I don't understand why you need to siphon yeast from a carboy or any other vessel? Just save enough wort to swish around knocking the yeast loose and pour into a sanitized mason jar.
I hate carboys.
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Hannable1975
Well-Known Member
Neither had I in my limited experience - until this morning!
I brewed the AHS Promo Stormcastle - and MAN did it work of huge!
Good thing I had some spare airlocks ( hey, they are cheap ) I tossed the fouled one, cleaned up the mess and installed another - I cringe to think what would have happened if I had used my carboy I just bought - like maybe beer all over the ceiling, carpet, walls.........
I'm stick to my buckets I think, and save that big ole pretty carboy for some of this Apelwien I keep reading about.....
Hannable1975
Well-Known Member
Yeah, I had to 'Thumbs Up" that - probably the best tip I have read in a while. All of mine will be modified in the manner as soon as they are freed up from duty.
AugustDerleth
Well-Known Member
I've found that without washing it you end up with a lot of trub/unviable yeast/hop particulates left in the jars that you're then pitching into your new wort. There's a great guide to washing posted in this very thread.
BlackHillsBrewing
Active Member
I love carboys! Easy to clean; w/jet washer! I believe they are funner to watch yeastie activity! Plus, I ony use the 6.5 with handles and always sit down on carpet. I use them for everything.. !
Special Hops
Well-Known Member
I use 2 1/4bbl sankes.
ReverseApacheMaster
Well-Known Member
Right but you can let the trub settle out and then decant to different jars and then you will have clean washed yeast. No siphoning involved.
r2eng
Well-Known Member
What he said!
Why does this same argument always crop up? "I only like this", "I only use that": Glad it works for you. Keep it up. Why argue something that is purely personal preference?
AugustDerleth
Well-Known Member
Yeah. whatever works. I guess with having an auto-syphon I don't see what the big deal is about syphoning. You put one end in the bucket, the other in the jar and pump twice. OH MAH GAWDS
r2eng: I didn't see anyone actually "arguing." I'm not trying to convince him to syphon, honestly I could care less. I was answering a question that he asked. And if people aren't allowed/supposed to post about their personal preference, there would be about 7 threads on this forum.
r2eng: I didn't see anyone actually "arguing." I'm not trying to convince him to syphon, honestly I could care less. I was answering a question that he asked. And if people aren't allowed/supposed to post about their personal preference, there would be about 7 threads on this forum.
r2eng
Well-Known Member
Yeah, Mr. Crankypants posted for me this morning.
I just didn't see the reason for the original post... hit me wrong. I use carboys and love them. I do not like buckets. My opinion.
I just don't see the point of the original post... is it asking for input? Different strokes for different folks!
BTW: Crankypants left my house just a little bit ago...
I just didn't see the reason for the original post... hit me wrong. I use carboys and love them. I do not like buckets. My opinion.
I just don't see the point of the original post... is it asking for input? Different strokes for different folks!
BTW: Crankypants left my house just a little bit ago...
AugustDerleth
Well-Known Member
Hey, Crankypants visits everyone now and again.
Also, I can agree with you about the original thread. I suppose I thought you were referring to the (admittedly Off-Topic) posts about yeast washing, to syphon or not to syphon in which I was just responding to a question. Misunderstandings/miscommunication abound! :cross:
I don't necessarily understand why people have gone back and forth so much on PET vs. Glass, as stated; nowadays the plastics are almost as good as glass so it truly is just preference. I agree with ya, we're all different and all tend to like different things! I use buckets in primary, but mostly because they're way cheap and easy to clean. I secondary strictly in glass. Things have worked well for me, as I assume they've worked well for you, so everyone should just keep doin' what they're doin! Heh.
Hope you offered Mr. CP a homebrew before he left!
Also, I wasn't trying to start anything. Just asking a question. Regarding the yeast washing link, he's using a carboy and washing his yeast...just sayin.
Also, on a side note. Why is it people say that plastic is just as good but want to drink their beer from glass, not plastic?
