Better Bottle shortage?

[MaxStout]

I was looking for 6-gallon Better Bottles, and every place I turn to seems to be out. My LHBS (the first place I looked) was out. Ditto for the online vendors I searched: Northern, William's, Morebeer, Midwest, Rebel, Austin, Farmhouse, Adventures in Homebrewing, Bell's General Store.

Amazon has them, but for $50 + shipping. Not willing to pay that much.

Anyone know who has them in-stock?

 

[horaceunit]

Yeah I am actually looking at 3 gallon ones and I can't find them anywhere either. The only place I found online is www.beveragefactory.com but because of the current seeming shortage I sent an email to their customer service on Thursday (May 21st) about availability but I haven't heard back yet. I will let you know if I hear anything.

 

[ArcaneXor]

They had some sort of mechanical malfunction with their equipment and haven't produced any in several months now.

 

[SteelManCM]

My LHBS has some in stock, including the 3 gallon. His website is http://www.homecraftednc.com

He'll probably be happy to ship, but you'll have to call using the number on his site.

 

[horaceunit]

Hey thanks for the info on your LBS. Have any idea if they will be open tomorrow? The price is consistent with what I have seen so if shipping isn't outrageous I'll probably buy a couple! Hadn't heard about the equipment problem with the better bottle company I hope they recover! The best thing about they BB carboys is the sizes, at least for my purposes. Thanks again!

 

[SteelManCM]

Closed tomorrow, but I can't blame them.

 

[horaceunit]

Nope! Can't blame them either! If you work in a Brew Shop you need at least ONE day off to drink beer! I'll give 'em a call on Tuesday! Thanks!

 

[ChrisRyan]

<possible BS rumor> I heard from one of my LHBS (I have 2 semi-local) that BB had an issue with their extruder around christmas and because they were not able to get holiday sales revenue they are going under. I have 3 different 6/6.5 gallon PET carboys and the BB is hands down the best made, so I hope this is just a BS rumor.

 

[passedpawn]

<possible BS rumor> I heard from one of my LHBS (I have 2 semi-local) that BB had an issue with their extruder around christmas and because they were not able to get holiday sales revenue they are going under. I have 3 different 6/6.5 gallon PET carboys and the BB is hands down the best made, so I hope this is just a BS rumor.

Hmm... that's sorta big news. I have thought about going to the plastic bubbler, so not a huge deal for me though.

BTW, Better Bottles is a subsidiary of this water testing company (same crappy web theme, too).

http://www.high-q.com/

 

[botigol]

Here's another option:

http://www.beveragefactory.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=better+bottle

 

[ChrisRyan]

Hmm... that's sorta big news. I have thought about going to the plastic bubbler, so not a huge deal for me though.

BTW, Better Bottles is a subsidiary of this water testing company (same crappy web theme, too).

http://www.high-q.com/

I started googling and actually found a previous thread here (post date 5/4/2015)... Looks like they had issues and are making a come back.

I just sent them an email and got this as the response:

Our production machinery was destroyed in a weather event that caused the city sewers to back up. It took a while to replace the machine, but the new machine is now installed and we are getting back into production.
Regards,

Karla

Sales Department
[email protected]

Bummer, but good thing they'll be available again soon!

 

[horaceunit]

Here's another option:

http://www.beveragefactory.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=better+bottle

I had seen this store too, but because of the shortage I sent their customer service an email asking about availability. This was a week ago yesterday and I have still not gotten a response. I decided not to take a chance in the event they don't have them in stock.

 

[horaceunit]

I actually found a LHBS not far from me. I had heard about this place but had not been able to find it. Turns out it is actually inside an Antique store. I guess they rent space there and they have the 3 gallon Better Bottles for $24 which is the asking price at most online stores, but of course I don't have to pay shipping! I'm hoping to get there over the weekend and see what else they have.

 

[Hello]

Does Northern Brewer have their "bubbler"? That's the BB but their branding is on it, not BB's.

 

[kh54s10]

Does Northern Brewer have their "bubbler"? That's the BB but their branding is on it, not BB's.

The website says "in stock".

 

[brewmesomewater]

The Grog is the name of the LHBS near Fort Campbell who I know carries better bottles. Their link is http://thegroghomebrew.com/ and they are very good to work with. I believe they have the 6-6.5 gallon better bottles, and you could always call and see what they have available.

 

[MaxStout]

I started googling and actually found a previous thread here (post date 5/4/2015)... Looks like they had issues and are making a come back.

Here's the link to the thread.

 

[horaceunit]

OK it has been awhile on this thread but if anyone is interested here is why I was looking for the better bottles. I scored a used 5.2 cubic inch off craiglist and used an STC-1000 temp controller to turn it into a fermentation chamber. I have used a 5 gallon Monster Brew bucket for 3 extract batches but there is a major limitation with the 5 gallon bucket. It is the only thing that will fit in the main area of the freezer. I can actually fit two one gallon jugs (with airlocks) on the shelf in the freezer, or beer bottles. With the 3 gallon Better Bottles I can fit four in the main chamber. Behold!

This really opens up a lot of possibilities for brewing more than one batch in the fermenter. I could do two different 5 gallon batches and divide them between two sets of the Better Bottles, or do one 5 gallon and use one set for primary fermentation and the other pair for secondary fermentation. Or even four separate 3 gallon batches, especially if they were staggered so that when one was finished fermenting another was just getting started. I don't see myself doing that very often but the possibility is there.

Anyway just wanted to update the thread for everyone.