Done with glass

[fishslayer]

After 10 plus years, I had a carboy shatter. My brew buddy was cleaning it and it broke. We escaped with a few cuts. Could have been much worse.

Any thoughts? Buckets? In a corney? What about those new plastic conical fermenters?

Brian

 

[passedpawn]

After 10 plus years, I had a carboy shatter. My brew buddy was cleaning it and it broke. We escaped with a few cuts. Could have been much worse.

Any thoughts? Buckets? In a corney? What about those new plastic conical fermenters?

Brian

Simplest transition for you is probably Better Bottles since they are nearly identical to what you've been using.

The stainless options (corney, sanke) are very cool, but it's different than what you're used to. I've been thinking about going that way for a long time.

I'm not a fan of buckets. I don't like the large opening and headspace. And I don't trust the seal on the lids.

If you have way to keep a conical at fermentation temps, I'd go that way. They are sweet when they have a port for dumping the yeast.

 

[fishslayer]

Thing is I have more than a few corney kegs around and was unsure of how good of a fermenter they'd make.

 

[passedpawn]

Thing is I have more than a few corney kegs around and was unsure of how good of a fermenter they'd make.

Probably not too good considering they are only 5g. I've had the same thoughts too (I have 10 of them) but it's not going to work for me.

 

[Onkel_Udo]

All good options with their own limitations..just like glass carboys:

Buckets: Cheap, easy to clean, lots of sizes, can be had with a valve. Easiest to scratch if mishandled, occasional lid sealing issue depending on type, aesthetically not that pleasing

Plastic carboys: Not outrageously priced, don't break, can be had with a valve, hard to scratch. Hard to clean, still a pain to move around, limited sizes

Plastic Conicals: Yeast harvesting and trub dump, easier to clean that carboys, harder to scratch than buckets but easier than plastic carboys, beer porn sexy. Expensive to very expensive (or heavy on the DIY), not available at the LHBS (usually).

I have no opinion on the SS brew bucket or new wide mouth plastic carboys.

Personally I use cheap buckets.

 

[riceral]

I'm a big fan of Spiedel fermenters. I have one of these: http://www.morebeer.com/products/speidel-plastic-fermenter-30l-79-gal.html and would recommend these to anyone.

 

[govner1]

Simplest transition for you is probably Better Bottles since they are nearly identical to what you've been using.



The stainless options (corney, sanke) are very cool, but it's different than what you're used to. I've been thinking about going that way for a long time.



I'm not a fan of buckets. I don't like the large opening and headspace. And I don't trust the seal on the lids.



If you have way to keep a conical at fermentation temps, I'd go that way. They are sweet when they have a port for dumping the yeast.

+++1 on Better Bottles- easy to use and clean.

 

[Onkel_Udo]

Probably not too good considering they are only 5g.

Not all of them...

 

[bford]

I'm a big fan of Spiedel fermenters. I have one of these: http://www.morebeer.com/products/speidel-plastic-fermenter-30l-79-gal.html and would recommend these to anyone.

Love the Spiedels myself.

 

[Jim_Holmes]

ive been using these http://www.ritebrew.com/product-p/841220.htm they are 8 gallon so no problems with overflow. i know some dont like the extra headspace but i havnt had a problem with it

 

[Foosier]

+1 on the buckets.... Yeah, you can't see the sexy yeast on yeast fermentation action but you know what is going on behind those opaque plastic walls... Let your imagination run wild and enjoy the tasty results later!

 

[fishslayer]

I was looking at spiedal fermenters but I temp control in a rubber maid tube of water and they looked big.

Brian

 

[chawn]

I use SS Brew Buckets. I realize the cost is somewhat prohibitive, but I'm done with plastic. Scratches are no longer a concern and the ability to maintain positive pressure into the fermentor prevents the chance of introducing oxygen to the wort when cold crashing and racking.

 

[Tinpanharry]

ive been using these http://www.ritebrew.com/product-p/841220.htm they are 8 gallon so no problems with overflow. i know some dont like the extra headspace but i havnt had a problem with it[/QUOTE

17.00 USD is a great price for an 8 gallon fermenter. I'm gonna have to pick up one of these.

 

[BigFloyd]

I've been using buckets since day one. Nary an issue with them sealing and I'm careful not to store stuff inside them (including other buckets), so no scratching issues either. As far as looks go, why should I care what something looks like sitting inside my fermentation fridge?

