glass carboy or plastic bucket?

[TotemWolf]

The point is: a material that does not lend itself to easy contamination
is a better choice in the long run. Homebrewers can use glass or metal
fermenters. As I said, plastic is fine initially but eventually it becomes
contaminated, despite the anecdotal evidence posted here to the contrary.

I can only assume the extreme hostility to the idea that plastic is not that
great comes from people with an interest in selling beginners kits with
plastic buckets.

Ray

Are you avoiding my question? I will ask you again.

When will they go bad?

I've been using 3 buckets for years now. Today I will start batch 125. When does this unaviodable contamintion happen?

 

[Revvy]

Don't bother totem, thisn is that silly debate that has no winner. Ray STILL doesn't get the difference between preference and better.There is no BETTER in this argument. The air permiability argument has been long busted, people have used the same buckets for upwards of a drecade (homebrewer99 for example) with no contamination issues, and many of us hate glass for the dangers, so all those issues balance out. But AGIN, great beer ha s been made and will continue to be made in ALL MANNER of fermenters, so it only comes down to WHAT WE PREFER, and nothing else.

It's a silly argument to be having anymore.

 

[TotemWolf]

Don't bother totem, thisn is that silly debate that has no winner. Ray STILL doesn't get the difference between preference and better.There is no BETTER in this argument. The air permiability argument has been long busted, people have used the same buckets for upwards of a drecade (homebrewer99 for example) with no contamination issues, and many of us hate glass for the dangers, so all those issues balance out. But AGIN, great beer ha s been made and will continue to be made in ALL MANNER of fermenters, so it only comes down to WHAT WE PREFER, and nothing else.

It's a silly argument to be having anymore.

I agree totally. I just wanted him to clarify his point.

..... or show that he is not interested in the truth. I think that has been done now.

 

[FromZwolle]

I agree totally. I just wanted him to clarify his point.

..... or show that he is not interested in the truth. I think that has been done now.

everyone needs to just let this one go. it's the same arguement that's happened a hundred times and is sure to happen a hundred more. let this one die.

 

[rayg]

Interesting that my last response was responded to immediately.
On Saturday morning. This issue is SO important to some people,
it's a little weird.

Ray

 

[FromZwolle]

Interesting that my last response was responded to immediately.
On Saturday morning. This issue is SO important to some people,
it's a little weird.

Ray

nope, just bored at work.

 

[JNye]

There is no BETTER in this argument.

yeah right, try impressing your friends by showing them the white bucket that "supposidly" has beer in it.

or you could just hand them a great tasting homebrew

 

[FromZwolle]

yeah right, try impressing your friends by showing them the white bucket that "supposidly" has beer in it.

or you could just hand them a great tasting homebrew

instead, show em a glass carboy at full krausen and watch em spit that beer right out.

 

[joekerr1]

Glass or plastic. Glass or plastic! Glass or plastic!!! This reminds me of a movie.

 

[rayg]

You can hear all about fermenters here on Jamil's show:
http://thebrewingnetwork.com/shows/550

They say you use a plastic bucket 5 or 6 times then
replace it. If you want to do that, that's your preference,
I'd rather have something longer lasting, and without
having to guess when it's not contaminated.

Ray

 

[Revvy]

You can hear all about fermenters here on Jamil's show:
http://thebrewingnetwork.com/shows/550

They say you use a plastic bucket 5 or 6 times then
replace it. If you want to do that, that's your preference,
I'd rather have something longer lasting, and without
having to guess when it's not contaminated.

Ray

just like 90% of what they talk about, They're still just voicing their opinions.

And even with that, John Palmer turned out to be wrong about long primaries, and has since back pedaled, so even he can be wrong.

Oy Vey.

Dude, brew with what you want, that's the whole point of this discussion, they all work great, so whatever we chose is the best one. FOR US!

The main reason I don't like glass is becasue I like to keep my blood on the inside of my body, and the stories in here are enough to make me only comfortable with using my one is with apfelwein; http://brewing.lustreking.com/articles/brokencarboys.html

But that's just my preference.

I'm done with this nonsense.

 

[D-Ring]

I'm on batch #33 with my bucket, I have had no problems. I just soak it in hot b-brite during the mash and boil and it is very clean when I am ready

 

[Encinoman]

i dislike carboys because they are not graduated and they let more uv in.

however, those issues are very minor and when used as a seconday with cardboard do not exist.

UV rays cannot penetrate through most glass, learned that in physics back in high school

 

[JNye]

glass filters UV, some types better then others, personally i would not rely on the glass to do anything but hold beer, don't expose to UV ever.

