I'm over carboys...

[estricklin]

Ya I never bought into the glass carboy crap. I mean plastic carboy would be ok but buckets are so versatile and cheap. Oh and don't buy into that crap about HDPE leaking air or whatever that crap is they say. I pressure test HDPE pipe at work quite often, it's good stuff. Oh and with a bucket you can have a spigot too.

 

[aubiecat]

Ya I never bought into the glass carboy crap. I mean plastic carboy would be ok but buckets are so versatile and cheap. Oh and don't buy into that crap about HDPE leaking air or whatever that crap is they say. I pressure test HDPE pipe at work quite often, it's good stuff. Oh and with a bucket you can have a spigot too.

Buckets are for hauling crap, glass carboys are for fermenting beer. Of course you can put crap in a carboy it's just not as easy as putting crap in a bucket.
Oh crap I need to go rack my cream ale out of my glass carboy.

 

[mewithstewpid]

Buckets are for hauling crap, glass carboys are for fermenting beer. Of course you can put crap in a carboy it's just not as easy as putting crap in a bucket.
Oh crap I need to go rack my cream ale out of my glass carboy.

Lol, because the quality of beer you make is dependent on whether you use a plastic bucket or glass carboy, right?

 

[kh54s10]

I have a bucket that I rarely use and a couple of 6 gallon Better Bottles. I find the Better Bottles are EASIER to clean than the bucket. Some Oxyclean for a soak, drain, add some hot water and a washcloth, swirl and drain - done.

Did not and will never consider a glass carboy. Too heavy and too dangerous.

 

[Braufessor]

Over 17 years I started with buckets, went to carboys, tried a better bottle, used a couple V-Vessels, Dropped a 6.5 gallon carboy through the bottom of my brew sink, thought about stainless conicle .......... did the math....

Back to buckets. I still have a couple 5 gallon carboys for long term secondary of big beers. But I have 8 buckets, and that is all I use. Don't see myself ever using anything else again. I also now use bottling buckets with spigots for all fermenting - no more siphoning either. Buckets and spigots are really easy to clean. I replace spigots/buckets as I feel necessary because they are cheap. Have not had a single infection in the last 3-4 years since going back to only buckets (40+ batches per year). I would say I had more infections/problems with all other types of fermenters than with buckets.

To me, the biggest downfall of most other options is the simple fact that they are a PITA to clean. Not buckets.

 

[ktblunden]

I've been using buckets primarily and I have a better bottle to use for secondary, but with that being such a pain in the ass to clean I'll probably just stick with buckets. I'm somewhat clumsy and accident prone, so glass carboys scare the crap out of me. I can just picture myself dropping it while cleaning it.

 

[aubiecat]

Lol, because the quality of beer you make is dependent on whether you use a plastic bucket or glass carboy, right?

No, I don't care what others use for fermenting their beer because that is what they are satisfied with. I was just making fun of the crappy crap post before mine.

 

[ajbram]

Sold my carboys and will be doing the rest of my beers in cornies using the closed-system pressurized fermentation system.

I brewed with glass for years, but I am ready to now go rogue.

I have 5 cornies... How well does this work? I would like to know more about it.

 

[aerod1]

No glass........or sky diving for me! I use Ale Buckets and Better Bottles.

 

[Jroy]

I've used and loved glass for almost 10 years. After my recent injury (see my post in general chit-chat) I am going for all better bottles. I will keep a few 5 gallon glass around for extended aging and sours though.

 

[BetterSense]

The only reason I use my carboy is I kind of like looking at the beer. It's probably not a feature, honestly, because it's probably better to be out of site, out of mind.

I just wish I could find something like this in 7 gallon size with some kind of lid:

http://www.webstaurantstore.com/cam...-round-food-storage-container/214RFSCW18.html

 

[DGibb]

I just wish I could find something like this in 7 gallon size with some kind of lid:

http://www.webstaurantstore.com/cam...-round-food-storage-container/214RFSCW18.html

I found the 5.5gallon (22qt) version here:

http://schweppeinc.com/products/660320?link=/products/shelving-storage/food-storage-containers&page=2&limit=50&sort=name

Is this similar to what you were thinking?

