Brewing Master » Beer Making » "Grolsch" rings
"Grolsch" rings
Question:
That is very good feedback Ray. Hand on experience is the best. To recap this thread, Grolsch flip flop bottles can be use to store wine for a short time providing that the rubber ring is a good condition. I have some brown bottles that the wire mechanism is not as strong as the Grolsch. I also got some maple syrup bottles that the porcelain cap is made of hard white plastic. I refrain from using them for wine or beer bottling.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – This is odd? I posted a response under this thread but it is now gone. I hope I did not upset someone and have it pulled. I know it got there because I have had a few direct inquiries concerning it. I used quart size Grolsch type bottles that were given to me back about 5 years ago when I bottled a 10 gal batch of dewberry wine. (My favorite of my wine.) I bottled about half with corks and the other half with the rings. I did use new rings on all bottles. It was an interesting experiment brought on by necessity. The wine in the Grolsch type bottles did not seem to age over the next 3 or 4 years. The wine under corks aged and mellowed nicely but the wine under the rings stayed rather sharp, as it was to start with and never changed. It did not oxidize or anything and the rings held up nicely. I did store them on their sides mainly because that is the type of storage I have. It is all gone now as I have tried it one bottle at a time checking it. It might be a real good option if you are bottling wine that you like young. Ray This a good question. I have rubber rings that will need to be replaced soon. Without problem a new ring used by the Grolsch company should last about 2-3 years. These original rings that came with the bottles where purchased to preserve the beer for one time use. Rubber has a shelf life. Unless the rubber is treated for a long shelf life under a certain pressure I would not recommend using those rings for wine storage over a long period. Already I am experiencing thinning and whitening of some of the rings after only a few usage. The locale store is asking 0.18 cents ea. for new rings with an unknown shelf life. The store could had these rings for years. Pure #9 winery quality corks should be use for long storage. Amalgamated corks are only good for short storage. On the other hand one is welcome to store wine using old rubber rings and live to find out if the wine will taste good after several years of storage. Yup – I have lots of spares. I guess what I’m asking is how long can I store wine in such bottles before I have to "recork" (change the rings) ?? Will they last 10 years, or should I set up an inspection program for every 6 months, 1 year, or whatever ?? Hoping someone out there has some experience with these things. They should last years, although you might not want to keep wine under them that long. As with beer crown caps there is oxygen transfer into the bottle. I suspect that after a few years, the wine would suffer damage. Steve
Response:
Fred I’ve had mead in them on their side for 4 years, no problems… Regards Joe …How – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – long if the wine DOES come in contact with them or if they are stored on their sides ?? TIA
Response:
Assuming I both bottle and store them in the upright position so that the wine never comes in contact with the rubber rings, how long can I expect the rings to last before they begin to deteriorate ?? How long if the wine DOES come in contact with them or if they are stored on their sides ?? TIA
Response:
Rather arbitrary, since I am sure you could purchase replacements quite inexpensively from homebrewing centers.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Assuming I both bottle and store them in the upright position so that the wine never comes in contact with the rubber rings, how long can I expect the rings to last before they begin to deteriorate ?? How long if the wine DOES come in contact with them or if they are stored on their sides ?? TIA
Response:
Yup – I have lots of spares. I guess what I’m asking is how long can I store wine in such bottles before I have to "recork" (change the rings) ?? Will they last 10 years, or should I set up an inspection program for every 6 months, 1 year, or whatever ?? Hoping someone out there has some experience with these things.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Rather arbitrary, since I am sure you could purchase replacements quite inexpensively from homebrewing centers. Assuming I both bottle and store them in the upright position so that the wine never comes in contact with the rubber rings, how long can I expect the rings to last before they begin to deteriorate ?? How long if the wine DOES come in contact with them or if they are stored on their sides ?? TIA
Response:
Yup – I have lots of spares. I guess what I’m asking is how long can I store wine in such bottles before I have to "recork" (change the rings) ?? Will they last 10 years, or should I set up an inspection program for every 6 months, 1 year, or whatever ?? Hoping someone out there has some experience with these things.
