Is blowoff desirable?

[harrv]

I want to get a glass carboy for primary fermentation. With the HBS I'm looking at, I can choose between 5 gal, 6 gal, and 6.5 gal. Which should I get?

I know blowoff can still happen with 6.5, but would be less likely than with 6 or 5 gal. I've read several different discussions about blowoff. Some of what I've read suggests that blowoff is a good thing because it gets rid of some of the harsher elements in the fermentation process by drawing it out of your beer. Is this really a big deal? And if so, should I try to get blowoff by getting a 5 or 6 gallon carboy instead of 6.5?

If blowoff doesn't make beer noticeably better then I'd rather have more finished product than less in which case I should go for the bigger carboy, right?

I'm sure this question has been asked a hundred times, so any links or advice you could give me would be appreciated.

Oh, I forgot to mention this, but please assume I'm making 5 gallon kits or using 5 gallon recipes.

Thanks,
harrv

 

[JasonInBTR]

More headspace is always better. Just brewed my 3rd batch (Racer 5) that had a OG of 1.070 and about 5.25g volume. The morning after pitching it was pushing into the neck of my 6.5g carboy. I didn't use a blowoff on this one but probably should have. If I had a 6g carboy it probably would have been a bit of a mess. I also have a 5g carboy for secondary. I really just secondary at this point to free up the bigger primary but will be dry hopping this batch.

What do you want to get a glass carboy for? To see what is going on? I am probably going to start getting buckets for primary and try to find a couple more glass 5g for secondary but haven't really decided yet. It is neat to see what is going on during ferment.

Jason

 

[Mmenges]

It depends on what you're trying to do. If you should be using a 5 gallon carboy in secondary because there is less headspace, thus less oxidation. If you're only going to be using your carboy as a primary fermenter during the fermentation process (which is pretty standard unless you're dryhopping or aging for a considerable amount of time) then a 6 or 6.5 gallon carboy is probably more suited to your needs.

 

[harrv]

Thanks for the replies so far. Yeah, I should have explained a little more. I already have a 5 gallon carboy that I use for conditioning/secondary. And I have a 7 gallon bucket for primary. I've only done one batch of beer so far, and I really wanted to be able to see what is going on. I also want to increase my capacity a little so that I could do two simultaneous batches if I wanted. I also like the idea of glass for primary fermentation because of the durability and because it's harder to scratch.

It sounds like I should really go for the 6 or 6.5 gallon carboy, but I'd still really like to know whether I should encourage blowoff or not. When you have blowoff, are you making your beer better by getting rid of more bitter resins, etc?

 

[IceFisherChris]

Saying that overflow is great reminds me of those magnetic bracelets or the foot toxin pads. I just don't believe it. I wouldn't get a 5 gallon for fermenting. On Better bottles, 5 gallons of beer goes right up to the neck meaning you will get a lot of overflow. You'll probably get annoyed with the major clean up too.. And there may be those times where you need the extra space. For example, I just did an all grain brew and came out with 5.5 gallons. Not what I was going for but I would sure hate to dump out a 6 pack of beer!

If you get glass, you might want to take some precautions such as wrapping the outside in clear packaging tape, or putting some felt on the bottom. Do a search and you will hear horror stories from people who had a carboy randomly shatter. The tape should help keep any pieces together and the felt will absorb some shock.

 

[harrv]

Thanks!

 

[mccabedoug]

Why do you want a glass carboy for primary? They are harder to clean, more susceptible to breakage and more expensive than buckets. I've used nothing but buckets for 7+ yr and would never dream of using a glass carboy for primary. For me, first and foremost, it's simply a matter of convenience. A bucket is a breeze to deal with. Period.

Regarding blowoff, I would say NO, it is not a needed or 'good.' It's a waste of beer. I don't have blowoffs any more, even when I pitch a quart of harvested yeast in the summer. I use Fermcap-S. A few drops and blow-offs are an unpleasant, messy memory.

 

[IceFisherChris]

True, buckets are way better in my opinion too... The best feature is that they can be STACKED! 5 buckets take up the same floor space as a carboy!

 

[harrv]

Why do you want a glass carboy for primary? They are harder to clean, more susceptible to breakage and more expensive than buckets. I've used nothing but buckets for 7+ yr and would never dream of using a glass carboy for primary. For me, first and foremost, it's simply a matter of convenience. A bucket is a breeze to deal with. Period.

Regarding blowoff, I would say NO, it is not a needed or 'good.' It's a waste of beer. I don't have blowoffs any more, even when I pitch a quart of harvested yeast in the summer. I use Fermcap-S. A few drops and blow-offs are an unpleasant, messy memory.