 

[rico567]

I still have the two glass carboys that came in my original kit from MW. I've never done a primary in either one of them. I can't see any reason (other than for those who insist on being able to watch BrewTV) why I should use a carboy when the white plastic bucket is superior in every way that I can see. I have come to this conclusion after five years' experience and many batches. If I need to do a bulk aging, maybe they get used, but more likely it'll be a Better Bottle, they're just so much easier and safer to deal with.

 

[BBBF]

Buckets - Always my first choice for fermentations. Light, better, easy to airate, easy to add fruit or dry hop, easy to clean and cheap.
6.5 gal glass carboy - I've used it in a pinch for fermentations, but I would rather have 6.5 gallons of mead bulk aging in it and not touching it for a year or two. Cleaning it and moving it around makes me uncomfortable.
5 gal glass carboys - I keep these around for secondary or bulk aging mead. I trust them more for long term aging then Better Bottles. Cornies offer better protecton against oxidation, but I like to be able to see if I need to rack off the lees.
3 gal glass carboys - They're easier to handle, so I'll stick with them.
5 gal. Pyrex - Harder than glass, so I feel a little safer and it has a lip that makes it easier to hold onto. If I had more, I'd use them over regular carboys.
5 gal Better Bottles - I have two, but I don't use them much. They are a combinaton of the good and bad of buckets and glass carboys, but I'd rather just use a bucket or carboy as needed. I think their best use is as a secondary, but I rearly do that. So they mostly just sit until I run out of buckets for small batches or carboys for aging.

 

[knotquiteawake]

I started brewing with glass so I've always been partial to it.
I tried a bucket a couple times and my main complaint is that they are not as heavy as the glass so they tend to float up a bit in the party bucket I keep it in for temp control (filling the party bucket with water and ice bottles). The glass carboys just sit on the bottom of the party bucket no problem.

Also I like siphoning in the glass better than in the bucket because I can tell if I'm sucking up too much yeast and then I can adjust it accordingly (move the siphon up a little higher).

 

[krenshaw]

6 gallon better bottles only for me.. after i rack from one, just do quick rince, then half a scoop of oxy then fill it up to the brim.. let it sit a day or two then rinse out.. on the occasion where i'm too lazy to clean right away and some crud builds up in the shoulder of the bottle, just put some oxy in with a handful of rice, cap the top, and shake it up.. the slight abrasion from the rice cleans of gunk w/o scratching the inside.. since i have 4 of them and never had a problem no reason for me to switch to anything else

 

[mewithstewpid]

No, I don't care what others use for fermenting their beer because that is what they are satisfied with. I was just making fun of the crappy crap post before mine.

oops, sorry my fault. thats what i get for skimming the thread

 

[BrewAlchemy]

Over 17 years I started with buckets, went to carboys, tried a better bottle, used a couple V-Vessels, Dropped a 6.5 gallon carboy through the bottom of my brew sink, thought about stainless conicle .......... did the math....

Back to buckets. I still have a couple 5 gallon carboys for long term secondary of big beers. But I have 8 buckets, and that is all I use. Don't see myself ever using anything else again. I also now use bottling buckets with spigots for all fermenting - no more siphoning either. Buckets and spigots are really easy to clean. I replace spigots/buckets as I feel necessary because they are cheap. Have not had a single infection in the last 3-4 years since going back to only buckets (40+ batches per year). I would say I had more infections/problems with all other types of fermenters than with buckets.

To me, the biggest downfall of most other options is the simple fact that they are a PITA to clean. Not buckets.

Thats what im talking about.

 

[watersr]

Buckets are for hauling crap, glass carboys are for fermenting beer. Of course you can put crap in a carboy it's just not as easy as putting crap in a bucket.
Oh crap I need to go rack my cream ale out of my glass carboy.

That's some funny crap right there!

 

[shoreman]

I use buckets for everything except I still have 2 three gallon carboys for long aging sours or cider .

I don't know why you wouldnt use them especially of you keg - 2 weeks primary in bucket, straight to keg - easy washout.

