[cheba420]

Has anyone ever tried to bottle up some brew in mason jars? Do they have a pressure rating? I thought opening a jar of beer would have a good effect at a party! I keg, so I'd just be filling them like you would a growler. Thoughts??

[punatic]

Yes, I bottle in mason jars, but my beverage is not carbonated.   

[cheba420]

 

[euge]

I think it would be OK to fill up any mason jars with carbonated beer and transport. Slightly sketchy to carbonate in the mason jars.

[tschmidlin]

It works fine. Fort George Brewing in Astoria uses half gallon mason jars as their growlers.

[Jimmy K]

Mcmennamins provides mason jars in their hotel rooms too.

[denny]

While it may be OK to put already carbed beer in Mason jars, I'd be wary of trying to "jar condition" with them.  I really doubt they can take the pressure.  If you do it, put them somewhere safe until you're sure I'm wrong!

[cheba420]

Mcmennamins provides mason jars in their hotel rooms too.

I've experienced this at one of their brew pubs in a 1 qt jar. I figured it was ok but wanted to check for opinions. I have no intention of carbonating in the mason jars. I'd carbonate in the keg and transport in the mason jars. I think its cool because you pop the lid and you have a pint in your hand! 6 pack of pints? Yes please!

[morticaixavier]

I did this a while ago and lost a lot of carbonation. But it was the first time I really tried to package from the keg so I likely did something wrong, left too much headspace or didn't carb the beer enough to start with. something, cause the comments at brew club were that it was a bit low on carbonation.

[harvey5]

We have done quite a bit of testing of Mason jar lids for beer.  The lids seem to relieve pressure about where a well carbonated beer might be if it warmed just a bit.

Our interest is that we make a stainless growler that can accept a Mason jar lid which is OK for taking your beer straight home to consume.  Our growler's companion lid is tested at 4bar, so it is the best choice for seriously transporting beer.

Harvey harvey@thezythosproject.com

[bluesman]

Mason jars are primarily designed to withstand a slight vacuum to ensure proper preservation of perisable food items.  The standard Ball jar lids are not designed to withstand any significant pressure but I've seen other designs that are capable.  It depends on the design and pressure rating of that particular design.

[kraftwerk]

Canning jar related question here: I've got a couple yeast starters going in gallon jugs that I want to put away inthe fridge and not worry about for a while. Probably going to put them in jars but what's the best way to sterilize jars/lids? Just boil, cool and pour the yeast in? I obviously can't get the yeast hot enough to vacuum seal it.

Ideas?

[gmac]

Canning jar related question here: I've got a couple yeast starters going in gallon jugs that I want to put away inthe fridge and not worry about for a while. Probably going to put them in jars but what's the best way to sterilize jars/lids? Just boil, cool and pour the yeast in? I obviously can't get the yeast hot enough to vacuum seal it.

Ideas?

I boiled jars, rings and lids and then cooled them with the mouth down and did what you are talking about but I chickened out and left the lids just slightly loose so they wouldn't blow up in the fridge. Never done this with a finished starter though. Only with harvested yeast. Not sure about the viability of a finished starter held long term.

[denny]

I use 1/2 gal. plastic containers with snap on lids.  That way I don't have to worry about them bursting, which I've heard stories of with glass.  I simply sanitize them with StarSan.

[Slowbrew]

Canning jar related question here: I've got a couple yeast starters going in gallon jugs that I want to put away inthe fridge and not worry about for a while. Probably going to put them in jars but what's the best way to sterilize jars/lids? Just boil, cool and pour the yeast in? I obviously can't get the yeast hot enough to vacuum seal it.

Ideas?

I used to keep yeast slurry in 1 pint mason jars and never had any problems with pressure.  Apparently sloppy sanitation some where along the line is why I stopped using them.  I got some bug in my yeast bank and had to pitch it all out.

I've never played with mason jars as growlers.

Paul