Carboy vs Bucket Fermentation

[EdWort]

I'm a fan of buckets and now I use solid lids that simply rest on top. No airlocks anymore and I now don't worry about blowoff disasters.

I use two different sizes. 6 gallon for regular brews and 7.9 gallon for brews that have rigorous fermentations like my Robust Porter and Hefe.

I also use spigots on my buckets which make racking to a keg a snap.

 

[cheezydemon3]

My buckets have scratches, I have NEVER used any sanitizer but no rinse, no infections.

 

[BamaRooster]

I prefer the buckets for ease of use, one point is to NEVER scrub them with an abrasive pad or anything that will scratch the plastic surface. Scratches will harbor bacteria that can be difficult to sanitize. The buckets are more cost effective, so I can have multiple batches fermenting.

 

[Svenhook]

I'm a fan of buckets and now I use solid lids that simply rest on top. No airlocks anymore and I now don't worry about blowoff disasters.

I use two different sizes. 6 gallon for regular brews and 7.9 gallon for brews that have rigorous fermentations like my Robust Porter and Hefe.

I also use spigots on my buckets which make racking to a keg a snap.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJmchDK46mY

How are they turning out? Any aeration flavor or any molds ever spawning? Never seen this technique before (though I'm a pretty big noob)

 

[Cyclometh]

+1 on the Brewhauler. I love that damn thing and for a little over $10, it was worth it.

 

[dantheman13]

Interestingly nobody and I mean virtually nobody in Australia uses glass for brewing beer.

Better Bottles are popular in AusLand though, aren't they?

 

[unionrdr]

Many down under use the Cooper's fermenters. They also use these buckets from the store that have blue lids. Water buckets or something that are real cheap.

 

[bomberman]

Many down under use the Cooper's fermenters. They also use these buckets from the store that have blue lids. Water buckets or something that are real cheap.

+1 for Cooper's. I have their microbrew FV with the resting lid (like EdWort mentioned) and the thing is awesome. Even has a good sturdy spigot so bottling day is a breeze. I don't plan on brewing any long aging beers so I'm not too concerned about oxidation.

 

[unionrdr]

I have the micro brew FV myself. That lid can take a heck of a lot of pressure. It handles 6G batches better than our BB ale pale. But the ale pale has the barrel tap on it that'll take a 5/8" tube. Talk about swirl in the bottling bucket.

 

[dantheman13]

+1 for Cooper's. I have their microbrew FV with the resting lid (like EdWort mentioned) and the thing is awesome. Even has a good sturdy spigot so bottling day is a breeze. I don't plan on brewing any long aging beers so I'm not too concerned about oxidation.

The one that Craig uses here?

 

[el_caro]

Better Bottles are popular in AusLand though, aren't they?

Not really.
We prefer fermenters with large openings. Many serious brewers just chuck the plastic screw on lids and airlocks and cover with cling wrap held on with the rubber seal ring from the lid. That way you can look inside if that is what turns you on.

 

[EdWort]

How are they turning out? Any aeration flavor or any molds ever spawning? Never seen this technique before (though I'm a pretty big noob)

They turn out great. I ferment in a chest freezer in the garage, so the environment is sealed. I can peek during the beginning to check fermentation, but the main thing for me is that it has eliminated blow offs and the associated mess.

 

[bomberman]

The one that Craig uses here?

You got it. I have to admit I was partially motivated to buy it after watching some of his videos.

 

[J187]

I found this discussion to be very interesting. Especially since, as I am pretty new to this hobby and to this forum, so far I'd really gotten the impression that most of the seasoned veterans prefer carboys, either glass or bb. The reality seems to be the opposite. Seems like the majority of folks actually prefer buckets over their narrow-mouthed counterparts. I guess that falls more in line with my own opinion - personally, the ability to get a snap-shot glimpse of a process that occurs over a two week period doesn't nearly outweigh the hassle of cleaning, light penetration, breakage risk... One other advantage for buckets to me that I'm not sure I've seen mentioned here is the ability to fit inside each other. Being able to stack my two fermentation buckets inside my bottling bucket makes storage a lot more efficient! Certainly over a two 6.5G carboys plus a 5G carboy.

 

[unionrdr]

While it's true that they can be stacked,I don't. I don't want the outside of one scratching the inside of the other. Scratches inside the plastic FV's can harbor nasties.

 

[J187]

While it's true that they can be stacked,I don't. I don'y want the outside of one scratching the inside of the other. Scratches inside the plastic FV's can harbor nasties.

Good point.