I'll buy a new few every year at more beer for $8 and use the old ones for storage

 

[TheMan]

I started with glass only. When I ran out of fermenters I began using Corny kegs for fermenting. Eventually a carboy broke on me. Not fun. So I used corny kegs only for a couple years because I can fit more of them in my fermentation freezer. But about 3 months ago I decided to start using buckets after having never used one. And wow, I'm glad I did. I'll be using buckets from now on. When space is tight I'll use a corny, but not until then. And when I need to age a beer, I'll either use corny kegs or get myself a better bottle. One exploding carboy is enough to make you dislike them forever.

 

[BetterSense]

I just 'racked' a beer out of a bucket to a keg last night.

Since my spigot is a bit off the bottom of the bucket, I just set the bucket on the counter and drain the whole bucket right into the keg. Didn't even have to sanitize my auto-siphon or clean it afterward. Didn't even have to take the lid all the way off, if I didn't want to. Then I harvested 3 batches worth of yeast with an ice-cream scoop. None of these things is possible with a carboy.

 

[Brewitt]

If anyone finds clear or at least partially transparent buckets of 6-7 gallons with tight fitting lids, I would love to pick up a couple. I do like easily seeing the krausen and the volume in the bucket. 5.5 gallons is a little tight since I like to ferment about that much to get 5 gallons to bottle.

 

[daksin]

I started in better bottles, but haven't bought another since the first. Buckets are just too easy, and with oxyclean and a soft cloth there's no need to scrub them. There goes literally all the advantages of glass. Buckets for me.

 

[BrewAlchemy]

I just 'racked' a beer out of a bucket to a keg last night.

Since my spigot is a bit off the bottom of the bucket, I just set the bucket on the counter and drain the whole bucket right into the keg. Didn't even have to sanitize my auto-siphon or clean it afterward. Didn't even have to take the lid all the way off, if I didn't want to. Then I harvested 3 batches worth of yeast with an ice-cream scoop. None of these things is possible with a carboy.

I didnt even think of the easiness to harvest yeast.

 

[Braufessor]

I just 'racked' a beer out of a bucket to a keg last night.

Since my spigot is a bit off the bottom of the bucket, I just set the bucket on the counter and drain the whole bucket right into the keg. Didn't even have to sanitize my auto-siphon or clean it afterward. Didn't even have to take the lid all the way off, if I didn't want to. Then I harvested 3 batches worth of yeast with an ice-cream scoop. None of these things is possible with a carboy.

Yep -that is exactly what I do. After I have the bucket sanitized, I do put a sanwhich bag over the spigot with a twist-tie for length ofprimary fermentation, just to keep dust, dirt, etc., out of it. When primary is done, set it on the counter, take the baggy off, spray the spigot well with starsan, just in case, and drain to keg (or bottling bucket.) The yeast stays on bottom of bucket, once the beer is off, swirl it up, tip bucket to drain the last of what is in there into a couple sanitized mason jars to reuse the yeast. Just does not get much easier.

 

[ajlee]

Better Bottles (plastic carboy) eliminate a lot of the weight but still are a pain to clean...

I've never needed anything but a little PBW and a jet bottle washer to clean my better bottles. Soak, blast, done.

 

[Brewitt]

That's what I do too but with oxyclean! Great way to go, even when they are really grungy from a stout or something similar.

 

[Zamial]

I still have my carboys and am not planning to get rid of them but I mainly use them for wine now. I ferment in sanke kegs and LOVE them. Being "able to see" is overrated after a year of brewing, IMO. Cleaning is cheap and easy with boiling water and a shaped carboy brush. It takes about 1 minute with a flashlight and inspection mirror to inspect the areas of the keg you can not see. As a bonus I can also do closed pressurized fermentation. Oh ya they are nearly indestructible. I use my old Ale Pails for sours and grain buckets now...

 

[ColumbusAmongus]

I don't understand the general aversion to buckets, I ferment every batch in the same bucket I bought when I started brewing in 2008. Original lid as well. No infections no explosions no issues whatsoever. Easy to clean and aerate, only downside is you can't watch the magic happen.

I am glad you brought that up. I think there is a little over exaggeration about getting bacterial infections from scratches in the plastic. Exact same here...still using the buckets that were in my starter kit from 4 years ago with no issues. I think these micro scratches that you cant see are just a convenient excuse for infections coming from elsewhere.