Primary Fermentation in "Ale Pail"
 

I have 6.5 gal plastic bucket with a spiggot on it. So far I've been using it as a bottling bucket and fermenting in a 5 gal glass carboy. Avoiding the whole glass v. plastic issue would it be recommendable to use it as a primary fermenter? It seems like it would be easier to rack to the carboy with the spiggot. Does anyone have any experiance with this?

Many, many, people use nothing but "Ale Pails". That 6.5 gallon bucket would have to be much better for a primary than a five gallon carboy...much less chance of blowoff.

I have a 6.5 gallon "ale pail", a 6.5 gallon "ale pale w/ spiggot and a 6.5 gallon carboy. First ale pail without spiggot is primary, rack to carboy and then rack to other ale pail with spiggot to bottle. You could use whatever combination you choose. It sounds like it would be easier to rack from your ale pail to the carboy. Then you could rack back to your bucket to bottle.

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My 6.5 ale pale with spiggot leaks where the spiggot is. Does anyone else have this problem? It doesn't leak a lot but a couple of ounces will leak out while I am bottling. I wouldn't use mine as a primary for this reason.

Thanks, I think I'll give it a try. My pail leaked a little the first time I bottled but I tightened up the spiggot and have not had any problems since.

Im only on batch number two myself, but carboys are the way to go (I now own three of them!). It is nice to have glass for your primary because it can be a very messy process and you can really get in there and scrub a carboy without risk of scratching the plastic, and in turn giving bacteria a nice warm place to call home. For $20 its worth the peace of mind. I hate trying to fall asleep at night wondering if my equipment was sanitized properly! :p

I use a 30L (6.5 gallon) plastic primary with spiggot, and a 23L (5 gallon) glass carboy as secondary.

Problem is, I don't have a table that's quite the right height to put the carboy under the spiggot...I'm thinking I'll just pick up the primary and pour through a funnel from now on.

NO! NO! don't do it.

You don't want to oxygenate after primary firmentation.

You've got to siphon and make sure no air gets mixed in in the process. You don't eveny want to splash it.

Eh? Wot's all 'iss 'en??