POLL: What type of fermenter do you use?

[passedpawn]

I found a few older polls - none recent. Thanks for playing. No need to debate the benefits of any of these, that's been done to death. I'm just assessing the state of the union at this time.

2010: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/glass-carboy-vs-better-bottle-vs-bucket-94507/index2.html
2009: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f14/glass-p-e-t-109832/
2005: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/what-do-you-use-fermenter-4000/
2005: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f39/primary-fermentor-carboy-vs-plastic-bucket-1449/

 

[dutchoven]

I'm all glass ... Been eyeing the better bottles lately, though. It's only a matter of time until I drop one ...

 

[WiscoMan]

Plastic "Home Depot" Primary and have both a glass carboy and a Better Bottle carboy. Definitely recommend the $4 homedepot bucket for a primary if on a budget

 

[NervousDad]

I'm glass and better bottles... I prefer glass

 

[ArcLight]

>> Definitely recommend the $4 homedepot bucket for a primary if on a budget

The Homer Bucket holds 5 gallons, which is too small for a 5 gallon batch, or do you split your 5 gallon batch into 2 buckets? Or a 10 gallon batch into 3 (which I think is too small)?

 

[rwinzing]

You name it. I have one better bottle, one glass, two buckets and a conical

 

[JRems]

I use glass and stainless (sanke kegs)

 

[E-Mursed]

Primary...Secondary...Dry Hop...Serve.....all from Cornie Kegs.

 

[mux]

I use glass and stainless (sanke kegs)

How do you clean the sanke?

 

[kingjimbeer]

All glass for sure, I just feel its easier to sanitize. Maybe I'm wrong but it's always worked for me.

 

[shelly_belly]

I chose better bottles because they are my favorite. However, if they are full I will use the glass carboys or corney kegs. I also use a lot of 1 gallon glass. I don't use buckets as I like to move my beer/wine with CO2.

 

[kaconga]

I prefer better bottles but will use anything in a pinch. Got a gallon of cider going in the jug it came in.

 

[hoptualBrew]

I chose Better Bottle (for now) but plan on using simple 6 gallon FDA buckets to ferment so I can top crop yeast in the future.

 

[runningweird]

6.7 gallon buckets from Amazon. 9 dollars a piece.

 

[Jps101]

Plastic "Home Depot" Primary and have both a glass carboy and a Better Bottle carboy. Definitely recommend the $4 homedepot bucket for a primary if on a budget

Any issues with off flavors etc? Guessing not or you would not still be using, asking nonetheless.

 

[Gameface]

Just switched from these: http://www.austinhomebrew.com/product_info.php?cPath=178_53_147&products_id=12287 the "brewcube" from Austin Homebrew to this: http://morebeer.com/view_product/12095/104258/Speidel_Plastic_Fermenter_-_60L_159_gal the 15.9g Speidel Tanks from MoreBeer. Glass just isn't for me. The guy who taught me how to brew used glass and swore that plastic was inferior. Glass is just too much of a menace when full of 5+ gallons of liquid. Besides, once I started making 10g batches I wanted a single fermentor and that's not an option with glass.

BTW, love the Speidel fermentor. Used the spigot to rack to a corny keg...so fast and easy compared to using an auto-siphon. These tanks are made for fermenting in (sure maybe wine specifically, but they still have it where it counts for home brewing) and using them is an absolute pleasure. So many little things that just work. A fine example of German engineering.

 

[DNuggs]

Straight-up glass. I've got 2 6.5-gallon carboys, 1 6-gallon, 2 5-gallon, 2 3-gallon and 2 1-gallon carboys. Also got a 5-gallon Better bottle that I use on occasion and I'll borrow a buddy's 15-gallon wine demijohn for the occasional 10-gallon batch.

 

[Gameface]

Straight-up glass. I've got 2 6.5-gallon carboys, 1 6-gallon, 2 5-gallon, 2 3-gallon and 2 1-gallon carboys. Also got a 5-gallon Better bottle that I use on occasion and I'll borrow a buddy's 15-gallon wine demijohn for the occasional 10-gallon batch.

Ahh, so I misspoke. There is a glass option for 10 gallon batches. I'll tell you what, though, I bet they're no fun to move around, if they're even movable with one person.

 

[KISS Brew]

Just sold all my glass carboys and moved entirely to plastic buckets. They're cheaper, lighter, safer, and easier to clean. What's not to love?

 

[DNuggs]

Ahh, so I misspoke. There is a glass option for 10 gallon batches. I'll tell you what, though, I bet they're no fun to move around, if they're even movable with one person.

Not fun to move at all...been looking for a relatively cheap option for fermenting 10-gallon batches but the 15-gallon plastic speidel fermentors from morebeer are on back order

 

[amandabab]

all glass for fermenting and aging
plastic buckets only for short time wine must buckets

 

[ArcaneXor]

I use (or plan to use) all of the above. Better Bottles are my first choice because I like to be able to see what's happening in my beer, although I am looking to start fermenting in corny or sanke kegs down the road. I have five of them currently (two for sour beers). I use buckets from time to time as a backup (I have three, incl. one for sour beers), and glass for small batches. In the brewpub I use conicals. They all work as primaries - it's just a matter of preference.

 

[MisterTipsy]

 

[ktblunden]

I use plastic buckets mostly. Also have a better bottle I use for secondary and apfelwein.

 

[isurf]

2-6.5 gal. glass carboy w/beer haulers

 

[apparatus]

I have two stainless steel conicals, but brew enough that I still have to pull out the glass carboys from time to time.

 

[Curtis2010]

Should be an "all of the above" option. I've got a bit of everything from past brewing, but moving towards standardizing on corny kegs -- use these mostly now for everything.

 

[SavoryChef]

I use nine ale pails.

 

[tnvol]

All glass for me. Easier to keep sanitized for me and I like to watch the beer ferment.

 

[skibb]

I ferment my 10.5 gallon batches in 1/2 barrel sanke kegs