🍾 Bottling Equipment and Caps for Home Brewing

Bottling is the final stage in home brewing, where your wine, beer, cider, mead, or other fermented drinks are transferred into bottles for storage, aging, or consumption. Choosing the right bottles, caps, and tools is critical, especially if your drink is still fermenting or naturally carbonated. Proper equipment ensures safety, longevity, and consistent quality.

🥂 Bottles for Still vs. Carbonated Drinks

When bottling drinks like wine or cider that will not continue fermenting, almost any clean, sterilised bottle will work. Old wine bottles are perfect — screw-cap bottles are easy to reseal, while cork or plastic stoppers can also be used.

For fizzy beverages, including champagne-style wine or alcoholic soft drinks, the bottle must be able to withstand internal pressure. Many swing-top bottles look ideal but cannot handle carbonation unless explicitly rated by the manufacturer. Using bottles not designed for pressure can lead to dangerous explosions. Always check the supplier specifications and choose bottles that are pressure-rated for sparkling beverages.

🔁 Swing-Top Bottles – Versatile and Reusable

Swing-top bottles are excellent for home brewers. They are:

Easy to clean and sterilise – wide necks allow thorough scrubbing.
Reusable – simply replace the sealing gasket if it wears out.
Versatile – suitable for still drinks, and some models are rated for carbonated beverages.

While slightly more expensive, pressure-rated swing-top bottles are worth the investment. They are made from thicker glass, which lasts longer and reduces the risk of breakage.

💡 Budget Bottle Options

If you’re just starting or want to keep costs down, old soft drink bottles can work. Make sure they are thoroughly sterilised before use. Because plastic degrades and cannot safely hold carbonation over multiple uses, use them only once. This is also a great way to recycle, but always prioritise safety.

🧴 Capping and Corking Tools

For bottles with crown caps (common in beer), a capping tool is essential. This ensures a tight, secure seal that keeps carbonation locked in and prevents contamination. Manual or bench cappers are available and affordable for home brewers.

For bottles sealed with corks, a corking tool simplifies the process. Hand corkers or floor corkers help insert corks evenly without damaging the bottle or the cork. Sterilise both corks and corking tools before use.

🧼 Cleaning and Sterilising Bottles

Cleanliness is critical. Even a small amount of residue or bacteria can spoil a batch. Use a bottle brush to reach all areas, then soak bottles in a no-rinse sanitiser solution. For swing-top bottles, remove the gaskets and clean them separately. Always rinse thoroughly after sanitising to avoid chemical residues.

⚠ Safety Considerations

Carbonated drinks: Only use pressure-rated bottles.
Handling glass: Thick glass bottles are harder to break, but always handle carefully, especially when moving full bottles.
Corking: Avoid forcing corks into the bottle, which could crack the glass or create leaks.

♻ Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Old wine bottles can be reused for still beverages, and pressure-rated swing-top bottles are highly reusable. Plastic soft drink bottles can be used once for fizzy drinks but should then be recycled responsibly. Reusing bottles responsibly reduces waste, saves money, and makes your brewing hobby more sustainable.

🛒 Recommended Bottling Equipment

Investing in a small collection of pressure-rated swing-top bottles, reliable corking and capping tools, and some spare gaskets ensures smooth bottling every time. This small investment improves safety, ease of use, and versatility for all your brewing projects.

👉 Browse a wide selection of swing-top bottles Amazon here (Check before buying they specifically mention if they can or cannot hold pressure! If it’s not explicitly mentioned, presume they can’t for safety sake!): Search Swing Top Bottles on Amazon

🍷 Beginner Alcohol Brewing Equipment

This post is part of a comprehensive guide to home wine, cider, beer, and mead equipment. It covers one specific topic, but there are many other essential tools and additives you may need to create successful, clear, and tasty brews. For a full overview, visit our Wine & Brewing Equipment Page.

Here’s a quick list of all the posts in this series: