Ok a few newbie questions

Ickes up a brewers kit, so my first question is do I use the carboy for the primary fermentation and then rack to the bucket or the other way around? Or does it really matter?

Second, the airlock looks like it has a float In it, do I take the cover off the top or leave that on?

I know these are probably really stupid questions but I'm a packer fan and we aren't that smart

Picked up a brewers kit... Damn iPad

Lol it's ok packer fan, your a brewer and that's all I'll look at
If you have a glass carboy, you can use that as your primary, then rack to the bucket as a secondary or a bottling bucket.
If you take a picture of your airlock I can help you more, but if it looks like a thin pipe inside of a cylinder and a U shaped hat on top of the inner pipe, you'll leave that on lol. I hope my description helped.

I personally have 2 buckets, both with spigots, and I haven't had an issue except my last brew lasted about a month lol. I've come to learn from this site/app that it's all preference. I don't mind buckets where as you may hate them, but the bucket works for me so there is no need to change it. Good luck!

Pay no attention to the at&t, battery life or time
Thanks google
Is yours the left or right?

The bucket is your primary and the carboy is the secondary. You need to take the top off the airlock and add sanitizer or some cheap vodka to it (there is a line that shows how much) then put the top back on. Oh and I would say about 95% of the folks on here do not use the secondary anymore.

Really carboy is secondary? Everyone I've encountered who has a carboy users that as a primary

ahaley said:

Really carboy is secondary? Everyone I've encountered who has a carboy users that as a primary

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The kits come with a 6.5 gal bucket and a 5 gal carboy. The carboy has no head-space for the fermentation so you would have a lot of blow-off. If it came with a 6.5 then that would be fine for fermentation. I didn't ask but the bucket might be the bottling bucket.

You can use the 6.5 bucket or 6.5 Carboy as a primary, for a secondary you want something that is 5 gallon to reduce headspace and minimize oxidation.

The bucket with a spigot is typically used for bottling.

You have a 3 piece airlock and it remains intact, just fill to the line with cheap vodka.

Beer that tastes old is usually oxidized. Could be from too much time in a too large vessel, usually secondary or too much splashing around during transfers.

One little thing I've found...if you indeed have a bucket that is not a bottling bucket (no spigot), then after you pitch your yeast, put the lid on BEFORE inserting the airlock. Sometimes putting the lid in will create suction and pull liquid our of the airlock. In no way detrimental, but you will be worrying about everything on your first brew.

By the way, post any questions you have no matter how basic you think they are....we love to help.

And remember, sanitation, sanitation, sanitation

Well luckily I have 2 buckets both prolly 6.5gal with spigots on both. But my beer is tasty

The only advantage to a carboy or better bottle is that you can watch the fermentation take place. And I still find myself watching it never gets old.

Good point on installing the airlock before the bucket lid, wilsojos. Also, be aware of which direction your airlock is placed with respect to the bucket handle. If the airlock is near the hinges you won't be able to lift the handle without ripping the airlock out.

As others said, carboy, bucket, doesn't matter really. If you use the 5 gallon carboy use a blowoff tube, if you use a larger bucket just use an airlock. I've never fermented in a spigotted bottling bucket, but I don't see how it could ruin the beer. Cleaning trub out of the spigot may be a pain, but again I don't know. Have fun! Kyle

I've never gotten trub in my spigot yet, I'll keep my fingers crossed but when I transfer to the bottle bucket I go slow

ahaley said:

<img src="https://www.homebrewtalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=60177"/>

Pay no attention to the at&t, battery life or time
Thanks google
Is yours the left or right?

Click to expand...

Mine is the one on the right. I stopped back by the store this morning and the guy working suggested filling the airlock to the line with water....

Oh and he said the carboy is only a 5 gallon unit so primary needs to be in the bucket and rack to the carboy for secondary, etc.

Thought I would share what he suggested since its slightly different from what was said here..


Thanks for all the suggestions..... This group is almost as friendly as a stadium full of Packer Backers

dpalme said:

Mine is the one on the right. I stopped back by the store this morning and the guy working suggested filling the airlock to the line with water....

