Glass or plastic?

[spurcrazy]

What would be the difference if any between a glass and a plastic carboy?
Thanks.

 

[losttech]

I think they both work fine but I like better bottles because there are so light and easy to move around.
I bought the ones with spigots but they were a bit expensive so if I was to do over again I would just get the normal better bottles.

If you are going to do a primary and secondary fermentation I would also get one 6 gallon bottle and one 5 gallon.
That way you can primary ferment in the 6 rack off to the 5 and wont have a bunch of head space because of leaving behind the lees/trub/nasties.

A word of caution on the better bottles though make sure you don't poor boiling hot stuff in them as they will melt.

 

[RM-MN]

Glass is heavy, plastic is not.
Glass shatters if dropped, plastic bounces.
Glass shatters if you pour hot liquid in it, plastic just melts.

 

[jer204]

I use both.
Glass Primary.
Plastic Secondary.

 

[Revvy]

The both have the potential to ferment great or sucky beer depending on the brewer...other than that, the only difference is which you prefer to use.......

They both work perfectly.....

 

[passedpawn]

Sometimes, I have trouble determining whether I'm in reality or a dream. The real world, or the fake one in which time expands, and odd themes continue interminably.

When I see things repeating, pattern-like, over and over, I know it's the latter. Deja vu. A ripple in the matrix.

Like this topic.

And then ..... there.... at the bottom of this screen .... yea, down there ↓ .... more of the same, over and over, the same topic, there's no escape ... the rabbit hole is deep indeed

 

[lmnop]

If you haven't bought anything yet, I'd say go for corny kegs for fermenting. I didn't and I wish I did.

Plastic will let in more o2 to your beer than steel or glass. Glass could break and maim you. A keg is the same price as glass, will never shatter, won't let in o2, and it will block out sunlight, while neither of the others will.

 

[Revvy]

Sometimes, I have trouble determining whether I'm in reality or a dream. The real world, or the fake one in which time expands, and odd themes continue interminably.

When I see things repeating, pattern-like, over and over, I know it's the latter. Deja vu. A ripple in the matrix.

Like this topic.

And then ..... there.... at the bottom of this screen .... yea, down there ↓ .... more of the same, over and over, the same topic, there's no escape ... the rabbit hole is deep indeed

And.....

Now you know....




Why I cut and paste my answers.....










And why my postcount is so friggin high......

 

[azfalcon]

Sometimes, I have trouble determining whether I'm in reality or a dream. The real world, or the fake one in which time expands, and odd themes continue interminably.

When I see things repeating, pattern-like, over and over, I know it's the latter. Deja vu. A ripple in the matrix.

Like this topic.

And then ..... there.... at the bottom of this screen .... yea, down there ↓ .... more of the same, over and over, the same topic, there's no escape ... the rabbit hole is deep indeed

And there is always a person whose rude to all the newbies...looks like you popped up

 

[Revvy]

If you haven't bought anything yet, I'd say go for corny kegs for fermenting. I didn't and I wish I did.

Plastic will let in more o2 to your beer than steel or glass. Glass could break and maim you. A keg is the same price as glass, will never shatter, won't let in o2, and it will block out sunlight, while neither of the others will.

That is patently, wrong and has been disproven over and over and over...the actual permeability numbers between the plastic fermenters we use including buckets, and better bottles are negligable...they are little or no different from glass fermenters. It's been long disproven...And it was many of us suspect simply a marketing slur from the glass carboy industry to dissuade people from buying cheaper buckets (and now better bottles)...The plastic industry has made leaps an bounds pretty much since 1999, when the very first plastic bottles were actually used to house beer....

If Plastic were so bad in the beer industry these days, why would EVERY commercial mega brewery risk multi millions of dollars to put their beer in plastic bottles these days?

Plastic is fine to use these days...

 

[passedpawn]

And there is always a person whose rude to all the newbies...looks like you popped up

Hey, that's not fair! I've been helpful about 4000 times, and you never once said a thing.

