Hey -- I haven't bottled for years. That is, I quit bottling about ten years ago, then quit brewing altogether about five years ago. Last year I got back into brewing but today is my first foray into bottling. What's the latest opinion on sanitizing bottle caps? I remember oxycaps, but the stuff I got from my LHB store ain't them. In fact, they just sell them in bulk, by the pound. (And they sold me too few, but I've got enough 22 oz bottles to work around).

So, do I do a quick Iodophor, rinse and air dry, boil the caps, or leave them alone?

I just boiled my caps when I was brewing and never had an issue

I used to boil them about ten minutes. But I've heard some say that's no longer advisable as it may damage the plastic portion of the caps. The solution is to boil the water, and once it cools a bit, rinse the caps.

I don't mess around with all that now. I just put them in a colander, dunk them in a Star San solution, and drain.

Paul, that's a really smart idea.

I bottle infrequently and when I do, I use the O2 absorbing caps. I do nothing to them. Cap and go.

I only bottle from the keg, and when I do - I use cheap vodka to sanitize the caps...

Leave the caps in the sanitizer until placed on the bottle. Keep it as sanitary as possible. If you use StarSan, there is no need to rinse and works better if left wet.

I do the exact same as Hoppy described. You are not supposed to boil oxygen barrier caps...

There's debate about whether or not you're even supposed to get O2 absorbing caps wet at all.

I personally don't want my caps activated prior to being on the bottle so I do nothing to them.

I recently bought some o2 absorbing caps by accident. I don't know that they really make any difference at all. If you have sound brewing practices then there is no real reason to buy those things.

I disagree.

I find that they improve the quality and shelf life of my bottled beers. YMMV.

Plus, I'm pretty sure breweries like Sierra Nevada have sound brewing practices and they use them as well.

How do you know that SN uses those kind of caps? Can you tell by looking at them?

Yup.

But if you don't have any in the fridge http://www.sierranevada.com/about/news.html#pryoff

" n March 2007, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. quietly embraced a new technology with the introduction of an innovative barrier crown that actually helps keep beer fresher; blocking oxygen ingress longer without using oxygen-absorbing compounds."

Actually, their claim is that they're using oxygen "barrier" caps and not anything with absorbing compounds. Are these really one in the same?

Actually, I was wrong. They don't use oxygen absorbing compounds in their caps.

"In March 2007, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. quietly embraced a new technology with the introduction of an
innovative barrier crown that actually helps keep beer fresher; blocking oxygen ingress longer without using
oxygen-absorbing compounds."

That being said, the idea behind both kinds of caps (oxygen absorbing and oxygen barrier) is the same. Keep O2 out of the beer.

I base my OPINION on my results. I have not had any issues with any of the beer I have made over the last 10-15 years. Besides most times the beer I make is drank fairly quickly and the ones that do get aged for any period of time haven't had any oxidation issues. Commercial beer is most times filtered and stored in questionable ways, once it leaves the brewery. It may help in a commercial brewery where there are processes which may introduce unwanted oxygen to the final product, and perhaps the caps do help in that situation, but on a home brewing level I feel it is not really needed.

I base my OPINION on my results as well. Does that mean your opinion carries more weight than mine or that I can't disagree with you?

I did not say that at all. I explained my opinion and gave my reasoning. Does it bother you that I have an opinion? I don't know where your attitude is coming from but you need to relax, IT'S BEER

You're obviously entitled to your opinion as am I. I'm not sure of what attitude you're referring to. I merely disagree with your opinion and asked a couple of questions *edit* as it appeared you had a problem with my opinion.

Cheers.

All too often people have been getting riled up over stupid things. I feel like there are too many ways to do anything beer related for anyone to think that is a right way and a wrong way. Everyone is entilted to their opinion, I always try to explain my reasoning when called into question, and just because it works for me doesn't mean it's going to work for others. My post was just really to clarify that is was my opinion, not fact, and my reasoning. Brew on Brotherman

There are some things worth getting riled up over, and beer caps ain't one of them.

At least we don't have the "Corn, or Rice, doesn't belong in beer." stuff anymore.....

Z

you mean you want them to put a cap on it?.... sorry, couldn't resist...
don't cap me... just being punny
new meaning to cap and trade?

I just pour some sanstar in a dish, pour in my caps, and pull them out as I use them.

oh, and when I'm bottling, I just put them in with my one-step, like everything else.