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[[File:Cork mushroom.jpg|thumb|[https://www.facebook.com/groups/MilkTheFunk/permalink/1676883129006561/ Colin Burton shows mushrooming a cork with a bench capper after inserting the cork with a floor corker.]]]
Corking and caging can be used for both champagne-type bottles and the brown glass 'fat-lipped' Belgian bottles, both of which are generally thicker glass and rated for higher CO2 pressure. Generally corking and caging is used for bottles with 29 mm openings, though some have cork and cage finished bottles with 26 mm openings. Make sure your bottle type can take corks before using it.[https://www.corklink.com/index.php/agglomeratdor-natural-corks/ Agglomerated type corks] are generally used when corking and caging.
Corking and caging does require some more special equipment. Most wine corkers are designed to push the cork all the way into the bottle, which is not what you want. Brewers will at least want a [[Floor Corker|floor corker]] for standard wine bottling. These corkers are designed to push the cork entirely into the bottle but they can be modified/adjusted to control the cork depth and leave some cork protruding from the bottle, which is necessary for caging. Bench corkers such as the Colonna capper/corker work as well. Champagne floor corkers are available and make the task of partly rather than fully inserting corks easier, though they are more expensive. It is difficult to control the exact depth of the cork with a two arm corker, and we do not recommend this for corking and caging.
===Cork and cap===
Corking for cork and cap closures can be used on champagne-style bottles, which are a good source of high-pressure bottles for brewers, but not on 'fat-lipped' Belgian bottles. Cork and cap might let in less oxygen than corking or capping alone. It also protects the beer from coming into contact with a rusting cap or the plastic lining of caps, especially if the bottles are aged horizontally. Under high carbonation, caps can leak if they are accidentally dislodged, but a cork will prevent any significant CO<sup>2</sup> from escaping <ref>[https://www.facebook.com/groups/MilkTheFunk/permalink/1920123874682484/?comment_id=1921250141236524&reply_comment_id=1923017917726413&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R9%22%7D James Howat. Milk The Funk thread on corking and capping. 12/18/2017.]</ref>.
Corking and capping is much more straightforward than corking and caging as the cork is pushed entirely into the bottle. Generally cork and cap closures are used on bottles with 29 mm openings, though some have done this with 26 mm bottles. Make sure your bottle can handle corks before using them for a cork and cap finish. A #9 wine cork has been suggested as a good size to use<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/groups/MilkTheFunk/permalink/2651422864885911/?comment_id=2651556784872519&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R%22%7D Christophe Venot. Milk The Funk Facebook group thread on using corks with caps and what cork size. 05/07/2019.]</ref>. Although the cork depth is not as important as in corking and caging, the cork still must be far enough into the bottle to not interfere with the cap. Bench corkers are recommended for corking and capping as they allow better control of cork depth than two arm corkers and bench corkers allow the cork to be easily depressed further if it is not far enough into the bottle. For 29 mm bottles, you will also need a 29 mm bell and 29 mm caps for capping.
===Large format bottles===
===Corkers===
* [[Floor Corker]] (small brewers and homebrewers) or [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8QAQdSXC3U Colonna Corker Capper].
* [http://www.gwkentthevintnervault.com/rapidproduct/3771/Rapid-12Floor-corkerCorker-2%2815%29.html GW Kent rapid 12 Rapid 15 Floor Corker (wine corks only, no champagne or Belgian corks?).] (~$995* [https://www.tcwequipment.00; no longer in productioncom/products/rapid-56-manual-floor-corker?)taxon_id=5 Rapid 56 manual floor corker.]
* [http://www.thevintnervault.com/product/4117/Champagne-Corker-Rapid-49.html Champagne Corker Rapid 49 for small commercial producers]. The bottle seats would have to be changed out though ([https://www.facebook.com/groups/MilkTheFunk/permalink/1324183294276548/?comment_id=1324294004265477&reply_comment_id=1413971871964356&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R%22%7D see Jeff Porn's comments here on MTF]. Reportedly doesn't last any longer than the cheaper italian floor corker <ref>[https://www.facebook.com/groups/MilkTheFunk/permalink/1657711040923770/?comment_id=1658593247502216&reply_comment_id=1658820667479474&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R%22%7D Bob Sylvester. Milk The Funk Facebook group. 04/20/2017.]</ref>. (~$4,000)
* [httphttps://www.gwkent.com/champagne-corkercorking-cagercaging-machine-1.html GW Kent Automated Champagne Corker/Cager] (~$13,000) <ref>[https://www.facebook.com/groups/MilkTheFunk/permalink/1657711040923770/?comment_id=1658593247502216&reply_comment_id=1658781814150026&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R%22%7D Levi Funk. Milk The Funk Facebook group. 04/20/2017.]</ref>.* [https://www.gwkent.com/pneumatic-pro-liner-corker.html GW Kent Pneumatic Pro Liner Corker.] ([https://www.facebook.com/groups/MilkTheFunk/permalink/4071568982871285/?comment_id=4072005559494294&reply_comment_id=4074602419234608 Sean Spiller's feedback using this at Jester King)]* [http://www.thevintnervault.com/category/517/Corkers.html Various other electric/semi-automated corkers (Vintner Vault).]