 

[FireDancer]

Glass more expensive ... typically.
Glass can't be modified, Plastic can have a spigot (or what ever you think up) added.
Glass cleans out well for a long time, Plastic may get worn out and habor infection eventually.
Glass allows for (fun) viewing of the ferment, Plastic requires peeking with the lid open (non-carboy).

You may hear horror stories about Glass = eventual Hospital trip.

Multiple pastic can stack/nested when empty (non-carboy).
For conserving space it is possible to stack full Plastic (non-carboy).
Plastic can easily be put to other uses if you retire them sometime in the future (non-carboy).

Personally I use glass. No horror stories yet (while knocking on wood). Cheers!

 

[Revvy]

Hey, that's not fair! I've been helpful about 4000 times, and you never once said a thing.

It looks like 4,095 to me....and I don't think your original post was that mean either ...more philospohical actually...but I'm quite druk now, so I don't reely kneo now....

 

[passedpawn]

It looks like 4,095 to me....and I don't think your original post was that mean either ...more philospohical actually...but I'm quite druk now, so I don't reely kneo now....

Yea, I had a few just now while watching Inception (movie). Sorta mind-blowing, keeping track of all the levels of reality in that thing.

Anyway, back on topic, Glass vs. Plastic. I vote for super-elastic bubble plastic, blow your own container from a little red straw, psychedelic colors and all. I liked that stuff, but they took it off the market because it was fairly toxic if you inhaled the fumes from it. Resulted in SFES (snarky-forum-etiquette-syndrome), among other ailments.

 

[davesrose]

That is patently, wrong and has been disproven over and over and over...the actual permeability numbers between the plastic fermenters we use including buckets, and better bottles are negligable...they are little or no different from glass fermenters.

Well plus there's the other problem of a corny not being a big enough vessel for a finished 5 gallon batch. I can't imagine having a primary fermenter less then 6 gallons for 5 gallon final batches....especially for all grain.

As for the tired debate of plastic vs glass....just chose what seems better for you:that's what it boils down to really. You can make good beer with either, so it's a personal preference. I like glass carboys because they don't have any give. Some people like plastic because they think glass is more cumbersome to clean or fear they might drop glass. Everyone has their own proclivities...both glass or plastic give you a stable vessel: now it's up to you to make good beer.

 

[jonmohno]

I know there is a sticky but i think anyone forgot to mention that if plasic scratches it can harbor a hideout for bacteria,and as far as i know is it Starsan? foamer isthe only defense against this? Or No? ps im drinking Bell's Porter its a very a tasty a yesss? ha.
As for plastic i was always afraid of the "scratch" until i got glass now all i have to worry about its dropping it.If you use plastic dont store anything in it uless you put a cloth in it and dont use abrasive cleaners and i think even soaps with scent may penetrate.

 

[jiggs_casey]

I know there is a sticky but i think anyone forgot to mention that if plasic scratches it can harbor a hideout for bacteria,and as far as i know is it Starsan? foamer isthe only defense against this? Or No? ps im drinking Bell's Porter its a very a tasty a yesss? ha.
As for plastic i was always afraid of the "scratch" until i got glass now all i have to worry about its dropping it.If you use plastic dont store anything in it uless you put a cloth in it and dont use abrasive cleaners and i think even soaps with scent may penetrate.

Been using the same plastic buckets to ferment in for years. Never seen a scratch. I use the little green scrubbys on mine and have never had a problem. I'm curious as to what people are using on them to scratch them.

 

[jonmohno]

Been using the same plastic buckets to ferment in for years. Never seen a scratch. I use the little green scrubbys on mine and have never had a problem. I'm curious as to what people are using on them to scratch them.

I doubt you'd be able to see the bacteria in the scratch neither

 

[davesrose]

I know there is a sticky but i think anyone forgot to mention that if plasic scratches it can harbor a hideout for bacteria,and as far as i know is it Starsan? foamer isthe only defense against this?

