Plastic bottles - anyone else do this?

Question

Hi folks. I'm interested to see whether anyone else really, really can't be bothered with bottles and stuff for a basic gallon of homebrew glugging plonk?

I have a couple of the storage boxes with taps (expensive!) which work fairly well (until they start leaking), but for most everyday purposes - i.e., on wine which I won't keep for more than a couple of months before drinking - I use plastic 2l soft drink bottles. The ultimate in recycling!

I experimented and found that there was absolutely no difference in drinking quality - after all, a lot of bog-standard commercial plonk is "bottled" in plastic, and I'm sure it's stored in plastic at some stage of it's production. I do keep them in a cool place in the dark.

Obviously, for a high-quality wine (which I don't really do), or one which is to be kept for more than a few months, I think glass would be better. But this is really easy, quick, convenient and more than cheap!

Any comments?

Barb UK

Joe Sallustio · Accepted Answer

Given you want to drink it young what you suggest is probably better for the wine. Plastic isn't a great oxygen barrier but in this case a little more oxygen would help it age quicker. The only problem would be if you noticed it getting better and better with time, you might run out of time before it goes over.

Joe

Dick Adams · Answer

Those 2L soda bottles use PET plastic, They are excellent for keeping carbonation in for about a year, But their oxygen barrier will at best hold up for six months. I use them for brews expected to be consumed in three minths or less.

Dick

Plastic bottles - anyone else do this?

Join the Discussion

Didn't find your answer?