Foo - BEER and reusable bottles

In my home state of PA, beer is primarily sold in distributors by the case (24-pack). Many PA brands used to (I assume they still do) sell reusable bottles that you pay a deposit on, then return the bottles for a fresh case. We don't seem to have that in NC, where you can buy beer in any ole market. How about in your state? Also, in the overall scheme of things, are reusable bottles more "green" than recycling?

Reuseable bottles would be greener. It saves the energy required to melt them down.

Actually recycled bottles are more energy efficient than new. It's just that silica is so cheap.

I buy beer in growlers which are recycled. When I buy in bottles I give them to friends that homebrew...that way I'll get a few back refilled. ;)

I've got a buddy who's family owns a medium sized brewery. They finally moved away from returnables as the price for sanitizer and cleaning was costing more than cheap new bottles and packaging.


edit: I hate the new lightweight/fragile glass bottles.

Do like Kramer and Newman and take 'em to Michigan in a USPS delivery truck for 10 cents back on each can and bottle!

Somehow I doubt I would make it to Michigan before I was caught :rolleyes:

I always struggle when I go to Maryland to visit my friend and we just throw out cans, makes me feel empty inside haha

I buy beer in growlers which are recycled. When I buy in bottles I give them to friends that homebrew...that way I'll get a few back refilled. ;)

Growlers are cool if I'm sharing, but I rarely can get through one before the beer gets flat or warm. Speaking of, I've only seen growlers in in Williamsport, PA (Bullfrog Brewery and Bavarian Barbarian Brewery). Maybe I don't get out enough down here. Maybe some states have sanitation laws that don't allow reusing bottles?

http://www.pisgahbrewing.com/Beers.htm

This brewery is a little bit of a drive for you since it is in the Black Mountain/Asheville area. But, it is well worth going and you can always stock up on 10-12 growlers of beer. Their solstice Belgian Tripel is delicious and all of their beer is organic too. I just wish I didn't have to drive from Alabama to get good beer. No beer over 6.0 ABV or above 16 oz allowed for sale in Alabama. The laws surrounding that should change though within the next few years.

Growlers are cool if I'm sharing, but I rarely can get through one before the beer gets flat or warm. Speaking of, I've only seen growlers in in Williamsport, PA (Bullfrog Brewery and Bavarian Barbarian Brewery). Maybe I don't get out enough down here. Maybe some states have sanitation laws that don't allow reusing bottles?

I get my growlers and have them filled at the local brewpubs... There are a lot of stupid laws (at least in my state) regarding sale/filling of growlers. For example, the local brewpub owns a burrito joint just down the road from me (with the same beers), but I cannot get my growlers filled there because a microbrewery can only sell off sale from a single location. (I heard through the grapevine that the big breweries were supposed to have had a big influence on this law).

In my province, Quebec, beer bottles and cans are returnable so are plastic pop bottles and cans. Wine bottles are not so I return mine to Ontario which is a short bike ride away! I wish a national system was in place so I would not have to figure out what I bought where. Here in Canada only one style of beer bottle is returnable nationally.
Gordon p

http://www.pisgahbrewing.com/Beers.htm

This brewery is a little bit of a drive for you since it is in the Black Mountain/Asheville area. But, it is well worth going and you can always stock up on 10-12 growlers of beer. Their solstice Belgian Tripel is delicious and all of their beer is organic too. I just wish I didn't have to drive from Alabama to get good beer. No beer over 6.0 ABV or above 16 oz allowed for sale in Alabama. The laws surrounding that should change though within the next few years.

Interesting replies, all!

Thanks for the Asheville beer tip! I'll check 'em out when I can. ALABAMA - yeah, I lived there a couple years ago. What is up with their liquor laws? No big bottles of beer, and liquor was expensive! For your sake, I hope they change soon!

back in Texas in the 80s, Shiner came in reusable long neck bottles, not sure if that's true anymore, I haven't seen reusable beer bottles since then.

Also try looking into Red Oak (two keg-dealers in Durham)
http://www.redoakbrewery.com/home.php
Or Heinzelmannchen in Sylva. Several NC foosters can attest to their beer.
http://www.yourgnometownbrewery.com/

I will try to buy bottles that are reusable since I homebrew, but at the moment I have 10 empty cases of bottles. Guess I need to brew more.:D

As far as alcohol laws down here, almost anything goes. You can beer, wine and liquor just about anywhere 24/7. Hell, we even have drive-thru daiquiri places.