6 Best Cider Bottles For Long Term Storage For Homesteaders

You’ve spent months tending your apple trees, a full day pressing, and weeks patiently waiting for fermentation to finish. Now, that beautiful, golden cider is ready to be put away for the winter. The final step—bottling—is where many new homesteaders stumble, not realizing that the container is just as important as the contents for long-term success. Choosing the right bottle isn’t about aesthetics; it’s about protecting your hard work and ensuring the cider you open in February is as good as the day you bottled it.

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North Mountain Supply 12oz Longneck Bottles

Standard 12oz amber longnecks are the workhorse of cider bottling. If you’ve ever bottled beer, you’re already familiar with them. They are affordable, widely available, and their familiar size is perfect for a single serving.

Their biggest advantage is their cost-effectiveness, especially when you’re bottling a five-gallon batch, which yields over fifty bottles. They use standard 26mm crown caps, so finding supplies is never an issue. The amber glass provides excellent protection from UV light, which is critical for preventing off-flavors during storage.

The trade-off is the need for equipment. You can’t use these without a bottle capper, and each bottle requires a new, sanitized cap every time you use it. This makes them a single-use system in terms of sealing, though the bottles themselves can be cleaned and reused for years. For a reliable, no-fuss option that gets the job done, this is the place to start.

EZ-Cap Swing Top Bottles: Reusable & Reliable

Swing top bottles, often called Grolsch-style or EZ-Caps, are an excellent investment for the dedicated cider maker. Their biggest selling point is reusability. The integrated wire cage and rubber gasket create a strong seal without any extra tools.

The convenience is undeniable. On bottling day, you simply fill, flip the top over, and press the lever down. There’s no fumbling with caps or a capper. These bottles are also typically made of thicker glass, making them exceptionally good at handling high levels of carbonation for those who prefer a fizzier, sparkling cider. They look fantastic and make great gifts.

The upfront cost is higher than standard longnecks, which can be a barrier if you’re bottling large quantities. The rubber gaskets also wear out after several uses and will need to be replaced to ensure a perfect seal, so it’s wise to keep a bag of spares on hand. While they save you from buying a capper, they demand a bit more attention during cleaning to make sure you get the gunk out from under the wire assembly.

750ml Belgian-Style Bottles for Sparkling Cider

When you’ve made a truly special batch of cider—perhaps from a single varietal apple or one destined for long aging—it deserves a special bottle. The 750ml Belgian-style bottle is the answer. These are thick, heavy-walled bottles designed to withstand the high pressures of champagne-method carbonation.

These bottles are all about presentation and performance. They are sealed with a cork and a wire cage, just like a bottle of fine champagne. This creates an incredibly robust seal that is ideal for ciders you plan to age for a year or more. A 750ml bottle is also perfect for sharing at the dinner table or bringing to a gathering.

This is not a casual bottling method. It requires a specific corker designed for Belgian-style corks and the wire cages to hold them in place. Both the bottles and the supplies are more expensive and harder to find than standard caps. This is a commitment, but for a high-quality sparkling cider, the result is unmatched.

22oz Amber Glass Bombers for Larger Batches

The 22oz "bomber" bottle is the perfect middle ground. It offers a larger serving size than a standard 12oz bottle but uses the same exact equipment and caps, making it an easy addition to your bottling setup.

The primary advantage here is efficiency. If you’re bottling a five-gallon batch, you’ll only have to cap and handle about 28 bombers instead of 53 of the 12oz bottles. That’s a significant time-saver on a busy day. The 22oz size is also great for sharing, making it a more social option than the smaller format.

Like their smaller cousins, they are inexpensive and the amber glass offers great light protection. The only real downside is that once you open one, you’re committed to a larger volume of cider. If you’re usually drinking alone, you might find a portion goes flat in the fridge before you can finish it.

Coopers PET Plastic Bottles for Safety & Ease

Glass is traditional, but don’t overlook PET plastic bottles. For a homesteader focused on safety and simplicity, especially when starting out, they are a fantastic option. Their main benefit is eliminating the risk of "bottle bombs"—over-carbonated bottles that can explode, sending glass shards flying.

These bottles are lightweight, unbreakable, and reusable. They use simple screw caps, so you don’t need any capping equipment at all. You can gently squeeze the bottle to gauge the level of carbonation, which is a useful trick for beginners learning to get their fizz just right. They are easy to clean and store without worrying about breakage.

The main drawback is their potential for oxygen permeability over the very long term. While fine for ciders you plan to drink within a year, a cider intended for multi-year aging is better off in glass. Some people also feel plastic can impart a subtle taste, though modern PET is quite neutral. They lack the classic aesthetic of glass, but for pure function and safety, they are hard to beat.

64oz Amber Glass Growlers for Bulk Storage

Growlers are best thought of as mini-kegs for short-term storage and transport, not long-term aging. A 64oz (half-gallon) growler is perfect for taking your cider to a party or for keeping a larger volume ready to drink in your own fridge.

The advantage is bulk efficiency. You can fill one growler instead of five or six smaller bottles, saving a lot of time. They are easy to fill, and the screw-top lid is simple to use. For still (non-carbonated) cider that you plan to consume within a few weeks, they work wonderfully.

However, growlers are not ideal for carbonated cider you want to age. The standard screw caps are not as reliable as crown caps or swing tops for holding pressure over many months. More importantly, once you open it, the carbonation is lost quickly. Think of a growler as a serving vessel, not an aging vessel.

Why Bottle Color Matters: Amber vs. Clear vs. Green

The color of your bottle is not just a style choice; it’s a functional feature that protects your cider from light. Ultraviolet (UV) light can react with compounds in cider, creating a "lightstruck" or "skunked" flavor. This is a real phenomenon that can ruin a perfectly good batch.

Here’s the breakdown:

• Amber/Brown: This is the gold standard. Amber glass blocks over 90% of the harmful UV wavelengths. For any cider you plan to store for more than a few weeks, amber is always the best choice.
• Green: Green glass offers minimal protection. It’s better than nothing, but it still allows a significant amount of light to penetrate. It’s often used for marketing, but from a preservation standpoint, it’s a distant second to amber.
• Clear: Clear glass offers zero UV protection. Use it only if you can guarantee the bottles will be stored in absolute darkness, such as inside a sealed cardboard box in a dark cellar. Otherwise, avoid it completely for long-term storage.

Capping Your Cider: Bench vs. Hand-Held Wing Cappers

If you opt for standard longnecks or bombers, you’ll need a capper. The two main options serve different needs, and choosing the right one can make your bottling day much smoother.

The hand-held "wing" capper is the entry-level tool. It’s inexpensive and small, making it easy to store. You place it over the cap on the bottle, then press down on the two wings to crimp the cap. It gets the job done, but it requires a bit of muscle and can be inconsistent. It’s easy to get an uneven seal or even chip the lip of the bottle if you’re not careful. For someone bottling just one or two gallons a year, it’s a perfectly adequate starting point.

A bench capper is a serious upgrade. This tool is mounted to a workbench or a sturdy piece of wood and operates with a long lever. The action is smooth, requires very little effort, and produces a perfect, uniform seal every single time. It’s much faster and more reliable for bottling larger batches. While it costs more and takes up more space, if you plan on making cider a regular part of your homestead’s output, a bench capper is one of the best investments you can make.

Ultimately, the best bottle for your cider is the one that matches your goals. Whether you prioritize convenience with swing tops, safety with PET, or bulk efficiency with bombers, your choice is a final act of stewardship for the harvest. By thinking of your bottle as a tool for preservation, not just a container, you ensure that every glass you pour will be a true reflection of your hard work in the orchard.