Corked Beer Bottles

El Pinguino · Post by **El Pinguino** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 6:09 pm

I don't know if I am just getting weak or what, but in recent months I've had a number of corked beer bottles that I couldn't open.

Usually a tight grip and gradual twist is all I need, but lately that hasn't been enough.

Anyone want to share tips on best way to easily remove a cork from a beer bottle?

I've actually used my little adjustable wrench to get some corks unstuck.

Soods · Post by **Soods** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 6:10 pm

A corkscrew.

El Pinguino · Post by **El Pinguino** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 6:16 pm

Really?
Sure, it will work and is kind of obvious, but...
There must be a better way to remove corks that are already partially out of the bottle?
I like to keep some of my beer corks as souvenirs, so prefer to avoid potential damage too.

Weird I never had an issues until the last year or so....

JeffPorter · Post by **JeffPorter** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 6:17 pm

Using a tea towel as a gripper often works for me.

El Pinguino · Post by **El Pinguino** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 6:24 pm

JeffPorter wrote:Using a tea towel as a gripper often works for me.

Yep, I've done that a couple of times for extra grip, sometimes it works, sometimes it isn't enough...I suppose there isn't a magical solution!

JeffPorter · Post by **JeffPorter** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 6:39 pm

How 'bout a samurai sword?

JeffPorter · Post by **JeffPorter** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 6:40 pm

Or this?

Gedge · Post by **Gedge** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 7:13 pm

Those rubber Koningshoeven corks are murder. Always have to resort to a corkscrew. Not convenient if you are at a high end bush bash.

icemachine · Post by **icemachine** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 7:57 pm

I have been known to use a nut cracker on recalcitrant corks

irishkyle21 · Post by **irishkyle21** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 9:18 pm

A rubber dish glove will give you a good grip. Also good on stubborn jars.

mintjellie · Post by **mintjellie** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 10:19 pm

I use a butter knife as a lever to get it started, then finish pulling it out by hand.

grub · Post by **grub** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 10:24 pm

i usually have a few wide rubber bands on hand for helping with stubborn jars and such... also helpful on temperamental corks, but i also end up resorting to cork screws sometimes. the trois mousquetaires bottles often put up a fight.

TheBeeraholic · Post by **TheBeeraholic** » Fri Feb 24, 2012 7:12 am

I havent read all the posts on this but I can assume you're refereing to the Koningshoeven bottles. I agree they're brutal, the only corked bottle I ever have an issue with. I have a pair of plyers I use to loosen it up a bit if I can't get it out easily.

El Pinguino · Post by **El Pinguino** » Fri Feb 24, 2012 7:43 pm

Alright, I feel better knowing I'm not alone in my battle against the corks.

I do believe a Konginshoeven bottle was one of the worst ones recently. I had a St. Feuillien that was pure torture too.

Have to put it into perspective I guess, I'd rather deal with a crazy cork than a leaking bottle!

Soods · Post by **Soods** » Sat Feb 25, 2012 6:14 am

Then there's the Amsterdam Tempest and the half inch thick wax that doesn't want to come off!!