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/MilkTheFunk/permalink/2185368601491342/ MTF thread comparing semi-automatic corker/cagers from Criveller, Enolta, MEP, and Cannellitech.]
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/MilkTheFunk/?multi_permalinks=4071568982871285 Joel Stickrod's thread on modifying floor cork legs to reduce the need for the operator to bend their back.]
===Corks===
Look for agglomerated corks if using cages rather than caps.
* [http://www.g3order.com/diam-ref-beer-cork-25-5x44mm/ G3 25.5x44 (bulk).].
* [https://bsgcraftbrewing.com/beer-cork-44x255mm-1000-count BSG Craft Brewing; 25.5x44 (bulk).]
* [https://www.amorimca.com/products Amorimca corks (bulk).]
* [http://www.portocork.com/products/ Portocork.] Recommended by Mitch Ermatinger and Mike Karnowski; does printed branding <ref>[https://www.facebook.com/groups/MilkTheFunk/permalink/1628433647184843/?comment_id=1628475047180703&reply_comment_id=1628499457178262&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R9%22%7D Ermatinger, Mitch. Milk The Funk Facebook group. 03/27/2017.]</ref>. Contact to receive information for exact cork size needed for any given bottle format.
* [https://www.google.com/search?q=beer+cork+25.5&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8 Homebrew sources on Google for 25.5x44.]
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/MilkTheFunk/permalink/1765959683432238/?comment_id=1766945646666975&reply_comment_id=1767396563288550&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R722R8%22%7D Jeff Porn recommends 24mm corks (potentially called "wine corks") for cork and cagewith 500 mL bottle sizes.]
* [https://www.google.com/search?q=beer+cork+25.5&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8#safe=off&q=wine+cork+24mm Google search for 24mm wine corks.]
* [https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.midwestsupplies.com%2Fmedia%2Fpdf-printouts%2Fdoes_cork_size_really_matter.pdf&h=ATP7yxudX3HbjPpHX-xr2avff0ah1A49AUlwUupvUVW8dfUnn3WZjGJfvlxXHtagMsmVDNMUWi2BZDuoNeLkkXOxadj8e3M4rVf5QR4iL1rX3xRMY6D4rovr3fRorBMKKju2DpoooaOX2J34uFip7t9235w David Maida recommends #8 wine corks for cork and cage.] See [https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.midwestsupplies.com%2Fmedia%2Fpdf-printouts%2Fdoes_cork_size_really_matter.pdf&h=ATP7yxudX3HbjPpHX-xr2avff0ah1A49AUlwUupvUVW8dfUnn3WZjGJfvlxXHtagMsmVDNMUWi2BZDuoNeLkkXOxadj8e3M4rVf5QR4iL1rX3xRMY6D4rovr3fRorBMKKju2DpoooaOX2J34uFip7t9235w Midwest cork data sheet].
* [http://www.scottlab.com/products-50.aspx Scott Labs.] Also does printed branding on the corks; bulk orders only <ref>[https://www.facebook.com/groups/MilkTheFunk/permalink/1983455311682673/?comment_id=1983461895015348&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R%22%7D Andy Hannas. Milk The Funk facebook post on Scott Labs branding corks. 02/09/2018.]</ref>
* [https://corksupply.eu/eu/ Cork Supply; EU supplier (does free branding on 5000 or more corks).]
===Bottles===
* See also [[Packaging#Bottle_Suppliers|Packaging]].
===Cages(Muselets)===
* [http://www.scottlab.com/products-49.aspx Scott Labs Wirehoods]. Recommended by Mitch Ermatinger for use with a semi-auto cager <ref>[https://www.facebook.com/groups/MilkTheFunk/permalink/1971675012860703/ Mitch Ermatinger. Milk The Funk Facebook thread on cage sthat work with semi-auto cagers. 01/30/2018.]</ref>.
* [http://www.ramondin.es/en/ Ramondin USA Inc. (only classic Champagne size cages <ref>[https://www.facebook.com/groups/MilkTheFunk/permalink/1971675012860703/?comment_id=1972781089416762&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R%22%7D Mitch Ermatinger. Milk The Funk thread on custom cages. 01/30/2018.]</ref>).]