Glass carboys, real talk.

[LandoLincoln]

Glass carboys are like sport motorcycles.
Plastic carboys are like mopeds.
Plastic buckets are like Honda Civics.
Stainless steel conical fermentors are like Bentleys.

 

[Billy-Klubb]

Glass carboys are like sport motorcycles.
Plastic carboys are like mopeds.
Plastic buckets are like Honda Civics.
Stainless steel conical fermentors are like Bentleys.

and I like my sport bikes & Bentleys. especially since the Bentley has great heat & A/C.:rockin:

 

[Mongrel]

Glass carboys are like sport motorcycles.
Plastic carboys are like mopeds.
Plastic buckets are like Honda Civics.
Stainless steel conical fermentors are like Bentleys.

So, plastic carboys are like fat chicks?

I like my cheap and dependable Civics, but the sport bike gets pulled out every now and then.

 

[fxdrider]

I loves me some glass carboys as much as the next home-brewer...but an incident that occurred today has me re-thinking my position.

My son-in-law was lifting this 5-gallon Northern Brewer glass carboy (filled with Hefeweizen in secondary) out of his temp-controlled freezer, when the bottom literally fell out - spewing the once-delicious brew all over the floor! You would think it would break at the neck, but why it would've come apart where it did is a mystery. The vessel was just a year old, and this was only the 3rd brew in it.

Fortunately, no one was injured. Just a lot of really good brew...gone.

 

[Onkel_Udo]

Actually a pretty common failure but I could not tell you why.

 

[LandoLincoln]

Actually a pretty common failure but I could not tell you why.

I think I could. Notice the carboy handle? Yeah. No one should use those. Not even when empty.

 

[gometz]

I think I could. Notice the carboy handle? Yeah. No one should use those. Not even when empty.

When I first saw those for sale, I could not believe that someone thought that was a good idea! There are so many different stresses being applied to the bottle by doing that.

At the same time I am always a little wary of my brew hauler. The snap attachment is the only thing keeping the whole thing together. That's why I try to keep the carboy within 6 inches of the ground while carrying it.

 

[fxdrider]

There are so many different stresses being applied to the bottle by doing that.

Agreed. But it still amazes me that it failed along the bottom like that. I'd bet it would've failed there at some point in time even without handle use. Of course, no way to prove or disprove that theory now. I'm thinking it's all buckets for me from now on.

 

[Yooper]

I have a lot of glass carboys. I mostly use them now for wine, since I hate hauling them around.

I've only broken one over the years, but my friend had a dangerous incident a few years ago with one of hers.

She was lifting a 6.5 gallon carboy up to the sink to rinse it out, and the top just bumped the faucet. It broke, falling down, and on the way it nearly sliced off her thumb. She grabbed a towel, and drove herself to the hospital (about 1 mile away) because she figured she didn't have time to call me.

She recovered just fine, with only a scar where they reattached it. The bill was thousands of dollars, mostly covered by insurance.

That really scared me! I think what happens is we bump the carboys many times incidentally, and then when they get bumped again just so they can break like that.

I use buckets and plastic fermenters for primary now for all wines, and all beers. I use glass carboys when I have to for wines but I'm very cautious and don't move them around except on racking day.

 

[AnOldUR]

My son-in-law was lifting this 5-gallon Northern Brewer glass carboy (filled with Hefeweizen in secondary) out of his temp-controlled freezer, when the bottom literally fell out.

My guess would be that he put a room temperature carboy onto a very cold surface and thermally shocked the glass. Don't do that!

 

[Eugenio]

Is this the Same thing with the thicker Pyrex carboys?

 

[whoaru99]

I cannot believe how many people fell for this.

I think it's a bit irresposible to post something like that to which you refer. People that might not know any better read this stuff too.

 

[fxdrider]

My guess would be that he put a room temperature carboy onto a very cold surface and thermally shocked the glass. Don't do that!

As I understand it, he was picking it up out of the chest freezer, which was set to 69 degrees F. The bottom fell out while he was holding it in mid-air, before he had a chance to set it down. He was transporting it to the kitchen so they(he and my daughter) could rack it to the bottling bucket. Didn't quite make it...:smack:

 

[fxdrider]

She recovered just fine, with only a scar where they reattached it. The bill was thousands of dollars, mostly covered by insurance.

Glad she's okay.

That really scared me! I think what happens is we bump the carboys many times incidentally, and then when they get bumped again just so they can break like that.

I think you're right on that.

I use buckets and plastic fermenters for primary now for all wines, and all beers. I use glass carboys when I have to for wines but I'm very cautious and don't move them around except on racking day.

Thumbs up!

 

[Randy_Bugger]

glass carboys - risk of serious injury or even death

plastic - risk of scratching the plastic

I'm happy with plastic. Nothing to worry about.

 

[Billy-Klubb]

I only have one serious comment on the subject, which is also the point of the thread: if you use glass carboys, use extreme caution! I've been using the same glass for 14 years (hundreds of brews through them) with no problems. I use extreme caution. it's glass.

