Makeshift fermentor?

I'm kind of sick of testing stuff in five gallon batches, but I also don't want to spend money on a small fermentor. I kind of want to try doing some simple meads or wines. I have some 1 gallon plastic gatorade bottles and similar containers. Does anybody see a problem with putting a stopper on top with an airlock and using these as fermentors? I know that these won't give me the best results but as long as they would give acceptable results for experimental purposes then I think I would be OK.

Look at the recycle number on the bottom. I have a couple apple juice gallon bottles that are #1 PET (Same as better bottles).

I am planning an experimental mead + fruit experiment soon.

Cool, time to pick up some stoppers and airlocks!

I use the 1 gallon glass Cidar bottles for pilot batches. Might be a little out of season for them now, but ask around at stores like Whole Foods

Parker36 said:

I use the 1 gallon glass Cidar bottles for pilot batches. Might be a little out of season for them now, but ask around at stores like Whole Foods

Click to expand...

I don't think I've ever seen anything like that around here, but don't worry, I have friends working on getting me some empty glass jugs of carlo rossi . Probably the same idea.

you usually have to ask. They never have them on display here but always have them in the back

Carlo Rossi is the way to go, killing a jug right now to get some mead started.

Obviously 1 gal containers are more plentiful than this but I'd suggest trying to find a ~3 gal water bottle. Basically they're just smaller versions of the bottles you'd use in a water cooler. I currently have two 3 gal bottles (PETE #1) that originally contained Absopure water and will probably pick up another one soon.

Why a ~3 gal bottle over one of the endless varieties of 1 gal bottles? The only really reason is that you get to make more of whatever it is you're making. In addition, they don't take up too much more room than a 1 gal container, are easy to carry compared to a full 5+ gal carboy, most ~3 gal bottles I've seen easily use the same stoppers\caps as normal carboys, and if you're math challenged it is easier to figure out the ingredients for a 2.5 gal experimental batch of beer compared to a 1 gal batch .

I have a couple of these 3gal bottles as well. They are great for carrying strike/sparge water out to the garage and splitting batches for different dry hops for secondary. I also have done a couple apfelwein experiments in them. Turns out I am not a huge fan, and I have 50+ bottles of the stuff in the basement. Smaller experimental batches are in order for Mead, at least until I figure out if I like the stuff.

s3n8 said:

I have a couple of these 3gal bottles as well. They are great for carrying strike/sparge water out to the garage and splitting batches for different dry hops for secondary. I also have done a couple apfelwein experiments in them. Turns out I am not a huge fan, and I have 50+ bottles of the stuff in the basement. Smaller experimental batches are in order for Mead, at least until I figure out if I like the stuff.

Click to expand...

Yeah, I made the mistake of making a bunch of apfelwein during "good cider season" and now i have about 75 or so bottles of it that aren't going anywhere. It's still good, but when I have two new cases of homebrew every other week or so, it's hard to find a way to drink anything else.