Can I ferment in plastic bucket for 3-4 weeks?

[lorne17]

Hello there,

I have typically been brewing in a 5 gallon glass carboy for 4 weeks at a time as my primary. Now I have a batch that requires a secondary so I bought a plastic bucket for primary. I wanted to brew two batches this month and bottle same time. So that means when my stout goes to secondary I can brew my dubbel and put in plastic primary. Will it be ok in that for 3-4 weeks? I know plastic is porous and I've been told to stay away from it if possible.

Thanks in advance,
Lorne

 

[shoreman]

I've found that past 2 weeks in plastic you will start to see mold on the surface which is an indicator of air coming in.

I like using plastic but I'm always going to kegs for aging after 1-2 weeks. Not good for long term storage.


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[geoffm33]

I've left beer in plastic primary fermenters for several (4, 5 maybe?) weeks with no issues. I'm sure there are plenty here that have left the longer for various reasons.

Now, when you say you bought a plastic bucket, you do mean that you bought a plastic fermenting bucket or otherwise food grade plastic bucket right?

 

[lorne17]

Yes it was from northern brewer it's a fermenting bucket. Food grade. No spigot.

So since this is the first use. Likely it's safer to leave longer. I have a son on his way in April and want to stock pile up on beer time will be limited. Haha.

 

[Pugnax88]

I have left beer in plastic buckets for 3-4 weeks without problem. Should beer fine.

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[steveoatley]

I have had beer in an "Ale Pale" for several months with out an infection.
My Double Bock "lagers" in our un heated Garage for the months of Dec, Jan & Feb with out anyinfections. (Detroit has been very cold this year )

What type of enviroment are you fermenting in ? The Laundry room ?
Out side of your house ? in a barn with animals and other ' fun ' stuff ?
Are you fermenting near an apple orchard ? A large colony of Bees ?
A "shed" outside, with tools, gasoline & other chemicals for your lawn ?

The Ale Pale is 'air tight' if your lid & bucket were bought with in the last century.
Co2 created by fermentaion keeps a positive presure - pushing out on the air lock & bucket.

Yes, plastic is permeable, but so is glass - eventually

I can not find it right now, but Jamil Z had posted somewhere the O2 permeablity of all fermentor containers, and ALL Fermentors are permeable to O2. Even Stainless - it's just a mater of how long it takes for the O2 to get inside.

I would be concerned about your sanitation process if "something" other than yeast is growing in/on your beer.

I do not age my beer, wine or mead in Plastic, but I am not overly worried about them being in plastic.......

just my 2 cents - advise is worth what yo pay for it

 

[davygoat2]

I'll find out Fri Nite when I bottle.
Kit IPA from Lincolns Birthday.
Haven't had time to bottle or disinfect and test.
I figure either 1.020 kit curse or 1.016 on target.
I'm gonna have a pint or two of the uncarbed for sure.

 

[Rockn_M]

You'll be fine. Just make sure that the lid is on securly and keep the airlock full of water or sanitizer.

 

[kh54s10]

I would guess that probably half (or more) of those that use buckets for primary only fermenting go at least 3 weeks. So yes you should have no problems going 4 weeks in a bucket.

I would also not worry about getting mold. If you are sanitary and keep the bucket lid on, you should not have any mold problems.

I have gone 6 weeks plus a couple of times with my Better Bottles.

 

[shawnstr71]

I have brewed in plastic many times. Most brew kits come with a plastic fermenter as well as a glass carboy. I have never had any issues
In fact I have bought another plastic (food grade) bucket for being able to brew 2 batches, leaving the carboy open for secondary.
I use a bung lids with an airlock in mine.
See no reason why u would have any issues as long as they are air tight.

 

[MindenMan]

I agree with the above posters, that plastic is safe for more than two weeks. Think about this, if plastic buckets aren't food/infection safe, no LHBS would stock them. I know of batches that were left in buckets for months, and no problems occurred.
Poor sanitation will bring a host of things to the fermentation party.

 

[lorne17]

Thanks for all the replies! I will use it without worry. Don't worry I'm anal and detail oriented. Sanitizing is crucial!

 

[fearwig]

I ferment exclusively in plastic, with carboys on hand for bulk aging but almost never used.

Lowes sells food-safe 5-gal HDPE buckets for about $5 with lid. I use these as well as 6.5-gal brew buckets, no infections. I have kept beer in primary this way up to a month.

 

[hoppyhoppyhippo]

I've left them for over a month. Only thing I've seen happening with longer storing is staining. Which means you need to toss it

 

[poptarts]

I've found that past 2 weeks in plastic you will start to see mold on the surface which is an indicator of air coming in.

I like using plastic but I'm always going to kegs for aging after 1-2 weeks. Not good for long term storage.


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That sounds like a personal problem, Ive never had mold and have left been in plastic buckets for months.

 

[Hello]

I've found that past 2 weeks in plastic you will start to see mold on the surface which is an indicator of air coming in.

I like using plastic but I'm always going to kegs for aging after 1-2 weeks. Not good for long term storage.


Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

This has got to be a byproduct of poor sanitation and/or poor application of the lid. I have left beer in a bucket for 5 weeks without issue. I believe 5 weeks is my longest and only removed because I wanted to brew again and it was high time to bottle.

 

[fearwig]

I've left them for over a month. Only thing I've seen happening with longer storing is staining. Which means you need to toss it

To me?

Stains are superficial, and bleach usually works.

 

[UglyDude]

I have left beer in buckets for much longer than 4 weeks, 6-8 for a pumpkin spice, and it was fine, very fine indeed

 

[ChrisVZ]

I recently made a batch that was in my plastic fermenter for nine weeks. I was intending on bottling after 4, but something always came up whenever I had the time. It turned out to be one of my better beers, and I can not detect any flaws in it. Just keep your airlock full and avoid opening it too often and you should be fine.


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[shoreman]

This has got to be a byproduct of poor sanitation and/or poor application of the lid. I have left beer in a bucket for 5 weeks without issue. I believe 5 weeks is my longest and only removed because I wanted to brew again and it was high time to bottle.

This could be true - it happened on the one beer that I had left in a morebeer bucket for 5 weeks, time issues - I had been lifting the lid as well which I know everyone does with plastic. I probably lost the blanket of CO2 but it could have been infected. Now I never go past 2 weeks with plastic.




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[IslandLizard]

You're fine with using buckets, many of us do. Here are a few pointers, and I admit, most are common sense until you forget one.

The closure (lid) is the weak spot. Without a rubber gasket they cannot seal 100% airtight, although some lids seem to seal better than others. So if your airlock doesn't bubble, fermentation gasses may be leaking underneath the lid. That's still fine.

Aside from general good cleaning and sanitation practices of your fermentation equipment, the crucial area is where the bucket rim and lid groove meet. You have to keep that area clean and sanitized. I keep Starsaned cling wrap around that lid's edge as a first barrier. Whenever you want to lift the lid, clean the top of the lid and bucket area right underneath the rim. Spray Starsan liberally underneath that lid's edge and let it sit for a minute and repeat. Since your hands need to be in that same area to snap the lid off, they need to be clean and Starsaned too.

Beware of dust on and around your bucket, particularly grain dust, it's covered in lactobaccillus and what not. Don't mill in the same area you brew or ferment. Even filling the mashtun with grain emits a huge plume of flour into the air that will land somewhere.

Buckets are great! Unbreakable, light weight, easy to carry (handle), easy to clean, and fairly cheap.