Is there an advantage to using a carboy over a 5 gallon bucket?

[blewis1984]

So long story short, I've been contemplating getting into the home brew hobby for quite some time and I've finally decided to dive in. I'm getting all the equipment together that I need to get started and I just have one question. Is there a reason using a carboy as a fermentor is better than using a bucket? Is it just so that you can keep a better eye on what's going on in there or what?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Nateo]

Here's a good thread with some pros/cons of different fermenters:
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f39/vs-pro-con-analysis-109318/

 

[lumpher]

that's about the only reason. as for mine, plastic: 2 5g's, 1 6.5g, 1 7.9g, 1 15g. glass: 1 5g, 1 6.5g.

 

[blewis1984]

Thanks, Nateo. Great thread. Answered a lot of questions.

 

[BrewForMe]

If you are new to brewing and it doesnt break the bank, get a carboy, or better bottle. In my experience, it was killing me to see what was going on during fermentation. It is tough to leave the cover on the bucket for 2 weeks and not be able to see that everything is going as planned. Thats just my opinion, but i bought a carboy after my second batch and i love it

 

[rico567]

I've got satellite, I don't need "Brew TV." I brew in three 7 gal. US Plastics buckets. The carboys (2 glass and 2 BBs) just sit now, unless I need them for some special secondary, like bulk aging. For me, there is no reason to ferment in a carboy.

 

[unionrdr]

Same here,rico. I don't need to see all the foaming & churning. Got enough of that making wine years ago. But if you like,that's fine. I think ale pales,& the cooper's micro brew FV I have are better. They have a large opening to easily get things in-n-out quick. Not so with carboys.
Small opening makes it difficult to add things,clean them,etc. And all my buckets have spigots on them,making things even easier come bottling time. Or cleaning,for that matter. & with a bad back,hip joint,knees,& gout & arthritis in my feet,I need easy & quick. Not to mention,ways to do as much as possible sitting down.

 

[SteveM]

My two cents: I like the simplicity of cleaning the bucket. For that reason, and because of my fear of something glass that big, I got rid of my carboys. If I need one some time (like for some fancy secondary), I would go out and get a Better Bottle.

 

[eastoak]

i'm getting rid of my glass carboys, my little girls are always swarming around me when i'm brewing or bottling. most of the time i use my buckets and only use the glass when i run out of buckets. the other day i was at more beer and they had a 6 gallon better bottle on the discount rack for $20, they used it for water at a meeting or something, so i bought it but have not used it yet. if i'm curious about what's going on inside the bucket i open it but i've brewed enough batches now that that compulsion is gone, i only open it to take hydro readings or to add hops.

 

[JohnTheBrewist]

Buckets are cheap and easy. I've been using them for years and will never buy another carboy. Go to your local baker (the ones in Sam's Club or Costso are great) and ask if you can their empty 6 gallon buckets. Then add a $2.00 spigot, an airlock or blowoff tube, and you're set.

 

[HomebrewMTB]

If you're doing 5 gallon batches, you'll need more than a 5 gallon bucket. I would suggest 6.5 gallon container with a blow off tube.

 

[Revvy]

It doesn't matter, none is any better than the other, they both make beer. It's about what you prefer, nothing more, and there are hundreds of threads already discussing this.

 

[blewis1984]

And now there's one more


Again, thanks for the replies everyone. I'll be heading down to my LHBS tomorrow and doing a bit of shopping. Probably start my first batch next weekend. I'll let you know how my experience goes

 

[onipar]

As a beginner, I still have that false notion that the carboys (plastic or glass) are somehow better because of the huge price difference, and the fact that a lot of more experienced brewers seem to use them.

I know that's not necessarily true, but it's a hard thing to shake, even when you have all the facts.

I only use buckets at the moment. I've considered the better bottle because I'm curious about adding fruit into a secondary, but slowly I've reconsidered, thinking it'd be much, much easier to clean used up fruit out of a bucket.