6 Gallon Better Bottle Carboy

[schooldude]

Hey all, I tried to order a 6 gal better bottle carboy to use as a secondary. Ordered yesterday and received an email saying "sorry better bottles are no longer being made". Does anyone know why and are they safe if I get a used one.

Thanks

 

[socratesbrewing]

There was something posted somewhere a while back about manufacturing issues, but I thought it was a temporary issue.

 

[MaxStout]

I heard something about there having been a fire at the manufacturer's facility last year and they are rebuilding. I don't think it has anything to do with safety of the product. My LHBS has been out of BBs for some time now.

Search around on the Internet, maybe someone has a few left in stock.

 

[JJL]

No reason why a used one would be problematic. But if you're looking for a PET carboy there are a ton of other options available besides Better Bottle.

 

[d3track]

http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/the-bubbler-6-gallon-fermentor

Heck, if you're in Minneapolis I'll sell you mine

 

[schooldude]

Thanks for all the info. I live in western Ky and not a local shop for a couple hundred miles. Thus I rely in online buys.

thanks again

 

[unionrdr]

Here's Morebeer's own 6 gallon plastic carboy; http://www.morebeer.com/products/plastic-pet-carboy-6-gallon.html In stock at both warehouse locations. Their warehouse in PA ships really fast too.

 

[bannonb]

I use glass carboys but have an under the counter fridge I converted into a lagerator. It's a small fridge and I can't fit an airlock on my 6.5 gal carboy when it's upright.

Any idea where I can find PET or some such 6.5 gallon "shorty" carboy? It's ok if it's fatter, just needs to be 6" shorter so I can fit my airlock in there.

Thanks,

BannonB

 

[unionrdr]

Or use some PVC elbows & pipe to make a right angled fitting for a blow off hose...

 

[govner1]

I just spoke w/ the very nice folks at Better Bottle. They have been in the process of setting up a new manufacturing system & location.
This has been a challenging process. They require tight tolerances and it has taken more time than planned to get product consistency.
They now hope to begin manufacturing next week & to begin the process of restocking distributors.
I've used BB's since I began brewing 4+ years ago. I'm well stocked but for those in need it will be worth the wait.

 

[unionrdr]

I could use a 5 gallon one for secondarying myself. The 6 gallon is a bit worrisome.

 

[passedpawn]

There was a similar thread on this forum a while back. Someone said that the key piece of equipment used to extrude these containers was destroyed in a flood. Better Bottle has been scrambling to replace that equipment or manufacturer.

You would think there would be some info on their website.

 

[Scriv]

I just spoke w/ the very nice folks at Better Bottle. They have been in the process of setting up a new manufacturing system & location.
This has been a challenging process. They require tight tolerances and it has taken more time than planned to get product consistency.
They now hope to begin manufacturing next week & to begin the process of restocking distributors.
I've used BB's since I began brewing 4+ years ago. I'm well stocked but for those in need it will be worth the wait.

Good to hear, I picked up a Vintage Shop PET 6 gallon in the meantime.

 

[kh54s10]

I could use a 5 gallon one for secondarying myself. The 6 gallon is a bit worrisome.

Why is the 6 gallon one worrisome? I have 4 of the 6 gallon ones and one 5 gallon. I prefer the 6 gallon ones over my buckets. Use a blow off tube - no worries. The 5 gallon one rarely gets used anymore....

 

[unionrdr]

Because I use it-albeit rarely-as a secondary. A bit too much head space for safety, but it works. So a 5 gallon would be better for what I typically use it for.

 

[kh54s10]

Because I use it-albeit rarely-as a secondary. A bit too much head space for safety, but it works. So a 5 gallon would be better for what I typically use it for.

That makes sense. When using for a secondary a 5 gallon would be better. You would want to brew a 6 gallon batch to use the 6 gallon Better Bottle as a secondary.

 

[unionrdr]

I actually do brew a 6 gallon batch occasionally, like the Cooper's English bitter, an " ordinary bitter". I might eventually use it as a 3rd fermenter for a 5 gallon batch with a blow off.

 

[chickypad]

I just spoke w/ the very nice folks at Better Bottle. They have been in the process of setting up a new manufacturing system & location.
This has been a challenging process. They require tight tolerances and it has taken more time than planned to get product consistency.
They now hope to begin manufacturing next week & to begin the process of restocking distributors.
I've used BB's since I began brewing 4+ years ago. I'm well stocked but for those in need it will be worth the wait.

Good to hear and thanks for the update. I'm brewing a lot of small batches now and have been waiting to pick up a couple more of the 3 gals.

 

[unionrdr]

I also need a 1 1/2 or 2 gallon bucket right soon for my malt vinegar brew when the English bitter finishes fermenting. No go at Giant Eagle. Maybe lowe's or Home Depot?

 

[sbartelski]

Have you seen the new BrewDemon PET conicals? Available in 2.5 & 6 gal versions. Just finished my first brew in one, hard cider, and if you like to harvest yeast, it leaves a great little pudding shaped clump after racking the beverage. Well not racking, just pouring out of the tap into the keg and/or bottles

 

[govner1]

I could use a 5 gallon one for secondarying myself. The 6 gallon is a bit worrisome.

I brew 6g batches and put a little over 3g in each of two 5 or 6 gal BB's the I secondary/dry hop in 3 gal BB's. This also let's me use two different yeasts on the same batch if I want.
I pkg in 3 gal kegs.

 

[unionrdr]

For the 6 gallon batches, I have my older Cooper's micro Brew FV. It's made for 23L, or 6.015 USG. It leaves some 3-4L headspace or so. The 6 gallon BB will be put to use soon, as my son's bring over some devil's tongue peppers he grew that finally ripened. He wants a wit to put'em in. As long as he's buyin', I'll brew up whatever he wants...for a few bottles.

 

[aprichman]

I also need a 1 1/2 or 2 gallon bucket right soon for my malt vinegar brew when the English bitter finishes fermenting. No go at Giant Eagle. Maybe lowe's or Home Depot?

I was just at Home Depot picking up a 5 gallon HDPE bucket and noticed they also sold 2 gallon HDPE buckets for cheap (like a buck or two). I also noticed that they sold lids for their 5 gallon HDPE buckets that had a grommet - those things would probably seal really well and work great for 3.5 - 4 gallon batches.

 

[unionrdr]

I looked at HD on-line for the Elyria location, & they didn't have any food-safe 2G buckets. Just the paint ones that aren't food-safe. Lowe's has them in HDPE, so all I need now is a ride over there to get it. And a fine mesh paint filter to stretch over the top so the air can get to it while making vinegar.