Good to see there are people who love the bucket. I'm still getting a feel for the pros and cons of glass and plastic. I've seen a lot of posts from people on here who use all glass. Two drawbacks to the bucket I ran into with my first batch are (1) I got suckback from the airlock into the beer when I moved the bucket, and (2) I racked from the bucket to the carboy for conditioning too early, which I doubt I would have done if I could have seen the active kreusen in the fermenter. I know I should be using the hydrometer to make that decision, or just be more patient in general, but by the time I had sanitized everything and gotten ready to transfer the beer, I decided to go ahead with it anyway after I opened the bucket.

I'll likely continue to use the bucket, even if I get another carboy. Like I said in my previous post, I'm interested in increasing my capacity and if I'm getting another fermenter anyway, I thought I might want one of each...that way I can get experience with both.

Thanks for answering my blowoff question. If I get a carboy I'll get the one with the most head space. I may wait another batch or two though, and will consider another bucket instead if I have good luck with my upcoming batches.

I hadn't heard of Fermcap-S before. I'm interested in that, for sure. I'll do a bit more reading about it. Do you add it to the boil, or add it directly to the fermenter? How does it affect the finished product?

Thanks again.

 

[ajf]

Why do you want a glass carboy for primary? They are harder to clean, more susceptible to breakage and more expensive than buckets. I've used nothing but buckets for 7+ yr and would never dream of using a glass carboy for primary. For me, first and foremost, it's simply a matter of convenience. A bucket is a breeze to deal with. Period.

Regarding blowoff, I would say NO, it is not a needed or 'good.' It's a waste of beer. I don't have blowoffs any more, even when I pitch a quart of harvested yeast in the summer. I use Fermcap-S. A few drops and blow-offs are an unpleasant, messy memory.

Q. Why do you want a glass carboy for primary?
A1. Because I can see what is going on without having to pry off the lid.
A2. Because SWMBO has never tried to use a carboy for tie dying, or for moving potting soil, or anything else that she uses buckets for.
A3. Because in the long run, they are cheaper (especially if you have a SWMBO like mine).
A4. Because I can't fit a thermowell in a bucket, and that's how I control fermentation temperatures.
A5. Because I've had several gusher infections introduced by a contaminated bucket, but never had a contaminated carboy.
A6. Because most of my carboys were produced a long time before Ale Pales were invented.
A7. A carboy is no more difficult to clean than a bucket.

I've used both in 35+ years of brewing. For me, first and foremost, it's simply a matter of convenience. A carboy is a breeze to deal with. Period.

However, I agree that blowoffs are truly evil.

-a.

 

[ajf]

True, buckets are way better in my opinion too... The best feature is that they can be STACKED! 5 buckets take up the same floor space as a carboy!

Be careful about stacking buckets. I use buckets to mill my grain, and the bucket is placed on the basement floor. This causes the bottom of the bucket to get scratched. Stacking a bucket with a scratched base inside another bucket will scratch the inside of the outer bucket.
When I stack buckets, I wrap the inner bucket in a trash bag before nesting it in the outer bucket. This prevents the inside of the outer bucket from being damaged by the outside of the inner bucket.

-a.

 

[Nuggethead]

I agree with ajf, I like 6.5 carboys for primaries. The only infections I've ever had were in buckets and my sanitation goes above and beyond a lot of peoples. Buckets can scratch easily and harbor the little creatures that destroy your hard work, especially the spigots. Just more there to have to worry about. Can't go wrong with glass, just heavier and more breakable but with care they are not a problem for me. With buckets you can take gravity readings easier through the spigot, Rack to secondary without siphoning, and remove dry hops easier, but all this aside, I still like carboys.

 

[jackers252]

Put me in the bucket over the carboy crowd. I use a blow off on every batch (1/2" tubing attached to the three piece airlock).

I don't secondary unless I have a fruit beer like a pumpkin ale. I even dry hop in my primary bucket. After three or four weeks, I keg. Beer is crystal clear.

 

[Hermit]

Some folks use the blow off as a yeast collection method. I don't think that is your worry at this point though. I think it is just as easy to make extra starter and save some of that.

 

[ChshreCat]

Buckets and Better Bottles here.

On blowoff... I read a very respected brewer's book (can't remember which) who talked about tasting the blowoff and after finding it bitter says "I can't imagine wanting that in my beer!". Well, I CAN! Not sure what kind of brewer doesn't see bitterness as a basic component of most beer.

 

[harrv]

Thanks for all the replies. It sounds like there's consensus that there's no good reason to WANT blowoff (unless you're trying to collect yeast that way). That's useful to know.

I also appreciate all the info about buckets and carboys, although I wasn't initially asking about that. One of the best things about this forum is being able to learn from your experience...especially since I have none to speak of yet.

Regardless of whether I want blowoff, I'll prepare for it anyway, but choose fermenters with head space. I also want to look into Fermcap-S and a thermowell--both of which I learned about for the first time in this thread.

Thanks,
harrv