mew

Recipes 

I've heard that light ruins beer. If that is so, I guess I should cover my carboy with a paper bag, right?

Engelramm

Recipes 

Yes. Or put it in a closet.

djamwolfe

Recipes 

The light causes the beer to become skunky, has something to do with the hops, but im sure someone elce will chime in with more info.
I use the box the carboy came in to keep mine covered.

__________________
Primary1: Oberon ClonePrimary2: E
Secondary1: Wildberry ShirazSecondary2: Empty
Kegged:
MMMMM Koelsh
SNPA Clone
Bastard Wheat
Choco Oatmeal Stout
Getting Ready:
Steam Beer

chillHayze

Recipes 

Yep.

Certain frequencies of light react with hop oils and "skunk" the beer. brown bottles block many of the rays but green or clear (like a carboy) let the majority through and can skunk beer in just a few hours.

http://beeradvocate.com/news/stories_read/527/

__________________
RDWHAHB
Every little thing is gonna be alright.

Fiery Sword

Recipes 

next time you buy a carboy (if you stick with the hobby you'll someday have a small army of them) save the box it comes in. trim off the bottom and cut a nice little square on top for a perfectly sized over-the-top-applied fermentation-lock carboy cover. do the same plus seam it top to bottom for a blowoff tube "hinged" cover.

homebrewer_99

Recipes 

That's a really good idea, but cardboard tears eventually...cover it with an old sweatshirt.

__________________
HB Bill

Beerhead

Recipes 

Yeah i just toss a couple of blankets on my carboy, also help to insulate it

__________________
"I wish it were winter so we could freeze it into ice blocks and skate on it and melt it in the spring time and drink it!"

dantodd

Recipes 

Just don't let your wife catch you rocking it to sleep at night.

uglygoat

Recipes 

mine all have old teeshirts or flannels on them. the shirts with buttons are easier to put on and take off...

__________________
A barrel of malt, a bushel of hops, you stir it around with a stick
The kind of lubrication to make your engine tick

never argue with an idiot, they'll just drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.

NM68657

Recipes 

I cover my carboy with a dark 35 gallon trash bag. I wrap it around the tank and tape it in place.

Bottled:
1. Irish Stout
2. Pale Ale
3. Easy Wheat

__________________
Bottled: IPA, Irish Stout, Steam, Easy Wheat, American Wheat, Red Ale, Pumpkin Ale, Chocolate Porter

On Deck: Corona Clone, DeckHand Stout