I use buckets to primary and smaller 5 gallon glass carboys to secondary (when I do). I don't think there is much difference, but I still think glass is cleaner...when it's clean. And I do think that plastic is way more permeable especially when it comes to heat. I know I don't put any plastic measuring cups in the microwave to heat water anymore...
As far as yeast washing goes. Here is one I swirled from the bucket and dumped in a sanitized mason jar back in July.
Also, on a side note. Why is it people say that plastic is just as good but want to drink their beer from glass, not plastic?
I use buckets to primary and smaller 5 gallon glass carboys to secondary (when I do). I don't think there is much difference, but I still think glass is cleaner...when it's clean. And I do think that plastic is way more permeable especially when it comes to heat. I know I don't put any plastic measuring cups in the microwave to heat water anymore...
As far as yeast washing goes. Here is one I swirled from the bucket and dumped in a sanitized mason jar back in July.
AugustDerleth
Well-Known Member
Why is it people say that plastic is just as good but want to drink their beer from glass, not plastic?
ELEGANCE, my good man. Elegance! :rockin:
Revvy originally posted this picture and I thought it was easier looking at this rather then trying to type out an explanation. I hope this helps.
why use the airlock? Why not just stick the hose in the hole on the lid?
D0ug
Well-Known Member
I did just that recently, it was ok. The airlock might allow for a slightly larger ID tube to be used, which would come in handy for very active ferments.
Another note on that image, unless you have a temp controlled environment, there is a good chance of suck back/siphoning blow off water into the fermenter if the temperature should drop.
If you don't have good temp control you want that blow off jar on the floor.
I think from the pics I've seen him post, revvy usually keeps his below the top of his fermenter. I'm assuming this one is up there for illustration purposes only.
tjp68
Well-Known Member
I switched over to 7.9 gallon plastic pails for 5 gal batches a couple of years ago, and I love them. They don't break, are easy to clean and have enough headspace that I don't have to use blow off tubes. If I do a high gravity brew, I secondary in a better bottle, otherwise I don't secondary.
I miss seeing active fermentation in the carboy, but the ease of use and transport make up for it.
I miss seeing active fermentation in the carboy, but the ease of use and transport make up for it.
iijakii
Well-Known Member
I have two better bottles and a few buckets. I really enjoy the ease of the buckets, but even after a solid 20 batches there's just something magical about looking into my better bottle and seeing Krausen and beer.
SkylerChaBro
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Better Bottles ftw. Great products at a reasonable price, transparent, won't explode into a million pieces if dropped, light, doesn't stain easy, ect.
I LOVE my 6.5 gallon glass carboy (and my 6 gallon). One day, I will get 1 more 6.5 gallon and retire the 6 to "back up" status. I have decided that the very best fermentors to use, are the ones the brewer feels the most confident using and fits into their brewery the best. For me this is the 6.5 gallon glass carboys. since mostly I make 12 gallon batches.
I am currently checking into using 1/2 bbl sanke kegs as a fermentor. (I have 1 that is itching to go now at the moment!) I know lots of brewers use these this way already. This seems to be the next logical step to me...
I have seen pics of people using pumpkins as fermentors so I am convinced that really anything can be used as one. I built a giant one from a 30 gallon food grade bbl. and have plenty of ale pails laying about. I have just come to the point where it is time for me to move on and away from plastics...but IMO 1 is not superior to the other.
I am currently checking into using 1/2 bbl sanke kegs as a fermentor. (I have 1 that is itching to go now at the moment!) I know lots of brewers use these this way already. This seems to be the next logical step to me...
I have seen pics of people using pumpkins as fermentors so I am convinced that really anything can be used as one. I built a giant one from a 30 gallon food grade bbl. and have plenty of ale pails laying about. I have just come to the point where it is time for me to move on and away from plastics...but IMO 1 is not superior to the other.
AugustDerleth
Well-Known Member
For those that prefer glass, or even those that would like to use glass but have problems with it, there are a few things that can help considerably with moving your carboy.
