Buying Secondary - what shoud I get?

[cpbergie]

I am going to purchase a Secondary soon and cant really tell if i should get a bucket or a glass carboy.

I use a 6.5 glass carboy as a primary, and brew 5 gallon batches. It seems like the buckets are easier to clean. Does it really matter either way? The buckets are obviosly cheaper, but not as exciting.

Also,does the amount of space between the beer and the lid/stopper matter as there is oxygen that the beer will be in contact with after the transfer?

 

[Hardball]

A glass secondary works great if you have a bottling bucket (w/spigot).

The secondary glass carboy is easier to clean because there is no krausen. I
f you wash it out immediately and then hit it with some sanitizer, it is good to go until your next brew.

I use bucket (primary), carboy (second), and bucket w/ spigot (bottling).

 

[the_bird]

There should be enough fermentation happening even in secondary where a "blanket" of CO2 should form over the beer. I've never heard of anyone having an issue with oxidation using a 6.5 gallon carboy as a secondary.

I'd take a look at the Better Bottles before deciding anything; lots and lots and lots of people absolutely swear by them. I use 5 gallon glass carboys, the big glass carboys get SO heavy and unweildy.

 

[Torchiest]

One awesome solution to dealing with glass carboys is to get a milk crate. I've used one the last two times I brewed and it makes a huge difference. Nice handles to haul it around, and my back is very happy.

 

[user 4295]

It's not so much the headspace that would be of concern to me in using a plastic bucket as a secondary. Like the bird said, there will still be some fermentation taking place that will create a CO2 blanket. My concern is the fact that HDPE plastic is oxygen permeable. Not a factor in the relatively short and aggressive primary phase, but I think it would be a large factor during any kind of prolonged aging in a secondary. If you're talking only a couple of weeks, that's most likely fine, but if you're talking months, I'd say go with glass. Better yet, go with a Better-Bottle PET plastic carboy.

 

[cpbergie]

Sounds like Better-Bottle might be the right solution for me. Would you suggest getting the spigot? It seems like those spigots never get that last bit of beer out of the bottom since it is slightly higher than the bottom of the bucket.

 

[Markusface]

I'd definitely recommend Better Bottle, I bought one without the spigot since that practically doubled the price. Although a spigot would be convenient, I find a carboy cap works just as well. Makes for easy racking

 

[piperkeith]

No experience with the Better Bottle, but you can't go wrong with a 5 gallon glass carboy.

 

[Bobby_M]

Unless you consider dropping it and having glass shrapnel cut you up "going wrong". Too many horror stories for me. I have all better bottles and they're cheaper to ship too.

 

[KitrGy]

I'd say just tip her over a bit to the spi:rockin: got ant you'll get er all?

 

[Tony]

The question of what secondary to use, is like asking what car we bought. You will get many different answers for sure, but is still a good question.

Plastic food grade buckets are fine. Lightweight, prevents direct light from entering, easy to move because of a handle, and is not fragile. Very cheap to buy. But, they can become discolored, and contain odors from prevous batches. And taking samples are harder as the lids snap on nice and tight, and can be a struggle to remove, and the wide opening can allow for accidental contamination when the lid is off. They can scratch easy when cleaning...but again, they are cheap to replace.

Better Bottles are fine as well. Lightweight, easy to move around, easy to clean, prevents oxygen from permeating, and is an anti-wetting type container. You can buy with or without a spigot, and have different sizes. Not too bad a price either. Easy to remove samples. The do however allow light to penetrate, but a t-shirt, towel or carboy cover can be used.

Glass carboys are just fine as well. Easy to clean, prevents oxygen from permeating, does not discolor, and will not contain odors from previous batches if cleaned correctly. Relatively cheap to buy, and easy to remove a sample. They are heavy, and can break, creating a huge mess. They allow light to enter, but like the Better Bottle, can be covered.

Conical Fermenter...yeah! Used as a single fermentation chamber, with the ability to allow removal of trub, yeast, and samples. Prevents light and oxygen from entering, and are easily cleaned. But, they are very expensive, bulky, and take up more space.

Choose your seconday according to your planned use. I use 5 gallon glass carboys myself. But I will admit, I am always worried about mistakes and breakage, and work with much care around them. I bought them...because my LHBS had them cheap.

If I had the cash and the space...I would buy conicals. But, I have buckets, and glass carboys to use, and would definately use Better Bottles if I had them.

 

[piperkeith]

Unless you consider dropping it and having glass shrapnel cut you up "going wrong". Too many horror stories for me. I have all better bottles and they're cheaper to ship too.

Hey Bobby - maybe you could just express your opinion without attacking someone else's. If plastic works better for you, fine. I happen to prefer glass.

