As an experienced brewer, I can tell you that if you've brewed a 5-gallon batch of beer, you'll need a specific number of bottles to properly store and enjoy your homebrew. In this case, you would need 26 bottles that can hold 22 ounces each.
It's important to note that the amount of bottles needed can vary depending on the size of the bottles you choose to use. In the case of 22-ounce bottles, you'll need fewer bottles compared to using 12-ounce bottles. This is because each 22-ounce bottle can hold more beer than a 12-ounce bottle.
When I first started brewing my own beer, I used to use 12-ounce bottles exclusively. I found that for a 5-gallon batch, I needed a total of 48 bottles. This meant that I had to clean, sanitize, and fill 48 individual bottles every time I brewed. While this was manageable, it did require a bit more effort and time compared to using larger bottles.
However, after a few batches, I decided to switch to using 22-ounce bottles. This not only reduced the number of bottles I needed but also made the bottling process quicker and more efficient. With 26 bottles, I was able to bottle a 5-gallon batch with ease.
Using 22-ounce bottles also had the added benefit of reducing the number of caps I needed to purchase. Each bottle requires a cap to seal it, and by using fewer bottles, I was able to save a bit of money on caps in the long run.
Moreover, using larger bottles meant that I had fewer bottles to clean and sanitize after each brew. This was a time-saving advantage that allowed me to spend more time enjoying my beer rather than cleaning up after brewing.
So, to summarize, if you've brewed a 5-gallon batch of beer, you'll need 26 22-ounce bottles to properly store and enjoy your homebrew. Using larger bottles can save you time, effort, and money in the long run compared to using smaller bottles. Cheers!