I have no experience using Grolsch bottles and their rings (or washers) with wine. I have limited experience using them with beer, and so far no problems, but max about 3-4 uses. Some buddies who use them for beer say that the rings will last MANY uses, but no specific number. Another beer making pal said that he replaces them when he loses them, and that none have worn out. I think that the rings sell for 25 cents each. Steve
Response:
This is odd? I posted a response under this thread but it is now gone. I hope I did not upset someone and have it pulled. I know it got there because I have had a few direct inquiries concerning it. I used quart size Grolsch type bottles that were given to me back about 5 years ago when I bottled a 10 gal batch of dewberry wine. (My favorite of my wine.) I bottled about half with corks and the other half with the rings. I did use new rings on all bottles. It was an interesting experiment brought on by necessity. The wine in the Grolsch type bottles did not seem to age over the next 3 or 4 years. The wine under corks aged and mellowed nicely but the wine under the rings stayed rather sharp, as it was to start with and never changed. It did not oxidize or anything and the rings held up nicely. I did store them on their sides mainly because that is the type of storage I have. It is all gone now as I have tried it one bottle at a time checking it. It might be a real good option if you are bottling wine that you like young. Ray
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – This a good question. I have rubber rings that will need to be replaced soon. Without problem a new ring used by the Grolsch company should last about 2-3 years. These original rings that came with the bottles where purchased to preserve the beer for one time use. Rubber has a shelf life. Unless the rubber is treated for a long shelf life under a certain pressure I would not recommend using those rings for wine storage over a long period. Already I am experiencing thinning and whitening of some of the rings after only a few usage. The locale store is asking 0.18 cents ea. for new rings with an unknown shelf life. The store could had these rings for years. Pure #9 winery quality corks should be use for long storage. Amalgamated corks are only good for short storage. On the other hand one is welcome to store wine using old rubber rings and live to find out if the wine will taste good after several years of storage. Yup – I have lots of spares. I guess what I’m asking is how long can I store wine in such bottles before I have to "recork" (change the rings) ?? Will they last 10 years, or should I set up an inspection program for every 6 months, 1 year, or whatever ?? Hoping someone out there has some experience with these things. They should last years, although you might not want to keep wine under them that long. As with beer crown caps there is oxygen transfer into the bottle. I suspect that after a few years, the wine would suffer damage. Steve
Response:
This a good question. I have rubber rings that will need to be replaced soon. Without problem a new ring used by the Grolsch company should last about 2-3 years. These original rings that came with the bottles where purchased to preserve the beer for one time use. Rubber has a shelf life. Unless the rubber is treated for a long shelf life under a certain pressure I would not recommend using those rings for wine storage over a long period. Already I am experiencing thinning and whitening of some of the rings after only a few usage. The locale store is asking 0.18 cents ea. for new rings with an unknown shelf life. The store could had these rings for years. Pure #9 winery quality corks should be use for long storage. Amalgamated corks are only good for short storage. On the other hand one is welcome to store wine using old rubber rings and live to find out if the wine will taste good after several years of storage.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Yup – I have lots of spares. I guess what I’m asking is how long can I store wine in such bottles before I have to "recork" (change the rings) ?? Will they last 10 years, or should I set up an inspection program for every 6 months, 1 year, or whatever ?? Hoping someone out there has some experience with these things. They should last years, although you might not want to keep wine under them that long. As with beer crown caps there is oxygen transfer into the bottle. I suspect that after a few years, the wine would suffer damage. Steve
Response:
Yup – I have lots of spares. I guess what I’m asking is how long can I store wine in such bottles before I have to "recork" (change the rings) ?? Will they last 10 years, or should I set up an inspection program for every 6 months, 1 year, or whatever ?? Hoping someone out there has some experience with these things.
They should last years, although you might not want to keep wine under them that long. As with beer crown caps there is oxygen transfer into the bottle. I suspect that after a few years, the wine would suffer damage. Steve