carboy

[DrunkinIrish]

I am buying my first carboy and I am not sure what size is appropriate. My brew kit is for five gallons so I would assume that means I need a five gallon carboy but I want to make sure before I make the purchase.

 

[Ace_Club]

If you're planning on using the carboy for primary fermentation, you want to get a 6.5 gallon carboy. Even then, you'll need to use a blow-off tube. Another option would be to get an Ale Pail and use that for the primary fermentation. It's lighter, cheaper and safer (broken carboys are dangerous) than a glass carboy.

 

[DrunkinIrish]

I am planning on using the carboy for secondary fermentation. I already have an Ale Pail for my primary.

 

[Ace_Club]

If it's for secondary, which isn't necessary for most beers, then a 5 gallon carboy will suit you just fine.

 

[DrunkinIrish]

If it's for secondary, which isn't necessary for most beers, then a 5 gallon carboy will suit you just fine.

When you say that a secondary isn't necessary for most beers what beers would you suggest a secondary is necessary for? Sorry I am still trying to learn the ropes.

 

[Ace_Club]

Check out this thread:

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f163/secondary-not-john-palmer-jamil-zainasheff-weigh-176837/

 

[DrunkinIrish]

one last question. I have seen a lot of these "better bottle" carboys. They are cheaper but I also know that you usually get what you pay for, so I was just wondering if you had an opinion on them.

 

[Ace_Club]

Never used one, but a lot of people on here do. I'm sure one of them will chime in.

 

[DeafSmith]

I use 6 gallon Better Bottles for primary and like them a lot - lightweight and safe. I do use a blowoff tube until the fermentation dies down, then replace with an airlock. They also make 5 gallon BB's and, I think, 3 gallon ones.

A few cautions when using Better Bottles:
* Don't use a brush to clean inside - fill with a solution of Oxiclean or PBW and soak - to remove stubborn gunk, after soaking swirl a dishcloth in the cleaning solution - the cloth will do the scrubbing.
* Don't let soak for a long time in too strong a solution of Oxiclean or PBW (less than 1 % by weight, BB recommends 0.5 %.
* Don't use water over 140º F.
* Don't rock the BB on edge to aerate your wort, as this can cause stress cracks - use a tennis ball under the dimple in the center of the bottom, as recommended by BB.

See the BB site for more info:
http://www.better-bottle.com/products_master.html

Also check out some of the broken glass carboy horror stories here:
http://brewing.lustreking.com/articles/brokencarboys.html

and there are some here on HBT, too.


If you decide to go with glass, this may be of interest:
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/glass-carboy-safety-tips-193317/