I think this is an urban legand about scratches. I have an old beat up "trusted" plastic bucket that lasted me tons of ferments. The only infection I got was from a relatively new plastic bucket that now always seems to harbor bacteria for me (I just use it for storage now). Maybe it's just the grade of plastic or such....I scrubed both with regular kitchen sponges, and they don't seem completely smooth. The whole point of any sanitizer (it doesn't have to be a foam) is that it covers the entire surface...crevice and all...as it's a molecular solution vs even the smallest scratch (which at best is microscopic).

 

[SKMO]

You will never go to the hospital because your Better Bottle slipped an inch and you grabbed at it.

Mathwise you can buy three Better Bottles per stitch required to fix above situation.

 

[jonmohno]

I know but the big deal they make is that if its scratched its irreversable. Ive think its said bleach cannot even get to it? Thatswhat made me think" well if bleach cant get it, whats the point?.I did think it was odd too.Breeding grounds and hiding spots.Bleached water cant get there? Well ok then, now im paranoid about scratches. I think i even read that if its scratched to throw out,same with tubing.

 

[jonmohno]

You will never go to the hospital because your Better Bottle slipped an inch and you grabbed at it.

Mathwise you can buy three Better Bottles per stitch required to fix above situation.

But you would be at home suckking it all up the carpet!:cross:

 

[cheezydemon3]

Sometimes, I have trouble determining whether I'm in reality or a dream. The real world, or the fake one in which time expands, and odd themes continue interminably.

When I see things repeating, pattern-like, over and over, I know it's the latter. Deja vu. A ripple in the matrix.

Like this topic.

And then ..... there.... at the bottom of this screen .... yea, down there ↓ .... more of the same, over and over, the same topic, there's no escape ... the rabbit hole is deep indeed

What is the harm in this post????

PHUCK OFF.

PassedPawn is one of my heros.

I have many, but it isn't easy to get into my hero club.

Revvy is on the edge.....his posts here have gotten him closer.

 

[ToddO]

I have 1 glass carboy and 3 buckets to ferment in. Once the novelty of watching a ferment wears off buckets are the way to go. Over the glass carboy. Hard to clean, heavy, etc. etc. Bummed when I want to brew and realize all that I have to ferment in is the carboy. Plastic. Plastic. Plastic. Say it with me..

 

[cheezydemon3]

I have 1 glass carboy and 3 buckets to ferment in. Once the novelty of watching a ferment wears off buckets are the way to go. Over the glass carboy. Hard to clean, heavy, etc. etc. Bummed when I want to brew and realize all that I have to ferment in is the carboy. Plastic. Plastic. Plastic. Say it with me..

EGGGGPHUCKINZACTLY........

Once the romance wears off, who cares what goes on beneath the sheets?

IT ALL MAKES BEER.

Carry on.

 

[jonmohno]

Ohhh , hell no .I got a nice ass glass wide mouth carboy.Can stick it all in there if i want.The beauty of the wide mouth.There is no novelety knowing you have active fermentation without popping the bucket lid off.No prying til your fingers bleed. There are screw on lids for buckets too, i did a search but now i forgot what site it was and the actual name of these screw on lids.sorry. I would want one if i had plastic though. probably make grain storage real nice too. For the all grainers.
You cant get the smell,(not that its bad) out of plastic.Its all good, i dont care really, i only care about my english esb next to me right now,ha.

 

[Bottenbrew]

I like my better bottles. Wider mouth if I need to put in fruit for a lambic, or skip a bag in to dryhop. I prefer the carboy/better bottle to my buckets, but mainly because my buckets are 5 gallons which = badness when I get strong fermentation.

 

[jiggs_casey]

I doubt you'd be able to see the bacteria in the scratch neither

That's what the sanitizer is for..

 

[azfalcon]

Your right..i apologize. Stickies or not stuff like this will pop up in a beginners section all the time...sorry if i came of as an ass...

 

[cheezydemon3]

My buckets have HUGE cracklike brown scratches all along the bottoms, possibly from pouring in hot wort.

They have been there for the last 23 batches........

I will report if I start having any problems.......

Stand by..............

There may be tough times ahead.......


Stick together through these times,.......and craCKS.........

I'LL check back after another 342 batches......