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Anybody dropped a glass carboy full of beer?

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Toymaker

Toymaker

Arrgh!
Joined
Feb 3, 2012
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Location
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I just had a little incident. I just finished racking a nice porter from primary to secondary. I cleaned up my mess and installed the airlock with some leftover One Step solution. I still had wet hands but still decided to carry the carboy full of beer to the cellar, where I do my secondary fermentation. I got across the basement and realized the door was shut. Instead of setting it down, opening the door and picking it back up, I rested it on my knee. I had my, still wet, right hand around the neck, and my left knee mostly under the left side. Then it happened, as I reached for the doorknob with my left hand it slipped off my knee. Instantly, with all my might, I tried to hold on with my right slimy hand. The neck of the carboy slipped out slicker than crap. However, instead of a loud crash and tidal wave of 5 gallons of dark brown porter heading for the floor drain. It hit with a dull thud???
I have never been so happy for a dirty smelly kitty litter box in my life!!!!
Yes, the carboy had displaced about a pound of litter all over the floor and into my left shoe, but it saved the carboy and more importantly my porter! I am one lucky, happy guy!!!
 
Get a Speidel. It's plastic. It has handles. Never worry again.
 
You may also want to think about replacing that carboy after this batch. After a drop like that chances are probably pretty good that there is some small stress fractures that will probably let go at the most inconvenient time.
 
heres-your-sign.jpg
 
Spiderman says everyone gets one - that's your one.

I'd still replace it after you rack out. It could be fine, but the moment you put any kind of stress on it (thermal or otherwise) you'll find out immediately if it isn't. Go get some milk crates and quit tempting fate.

(or, you know, get some BetterBottles and not worry about it again).
 
That could have ended badly in so many ways and i'm not talking about the beer. Stay safe.
 
A recent study says that cat owners are smarter than dog owners. Just tell people you were thinking ahead when you got that cat!
 
You doged a bullet. Now buy something that you can properly haul that carboy with and don't be so careless. ;)
 
As I was reading this thread I heard something strange next to my desk...look over to see my cat intently eating a dry leaf that came in through the door. Smart my ass :cross:
 
Didn't technically "drop" one (I sneezed while carrying it by the handle and it barely bumped the floor)....luckily, it just basically dropped the bottom out, and it was in my unfinished basement when we lived in MI, and the house had a few drains in the basement floor, so cleanup really wasn't bad.....just sad :( ....'twas an IPA iirc, my usual back then
 
The fabric multi-use grocery bags work OK...I've never had one break, but I usually support the bottom. (and I never use glass)
 
U R Very lucky!! My buddy dropped his Carboy full of Old Rasputin and sliced his arm wide open! His wife had to call 911 he missed 3 months of work. He still does not have all the feeling in his index finger. He is lucky his wife and I were there. To say the least he if scared to death of glass now. Everyone be carful with those glass carboys. I always use a carrier or where gloves and a thick coat. Very traumatic.


Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew
 
Seems like a bad place for a cat litter box even if it saved your bacon this time. +a billion on getting rid of that carboy. You may think it's still structurally sound, but if you're wrong, and it'll be costly.

Those things have a history of disintegrating after stresses like that.
 
No.

Because I'm careful. :cross:

In all seriousness, I've never dropped one, but I also use a Brew Hauler. I cringe and back far away every time I see someone lift a carboy by one of those tiny handles that go around the neck. I also primarily use buckets. The carboys are for long term aging, lagering, and souring, or when I'm out of buckets. So they don't get used as much.

Although I'm not about to switch to plastic from glass for those. If only because I don't trust a Better Bottle not to scratch if I have to get a brush in there.
 
Qhrumphf said:
No.

Because I'm careful. :cross:

In all seriousness, I've never dropped one, but I also use a Brew Hauler. I cringe and back far away every time I see someone lift a carboy by one of those tiny handles that go around the neck. I also primarily use buckets. The carboys are for long term aging, lagering, and souring, or when I'm out of buckets. So they don't get used as much.

Although I'm not about to switch from plastic to glass for those. If only because I don't trust a Better Bottle not to scratch if I have to get a brush in there.
Click to expand...

that's a legitimate concern. I own 10 better bottles, and I learned the hard way to NEVER use a brush on them. Clean right after racking with ample PBW mixture, soak, and for the uber stubborn spots I put a microfiber cloth in with 1 pint of strong, hot PBW solution. Guaranteed to get it clean...unless it's already scratched and the yeast/Krausen is clinging to a crevice.
 
jbaysurfer said:
that's a legitimate concern. I own 10 better bottles, and I learned the hard way to NEVER use a brush on them. Clean right after racking with ample PBW mixture, soak, and for the uber stubborn spots I put a microfiber cloth in with 1 pint of strong, hot PBW solution. Guaranteed to get it clean...unless it's already scratched and the yeast/Krausen is clinging to a crevice.
Click to expand...

Oh, with PBW and enough soaking time, I rarely (almost never) have to toss a carboy brush into my glass carboys. But I want to know that if I needed to, I could.
 
How would a milk crate of helped? I'm new and have 4 so I want in on this...


Sent from my iPad using Home Brew
 
DougMedic said:
How would a milk crate of helped? I'm new and have 4 so I want in on this...


Sent from my iPad using Home Brew
Click to expand...

You put the carboy in the crate and then transport the carboy around using the crate. That way you have something to grab while moving it around.
 
Ah, I obviously have smaller milk crates. (Not a metaphor for anything haha).


Sent from my iPad using Home Brew
 
Fortunately, the litter box was in use at the time. Carboy would have definitely broken otherwise. Thank goodness for fluffy.
 

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