No way I'm going to carry a full glass carboy down the concrete stairs to the basement where my fridge resides.

 

[maierhof]

I have been using uncut Sankeys to ferment in now for almost a year and love them! I would highly recommend to any of you that you give it a try. Just take out the spear and you are good to go. Clean them the same way that you clean a glass carboy too.

BrewHardware has a cheap top (well - cheaper than my gizmo) too
https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/sankefermenterkit.htm

One of the reasons I love my sanke gizmo is because it allows me to use any one of the size sankes that I own at any time. Another part about using a sanke is the fact that it is SS and not going to break down and it is MUCH cheaper than buying a few SS conicals. To me the best part about it is the fact that I don't have to ever introduce O2 into my system after fermentation. I just push it out with CO2 and into my serving sanke - done. (oh and pretty soon I will be able to harvest yeast directly from it with no 02 or a mess)

 

[redwing_al]

This happend to me on Saturday... BTW, I use FastFerment (4) conicals.. love 'em.

 

[passedpawn]

This happend to me on Saturday... BTW, I use FastFerment (4) conicals.. love 'em.

How did that happen? If you use plastic conicals, why the carboy?

 

[ol-hazza]

I use these plastic pails and havnt had a problem yet. they have very tight lids and all the bits n bobs attached.

Not sure if they are available in the states though

 

[max384]

My vote goes for Better Bottles. Cheap. Effective. Very familiar if you're used to using carboys.


After discovering a crack in a glass carboy (after carrying it up a flight of stairs full), I ditched them for good BEFORE one broke on me. I'll never do glass carboys again.

 

[day_trippr]

How did that happen?

Clearly that carboy was dropped on the floor.

Bad carboy! Bad BAD carboy!

Cheers!

 

[BlkWater_brewer]

All good options with their own limitations..just like glass carboys:
Plastic Conicals: Yeast harvesting and trub dump, easier to clean that carboys, harder to scratch than buckets but easier than plastic carboys, beer porn sexy. Expensive to very expensive (or heavy on the DIY), not available at the LHBS (usually).

Actually the plastic conicals are practically dirt cheap. I just picked up a 1bbl plastic conical new for about $96.00, the 1/2 bbl ones are about $76.00. Pretty cheap if you ask me. Can't get them at your LHBS though.

 

[roastglint]

If you live near a Jimmy Johns ask them for pickle buckets. I have like 4 FREE 6.5 gallon Buckets with the most ridiculous seal (rubber o ring and all). they work awesome for primary. Just gotta drill a hole and give them a good washing because they stink like pickles.

 

[HumulusHead]

If you live near a Jimmy Johns ask them for pickle buckets. I have like 4 FREE 6.5 gallon Buckets with the most ridiculous seal (rubber o ring and all). they work awesome for primary. Just gotta drill a hole and give them a good washing because they stink like pickles.

Or start with a pickle porter.

 

[Singletrack]

I use these plastic pails and havnt had a problem yet. they have very tight lids and all the bits n bobs attached.

Not sure if they are available in the states though

I don't know if I want both bits and boobs attached to my bucket. Also, I'm wary of buckets that hold 30 liters, but only 6 US gal. That just seems anti-American to me.

 

[Bigdp228]

roastglint- That is an awesome contact! Thanks! My carboy broke and spilled 3+hrs of hard work all over my garage on Sunday... I was just going to get another one from my LHBS but i think i'll give this a try first. I'll post back after I talk to my local JJ's to see if it's a corporate thing or if you just got lucky.

 

[roastglint]

roastglint- That is an awesome contact! Thanks! My carboy broke and spilled 3+hrs of hard work all over my garage on Sunday... I was just going to get another one from my LHBS but i think i'll give this a try first. I'll post back after I talk to my local JJ's to see if it's a corporate thing or if you just got lucky.

Well I used to work there so I know the people in charge but I dont see why not. they usually just throw them away.

 

[redwing_al]

How did that happen? If you use plastic conicals, why the carboy?

Just moving it around, I dropped it. S-happens.. I use plastic, but I still own several carboys.

