Plastic vs Glass Carboy

[slazers]

I am interested in starting the home brew process and wondering what people's thoughts are on the plastic vs glass carboy. I have heard some horror stories of glass carboy's shattering and serious injuries occurring. But on the flip side, are there any down falls to using the plastic buckets that a lot of starter kits come with? Something about using a plastic bucket for this process is not sitting well with me either.

Any and all advice is appreciated!

 

[JohnnyO]

Hello, and welcome slazers.

The plastic fermenting buckets or "Ale Pails" work just fine. The only downside to them is that you can't see what is going on with your brew as it is fermenting as you can with the glass or clear plastic carboys. However, the ale pails will block light from hitting your beer, something you have to protect against when using a carboy.

 

[Revvy]

They all make beer....Look at the similar threads box below for a repetition of the same thing. In the 21st century, with modern plastics there is really no difference in using either. Just what you prefer.

 

[Ace_Club]

Plastic buckets are more than fine to use. They're cheap and safe primaries. Lots of people here use them (myself included).

 

[slazers]

Thanks.....but what about any health concerns with plastic. In terms of cleaning and sterilizing and it being absorbed into the plastic for later uses?

 

[BendBrewer]

Thanks.....but what about any health concerns with plastic. In terms of cleaning and sterilizing and it being absorbed into the plastic for later uses?

Look at a grocery store aisle. Almost everything is in plastic. Some concern is understood but they call it Food Grade plastic for a reason.

Main concern with using the buckets is being careful not to scratch the inside. Even using a green scrubbie can cause little scratches.

 

[slazers]

Main concern with using the buckets is being careful not to scratch the inside. Even using a green scrubbie can cause little scratches.

So as long as it stays scratch free on the inside, there is really nothing to worry about.

So just a regular sponge for cleaning is that way to go, or is there something better out there?

 

[Seven]

Thanks.....but what about any health concerns with plastic. In terms of cleaning and sterilizing and it being absorbed into the plastic for later uses?

Use food grade plastic buckets, not just any old bucket from the local hardware store.

I use these plastic buckets from Northern Brewer for primary fermentors and they work very well... although the lids are a bear to get off but I'm thinking this is a good thing. (air tight)

I use 5-gal glass carboys as secondaries only for brews that need extra conditioning time like IPAs and what-not.

 

[Revvy]

Thanks.....but what about any health concerns with plastic. In terms of cleaning and sterilizing and it being absorbed into the plastic for later uses?

The plastics used in brewing (mostly HDPE) are food grade plastics and MEANT to be used for brewing. And have been for decades. Again, it's your choice, nothing more these days.

 

[Rikadyn]

I use these plastic buckets from Northern Brewer for primary fermentors and they work very well... although the lids are a bear to get off but I'm thinking this is a good thing. (air tight)

But a vigorous ferment will still blow the the lid off the bucket.

Good rule of thumb is to cycle out your plastic buckets after a year or so many batches. I cycle my 2 gallon buckets I use for mead every 5-6 batches. plastic tubing every 6 months, auto-siphons once a year (or will be anyway)

 

[BendBrewer]

So as long as it stays scratch free on the inside, there is really nothing to worry about.

So just a regular sponge for cleaning is that way to go, or is there something better out there?

Yeah scratches are your main concern and I just use a cloth rag and some soapy water to clean mine out. I can have one bucket cleaned and dried before my second bucket is done racking into the keg.

 

[Rev2010]

I'm a noob, so take this with a grain of salt. But being a fairly analytical person I don't get why more people don't go with something like the Cooper's fermenters. I know I know, they're noob kit and kilo kits, but the fermenter has pretty much the best of both worlds. It's plastic, is semi-transparent for the body so you can see your brew, the ring the krausen leaves behind when it falls, and the trub floor all without letting in a lot of light (though I still blanket it). And the top lid is more transparent so with a flashlight you can easily see through the condensation and to the top of your beer. On top of that it has the built in spigot like some buckets do. Then there's also the nice wide mouth. It also has a lot of extra head room.