These small variations may seem like common sense, but I've noticed a lot of people don't do these things which can help.
Most obvious, place the fermenter in a milk crate. This will really help you be able to move the carboy, and feel like you have a much better grip rather than trying to pick up a huge glass carboy full of liquid which is probably wet on the outside as well. Everyone's heard of people dropping theirs, which is not only terrible but also dangerous.
Secondly, take an old t-shirt, preferably black, and place it around the carboy. This serves two functions. One, it keeps light off of your carboy and its contents. Two, while cleaning the carboy out, you'll have to remove it from the crate at some point. With the t-shirt available, you can place that on the ground or even use the overhang to place the carboy onto your hard surfaced ground, without having to strain so hard to make sure you place the glass against the concrete really gently. This definitely helps ease the amount of strain on your muscles, as well as helping prevent chipping and cracking.
Hope this helps ya. Good luck out there!
Fermenter as described, and in a swamp cooler. =)
These small variations may seem like common sense, but I've noticed a lot of people don't do these things which can help.
Most obvious, place the fermenter in a milk crate. This will really help you be able to move the carboy, and feel like you have a much better grip rather than trying to pick up a huge glass carboy full of liquid which is probably wet on the outside as well. Everyone's heard of people dropping theirs, which is not only terrible but also dangerous.
Secondly, take an old t-shirt, preferably black, and place it around the carboy. This serves two functions. One, it keeps light off of your carboy and its contents. Two, while cleaning the carboy out, you'll have to remove it from the crate at some point. With the t-shirt available, you can place that on the ground or even use the overhang to place the carboy onto your hard surfaced ground, without having to strain so hard to make sure you place the glass against the concrete really gently. This definitely helps ease the amount of strain on your muscles, as well as helping prevent chipping and cracking.
Hope this helps ya. Good luck out there!
Fermenter as described, and in a swamp cooler. =)
StMarcos
Well-Known Member
I recommend people try fermenting in stainless buckets/pots. I converted a 25 update international (same as megapot) to hold 3psi, enough to pressure rack. Bought some silicone oring stock of the correct size (had to try a couple different ones) and stuck the ends together using superglue. There is some slop in the lid of those stockpots, where the oring will fit. It won't leak under normal airlock pressure, but you need clamps around the edge if you want to transfer out under pressure. Prob. only need 1psi - I got it too 3. Bear in mind that this was a 25G pot - an 8G will be MUCH easier.
Easy to crop
Easy clean
Easy to pressure transfer wort with pass-through compression fitting on lid
Won't leak O2
Not soft like buckets
Cheap conversion - only really need oring stock and a hole drilled for airlock
You obviously don't need a clad bottom, so no need to spend $$ for megapot
I'm surprised more people don't do this!
Easy to crop
Easy clean
Easy to pressure transfer wort with pass-through compression fitting on lid
Won't leak O2
Not soft like buckets
Cheap conversion - only really need oring stock and a hole drilled for airlock
You obviously don't need a clad bottom, so no need to spend $$ for megapot
I'm surprised more people don't do this!
I use plastic buckets almost exclusively. Mostly, 6.5gal Ale Pails although I also have another bucket that doesn't use an airlock, but a different-fitting cap that is only meant to be loosely sealed.
Cheaper, easier to clean, not susceptible to light, and far easier to put and remove extra ingredients during fermentation. I don't care about seeing it, but the main issue I had was killing my hands trying to open them - a recently acquired pail opening tool helps a lot though.
I DO use 5 gallon glass carboys I got for free from my father's friend though, as a secondary vessel for beers which need to age a long time, especially sours. The CO2 blanket requires fermentation to develop, and I prefer not to keep a beer on the yeast for 6+ months, so when racking to a secondary (which I don't do for most beers), I DO want to minimize headspace, and the lack of oxygen permeability allows me to have some control over gas exchange, which I feel is especially important for sours sitting in there for a long time, one of the reasons being to control acetic acid production.
For a typical fermentation though, gas permeability is really a non-issue.
