Substitute secondary fermenter - Water jug?

[Keith_O]

The 5 gallon water jugs that are returnable/reusable.
If properly sanitized, are they ok for a secondary fermenter?

 

[Nightstrife]

Someone will inevitably say something about oxidization. What matters is the recycling number on the bottom, I would use if (if clean and sterile) if it had a #1 but most I have seen have a #7 wich is a "catch all" category with multiple possibilities as to the type of plastic. The #1 is PET or PETE(SAME) witch is the same as soda and gatoraid bottles. If it's food grade for other things I cannot see the downside. Also if it's a #1 it's the same thing as a "better bottle" which is sold for that same reasons as fermentation.

 

[Math0]

I know the price is WAY cheaper to use these water bottles. But come on, you are making beer here and you are actually drinking and enjoying it. Try having the best equipment to make it happen. That's just my opinion, I know others might disagree.

 

[Meadiator]

Someone will inevitably say something about oxidization. What matters is the recycling number on the bottom, I would use if (if clean and sterile) if it had a #1 but most I have seen have a #7 wich is a "catch all" category with multiple possibilities as to the type of plastic. The #1 is PET or PETE(SAME) witch is the same as soda and gatoraid bottles. If it's food grade for other things I cannot see the downside. Also if it's a #1 it's the same thing as a "better bottle" which is sold for that same reasons as fermentation.

+1. Make sure it's #1 with no large internal scratches. Also decide whether or not you actually want to rack to a secondary. Sanitize well, and don't bulk age for too long. After about two months, yes, it will start going sour. Sorry to be the one to say it, but I talk from first hand experience. Not with beer, but my mead was like drinking scented hand sanitizer diluted by water. I'm sure it would have the same effect on beer.

I'm almost positive, however, that you'll be fine if you only leave it in for about a month tops, and anything past that might be pushing it. Cheers!

 

[Trox]

A great substitute for a secondary fermenter is is not to use one. There really isn't any reason to use a secondary (except to free up your primary during a bulk age or dry hop stage), and a few good reasons not to; mainly higher risk of infection and oxidation. So really if you don't have to move it right away I would just leave it where it is until it is ready to bottle.

 

[Keith_O]

ok, so general consensus is it would probably be ok (with the dissenting vote of me as a cheap-ass, lol) but not entirely necessary.
Secondary is for mostly higher alcohol and lighter colored beers, right?
The recipe I have for cider has it 2 weeks in primary/2 weeks in secondary....

 

[Nightstrife]

From what I understand is that the "secondary" bottle is really only used to get the beer off the yeast cake. It tends to make clearer beer, and it's used to add stuff like oak and such. I'm not too sure as to whether or not it adds too much to the alcohol content but I'm inclined to think it really doesn't add a lot as primary fermentation is or should be done

 

[JimRausch]

Ciders are a little different than beers. You might want to spend some time on the cider area of the forum, and maybe even post the Q specifically there. In my limited experience with ciders(1 straight cider in 2012 and 1 Graf in 2013) ciders take longer to ferment through to completion, and take longer to clear and condition. So especially the 1st 2 weeks may not be long enough for fermentation, and you might want to extend the conditioning phase as well. But, the cider experts are over there, and I would trust their opinions.

 

[CUrchin]

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f163/using-platics-water-bottle-7-a-228372/

Just posted this to another thread. Read the above and then you can make a (somewhat) informed decision.

 

[Keith_O]

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f163/using-platics-water-bottle-7-a-228372/

Just posted this to another thread. Read the above and then you can make a (somewhat) informed decision.

Thanks, That was helpful...

 

[Meadiator]

If it's cider you're brewing, definitely check out the cider forum.

Really though, from what I've heard, many master brewers don't secondary at all. They just allow a long primary (3-4 weeks generally).

 

[Koda]

I held onto two 2.5 gallon water jugs I noticed were <1> and I'm keeping them for a rainy day when I want to split a 5 gallon batch and attempt 2 different things in secondary at the same time. That being said I haven't actually attempted to use them yet.

 

[Keith_O]

I double-checked, and the bottles at my office are #7, the 2 in the garage are #1...

 

[Meadiator]

Use the ones with a #1. I can't be sure about the #7... I remember someone answering my question about the same thing about a year ago. I'll surf for it.

Edit: http://homebrew.stackexchange.com/questions/967/using-plastic-water-jugs-as-fermenters

Read the first comment after the OP. couldn't find the original answer to my question on here anywhere, but that's pretty much the answer I got.