Go with 6 or 6.5 for next carboy?

[pretzelb]

I was thinking of adding another carboy to my equipment list to go with my 6g BetterBottle. I was going to try a glass carboy and can't decide between a 6g and 6.5g. Seems like the 6g BB is decent but 6.5g might be better for the crazy ferments I sometimes see. But in this case I'm not so sure bigger is better. Any thoughts either way? I glanced the FAQ list but didn't see this covered.

 

[MarcJWaters]

I have found that in many of my fruity batches (mead and beers) that when I make 5 gallons, the bubbles and the stuff that rises takes up alot of the remaining space. For THAT reason, I would say 6.5... but it really dependsif you think you NEED the space.

As far as I know, the extra space really does not have any adverse effects.

 

[pretzelb]

Well, my 6th batch just blew the top off my carboy but I think that was because I didn't have a large enough blow off hose (which I plan to fix next time). But I thought I read (I can't recall where) that having that krausen spill out of the carboy is actually good for the beer since it then won't settle to the bottom. So in that case, I would think 6g would be best for just about all 5g batches since that would let the blow off get out of the fermenter.

 

[MarcJWaters]

Well, my 6th batch just blew the top off my carboy but I think that was because I didn't have a large enough blow off hose (which I plan to fix next time). But I thought I read (I can't recall where) that having that krausen spill out of the carboy is actually good for the beer since it then won't settle to the bottom. So in that case, I would think 6g would be best for just about all 5g batches since that would let the blow off get out of the fermenter.

Well, I use an airlock, and that stuff... Krausen... only serves to clog it up. I so I want to keep it in the bottle. And honestly, I dont care if it settles. That means more flavor and I am just going to siphon around it anyways...

 

[pretzelb]

Well, I use an airlock, and that stuff... Krausen... only serves to clog it up. I so I want to keep it in the bottle. And honestly, I dont care if it settles. That means more flavor and I am just going to siphon around it anyways...

You know, I never thought about the simple fact that I may need the blow off because I'm going with 6g instead of 6.5g. Duh.

FWIW, I did some shopping and noticed that 6.5g glass seems more standard as most will have 6.5g but not all have 6g.

 

[bronzdragon]

I've always used 5 gal glass carboys and kinda wanted a 6 over the years ... but in the recent past, I've seen so many accidents with the 6 gal glass ones, both in my brew club and on the online forums that I won't buy one.

My opinion is if you need something bigger then 5 gal, think about better bottle, stainless or some other alternative to glass ... just for safety's sake.

I know, I know, I hear all the gasps out there.

~r~

 

[Lando]

6 gallon BB and add foam control drops if you are worried about a blowoff. Works great.

 

[pretzelb]

I've always used 5 gal glass carboys and kinda wanted a 6 over the years ... but in the recent past, I've seen so many accidents with the 6 gal glass ones, both in my brew club and on the online forums that I won't buy one.

My opinion is if you need something bigger then 5 gal, think about better bottle, stainless or some other alternative to glass ... just for safety's sake.

I know, I know, I hear all the gasps out there.

~r~

I've never seen or heard of an accident so I'm glad you mentioned it. The weight is a concern to me since I'm a bit clumsy.

 

[PseudoChef]

Fermcap-S/Foam control FTW.

 

[bronzdragon]

If you do choose to get a 6/6.5 glass, I'd consider putting it in an area where you can rack in and out of it without having to move it around.

cheers

~r~

 

[pdbreen]

I've only used glass for many years (mostly 5, but more recently 6.5), but my next order includes 2 of the 6gal better bottles.

Maybe a case of the beer looks greener on the other side for both of us?

 

[pretzelb]

If you do choose to get a 6/6.5 glass, I'd consider putting it in an area where you can rack in and out of it without having to move it around.

cheers

~r~

Hmmm, good point. I've started to ferment in a cooler that is put in a bathtub so I can keep the temp down. Removing the BB from this set up is not easy and I'd be making it worse with glass.

 

[SevenFields]

I love my 6.5 gallon Carboys, I have done 10 beers so far and not one of them have came close to needed a blow off tube!

 

[Grizzlybrew]

If you do choose to get a 6/6.5 glass, I'd consider putting it in an area where you can rack in and out of it without having to move it around.

cheers

~r~

Either that or work on your lifting technique or build some muscle.

I regularly move my 6.5 gal boys up and down a flight of stairs (don't ask), but I wouldn't trade them for anything. Remember, with a blow off, you lose beer. For the price difference, why not eliminate the possibilty of being undersized in the future?

 

[conpewter]

I use 6.5 glass and I don't use blowoff tubes, the only batch that has come close to blowing off was the RIS. Granted I don't do wheat beers so I have not tried those. Generally I keep the yeast in the lower temp range and haven't had an issue. It is part temp control and part style preferences.

 

[pretzelb]

I use 6.5 glass and I don't use blowoff tubes, the only batch that has come close to blowing off was the RIS. Granted I don't do wheat beers so I have not tried those. Generally I keep the yeast in the lower temp range and haven't had an issue. It is part temp control and part style preferences.

I had thought that using a swamp cooler to keep the temp down would help, but my current batch was just a volcano. It blew the stopper twice. I have a 1/2" OD tube in a regular stopper and thought I was fine but the foam was thick enough that it built up a lot of pressure in the hose as it tried to push the foam out. In my case, I think it's these Coopers kits. Both times were from Coopers kits. But this last one was really excessive (in my limited experience).