Cheaper, easier to clean, not susceptible to light, and far easier to put and remove extra ingredients during fermentation. I don't care about seeing it, but the main issue I had was killing my hands trying to open them - a recently acquired pail opening tool helps a lot though.
I DO use 5 gallon glass carboys I got for free from my father's friend though, as a secondary vessel for beers which need to age a long time, especially sours. The CO2 blanket requires fermentation to develop, and I prefer not to keep a beer on the yeast for 6+ months, so when racking to a secondary (which I don't do for most beers), I DO want to minimize headspace, and the lack of oxygen permeability allows me to have some control over gas exchange, which I feel is especially important for sours sitting in there for a long time, one of the reasons being to control acetic acid production.
For a typical fermentation though, gas permeability is really a non-issue.
What are the benefits for using a corny/sanke?
No light getting in at all. Stainless steel stay colder, at room temp, than glass, and it has nice comfy handles, when you need to move it. The only real disadvantages are that it's harder to clean, and lack of visibility.
Northcalais40
Well-Known Member
Old water bottles, 5gallon. People just leave these sitting in the street <wink!>
Actually, cleaning is generally seen as an advantage with cornies. Plastic is pretty much screwed when it comes to infections, even deliberate ones (this also applies to any other plastic equipment it contacts), as it's nearly impossible to clean REALLY WELL, and they're definitely easier to clean than carboys. With the right methods, equipment and cleaners/sanitizers, cornies can actually be cleaned damn well with minimal effort.
SpanishCastleAle
Well-Known Member
I clean both glass carboys (for fermenting) and cornies (for kegging) all the time and ime glass carboys are easier to clean than cornies. Fill it to just over half-full with PBW, put a bucket over the carboy and invert the whole thing; let sit (overnight if it's got krausen gunk), rinse, done. Couldn't be much easier than that. Having to clean the dip tubes, relief valve, and posts/poppets on cornies makes them more difficult imo (you could just do the same PBW process as with carboys but imo this doesn't render it as clean or 'sanitizable' with Starsan).
That's why I was surprised at the OP's (old) lament: glass carboys are the easiest to clean and washing yeast from them is a breeze. I'll give him the 'pita to carry' point, ALWAYS fully dry a glass carboy and your hands before you lift it.
cheezydemon3
Well-Known Member
Just rigged a double pulley system rigt in front of my fridge for lifting buckets and cornies.
Awesome for syphoning or lifting cornies in or out.
No WAY I would ever hoist glass full of beer with it.
Awesome for syphoning or lifting cornies in or out.
No WAY I would ever hoist glass full of beer with it.
jturie
Well-Known Member
Glass carboys scare the crap out of me. Years ago one slipped out of my hands (my stupid fault), but happened to fall on the carpet and didn't break. I've recently switched from buckets to 6 gal Better Bottles and I really like them. Even then, I bought that carboy carrier product to haul full ones around.
They all work just fine for a normal beer fermentation step; it's a matter of personal preference in terms of portability, ease of cleaning and dollars. Look at Lonnie Mac, the Brutus 10 guy: he ferments in his MLT kettle! If I ever do a Belgian sour or something that needs to sit for several months in my nice cool and dark crawl space, I would probably snag a glass carboy, because my humble opinion is that glass would be best for a months-long ageing.
Of course, I would love to get a stainless conical, but I'm not putting out those bucks.
They all work just fine for a normal beer fermentation step; it's a matter of personal preference in terms of portability, ease of cleaning and dollars. Look at Lonnie Mac, the Brutus 10 guy: he ferments in his MLT kettle! If I ever do a Belgian sour or something that needs to sit for several months in my nice cool and dark crawl space, I would probably snag a glass carboy, because my humble opinion is that glass would be best for a months-long ageing.
Of course, I would love to get a stainless conical, but I'm not putting out those bucks.
