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Glass carboys versus better bottles

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I know I know...but this guy just got filled:
Oud_Bruin_003.jpg

I would humbly submit this debate finally has a winner.
 
I originally bought two glass carboys used. Both have worked wonderfully, though they are heavy to move around when full. I recently needed another bottle, and I bought a better bottle. This weekend, after bottling a batch of beer (how many b's is that now???), I was unpacking my truck and the glass carboy rolled out onto the ground, shattering into hundreds of chunks and shards. It reaffirmed my decision to buy better bottles now!

Mike
I always carry my carboys in milk crates. If you had milk crates you'd still have your carboy.

It's not the fault of the carboy or gravity that broke it...it was yours. ;)
 
I have 1 Conical 2 glass carboys 2 Better bottles and 3 plastic pails they all work just fine thank you. I have even noticed if I don't plan harvesting the yeast I don't even consider using the conical.


Thanks Kilted now I want a damn barrel...
 
Glass Carboys used to be cheaper and more readily available, however recently the prices have increased and BB are now usually cheaper.

Glass is scratch resistant, impervious to O2 and rigid.
It is also heavy and fragile. They can be dangerous if dropped.

Better bottles are nearly impervious to O2, light and scatter resistant.
They can be scratched somewhat easily and will flex a little when moved.

I have not noticed that either picks up any flavors or smells. Cleaning either is easy with a good cleaner like PBW.

I'll buy BBs because the risk of dropping a glass one is not worth it. Plus the BBs are easier to handle when empty.

Craig
 
I can't speak from experience because I have not used either. I'm in market though, and have been leaning towards a glass carboy because I'm kinda weird about food touching plastic for extended periods of time.

HOWEVER...... last night I knocked two wine glasses off of the counter, and just 15 minutes ago I broke a pane of glass closing the window. This has got me reconsidering the better bottles.

(And no I wasn't drunk either time.)

That was what got me thinking about converting to glass carboys.
 
I always carry my carboys in milk crates. If you had milk crates you'd still have your carboy.

It's not the fault of the carboy or gravity that broke it...it was yours. ;)


lol, fair enough! I just know that if it were a BB, I would still have a clearing vessel!
 
I use a bucket for primary and glass carboy for secondary. I know everyone worries about the nicks in the plastic harbouring bacteria, but I haven't had an incident 5 years in to homebrewing (knock on plastic :D). That said, working at a homebrew shop I have encountered a few horror stories of a dropped glass carboy resulting in shards of glass implanted in shins and the like. Also our BBs are now 3 bucks cheaper than the glass ones so in the future I will be buying BBs.
 
Just last week I was cleaning one of my carboys in my utility tub in the basement and barely tapped the top of the carboy against the side, chipping the very top. The airlock doesn't create an airtight seal anymore, so I've got to buy another one (I suppose a rubber stopper could still do the trick, but that means I can't buy more 'toys').
 
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