The whole micro-brew and craft beer scene is in the spotlight for quite some time and now there’s a huge demand for beer bottling supplies. If you’re checking onlne stores, there are so many choices; whether you’re brewing up your own beer at home or simply want to taste craft beer after a long day, it’s crucial to pick the perfect beer bottle that matches your brew and your personal style. So, not only you need to learn your craft beers, but you need to learn about beer bottles, as well. Before you start checking beer bottle Australia offers here’s what you need to know.
What’s Craft Beer?
It’s basically beer made in small breweries that only produce a limited amount of beer. But here’s the thing, the definition of “small amount” can vary depending on where you are. In the US, it’s around 6 million barrels per year, while in Australia it’s a fifth of that (and that’s for the biggest independent brewery). But here’s where it gets interesting – even though most people think of craft beer as being made by independent breweries, big beer companies are starting to buy them. Many people wonder if a small brewery that makes craft beer for a big-name company, is still considered craft beer. Some say yes, others say no. The general idea is that craft beer shouldn’t be mass-produced and should be made with love.
Choose Your Bottle Colour
So, you might have noticed that most beer bottles come in a brownish-amber colour. This isn’t solely for looks but actually has a purpose. That gross beer taste happens when the beer gets exposed to light and creates a chemical reaction that makes it taste like sulphur. If you’re thinking of choosing a clear or light-coloured bottle, remember to keep it away from any light sources to avoid ruining the taste. But, if your beer has hop extracts with isohumulones, it can handle a clear bottle. If you’re not sure, it’s better to be safe than sorry and go for an amber bottle.
Size and Shape
There are all kinds of beer bottle sizes on the market. The regular six-pack size is 12 ounces, but you can also find bigger bottles called “bombers” that are 22 ounces. Some beers even come in metric sizes like 750 ml, which is the same as a bottle of champagne, smaller 375 ml bottles, or huge magnums that hold 1.5 litres. And it’s not just about size – the shape of the bottle matters too. Some have tapered shoulders or wider bodies, and the opening can be different too. All these choices affect the taste and branding of the beer. Bombers are a cool way to release special one-off beers without having to make a whole six-pack. Plus, they just look fancy and make you feel like you’re drinking something extra special.
Longneck
Longneck bottles are super common in beer bottle Australia craft beer stores. For a bottle to be considered longneck, it must meet certain requirements for size, weight, and all that jazz. In the US, a standard longneck beer bottle holds 12 oz (355 ml) of liquid goodness. The great thing is that a good longneck bottle can be reused like 16 times. Some of them have a twist-off cap, while others need a bottle opener. It all depends on what kind of closure you’re into.
Heritage Beer Bottles
The heritage bottle isn’t your regular longneck bottle. Unlike the long-neck slim body, the heritage bottle is chunkier and easier to hold. Plus, its neck is shorter and wider than its longneck counterpart. This amber beer bottle still has that classic longneck shape, but with some great styling that’ll make your brew stand out on the shelf.
Swing Top Beer Bottles
Bottles with a swing-top cap are made of heavy-duty steel wire. The closures come with plastic stoppers and food-safe rubber, so you can store your drinks without any worries. These bottles are quite fancy and go by various names such as Fido Bottles or Kilner Bottles. They’re not only pretty but are also quite functional. The Italian company Bormioli Rocco is one of the top producers of wire bale bottles; their swing-top bottles are famous for being crystal clear and having a lovely finish.
Specialty
These bottles have something for everyone. They’re the stubby ones that are short and stout, no longneck style. And then there’s the Belgian-style bottles that are ideal for Belgian ales and look like champagne bottles.
Beer Growlers
Back in the 1800s, people came up with this thing called a growler to bring beer home from the pub. The good thing is that we don’t have to carry around open buckets of beer anymore because now we have modern-day growlers. These new growlers are popping up in breweries all over the world, so you can take home even more draft brews and home brewers are clearing out their kegs to make space for their next masterpiece. These growlers have a jug-like shape and come in different sizes, from 950ml to 3.7liters. The old-school ones are made of amber glass and have a handy finger loop for easy carrying. But you can also find them in clear or amber colours.
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