Better Bottle

[Brutus Brewer]

Anyone ever get the Better Bottle and try to fit with a valve other than the one that comes from the company? The one suggested seems a bit expensive to me.

 

[McKBrew]

Most likely not. This question came up a few days ago. The better bottle valve comes with a special tool to install the valve from the inside. The reviews on the ported BB's are mixed, some people like them, some do not. I find that just using them as a regular carboy is fine. And yes the better bottle valves are expensive.

 

[Jaeger48]

I opted for the non ported model- I love my 6gal better bottle!

 

[Brutus Brewer]

So do you just siphon the wort out of the Better Bottle, or can you pump it out ?

 

[EdWort]

I use an Autosiphon with my Better Bottles.

 

[missing link]

LHBS is selling the fully tricked out BB for $90. It's a 6 gallon bottle, ported with dry airlock and some hose which I am not sure what it is for.

My $11 bucket seems to work just as well

Linc

 

[menschmaschine]

Anyone ever get the Better Bottle and try to fit with a valve other than the one that comes from the company? The one suggested seems a bit expensive to me.

I think this would be new homebrewer territory. I'll bet with a little ingenuity, it could be done. I use the ported ones with the valves and they were expensive, but I do like the convenience of them. The little tool that you need to install the BB valves is really just a piece of pvc/conduit.

 

[Diablotastic]

Yeah as far as the installation tool....you could just use one of those curtain rods that look like a cane.

I have two better bottle bottles and I love em. I use them for both primary and secondary. Being able to swivel the valve to pick up as much wort without trub is pretty convenient. plus lightweight and easy to clean is a plus

 

[TexLaw]

I have a 6 gallon ported one, and I wouldn't buy another ported one. The valve is a bit tricky, it can be a pain to clean, and it does not flow very quickly (especially when you get near the bottom). In any case, it is not worth the price, and I paid far, far less than $90. I just siphon out out of my unported ones, and that works fine.


TL

 

[Chris Z]

I have a 6 gallon ported one, and I wouldn't buy another ported one. The valve is a bit tricky, it can be a pain to clean, and it does not flow very quickly (especially when you get near the bottom). In any case, it is not worth the price, and I paid far, far less than $90.
TL

+1

I am interested in looking into different options for the port, as I really like the idea of being able to rack out of a bottom port.

cz

 

[Willie3]

V Vessel! Anyone ever use these?

- WW

 

[oberdorfer]

... take an old 5 gallon bucket from paint or mud, and cut a hole in the side and then turn my better bottle upside down sticking the bb in the 5 gallon bucket. i drilled a small hold in the bottom of the bb (now the top) and it has a cork and airlock then the neck of the bb is outfitted with a cork to a spigot. it is just an idea...

 

[BlindLemonLars]

I have a 6 gallon ported one, and I wouldn't buy another ported one. The valve is a bit tricky, it can be a pain to clean, and it does not flow very quickly (especially when you get near the bottom).

One of my better bottles is ported, and I have to say...I quite like it. I thought the beer flowed through the valve as quickly as my auto-siphon, and I loved how I could visually position the pick-up tube right above the trub and walk away.

Is it worth the price? (I paid $58 for the ported bottle, racking adapter and valve.) Probably not, and I doubt I'll buy another. But it is pretty slick.

 

[Seawolf]

I absolutely love my ported BB. It drains so quickly, and it's really not that difficult to clean. I have an extra piece of pvc from my kettle hop bag that fits right over the dip tube for easy disassembly. I bought mine from High Gravity Homebrew & Winemaking Supplies, and use it as my primary for every brew. It was $55 shipped, and in my opinion, worth every penny.

 

[stevea1210]

I have 2 non ported BB's. I love them, but can't justify the cost of the valves for the ported ones.

I am slowly replacing glass with plastic, but thnk I will be sticking to the non-ported unless a good and cheaper option comes out for the valve.

 

[Kelly.]

... take an old 5 gallon bucket from paint or mud, and cut a hole in the side and then turn my better bottle upside down sticking the bb in the 5 gallon bucket. i drilled a small hold in the bottom of the bb (now the top) and it has a cork and airlock then the neck of the bb is outfitted with a cork to a spigot. it is just an idea...

anyway you can get a picture of what you are talking about here?