NB Big Mouth Bubbler

[merc82]

I see mixed reviews on this.... on the NB website and on here, mostly about the cap. I am considering picking up a glass one and the "Depth Charge" feature for my next beer. Has NB done anything to make the cap issue any better? How are these holding up? Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[mongoose33]

I have several of them. Originally when they came out with the "universal" lid people had trouble keeping them from popping off the top. Since then, I think they've redone the lid somehow because this seems not to be much of a problem any more.

The easy fix, if it happens to you, is to simply reverse the silicone gasket. It'll stay down.

 

[LittleRiver]

The lid will creep open, but only when it is wet (with sanitizer). This has not been a big issue for me. When I put it in my fermentation chamber (a wine mini fridge), I have a piece of wooden dowel that I cut to fit between the lid and the top of the chamber. After a day or so the dowel can come out.

 

[gunhaus]

I have four of them with the stupid rubber cork lid thingy and I don't give a hoot which way you flip the gasket, how dry you make them or what else you do - THEY DO NOT stay in. I gave in and resorted to ratchet straps to hold them down. Why they refuse to make a real lid like they do for the little Big mouth I cannot fathom. I can say we will NOT be buying any more, and i would only have two now if it hadn't been for the freebie thing they had going back at Christmas time. For free, i would say they were ALMOST worth the price . . . Almost.

 

[Hwk-I-St8]

I have two and love them. I don't think I'd do glass, but that's just personal preference. I like the spigot on the second one I got.

 

[ancientmariner52]

I have four. Two came with spigots, two without. They all have spigots now. All have the threaded lids, and I have had no issues. I think if I had the friction lids, I would just drill two or three 1/8" holes through lid and bottle, above the gasket, and stick some toothpicks in there.

 

[Sbe2]

Check out the Fermonster from morebeer. I have the 7 gallon will a spigot and love it.

 

[Calder]

I liked the old threaded lid. Many people complained that it leaked, so they changed it to the new 'universal lid'. Mine worked fine.

I bought 2 about 6 months ago with the new lid design. And yes, when the lids and seals are wet, the top will not seat properly, but bungs in regular carboys will not either. I don't see an issue with this on a beer that is ready to ferment. Once dry, if you rotate the lid rather than push down, it seems to seal OK.

I have other issues with NB and generally would not recommend buying from them, but the BMB seems to work fine.

 

[merc82]

Any advantages to having glass vs plastic? Besides the obvious I mean ( durability, weight, etc...). I don't know, I have a brew pail and a glass carboy, I prefer to use my carboy, just kinda hard to slip things into the carboy to infuse, thats the only reason i looked into it. Guess I could save a few bucks and use the pail.

 

[ancientmariner52]

In my opinion, the safety and weight issues tilt the balance in favor of plastic. Glass is easier to sanitize and absolutely impermeable to oxygen, but plastic is good enough for my purposes, and won't try to kill me if I happen to mishandle it. I used PET carboys until the BMBs came out in plastic. After one brew, I gave away the carboys. I suppose any other large mouth plastic fermenter will work as well.

 

[mongoose33]

Any advantages to having glass vs plastic? Besides the obvious I mean ( durability, weight, etc...). I don't know, I have a brew pail and a glass carboy, I prefer to use my carboy, just kinda hard to slip things into the carboy to infuse, thats the only reason i looked into it. Guess I could save a few bucks and use the pail.

There's a thread on here somewhere describing all the injuries and messes that broken glass carboys have wrought.

It's gruesome.

Here, I saved you searching for it: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/forum/...orror-stories-compendium.376523/#post-4718871

I have three BMBs. Not a chance in the world I'd trade them for glass carboys. They have spigots, they are light, and they will never, ever, not ever, break and endanger my life or limbs. The fermonster has my endorsement as well. It, of course, is plastic.

YMMV.

 

[Oceangrace24]

I have the big mouth bubbler with the new lid. Since I am constantly spraying with star San, I never let the lid completely dry which does in fact cause it to lift.
I solved the problem by going down to our local play it again sports and bought a couple used 10 lb bar bells weights. I place 1 right on top of the lid and the airlock or blow off tube fits right inside the center of the barbell weight.

 

[merc82]

Well, I went went ahead and picked one up with the depth charge.... gonna do my first all grain BIAB brew here soon and give it a whirl making a tropical NE IPA. I'll let you all know how it goes and possibly pick up a weight to set on top just in case. Thanks for all the advice!

 

[merc82]

Well, I brewed yesterday and got my batch in the the BMB. Some observations on the lid... I do like it a lot so far and have no issues as of yet to speak of about it (fingers crossed). Yeast is hard at work on my NE IPA and thankfully the seal has not budged. Some observations... that seal has to be 100% dry. I made the mistake and left it in my bucket of Starsan for a bit... like a half an hour, I pulled it from the cap and washed it all seperate during the boil. It was saturated. It would not stay on for the life of me until I dryed all components thoroughly (sealing surface on the bubbler,cap and seal itself multiple times. After dying it a few times I pressed it in and tryed to twist it... yanked on the lid and all seems solid, hope I didn't just jinx myself by typing this.....lol.

 

[troutman]

If you have a loose lid for the BMB use a couple large binder clips to help secure it