 

[brewfreeordie]

Glass carboys (and better bottles for that matter) are a pain to clean. Sure, you can scrub the hell out of them but so what? Truth is you HAVE to because they're a pain to clean, and if something is hard to clean it can lead to infections. I can clean my bucket with my hand, dissolved oxyclean, and a paper towel, get in there up to my elbow. Dozens of batches without any scratches. I can see a problem developing with the lid over a few hundred batches, but as long as I see gentle bubbling I know I've got a good seal.

I've got 3 glass carboys and 5 plastic buckets. The carboys are always empty and the buckets get used over and over and over. THERE IS NO SHAME IN PLASTIC BUCKETS MY FELLOW BUCKET BROTHERS!

Professional breweries use stainless steel. They don't use glass.

 

[NanoMan]

I presently ferment in better bottles, producing just under 50 barrels per year. While I like glass, they would be too heavy and dangerous for my level of production. I do not rack any more - just another chance for infection. If you do use glass (which i do for my wine), I highly recommend you put them in milk crates. Much easier and safer to carry and work with.

NanoMan

 

[NewBrewB]

I want stainless steel buckets... J/k

 

[FuzzeWuzze]

Glass carboys (and better bottles for that matter) are a pain to clean. Sure, you can scrub the hell out of them but so what? Truth is you HAVE to because they're a pain to clean, and if something is hard to clean it can lead to infections. I can clean my bucket with my hand, dissolved oxyclean, and a paper towel, get in there up to my elbow. Dozens of batches without any scratches. I can see a problem developing with the lid over a few hundred batches, but as long as I see gentle bubbling I know I've got a good seal.

I've got 3 glass carboys and 5 plastic buckets. The carboys are always empty and the buckets get used over and over and over. THERE IS NO SHAME IN PLASTIC BUCKETS MY FELLOW BUCKET BROTHERS!

Professional breweries use stainless steel. They don't use glass.

Granted i like buckets, but carboys are far from difficult to clean.

Fill to brim with water(hot or cold), dump in a scoop of generic grocery store Oxyclean(that was like 75 scoops for $10). Next day pour out half the liquid, shake the hell out of the carboy and dump the rest.

Then just use the hose to spray up inside to make sure all the cleaner is out.

Total amount of time actually doing something, maybe 5 minutes...

 

[passedpawn]

I want stainless steel buckets... J/k

Heh, me too. I'm not ready for the investment, but here you go. They are na HBT Vendor.

http://www.dwbrewproducts.com/shop/product_info.php/cavern-gallon-p-59

 

[Shooter]

Heh, me too. I'm not ready for the investment, but here you go. They are na HBT Vendor.

http://www.dwbrewproducts.com/shop/product_info.php/cavern-gallon-p-59

I wish they weren't so squat. I've been trying to find a stainless milk jug for a while that was around 12 inches wide or less to fit in my fermentation fridge. Unfortunatley, the ones that have the capacity are always just a little too wide.

 

[rico567]

The two glass carboys that came with my original MW kit just gather dust. It's buckets all the way......

 

[brewfreeordie]

Granted i like buckets, but carboys are far from difficult to clean.


Total amount of time actually doing something, maybe 5 minutes...

Actually, that's over 24 hours.

 

[FuzzeWuzze]

Actually, that's over 24 hours.

I meant of actually doing something, like physically messing with it...a few minutes to fill it, a few minutes to shake it...

I dont count sitting it out overnight as time spent cleaning

 

[Jean-Pierre]

i have allways used glass for all my brew ! i think it's the better. but i hear by a friend that one company have a special material for brew. i don't remember, i will post it later.

 

[Shooter]

i have allways used glass for all my brew ! i think it's the better. but i hear by a friend that one company have a special material for brew. i don't remember, i will post it later.

I just can't wait!!!!!

 

[Revvy]

I just can't wait!!!!!

(I betcha he's talking about better bottles. I mean if you're going to necro a thread, it might as well be with outdated info. :cross

 

[passedpawn]

OK, easy guys. He's clearly new here. He didn't get the memo how bored you all are opening threads with glass vs plastic in the title, in the beginner's forum.

 

[billpaustin]

I'm using the carboys mainly because I like to watch

You don't have to expose the wort to watch it. I guess it is inevitable that one will get dropped ....

 

[Shooter]

OK, easy guys. He's clearly new here. He didn't get the memo how bored you all are opening threads with glass vs plastic in the title, in the beginner's forum.

Hey, I said I couldn't wait. That's enthusiasm right there.

 

[rico567]

This thread is cousin to those bottling v. kegging threads. It's like talking religion.