I dunno, maybe I'm missing something but I think it's a good balance between glass and plastic. Again though, I'm a noob so I might be missing something I have yet to experience.


Rev.

 

[BendBrewer]

But being a fairly analytical person I don't get why more people don't go with something like the Cooper's fermenters.

Short answer. Because most people don't care about the things you listed after this sentence. You'll get there too!

 

[McGarnigle]

Plus, Cooper's fermenters aren't as readily available as others.

 

[mcfarlandp]

I have a whopping three batches under my belt, so I do not proclaim to know very much. I spent hours researching the use of glass carboys versus the plastic bottles from Culligan or other water suppliers; The main objection(s) as I understood them were the possible leaching of chemicals and the oxygenation of the beer. Based on what I read and my interpretation; the risks of either are minimal. So, I opted for the $6.00 water bottle vs the more expensive glass or better bottle options.

Getting to the real proof; All three batches have produced great beers with my first winning 3rd place at a competition. I believe it is more important to pay attention to your cleaning/sanitizing processes versus worrying about plastic or glass. Good Luck, relax you will be fine

 

[Rev2010]

Plus, Cooper's fermenters aren't as readily available as others.

True. But when I think of it I don't mind spending $99 for a fermenter being it also comes with 30 740ML bottles + caps, a stick on thermometer (albeit cheapo aquarium type it works), and a mediocre beer kit. Of course the other included pieces are simply spares after getting your first one. If it's a person's first though then they also get a hydrometer, spoon, and airlock.

I think it's a fair price, of course not saying that you don't agree. Some have been had for $85. I ordered a second one this past weekend


Rev.

 

[ongreystreet]

I am using better bottles. I don't think I'd ever use glass, I'm not a clumsy person, but a lot of weigh, water, and free surface effects are just asking for a break.

I thought about try the buckets, but I have a lid for my bottling bucket, but I never attach it all the way because it's a real pain to get on and off.

Any of the choices mentioned will work, try to see some in person to get a better idea.

 

[Golddiggie]

My preference [right now] is for carboy's, either glass or plastic, for primary. I have an old ale aging [with some oak chips] in a corny keg too. For longer term aging/storage, I would go with either glass carboy's or corny kegs. For primary fermentation, I've been liking the PET carboy's...

That being said, I'm working my way towards using corny's for primary too. I haven't done that yet, but I hope to within another month or so. There are kits you can pick up that includes some additional hardware/fittings (replaces the release valve with an item for a blow-off tube as well as some no-foam)... I'll probably just get some tubing to go over one of the fitting posts (with the ball lock removed) to a blow-off bucket during the initial fermentation cycle. Then install an airlock using a short piece of tubing to get it on the same post.

I see corny kegs having several advantages over buckets. Not the least of which is stainless steel construction (zero light penetration possible) and smaller footprint. You also don't need to worry about scratching the insides with a regular scrubber, and you can use PBW/OxyClean to get them nice and shiny again.

 

[McGarnigle]

True. But when I think of it I don't mind spending $99 for a fermenter being it also comes with 30 740ML bottles + caps, a stick on thermometer (albeit cheapo aquarium type it works), and a mediocre beer kit. Of course the other included pieces are simply spares after getting your first one. If it's a person's first though then they also get a hydrometer, spoon, and airlock.

I think it's a fair price, of course not saying that you don't agree. Some have been had for $85. I ordered a second one this past weekend

Rev.

I think it is a good price. I actually looked into Cooper's (after starting by looking into Mr Beer...I ended up with neither). My local LHBS and most of the major online places don't seem to sell these equipment kits, which is what I was talking about.

Those bottles are plastic, right? Nothing really wrong with that, but they're a bargain only if you want and need them.

