Glass Vs. Plastic, let's hear the truth

[nebben]

I've done the bucket fermenting thing, and it works. True, they will start to stink something fierce eventually, but I haven't noticed the last beer impart any flavor or odor into the "next" beer though.

I like my {glass} carboys though since they don't hold any odor whatsoever, and can be cleaned spotless. They are impervious to anything I can put in them, except rocks. Just don't put rocks in them (or drop them onto rocks) and you'll be fine

I have had problems with spigots in buckets though- I recommend against those. My plastic racking equipment is pretty lousy too, but it's all there is so I don't really have an alternative than to clean as best as I can, and to not expose my plastic tubing/racking stuff to boiling water.

 

[DirtbagHB]

I use plastic 8gal buckets for primary fermentation, then i transfer to glass for secondary. sometimes my brews sit in secondary for longer than i want. and like everyone says the glass is impervious to odor and just about everything. i also have the thicker walled glass walls.. ive dropped them before and they see really resilient. and as long as you dont store rocks or pennies, the inside seems resistent to scratches as well. the buckets are really easy to clean and ive never had a blowover.