 

[Longrange2]

Now that I have two Speidel fermenters Ill never use a glass carboy again. So easy to rack with the spout and super easy to reach inside and clean. If I plan to secondary I just do that in a keg. I broke one 7.5 gallon acid carboy and that was enough for me.

 

[kh54s10]

I only have one serious comment on the subject, which is also the point of the thread: if you use glass carboys, use extreme caution! I've been using the same glass for 14 years (hundreds of brews through them) with no problems. I use extreme caution. it's glass.

The point of this is that with plastic you DO NOT need to use EXTREME caution.

Glass carboy users who do have accidents add to other stuff to make my insurance more expensive!

 

[logan3825]

Careful standing on that glass soap box.

People with glass carboys shouldn't throw rocks.

 

[kh54s10]

I think it's a bit irresposible to post something like that to which you refer. People that might not know any better read this stuff too.

ANYONE who couldn't pick up on the sarcasm in that post is dense.

Even a noob should be able to figure that out.

 

[logan3825]

Remove air lock. Place piece of duct tape over air lock on bung. Move better bottle around. Remove duct tape and replace air lock. Suck back eliminated.

or you know, don't overfill your airlock.

 

[Billy-Klubb]

The point of this is that with plastic you DO NOT need to use EXTREME caution.

Glass carboy users who do have accidents add to other stuff to make my insurance more expensive!

we could argue on the point until we both look like Andorians, but I'll stick with my glass & stainless because that's what I prefer. and I'll expect anyone else will do the same with their vessels.

 

[the_trout]

we could argue on the point until we both look like Andorian:rockin:

:smack:

 

[Billy-Klubb]

:smack:

you know. oh yeah, you know.

 

[stevedasleeve]

I've been using glass carboys from the start - going on 4 years, I always carry them full with a carboy handle. Sorry about all you having issues but no problems here and I am not terribly interested in any other fermenters. Oh I also smoke, run long distances putting too much stress on my heart according to the NY times, and have unprotected sex ( with my wife so maybe that doesn't count as a health risk?)

Steve da sleeve

 

[logan3825]

I've been using glass carboys from the start - going on 4 years, I always carry them full with a carboy handle. Sorry about all you having issues but no problems here and I am not terribly interested in any other fermenters. Oh I also smoke, run long distances putting too much stress on my heart according to the NY times, and have unprotected sex ( with my wife so maybe that doesn't count as a health risk?)

Steve da sleeve

Less of a health risk with your wife than if she caught you with somebody else.

 

[Denny]

Ok, so I'm sitting back reading the, "Broken Carboy" thread and it really gives me a headache! Here's some simple advice. The most common thing I read was "I use a carboy handle and I can see the stress fractures."

Ok, fact #1: Carboy handles ARE NOT meant to move FULL carboys. They are for toting around empty carboys. If you want to move a FULL carboy without breaking the neck off, use a brew hauler. They are $12.99 at you LHBS.

Fact#2: Let your wort chill all the way before racking. It's the same as plastic, so that shouldn't be an issue.

Fact#3: Be aware that it IS glass. When moving it, be cautious. People say "I use plastic/better bottles because glass breaks too easily." Do you also drink your beer out of a plastic dippy cup because it doesn't break? No, you're just cautious because its glass.

For the record I'm NOT trying to pick on anyone. I'm NOT saying glass is better than plastic, I'm just saying the logic behind some people's arguments is a little off. Please feel free to voice your opinion here!!

Thanks for reading!!
Cheers!!

I broke 3 carboys, losing 10 gal. of double decocted pilsner, before I gave up on them and switched to buckets. I was stone sober and being extremely careful. One broke when it slipped out of my hands and fell 1-2 in. onto a carpeted floor. Even realizing it's glass and being careful sometimes isn't enough to prevent accidents. I switched to buckets to stack the odds in my favor.

 

[Denny]

I've been using glass carboys from the start - going on 4 years, I always carry them full with a carboy handle. Sorry about all you having issues but no problems here and I am not terribly interested in any other fermenters. Oh I also smoke, run long distances putting too much stress on my heart according to the NY times, and have unprotected sex ( with my wife so maybe that doesn't count as a health risk?)

Steve da sleeve

You just haven't been brewing long enough. You WILL break one...or more.

 

[Denny]

we could argue on the point until we both look like Andorians, but I'll stick with my glass & stainless because that's what I prefer. and I'll expect anyone else will do the same with their vessels.

Out of curiosity, what is it about glass that you prefer over plastic?

 

[smccarter]

A very upsetting thing happened today. I was washing - and inspecting - one of my carboys today and noticed a crack near the neck of the bottle. This is the first time in 10 years that I have noticed anything like that. I inspect my carboys when I wash them... I never thought I'd see this.

Needless to say I'm disappointed. I have to FINALLY retire one of my carboys. This thing is probably 10 years old. How sad.

To all of you Better Bottle folks out there.... I'm looking for a glass carboy. If you have one that you don't use because of the terror involved with using a glass carboy, please let me know. I'll take it off your hands. I'll even pay the shipping cost.