 

[Rev2010]

Yeah, they're a tough grade plastic like most buckets. They're easy to find and order online. I do think it would benefit them to sell the fermenter separately. I would just as quick get a regular pail from any other beer store, I just don't get why there aren't more plastic fermenters with those features - meaning the transparency aspects namely. Noobs especially like to be able to peak in on their beer without having to expose it to oxygen.

Rev.

 

[slazers]

Thanks everyone! After seeing your responses and reading the other threads about this, I think I will start off with the plastic buckets and when I am ready to move on to a secondary, I will most likely be using the Better Bottles, or something of that nature.

 

[Delorean1981]

Revvy, I can't find it but I know you posted something about the recycle number on the bottom of the buckets pertaining to food grade plastics. I can't remember what you said, but you needed to look for a specific recycle code before using.

I bought a couple 5 gallon plastic buckets from the Depot, havent used yet, but I can't find anything that says they can't be. Would those be ok that are HDPE (code 2) approved? Or would (code 1) be better?

 

[ButcherBrew]

But a vigorous ferment will still blow the the lid off the bucket.

Good rule of thumb is to cycle out your plastic buckets after a year or so many batches. I cycle my 2 gallon buckets I use for mead every 5-6 batches. plastic tubing every 6 months, auto-siphons once a year (or will be anyway)

Is this True? Sorry but first I am hearing that I am going to need to throw away brewing equipment and replace with new stuff? I have spoken to guys on this forum who have been using the same equipment, including plastic fermenters, for 10 years?

Is this more of a preference?

 

[Delorean1981]

Revvy, I can't find it but I know you posted something about the recycle number on the bottom of the buckets pertaining to food grade plastics. I can't remember what you said, but you needed to look for a specific recycle code before using.

I bought a couple 5 gallon plastic buckets from the Depot, havent used yet, but I can't find anything that says they can't be. Would those be ok that are HDPE (code 2) approved? Or would (code 1) be better?

Nvm, found it offsite,
http://www.tastybrew.com/forum/thread/52137

 

[Revvy]

<2> is the optimal.

 

[bschoenb]

Plastic is just fine; I just use a paper towel to clean mine, nothing really sticks to them. They filter out the light and keep me from worrying about every little thing!

 

[Ace_Club]

Is this True? Sorry but first I am hearing that I am going to need to throw away brewing equipment and replace with new stuff? I have spoken to guys on this forum who have been using the same equipment, including plastic fermenters, for 10 years?

Is this more of a preference?

I would think that as long as the bucket isn't harboring any nasties in deep gouges (i.e., you are getting uninfected beer out of a properly sanitized fermenter), then there is no reason to get rid of a perfectly good fermenter.

 

[Revvy]

Is this True? Sorry but first I am hearing that I am going to need to throw away brewing equipment and replace with new stuff? I have spoken to guys on this forum who have been using the same equipment, including plastic fermenters, for 10 years?

Is this more of a preference?

It's more of a preference. There's no reason if you are careful, and check for DEEP gouges, that you need to replace them.

 

[Golddiggie]

Plastic is just fine; I just use a paper towel to clean mine, nothing really sticks to them. They filter out the light and keep me from worrying about every little thing!

They only filter out some light... At least that's with the buckets that came in my first kit. They are not 100% light blocking, so I don't really see any difference there. Especially if you take enough care to place the carboy's in a low light area, and then cover them up to prevent more/stray light from getting to them...

I'll actually, be crafting a 'black box' to cover the carboy's I'm using... I only need it to cover the top and two, maybe three, sides to pretty much cover them in enough shade that there's zero chance of light getting to the brew in them...

 

[Delorean1981]

So a guy nearby who's real big into aquariums had a pallet of these, brand new, never opened and for $3 I couldn't pass them up. For a primary, what do you think? Everything I've read from the forums seems to point to them being ok, but the corners could pose a problem for gunk buildup.

http://www.houseofcans.com/gallon-natural-square-plastic-with-p-910-l-en.html