Ported Better Bottle question

[-Liam-]

Hi there, I'm a beginner brewer and this is the first of what will probably be many questions - I got a ported Better Bottle Carboy today, which will hopefully make transferring to my bottling bucket a little more seamless. But what I need to know is how do I sanitise and flow sanitiser through the valve if the BB is already full of beer? Is it possible for the beer to get contaminated flowing through this valve to the bottling bucket?

 

[krackin]

Use a spray bottle and spray a no rinse sanitizer into the spigot. Also sanitize the siphon hose.

 

[freisste]

Yes it is possible. This is why people will often not use buckets with spigots for fermenting.

You will have to be more careful with it PRIOR to moving beer. Sanitize it well before assembly, then wrap sanitized aluminum foil or plastic wrap around it to keep dust off.

Good luck.

 

[krackin]

Actually, my ported BB always has iodophor in it for sanitizing. It has never seen wort. This constantly gives me a batch all ready to go whether brewing or butchering and whatever in between.

 

[passedpawn]

I hate my ported BB. I have 5 normal and 1 ported. I'd gladly trade anyone here for a normal one.

I don't use the port, ever.

 

[-Liam-]

Oh! Did I make a mistake buying one? The guy at the store told me that it's better to have a ported one and that's what most people prefer. They had sold out of the non ported versions, maybe I should have seen that as a sign!!

 

[krackin]

You can use it as a bottling bucket also. Once you upsize some, using it for sanitizer will make it well worth the price paid, guaranteed.

 

[passedpawn]

Oh! Did I make a mistake buying one? The guy at the store told me that it's better to have a ported one and that's what most people prefer. They had sold out of the non ported versions, maybe I should have seen that as a sign!!

I suppose somebody out there is liking it. I had several problems with it.

 

[-Liam-]

Just to be clear - I can ferment in this though, right?

 

[krackin]

Yes you can. Take the spigot apart, sanitize, reassemble and go for it. Watch for leaks, mine doesn't, heard some do.

 

[-Liam-]

Cool. Thanks for the info.

 

[krackin]

It is like fermenting in a bottling bucket, not the best option but the best if it is all you have. It is workable for sure.

 

[passedpawn]

Just to be clear - I can ferment in this though, right?

Yes, I've fermented a ton of beers in that thing. I've never removed because it's a hassle to re-install; so, I never trust that it's completely sanitized. But I've never had a problem.