sublimebrew
Member
Is there a big differance in glass vs. plastic carboys??? If there is what are the advantages and disadvantages of both? Thank you for your answers.....
Glass vs. "Better Bottle"(plastic) Carboys???
- Thread starter sublimebrew
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I use both. 2 - 6 1/2 gallon glass carboys for primary and one 5 gallon BB for secondary.sublimebrew said:
BB plastic are much lighter and easier to manage.
Glass are more "traditional" and are crystal clear for observing your brew.
If you use the glass...make sure to have some carpet swatches in your work area. Just the sound of that glass being set on a hard concrete floor will send shivers up your spine. Also make sure if you are using hose connections around the glass, that they are plastic. Nothing more scary than a metal hose-end-sprayer slapping against your glass carboy.
Better Bottles won't cause you to bleed out on the kitchen floor if they happen to break...
Actually, I just got a Better Bottle recently, I have a brew in there for the first time now. MUCH lighter and easier to handle, of course, is the big difference. Supposedly O2 permeability is negligible, so they are safe for long-term storage. They can be scratched, so don't use a carboy brush on them. Other than that, I can't think of a single disadvantage of the BB.
Actually, I just got a Better Bottle recently, I have a brew in there for the first time now. MUCH lighter and easier to handle, of course, is the big difference. Supposedly O2 permeability is negligible, so they are safe for long-term storage. They can be scratched, so don't use a carboy brush on them. Other than that, I can't think of a single disadvantage of the BB.
dblvsn
Well-Known Member
Basically the Better Bottle has a few advantages.
-Lighter weight
-Won't shatter if dropped
-Supposed to be easier to clean than glass
-Can have a spigot installed
-Cheaper Shipping
Disadvantages
-Plastic scratches
-Lighter weight
-Won't shatter if dropped
-Supposed to be easier to clean than glass
-Can have a spigot installed
-Cheaper Shipping
Disadvantages
-Plastic scratches
Thaumaturgist
Well-Known Member
Glass:
Advantages -
Definitely not oxygen permeable.
Can't scratch.
Great for long term storage.
Disadvantages -
Breakable. (Empty or full)
Harder to clean. ? I don't know for sure, but this is what I've heard.
Harder to store/move especially if they are full.
Plastic: (Better Bottles)
Advantages -
Will not break if you drop an empty one.
If it does break if you drop a full one, there is no risk of getting cut by glass shards, and you only have to clean up the wort, not glass too.
Easy to clean.
Easy to store/move.
Disadvantages -
Could possibly scratch.
They aren't supposed to be oxygen permeable, but who knows.
Tendency to flex if you pick up a full one, possibly allowing airlock water into your wort.
I don't know what else for sure since I'm such a noob myself. It'll be interesting to see everyone else's responses.
Advantages -
Definitely not oxygen permeable.
Can't scratch.
Great for long term storage.
Disadvantages -
Breakable. (Empty or full)
Harder to clean. ? I don't know for sure, but this is what I've heard.
Harder to store/move especially if they are full.
Plastic: (Better Bottles)
Advantages -
Will not break if you drop an empty one.
If it does break if you drop a full one, there is no risk of getting cut by glass shards, and you only have to clean up the wort, not glass too.
Easy to clean.
Easy to store/move.
Disadvantages -
Could possibly scratch.
They aren't supposed to be oxygen permeable, but who knows.
Tendency to flex if you pick up a full one, possibly allowing airlock water into your wort.
I don't know what else for sure since I'm such a noob myself. It'll be interesting to see everyone else's responses.
Lets keep this going adding more info in this format so that it can be wiki'd or stickied. I tried to capture what others above have said.
Glass:
Advantages
Disadvantages
Better Bottles
Advantages
Glass:
Advantages
- Clarity.
- Definitely not oxygen permeable.
- Can't scratch.
- Will not wear out.
- 6.5g glass may be more desireable than 6g Better Bottle.
Disadvantages
- Heavier.
- Breakable (Empty or full).
- 6.5g and 5g glass has 2 different mouth diamters.
- Shape can vary slightly.
- Can crack if hot liquid is poured into.
Better Bottles
Advantages
- Lighter.
- Will not break if you drop an empty one.
- Safer - No glass shards if broken.
- Easy to clean because of the ease in lifting and shaking.
- Easy to store/move.
- Cheaper Shipping.
- Can have a spigot installed.
- Standardized mouth for 6g and 5g.
- Uniform size and shape.
- Will not crack if hot liquid is poured into. However it may become damaged this way.
- Not as clear for viewing.
- Can be scratched.
- Will show signs of wear and tear.
- Ultra long term oxygen permeablilty questioned by some.
- Tendency to flex if you pick up a full one, possibly allowing airlock water into your wort.
- Will not hold negative pressure which is important if you use a Wort Wizard.
- Tendancy to be confused with other plastic bottles of similar look but made with inferior quality.
