I love my glass carboys but.....

[SEndorf]

As a noob with 6 batches under my belt, I enjoy reading all of the various debates on methods / procedures.
I have 2 - 6.5 carboys and 2 -5 gal carboys. Bought the clamp on handles, broke a 5'er (fortunately empty) while cleaning as it slipped out of my hands and replaced them all with the brew haulers. Found out the hard way - starsan is dang slippery.
Also, can't drain upside down with those neck handles. Got 3 for sale. Any takers?
Glass and brew haulers is the only way I'll go!

 

[LovesIPA]

I would absolutely pay $90 for that.

That's what I was thinking. For $90 I'd probably eventually replace all of my fermenters with them. But for some reason $135 just isn't justifiable for me.

 

[Quixoticosis]

I've only just brewed by second batch of beer, but as soon as I have the first batch out of the glass carboy, I'm selling it and doing primary in buckets (with their handy handles) and any batch aging in a better bottle. I had my moment of realization when I was looking at the carboy in the swamp cooler after having just dragged it over a bit to make room for the soon-to-be second batch. I'm a 5'4" woman and a veritable klutz on top of it - there is no way I am going to be able to get that carboy out of the swamp cooler safely by myself. I'm sure lots of people can use them with few concerns, but, for me, they are absolutely not safe. And this is my hobby - I don't want to have to wait for the boy or another friend to come by just so I can move the beer.

The second batch is currently fermenting in plastic, and it's doing a fine job. It was fun watching the yeast do their yeasty thing, but I was sold on the bucket the minute I needed to move it and I could do so (relatively) easily.

 

[SamGruvr]

IMHO... Beer is much more resilient than many give it credit for. A suck back, some daylight or a slightly off temp will not ruin your beer. Bad sanitation or a broken back will, and ruin your day to boot. Brew on friends, figure out what works and brew the hell out of it.

 

[frew]

i have a few carboys and a few buckets, both make the same beer. I recently bought 2 6.5 gallon carboys and within less than 48 hours of owning i shattered a full one when it tapped the side of my stairs on the way inside. Cut my hand and had a hell of a clean up with all the little shards, this didn't deter me from using glass just to be more careful and realize that these things are bloody heavy when full. Oh before you all freak it was full of sanatizer

 

[doornumber3]

I just got 2 of the brew haulers. Thanks for the recommendation

 

[unionrdr]

My father used a glass carboy. Bloody thing was too heavy to be practical. I while back I traded a member in WY my 45 Cooper's PET bottles for his 6G BB he no longer used. I used cold PBW solution (1.5oz/G of water) with a carboy brush,gently & it cleaned right up. Mold spots & all. PBW is a great mold lifter,& does so very quickly. Plus sticky dustygreasygrimygoferguts as well.
The 6GBB is also great for hauling 5 gallons of local spring water home. Put it in the back seat with two gallon jugs of water,& I'm good to go.
I mostly wanted it for for aging/lagering (eventually)...but mainly for oaking my Whiskely Ale,which is a 6G batch. I'd like to get a 5G BB as well for 5G batches to minimalize head space with the two different batch sizes.
5G of water is heavy enough without a glass carboy adding to it. Wort is denser yet,so it's even heavier. BB for me at my age for safety & lighter weight.

 

[VegasJ]

been using a glass carboy since my brew start over 1.5 yrs ago.

Northern Brewer sent an email for buy 1, get 1 free "Bubbler" bottles. Either 5 ga or 6 ga plastic carboys - so I picked up 2 for about $30 shipped.

A deal I couldn't pass up since I brew in the basement & the floor is concrete... I've had premonitions of the glass carboy slipping & hitting the ground.

Those Bubblers from NB Look like they have a bigger opening, a more conical bottom for sediment. I have a batch in 1 now as its secondary.

 

[govner1]

This has been discussed a lot and it's almost like a Ford vs Chevy debate. Some people feel VERY strongly about it too. Basically the high points are

GLASS CARBOYS
Pros
Doesn't scratch easily
Blocks O2
Easy to clean
Doesn't 'suck-back' when lifted
More expensive

Cons
Can hurt you really badly if it breaks
Heavy
Heat shock sensitive

BETTER BOTTLES
Pros
Cheaper
Not heat shock sensitive, but you shouldn't exceed 125f in a better bottle according to the manufacturer.
Safer - won't cut you badly if it breaks
Light weight - much easier to lift and carry

Cons
'Sucks-back' when lifted
Harder to clean since you can't use a carboy brush on them. (
PBW makes it a sinch though)

There are other reasons, but those are the highlights. I use 4 better bottles and 2 carboys as fermentors, but I always use the better bottles if they are empty just because they are so light weight and I don't have to worry about injuring myself. If I had room in my mini fridges I would put them in milk crates to prevent the suck-back problem, but there isn't room.

*Edit*
Change price comparison, apparently Carboys are more expensive than Better Bottles all around, initial price and shipping.

I use all BB's for both primary & secondary. I've "solved" the suck back issue by inserting a sanitized #10 stopper before I move the BB. Then I simply replace the airlock after I'm finished.

