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Posted by Lyle Baker on December 24, 2004 at 11:09:19:
Location: Bedford, TX
I made the decision when I started making mead to use crown cap bottles instead of wine bottles, primarily because the bottles (and the capper) are a fair amount cheaper. But, the bottles still cost a fair amount.
I'm a single guy, and I'm found that the small ~7 oz. bottles are a great single serving size for an evening refreshment. One of the local brew shows has 135ml bottles (which is about 7 oz) for ~ $20 a case. Not really cheap. New 12 oz beer bottles are ~ $12 per case. If your making any quantity of mead, to cost of the bottles becomes significant.
Well, my personaly solution is:
1) Coke makes those small 8 oz bottles of coke that fit their old vending machines. If you watch for a sale, a six pack of coke bottles is ~ $3, which is $12 per case. Standard price is ~ $4 per six pack, which is still less than the new bottles at the brew shop (and you get to drink the coke). If you watch and get some of the holiday or special occasion bottles, they don't even have the coke name embedded in the glass. The specials have a shrink wrap over the bottle, and no raised coke logo in the glass.2) My local Kroger grocery stores, in the Mexican food section, has a drink called Jarrita's (I think I spelled that correctly). I personally like the mandarine orange flavor, and the bottles are 400ml (~13.5 oz). The daily price is $0.50 per bottle or $3 per six pack. Thats the exact price I pay for new beer bottles at the home brew shop!
Both of these are standard crown bottles, and for the same cost as empties, contain something I like to drink. What a deal!
Wassail!
Lyle