Riddle me this...

[brewmax25]

You know how you can buy big 5 gallon drums of water that you put on top of a cooler and can dispense water through the machine. Sometimes there is even home delivery of this or you can exchange them at grocery stores.

Can those be used as a better bottle/ fermentation vessel safely? I assume since water is in them it works.

 

[Brewnoob1]

I think the issue is that they leech oxygen into the brew. I think as long as they were BPA free, you could use them for a short fermentation. I dont know for sure though as I'm sure others will chime in shortly.

 

[kpr121]

People use them. Make sure they are PET or HDPE with the recyling numbers of 1 or 2. Stay away from 7 and any others.

 

[kpr121]

As far as the oxygen thing goes, as long you as arent planning on long-term conditioning (like a year or more) you will be fine with these. They are essentially the same exact material as the better bottles.

 

[troub]

People seem to use them all the time -- I can't ever seem to find any that aren't #7, personally. Some people use those, I think, but I'm not really comfortable with that.

 

[Homercidal]

You will find #1 PET or PETE, and #7 HDPE, both of which are ok for quick fermenting. The #1 could be much preferred for any length of time since it's a better O2 barrier.

They can usually be found at Walmarts and some large home improvements stores, and likely any bottled water supplier would carry them as well.

I get all I want from work cause we actually use those water coolers. We get a mix of #7 and #1.

Try to find the #1 if you can, and it should be ok for a standard Ale fermentation, but I'd recommend glass for an extended aging (several months).

 

[Delerium_Hopturnum]

I thought about this about a year ago when I was in a beer distributor that had them. Not worth it IMO.

If you keep the container you dont get your deposit back ($20???). I have no idea what they line it with and how that would react with your brew. As far as I know there is no standard size for and airlock on top.

For about $15 extra dollars you could have a plastic fermener that you know works. I would go that route. Less complicated and less of a risk. You might just end up with a useless container if it doesnt work, and the place you got it from wont want it back if it smells like hops and yeast.

If you want to go the super cheap mass fermentation route I would look into buying food safe garbage bags. They sell them at my homebrew shop. Buy a bunch of these for real cheap and then ferment in new garbage cans or whatever you can find. This really ony works for ales. Never go plastic for lagers.

 

[milldoggy]

I use 5 gallon blue pet one, the same bb stoppers fit. I store my brett or sours in there. The extra o2 speeds up the souring to fuel my tart addiciton. I got mine free, and my favorite carboy price is a free one.

Sent from my DROID2 GLOBAL using Home Brew Talk

 

[BrewerinBR]

I have 10 of them purchased with my water cooler when I lived where the water was not drinkable (not even after softened and filtered it was still not drinkable). The deposit back then was $2.00. One I turned into a hopper for my bucket based corona mill the others are just sitting in my basement. I thought of trying them once, but for $12.91 at the LHBS I can get a 6.5 gallon True Brew plastic fermenter bucket with a lid. At that price it is not worth risking a batch of beer. Plus I have no idea where to get a stopper that would fit.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Plus I have no idea where to get a stopper that would fit.

Any place that sells stoppers for better bottles.

 

[gingerdawg]

You will find #1 PET or PETE, and #7 HDPE, both of which are ok for quick fermenting. The #1 could be much preferred for any length of time since it's a better O2 barrier.

They can usually be found at Walmarts and some large home improvements stores, and likely any bottled water supplier would carry them as well.

I get all I want from work cause we actually use those water coolers. We get a mix of #7 and #1.

Try to find the #1 if you can, and it should be ok for a standard Ale fermentation, but I'd recommend glass for an extended aging (several months).

Oops, I think #7 is other (usually Polycarbonate), and that is the one people typically stay away from. #2 is HDPE

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resin_identification_code

 

[brewmax25]

Hmm, all great answers and I appreciate it. I recentley asked about glass vs BB and i got mixed review. I have a glass carboy I got as a gift when I turned 21 this past summer but I need to expand my fermentation ability as brewing has become my life passion!!! Sounds like it is just worth getting some more glass for lagers and HG aging and some BB for ales. Thanks everyone!

 

[Homercidal]

Oops, I think #7 is other (usually Polycarbonate), and that is the one people typically stay away from. #2 is HDPE

Resin identification code - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I think you are right. Don't use HDPE #2!

Anyway, you REALLY want to find the #1 PET or PETE. They are the best.

 

[gingerdawg]

I think you are right. Don't use HDPE #2!

Anyway, you REALLY want to find the #1 PET or PETE. They are the best.

Actually, Don't use #7. #2 (HDPE) is what fermenter buckets are made from, and is good to use.