 

[funnycreature]

No, it came with both ports, and the gasketed-hole in the lid for the airlock. They also provide two stainless steel plugs so you can cover one or both of the ports. The valve is an extra $20, but SO worth it (it comes apart for cleaning with a simple allen wrench). The other thing is that the company advertises this particular carboy as "5 gallon", but I've got 5 1/2 gallons in it with a few inches to spare. I haven't measured, but I think the "5 gallon" size will easily fit 6 1/2 gallons.

Thanks! Just one more question: Where did you get the thermowell fitting from? Do you think I could use one of them with the probe from an STC-1000?

 

[unionrdr]

Thanks! Just one more question: Where did you get the thermowell fitting from? Do you think I could use one of them with the probe from an STC-1000?

Midwest carries those. But idk about fitting 6.5G in a 5G BB...maybe you have the 6G size like mine??

 

[funnycreature]

Midwest carries those. But idk about fitting 6.5G in a 5G BB...maybe you have the 6G size like mine??

I'm actually referring to the Deep Wood Cavern 5 gal which will ferment up to 6 gal. Maybe you quoted the wrong post? I might continue my "probe through the airlock hole thing" if I decide to buy one of these babies.

 

[unionrdr]

I'm actually referring to the Deep Wood Cavern 5 gal which will ferment up to 6 gal. Maybe you quoted the wrong post? I might continue my "probe through the airlock hole thing" if I decide to buy one of these babies.

I was actually referring to more than one post. I just didn't think to list both of them. The carboy in question was "advertised" as a 5 gallon,but he got more in it. I wondered,if it's a 5G carboy,how do you get 5.5-6 gallons in it? Answer is it's not a 5 gallon carboy. 5G should go up to the neck in a 5G carboy. Used as a secondary,you want to minimize the head space as much as possible. Unlike when used as a fermenter,where you want at least a gallon of head space for co2 & krausen. Thus my BB is 6 gallon,so a 5G batch has a 1 gallon head space.

 

[NickTheGreat]

I've got two better bottles and have done 20 - 30 gallons through them. Was cleaning one last night and it almost looks like there is some scratches near the top. Probably from my bottle brush.

I'm now worried

 

[unionrdr]

Scratches near the top shouldn't matter much. That part stays above the liquid in co2 gas anyway. my 2c worth...

 

[NickTheGreat]

Scratches near the top shouldn't matter much. That part stays above the liquid in co2 gas anyway. my 2c worth...

Yeah this is probably in the liquid. But I'm going to check once the carboy is dry and see if it's as bad as I thought

 

[unionrdr]

When I first got mine in a trade,it had to be cleaned from being stored unused for a long time. I had to start telling myself to be careful with the exposed wire parts of the carboy brush. Had to figure out new ways to scrub with it so as not to scratch the plastic. PBW made that job real easy.

 

[hanson95]

Thanks! Just one more question: Where did you get the thermowell fitting from? Do you think I could use one of them with the probe from an STC-1000?

I got mine from Brewers Hardware (Part # TWNS8, $10.95). And, yes, it does fit the probe from my STC-1000. After I got the thermowell, I realized that I needed to add a stainless nut in order to tighten it properly - but I can't remember where I got that (LHBS?).

 

[funnycreature]

I received my Depp Wood Cavern (5 gal) yesterday and it's a beauty! Got the valve as well and they even applied the PTFE tape to it Will think about the thermowell for the future but I promised myself that I'm done with purchasing equipment for a while (yeah, right...)

If everything goes well it will hold my 2nd rendition of Denny's infamous Vanilla Imperial Porter this weekend. Glad I stumbled across this thread :rockin:

 

[unionrdr]

here's the thermowell thing I spotted on Midwests' site; http://www.midwestsupplies.com/stopper-thermowell.html

 

[SEndorf]

I don't have experience with the thermowell from Midwest supply, but there seems to be a number of complaints about the stopper being too small. I got mine at ETCsupply.com. 21.99 works perfectly.

 

[grathan]

You can brew, cool, pitch and ferment all in a single container!

Anyone doing this?

 

[BradTheGeek]

You are all wrong!

Wooden barrels are where its at!

Pros:
Flavor
No broken glass
Doesn't suck back

Cons:
Heavy as a tree (it is wood!)
Can't watch your brew
Guests think you are a vintner


All joking aside, even as a newb I have to say glass. I have three 1 gal., and one 5 gal. My girlfriend and I both try to use as little plastic as possible anywhere.

 

[Melana]

Sorry if you use glass you are going to die!!

Aren't we all....

We're from the glass side of the debate...

 

[BBBF]

You can vacuum rack with glass carboys. You definately can't with BB and I don't know about cornies or other stainless containers. It's a minor convenience, when I'm tranfering into a corny it seems to take sooooo much longer than vacuum racking into a glass carboy.

 

[drksky]

When I first got mine in a trade,it had to be cleaned from being stored unused for a long time. I had to start telling myself to be careful with the exposed wire parts of the carboy brush. Had to figure out new ways to scrub with it so as not to scratch the plastic. PBW made that job real easy.

Better Bottle cleaning: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/carboy-washer-422532/

 

[SamGruvr]

I'd read it.. but hadn't tried it yet... thinking about it as I like the idea..

 

[unionrdr]

That carboy washer does have merit.