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cactussam · 07-25-2011, 01:57 AM

So, in talking to a friend of mine the other day and talking about how expensive better bottles are ($30 a piece at the LHBS), he asked me, "Why don't you just get one of those 5 gallon water jugs that they put in water coolers?"

I thought about this for a while and couldn't come up with a good answer as to why I hadn't thought of that before. I noticed on one of the ones that I recently picked up, it said that it was only for use with water. Anybody have any experience with these? I'm currently fermenting a Honey Steam Ale in one right now and the exhaust coming off of it smells normal. I'm curious if alcohol could potentially react with the plastic somehow and cause problems, but that doesn't make a lot of sense since 5 and 6 gallon buckets are made out of plastic too.

Thoughts?

hoppymonkey · 07-25-2011, 02:00 AM

They start to crack at the edges. Better bottles last much longer.

**Revvy** · 07-25-2011, 02:00 AM

This has been HUGELY discussed on here. There were at least 2 threads this week alone. You can find a bunch of the discussions in the similar threads box below. Or all through out here. The bottom line, as long as they have the recycle code on the bottom <2> or <3> they are fine to use. Despite the 10,000 arguments against you might hear. There's also plenty of "arguments" in all the threads for them. It's up to you do decide.

milldoggy · 07-25-2011, 02:01 AM

Makes sure to get the Pet water bottles. I also heard the inside is not smooth, so you could have issues bacteria hiding.

**Revvy** · 07-25-2011, 02:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hoppymonkey

They start to crack at the edges. Better bottles last much longer.

Really? I've been using 2 of them for over 5 years and they haven't "cracked at the edges" yet.....

onipar · 07-25-2011, 02:18 AM

After quite a bit of searching I recently (finally) found a 5 gallon water bottle with a #1 recycle code. It cost $11 and came with water.

The brand I found was Poland Spring, but make sure to check the recycle code to be sure. Most of the ones you'll find will be #7, which are not good to use for brewing.

cactussam · 07-25-2011, 02:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onipar

After quite a bit of searching a recently (finally) found a 5 gallon water bottle with a #1 recycle code. It cost $11 and came with water.

The brand I found was Poland Spring, but make sure to check the recycle code to be sure. Most of the ones you'll find will be #7, which are not good to use for brewing.

Why is that?

onipar · 07-25-2011, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cactussam

Why is that?

#7 can leach BPA's into your wort. #7 plastic is only suitable for water.

http://earth911.com/recycling/plastic/number-7-plastic/facts-about-plastic-7/
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/22/health/22well.html

cactussam · 07-25-2011, 02:32 AM

Ah, I'll have to look into that to see how it looks. If it's got the #7 then I guess I'll be returning those to the grocery store after I'm done with them, lol.

**iaefebs** · 07-25-2011, 02:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Revvy

Really? I've been using 2 of them for over 5 years and they haven't "cracked at the edges" yet.....

One of the things I liked about the better bottles was the little indention on the bottom. When you wanted to aerate your wort you put a tennis ball in that indention and as you shook and rolled the the bottle it wouldn't stress the edges. This made sense to me. If you don't use this method to aerate I don't know that you will crack the edges.