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GoBrewers
Well-Known Member
I don't buy at all that BB's are easier to clean. There is no surface more non-porous (and therefore stain-resistant) than glass, and I would argue that the fact you can't use a carboy brush on a BB makes them harder to clean.
olllllo said:
I think that should get a wiki article all on it's own.
GoBrewers said:
The fact that they're lighter and you don't have to stress about breaking them makes it easier to get them into the sink and to swirl cleaners/sanitizers around, though. I can fill a BB with cleaner, cover the end with my hand, and shake it aggressively, then lift it upside down to rinse it out. I can do the same with glass, but not as easily (because of the weight) and certainly not as safely.
Re: cleaning.
I edited it.
[*]Easy to clean because of the ease in lifting and shaking.
I edited it.
[*]Easy to clean because of the ease in lifting and shaking.
I think I would add clarity to the better bottles as well. I certainly have no trouble seeing through mine. In fact they are clearer than a couple of the glass carboys I have because they have those raised lines going all around them.
bradsul said:
Were your wiki senses tingling?
I'm at work, so it was do that or repair a messed up Exchange database. Hmm... maybe that's what all the pounding on my door is about.olllllo said:Were your wiki senses tingling?
You're at work too eh?z987k said:
desiderata
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the_bird said:
Since it's not wise to use a carboy brush on them, is this procedure enough to clean out the trub from the bottom? If not, what do you use to get it out?
Actually, they do get pretty clean with the rinse/shake method. I did use a carboy brush on one once- after a messy wine fermentation with lots of krausen. Otherwise, it seems like the "stuff" just rinses right off. But I only use them for secondary, so I've never had too much crud on them.
http://www.better-bottle.com/technical/b-b_cleaning_right.html
Washing
Hot water and the right detergents do an excellent job without scrubbing. Never use stiff brushes, abrasive scouring pads, or cleansers.
Detergents recommended for winemaking and beer brewing do not damage Better-Bottle carboys and related components when used according to the manufacturer's instructions (See Detergents below). It is rarely necessary to remove a Racking Outlet from a carboy in order to clean it. Patiently soaking a carboy in a solution of low-suds detergent and hot water is an easy and effective way to loosen stubborn contamination, which can then be rinsed out. For faster results, put a few cups hot wash solution into a carboy, add a face cloth, and vigorously slosh the solution and cloth. Better-Bottle carboys are light, so sloshing the carboy in your hands will not be difficult; however, rocking the carboy back and forth on its side or rocking it on a tennis ball placed under its punt requires even less effort. At each stage of washing a carboy fitted with a Carboy Adapter and High-Flow valve, the valve should be opened to allow some of the solution in the carboy to run into and though the valve.
Washing
Hot water and the right detergents do an excellent job without scrubbing. Never use stiff brushes, abrasive scouring pads, or cleansers.
Detergents recommended for winemaking and beer brewing do not damage Better-Bottle carboys and related components when used according to the manufacturer's instructions (See Detergents below). It is rarely necessary to remove a Racking Outlet from a carboy in order to clean it. Patiently soaking a carboy in a solution of low-suds detergent and hot water is an easy and effective way to loosen stubborn contamination, which can then be rinsed out. For faster results, put a few cups hot wash solution into a carboy, add a face cloth, and vigorously slosh the solution and cloth. Better-Bottle carboys are light, so sloshing the carboy in your hands will not be difficult; however, rocking the carboy back and forth on its side or rocking it on a tennis ball placed under its punt requires even less effort. At each stage of washing a carboy fitted with a Carboy Adapter and High-Flow valve, the valve should be opened to allow some of the solution in the carboy to run into and though the valve.
BarleyWater
Well-Known Member
Just found this one tonight when washing it out for tomorrow, this is why Better Bottles really are better. Replacement is on it's way from AHS.
Notice the large crack.
Notice the large crack.
BarleyWater
Well-Known Member
I'll be voting BB.
Don't forget with plastic you have to watch out when lifing them casue they will suck air back in through the airlock thus sucking in your lock water.
I use both. Been using 12g plastic atm. now.. if i could only score about 3 or 4 12g+ SS conicals....
I use both. Been using 12g plastic atm. now.. if i could only score about 3 or 4 12g+ SS conicals....
EdWort
Well-Known Member
Dennys Fine Consumptibles said:
Yeah, I've heard about this, but have not seen it. I grab my Better Bottle by the neck and the bottom to transport. Then again, I put vodka in my airlocks, so if I get suckback, I simply get a boost to the abv %
BarleyWater
Well-Known Member
kingjam said:
Not sure, I put it in the tub to fill with water and turned it around to rinse the sides. When I turned it to that side I noticed the crack. I think it has been there since I put it up Saturday. Maybe something bumped it in the cabinet like my wort chiller, I really don't know. I always keep my brew hauler on it to give it a little extra protection too.
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