PFlint

Recipes 

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?

El Pistolero

Recipes 

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.

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[/I] Up Next - Hobgoblin
After That - Czech Pilsner
Primary - Humboldt Hop Rod (4/24)
Primary - NOT Wheat AG SNCA (5/5)
Secondary -
Conditioning - SNCA Clone (3/3),

loopmd

Recipes 

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.

loop

Clay

Recipes 

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.

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Up Next: Dry Irish Stout
Primary:
2nd: Dark Cherry Stout
In the Keg:
Gone: Boddington's Pub Ale Clone, New Castle Clone, Guiness Clone

PFlint

Recipes 

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.

421Brew

Recipes 

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!

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Next: A trip to the NorthFace store to buy a parka for winter brewing...
Primary: :(
Secondary: Chocolate Raspberry Stout
Bottled: English Brown Ale (Drinking)
Bottled: Blueberry Hefeweizen (Conditioning)

Shambolic

Recipes 

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.

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Primary: Empty
Secondary: King Willie Wheatie

Bottled/Drinking:
Common Swill
Stormy Night Porter
Lobrau Amber Ale (Mk. II)
Rain Dog Ale
Quantum Pale Ale

Coming Up:
Maybe a pilsner...
Quantum Pale Ale (Mk. II)

ScottT

Recipes 

NO! NO! don't do it.

__________________
Scott

Primary: Empty

Secondary #2: Empty

Bottle Conditioning: Oatmeal Stout

Drinking from Keg: Ordinary Bitter, Kolsch

Drinking bottled: Brown Autumn Wee Heavy
Hefe Weizen
Peaches and Cream Weizen


"This is grain, which any fool can eat, but for which the Lord intended a more divine means of consumption... Beer!"
-Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves, Friar Tuck.
Next up: Hefe Weizen

ScottT

Recipes 

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.

__________________
Scott

Primary: Empty

Secondary #2: Empty

Bottle Conditioning: Oatmeal Stout

Drinking from Keg: Ordinary Bitter, Kolsch

Drinking bottled: Brown Autumn Wee Heavy
Hefe Weizen
Peaches and Cream Weizen


"This is grain, which any fool can eat, but for which the Lord intended a more divine means of consumption... Beer!"
-Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves, Friar Tuck.
Next up: Hefe Weizen

Shambolic

Recipes 

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

__________________
Primary: Empty
Secondary: King Willie Wheatie

Bottled/Drinking:
Common Swill
Stormy Night Porter
Lobrau Amber Ale (Mk. II)
Rain Dog Ale
Quantum Pale Ale

Coming Up:
Maybe a pilsner...
Quantum Pale Ale (Mk. II)