Golddiggie
Well-Known Member
I've used the plastic bucket that was part of my first kit, hated it since it was a total PITA to get the lid on and off (wasn't about to buy a tool to make it easier)... Been using plastic carboys for beer, and glass ones for mead (put my hard lemonade batch in a 3 gallon Better Bottle)... I'm fermenting a batch in a corny for the first time now (~5 gallons of a honey cream ale started on Saturday)... Used the foamcap drops in the boil, so we'll see how it goes. Just have an airlock installed, and I'm keeping a close watch on it.
I plan to never ferment in a plastic bucket again. After this test in the corny, I'll decide if I want to ferment in corny kegs again. If not, then I'll use them for long term aging.
I do need to get some 3 gallon corny kegs for my first batches of mead. They're almost ready for more bulk aging, being about 3-1/2 months old now. Probably be looking to bulk age them within another couple of months. Until then, they're sitting in glass carboy's out of the way.
I think if you're careful, you won't drop anything you ferment in. When I move the carboy's around, I typically slide them close to where they will be lifted, on a towel. makes it VERY easy to move them. Then you just lift them up and set them down (short movement)... Such as what I'll be doing in a little while, today, since I need to bottle a batch of beer.
I plan to never ferment in a plastic bucket again. After this test in the corny, I'll decide if I want to ferment in corny kegs again. If not, then I'll use them for long term aging.
I do need to get some 3 gallon corny kegs for my first batches of mead. They're almost ready for more bulk aging, being about 3-1/2 months old now. Probably be looking to bulk age them within another couple of months. Until then, they're sitting in glass carboy's out of the way.
I think if you're careful, you won't drop anything you ferment in. When I move the carboy's around, I typically slide them close to where they will be lifted, on a towel. makes it VERY easy to move them. Then you just lift them up and set them down (short movement)... Such as what I'll be doing in a little while, today, since I need to bottle a batch of beer.
SpanishCastleAle
Well-Known Member
...and never, ever, ever try to lift glass carboys when druck.
Golddiggie
Well-Known Member
LMAO!!! I make sure I'm at least close to sober before I move any of my home brew... Too much time, effort, and finances has gone into the batch to let it slip away... Not to mention, I'd be without that batch of home brew to DRINK until I made it again...
I think the biggest crime agains home brew is spilling perfectly good home brew because you're too F'd up on other home brew... It's so sad when HB consumption causes HB loss...
TheSeether
Well-Known Member
I just read this whole thread and no one pointed out storage. Buckets stack into one another, carboys and sankes do not.
I reconsider my personal preference towards buckets the day I get an infection that can be attributed to scratching.
I reconsider my personal preference towards buckets the day I get an infection that can be attributed to scratching.
gunner65
Well-Known Member
Just a note I will take any "retired" glass carboys anyone has decided they no longer want.
android
Well-Known Member
fo real... i love me some carboy.
For those having trouble getting the lids off the buckets, lay your forearms across the lid to steady the bucket then pry up with your hands/fingers. I usually take mine off when the bucket is on top of the deep freezer. If I need to add dry hops while it is inside the deep freezer I remove the airlock and add them (pellets). Same offer here; any one wanting to retire some buckets, PM me.
Golddiggie
Well-Known Member
@Yambor44... Yeah, that's not gonna happen... Few issues...
1. no chest freezer here.
2. not using buckets anymore to ferment in.
3. plan to use the bucket to catch the grain as I mill it moving forward, so no buckets to 'retire' just going to re-purpose it..
1. no chest freezer here.
2. not using buckets anymore to ferment in.
3. plan to use the bucket to catch the grain as I mill it moving forward, so no buckets to 'retire' just going to re-purpose it..
beerchemist
Well-Known Member
I just discovered* that my local grocery store sells 4-gal Monadnock spring water bottles for $4.99, with no deposit. They're made of PET, just like the better bottles, but thinner (for comparison, my 3-gal Better Bottle was $23.95 at the LHBS). At that price, I don't feel bad chucking it if it gets nasty after several batches.
* a quick search shows that this was discovered over 2 years ago, back when they were only $3.99.
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