sure the seal is good and airtight.

 

I would think a Sixpoint Resin can would be perfect as well!

 

I'm probably going to just head down to the homebrew shop a few blocks from my place. I know they have bags of bottling wax in 4 or 5 different colors.

Serious question, however. Does anyone know if those glue sticks are non-toxic? This might not be such a good idea if they aren't.

 

If you use the double boiler system... u better use something bigger than a red bull can! LOL!!! I use a BIG coffee can filled with wax pellets, and still had a hard time keeping it upright and not tipping over. That's why I learned to just put the can on the electric stove and bring the heat up slowly. Plus having a wider can lets u roll the wax back into the can without it dripping all over.

 

So I guess no one knows for sure but do I sound like an idiot if I assume that this will help with aging (at least with oxidation issues) because if the cap is sealed with wax then oxygen cannot get in?

 

I wax everything I put in the cellar , I found a used mini crock pot at a thrift store for $5 and it works perfect , you don't have to worry that the can will tip over then wax will be all over the place , it takes a little longer to warm up but hey it gives me time to drink a beer while waiting.