Oh and he said the carboy is only a 5 gallon unit so primary needs to be in the bucket and rack to the carboy for secondary, etc.

Thought I would share what he suggested since its slightly different from what was said here..


Thanks for all the suggestions..... This group is almost as friendly as a stadium full of Packer Backers

Click to expand...

LOL nope he said everything I told you.

dpalme said:

Mine is the one on the right. I stopped back by the store this morning and the guy working suggested filling the airlock to the line with water....

Oh and he said the carboy is only a 5 gallon unit so primary needs to be in the bucket and rack to the carboy for secondary, etc.

Thought I would share what he suggested since its slightly different from what was said here..

Thanks for all the suggestions..... This group is almost as friendly as a stadium full of Packer Backers

Click to expand...

Yeah and since I told you to pitch yeast in the bucket, that makes it the primary.

I hate to open this can of worms on you, but you don't have to secondary. Some argue that the beer will clarify better, but I bottled an amber last night, primary only for 3 weeks, and you could read a book through it...super clear and beautiful. I did throw in a tsp of Irish moss at 15 minutes left in the boil.

Secondary is necessary if you are adding fruit, oak chips or something like that. Or, for long-term aging and some do it to dry hop. In my opinion on a normal 3-4 week fermentation it is not necessary. It is just more time when you could be brewing or consuming and another potential introduction of infection or other problems.

I may get obliterated by someone with a different opinion and you really have to decide for yourself...just my 2 cents.

Cheers!!
JW

Well if its any consolation, I'm used to controversy and arguments - I married an ultra left wing liberal....so far left she makes George Soros look like a Southern Baptist Preacher

I know your question is pretty much answered. But I wanted to throw my 2 pennies in. Your primary should be 6.5 gallons and your secondary only needs to be 5. Bucket or carboy is a matter of preference but capacity is very important.

Am I the only person who is in his right mind!? (I'm a lefty ) but ya That's what I've realized, is some people like apples, others oranges, others like grapes that look like oranges and taste of apples. Happy adventures in brewing!

dpalme said:

Well if its any consolation, I'm used to controversy and arguments - I married an ultra left wing liberal....so far left she makes George Soros look like a Southern Baptist Preacher

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Hahahaha. That's hillarious. Lmao. My wife got a kick out of it too. She's a raving republican. I'd be ok if she would just label herself conservative, but the party alliance drives me crazy. Ok, enough political bs, I'm about to wretch just thinking about it.

beerman0001 said:

The only advantage to a carboy or better bottle is that you can watch the fermentation take place. And I still find myself watching it never gets old.

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I still sit and stare at my carboys constantly. It's like watching a god's personal lava lamp.

I am offended by your comment that Packer fans aren't very smart!

Made it down to Sessions supply right before they closed today and was able to pick up a brand new 10 gal aluminum stock pot to use for the boiling. Need to take the 20lb CO2 tank over to Cee Kay on Monday for an exchange and then all I need is a regulator and hoses for the kegs. I got to get those freebies put to use

Raving Republican eh? She's got to be a classy gal LOL

Thanks again for the all the help guys.....I'm going to run over to the supply store tomorrow and pick up the ingredients for a nice pale ale and planning on brewing it tomorrow evening.....figure 7-10 days for fermentation and then we'll go from there.

Btw this stock pot although brand new looks like something out of an army kitchen

Nice!

titletowngirl said:

I am offended by your comment that Packer fans aren't very smart!

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Awww I'm sorry, didn't mean to offend, I was just havin some fun with the bear fans on here

Then again since I'm still a Favre fan you will probably agree I'm not very smart

Agreed

I figured you would have agreed with me on that, I must tell you though that I have in my collection of Packer Memorabilia the very last football that Favre ever tossed in college, that plus a 1970 team autographed ball.....

However, I'm a Packer fan through and through despite my intense dislike for Ted Thompson

I'm not a big fan of Ted either. Would it be so terrible to go after a good free agent once in a while?!