 

[user 4295]

Hey Bobby - maybe you could just express your opinion without attacking someone else's. If plastic works better for you, fine. I happen to prefer glass.

Fight!!!

 

[Bobby_M]

Easy Keith, I wasn't attacking you. I was just disagreeing with your statement that you can't go wrong with glass carboys. They're plenty popular but they have cut a few homebrewers that participate on this board. I don't know a nicer way to say that. I'm not calling you an idiot for using them. In any case, I apologize if I came off as a know it all a$$hole.

 

[Tony]

Cool stuff Bobby!!!

 

[boo boo]

He was only saying what could go "wrong" with a glass carboy. Chill out a little.
I use glass carboys for lagering and unless I break one, I won't replace it with a better bottle.
There are a lot of horror stories out there from people hurt by mishandling glass carboys.

 

[Fish]

Is it possible to use a 5 gallon plastic water bottle? Osh carries them for $13 they do have the handles built in which may be hard to clean I guess. Anyone tried this?

 

[Kayos]

Hey Bobby - maybe you could just express your opinion without attacking someone else's. If plastic works better for you, fine. I happen to prefer glass.

Man..what an EAC

 

[AleHole]

Sounds like Better-Bottle might be the right solution for me. Would you suggest getting the spigot? It seems like those spigots never get that last bit of beer out of the bottom since it is slightly higher than the bottom of the bucket.

I think a Better Bottle would be the way to go. I would not get the spigot just because the are WAY to expensive for a piece of plastic and also because there is some potential for leakage. Use a carboy cap and racking cane. I have 5 gallon glass carboys as secondaries and if I ever decide to get a new secondary they will be Better Bottles. Better Bottles are light, affordable, will not break, and you can carry them around with a carboy handle.

 

[Bobby_M]

I thought for a minute that I might have been a total dick to a new member here but it was just a poor attempt at humor (being a slightly blunt response). I certainly enjoy a spirited debate so if I think someone's idea is misinformed, I say it. Period. I think that represents the norm for most here so if you don't like that kind of community, there's the door. I mean, we're talking about making beer and not knitting a sweater right?

 

[zoebisch01]

Is it possible to use a 5 gallon plastic water bottle? Osh carries them for $13 they do have the handles built in which may be hard to clean I guess. Anyone tried this?

The general concensus on these is: No. They are Oxygen permeable for the most part and can possibly help to ruin your beer, especially if you condition in them for a few weeks.

 

[Fish]

Makes sence. Thanks

 

[Richard]

Can these Better Bottle fermentors be used for primary, or is the opening too small to be practical?

 

[Bobby_M]

I've used the 6g for primary twice now. The first time was for a wheat and I had a wicked blowoff. I probably had 5.5 gallons in there though and it started at 69dF. The second batch was an oktoberfest ale, 5.25gallons, that started at 67dF and it didn't blow off at all.

 

[Richard]

What did you use to pour the wort in through the small opening? A funnel?

 

[Bobby_M]

Yup, I got one with the strainer but I have to remove it often, rinse the hops out, dip in sanitizer, replace and continue pouring. If you use a hop bag, you'll probably have less of an issue.

 

[Richard]

I haven't brewed with added hops yet, but I'm sure that will be a consideration down the road. What is your funnel made of? I would imagine that warm wort on plastic might be a no-no.

 

[Fish]

So with better bottles do you get a 5 gallon or the 6.5?

 

[Bobby_M]

Wait Rich, are you using prehopped extracts? Seriously, if you want to get some better quality brews, get yourself a kit from AHS or Morebeer. I promise you it's not much more difficult as long as you have at least a 10qt pot or more. In addition, it sounds like you're boiling your hopped extract which removes a lot of the hop flavor. In either case, you never pour hot wort or splash it in any way, you want to cool it in the pot first, then siphon or pour it into your fermenter.

I use a 6g BB for primary and a 5g BB for secondary. They don't make 6.5's that I know of.

 

[Richard]

Wait Rich, are you using prehopped extracts? Seriously, if you want to get some better quality brews, get yourself a kit from AHS or Morebeer. I promise you it's not much more difficult as long as you have at least a 10qt pot or more. In addition, it sounds like you're boiling your hopped extract which removes a lot of the hop flavor. In either case, you never pour hot wort or splash it in any way, you want to cool it in the pot first, then siphon or pour it into your fermenter.

Some of the hopped extracts I have boiled, others not. I didn't realize that this would remove flavor. Thanks for the tip. I'll also make sure to cool the wort first. I only have 1 brew that I didn't do this with, and it's in primary right now. I hope I didn't ruin it.

Anyway, back to your funnel...what is it made of and where did you get it from? If it has a filter I assume you got it from a homebrew store.