 

[Onkel_Udo]

Actually the plastic conicals are practically dirt cheap. I just picked up a 1bbl plastic conical new for about $96.00, the 1/2 bbl ones are about $76.00. Pretty cheap if you ask me. Can't get them at your LHBS though.

So how many buckets is that...7.5? How much is shipping?

Not saying it is not a reasonable price for what you get (it is)...it is just a lot of money for something you cannot carry around full (how do I get my wort to the basement?) and as Alton Brown would say "is a mono-tasker". When buckets get scratched, they can be Star San or grain buckets or mortar buckets for my next tile job.

I will say it that price is with a leg kit, dump valve and racking arm it is an exception deal.

 

[kombat]

I guess I'm in the minority - I still use glass carboys for all my batches. I own two Better Bottles, but they never get used. The bucket I used to use for fermenting is now relegated to holding chilling water duty.

I prefer the glass carboys because they're easier to clean (just fill with hot Oxyclean and leave it for a day) and they won't scratch. I'm using the sturdy Italian ones, not the flimsy Mexican or Chinese ones. Also, and this may not be true, but I feel like the glass transfers temperature better than a plastic Better Bottle when I strap the temperature probe to the outside while it's in my fermentation chamber. I worry that with a Better Bottle, the probe would read higher and not measure the actual wort temperature as accurately.

Anyway, I take precautions. I never set them directly onto concrete. I always wear leather work gloves when handling them. I use BrewHauler straps when transporting full carboys. So far, so good.

 

[redwing_al]

How did that happen? If you use plastic conicals, why the carboy?

I actually own a lot of gear that doesn't get used. I'm in the process of sorting things out and selling some stuff.

 

[Remmy]

I haven't had an accident happen yet, thank God. But I have two 5-gallon carboys I will likely get rid of once I bottle/keg the two sours I have in them. I have another two sours in 6-gallon Better Bottles. Much easier to handle and easier on the mind. I've seen pictures and have read the horror stories of things that happen to peoples' arms when carboys crack.

 

[kh54s10]

I use 6 gallon Better Bottles and find them perfect. They are way cheaper than even the lowest cost plastic conicals.

I find them far easier to clean than even buckets. Soak overnight in oxyclean, rinse, add 1/2 gallon and a washcloth, swirl and rinse well. The longest part of cleaning is filling it with water.

I would love some SS conicals but that is outside the budget unless I win the PowerBall.

 

[passedpawn]

I use 6 gallon Better Bottles and find them perfect. They are way cheaper than even the lowest cost plastic conicals.

I find them far easier to clean than even buckets. Soak overnight in oxyclean, rinse, add 1/2 gallon and a washcloth, swirl and rinse well. The longest part of cleaning is filling it with water.

I would love some SS conicals but that is outside the budget unless I win the PowerBall.

I talked with John Blichmann for about 90 minutes today. We talked a lot about those fermenators, his SS conicals. He put the hard sell on me... man, they are so nice. You can buy a smaller one and add extensions later to significantly increase the volume. He has a big one in a converted vertical freezer, and I'm really wanting one BAD. I might just pull the trigger before I know how much I owe in taxes this year

 

[kh54s10]

I talked with John Blichmann for about 90 minutes today. We talked a lot about those fermenators, his SS conicals. He put the hard sell on me... man, they are so nice. You can buy a smaller one and add extensions later to significantly increase the volume. He has a big one in a converted vertical freezer, and I'm really wanting one BAD. I might just pull the trigger before I know how much I owe in taxes this year

I would definitely love to have a few in a temperature controlled room/s. But that is a Filet Mignon budget and I am more on a Ramen Noodles budget.

 

[roastglint]

Or start with a pickle porter.

Actually,you could do an interesting sour I bet!:rockin:

 

[Brew_Dude41]

Or start with a pickle porter.

How many pickled porter pints could people possibly pound prior to passing-out, puking, or peeing their pants profusely?

 

[Brew_Dude41]

Childish, i know, but i couldn't resist. ...

 

[WayFrae]

So much hate for the poor glass carboy.

 

[mariojr]

If you live near a Jimmy Johns ask them for pickle buckets. I have like 4 FREE 6.5 gallon Buckets with the most ridiculous seal (rubber o ring and all). they work awesome for primary. Just gotta drill a hole and give them a good washing because they stink like pickles.

Won't it always smell like pickles?