I guess I'd like to stick to blow off hoses (even with a 6.5g carboy) just to be risk free. I also like to keep things simple and keep equipment parts down but avoiding problems is more important to me.

 

[pretzelb]

Either that or work on your lifting technique or build some muscle.

I regularly move my 6.5 gal boys up and down a flight of stairs (don't ask), but I wouldn't trade them for anything. Remember, with a blow off, you lose beer. For the price difference, why not eliminate the possibilty of being undersized in the future?

I guess I would always still fear a blow off problem even with a 6.5g carboy. As I just posted, this last batch seemed active enough to give a 6.5g carboy fits.

I think I could handle the weight but it's the awkwardness that concerns me. If I keep using a swamp cooler we're talking wet glass which isn't fun even with straps or handles. Plus I'm using a spare bath tub and getting in/out of that is always fun.

Bah. I go back and forth just about every hour.

 

[johnnyc]

I've got glass and BB and while I use either depending on what's empty the glass is way heavier. I'm not so worried about dropping it and cutting myself as I am about dropping it and losing beer. Don't know when I'll buy another but if I do it'll be BB just b/c the glass is so heavy. I still use my 5 gallon glass for secondary but the 6.5 is noticeably heavier.

 

[tmoney1224]

I will never buy another glass carboy, the better bottles are just so much safer and easier to manage. I have both, but I always use the BB first.

As for the space, I usually just throw on my airlock on my 6g BB, unless I am pitching on a cake, or am using a yeast that is known to be highly active. Then I will rig a blow off tube.

 

[UnderThePorchBrewing]

I've used/own 3G BB, 5G glass, 6G BB and 6.5G glass and 7.5G bucket. depends on the beer i'm making and what carboy is available what I put it in .

if your definitely getting glass and your paying for the shipping go with the 6.5G. for the little cost difference with this you will not need to worry about blowoff, the weight between 6 and 6.5 is not much difference with both glass, you already have the 6G so if you want to make a fruit beer, a hefe, a big beer or an occasional wine (the wine kits etc are 6 Gallon kits) in the future the extra 0.5G headroom gives you a few more options.

now that being said, if it is between the 6G BB and 6.5G glass I'd go with the BB (for all the reasons said by others) or if you need more room get a 7.5 G bucket

 

[Buffman]

Go with the 6.5g and use a blowoff tube or Fermcap. You may want to get milk crate to carry it. When full, it is substantially heavier and more cumbersome than the 5g.

 

[humann_brewing]

I recently got another one of the orange caps that go on the better bottle and they didn't include the white cap to go over the smaller hole. I actually just placed the larger one over that hole to loosely cover it since the larger hole is used for the airlock.

I think this was a blessing in disguise as it allow a lot more co2 to be released and I didn't have to worry too much with blowoff with a few drops of fermcap and a 1.084 wort with a huge starter. This was a 6 gallon better bottle filled with 5.5 gallons.

 

[pretzelb]

I recently got another one of the orange caps that go on the better bottle and they didn't include the white cap to go over the smaller hole. I actually just placed the larger one over that hole to loosely cover it since the larger hole is used for the airlock.

I think this was a blessing in disguise as it allow a lot more co2 to be released and I didn't have to worry too much with blowoff with a few drops of fermcap and a 1.084 wort with a huge starter. This was a 6 gallon better bottle filled with 5.5 gallons.

Does your orange cap fit snug? I have two and neither a snug on my 6g BB. I never used them for fermenting because I thought my cap needed to be snug. I'd like to use those orange caps and attach a hose to one of the holes but I think the loose fit wouldn't work.

If it were just co2 I think I'd be ok but the excessive foam batches are the ones that sneak up on me.

 

[humann_brewing]

Does your orange cap fit snug? I have two and neither a snug on my 6g BB. I never used them for fermenting because I thought my cap needed to be snug. I'd like to use those orange caps and attach a hose to one of the holes but I think the loose fit wouldn't work.

If it were just co2 I think I'd be ok but the excessive foam batches are the ones that sneak up on me.

they are not snug like a rubber stopper but they are snug enough, remember that some people use tin foil for an airlock so it isn't life or death if it is not totally sealed up especially during primary fermentation when there is a lot of CO2 discharge.

Coincidentally I found the other plastic cap on the group so B3 did their job sorry to pre-judge

 

[Weaselboys]

I just started my first batch of beer.
I have been doing wine for just over a year and I only use the glass carboys.
I have 6,5 and 3 gallon ones.
My suggestion would be to get a 5 gallon one.
Wine is usually a 6 gallon batch and beer a 5 gallon batch.
You can primary in the 6 gal BB and rack into the 5 gallon for secondary then start a second batch in the 6 gal BB and rack that after bottling the 5 gallon carboy.
I can tell you personally that it is a hell of a lot easier to move/clean/rack with the 5 gallon over the 6, even though it is only a gallon difference.
Mike

 

[MikeScott]

Still a n00b, but I went with the 6.5G, figuring that the extra space would give me some blowoff room, and since the top of the bottle is full of CO2, the headspace shouldn't cause any problems. I'll admit though, I do have some concerns about the bottles breaking, I've heard a story or two.

Haven't had any blowoff issues yet, but I also considered brewing 6 gallon batches.

I thought I heard that the krausen actually has some good stuff in it that you don't want to lose, don't take it from me though.