Using water jugs as carboys?

[Shred]

I've seen a few posts about this, and I know I'm ideally looking for Type 1 bottles. Has anyone actually brewed with these with success? Do I need a special size stopper?

 

[aiptasia]

Take one with you to your LHBS and you'll probably be able to find a stopper for it.

 

[hoppyhoppyhippo]

As an annoying pseudo-hippy I wouldn't recommend it, as some of the bottling companies bottles over 3 gallons do contain BPA and BPA is linked to a whole slew of health concerns.

 

[BobbiLynn]

As an annoying pseudo-hippy I wouldn't recommend it, as some of the bottling companies bottles over 3 gallons do contain BPA and BPA is linked to a whole slew of health concerns.

You can, with success, but it needs to be a certain # plastic. On the bottom of it will be a number... some numbers are safe, some are not. You'll have to look at what # plastic it is, then see if that type is safe for re-use. What's the number on the bottom? The one inside the recycle triangle with arrows.

 

[hoppyhoppyhippo]

I'm a little weird about using plastic in brewing at all because I store so little in plastic as it is that's not one of the super safe types

http://ecovillagegreen.com/1812/what-are-safe-plastic-numbers-to-use/

But I brew in plastic out of a cost necessity, but I would certainly avoid any BPA involved with brewing, but the triangle alone isn't an indication of BPA, I'd say keep it safe and avoid the number 7 anyway.

 

[markm2151]

I use to work at a winery where we would ferment in 55 gallon plastic pickle barrels. The plastic was food grade and was fine to re-use after fermentation provided you properly cleaned and sanitized.

For reference: http://ecovillagegreen.com/903/what-do-the-plastic-recycling-numbers-mean/

The best type of plastic for use in long-term food storage is high-density polyethylene (HDPE), which is indicated by the "2" symbol. HDPE is one of the most stable and inert forms of plastic, and all plastic buckets sold specifically for food storage will be made from this material.

Other types of plastic acceptable for food storage include PETE, LDPE, and polypropylene (PP). These plastics are represented by the numbers 1, 4, and 5 respectively.

An exception to this rule is bio-plastics, which are categorized under the catch-all symbol "7." Bio-plastics are plastic-like materials that are synthesized from plant-based sources such as corn. These materials are nonreactive and can be used to store food, but note that not all plastics marked as "7" are bio-plastics.

 

[ncbrewer]

Here's another good link:
http://www.wikihow.com/Identify-Food-Grade-Buckets

 

[Shred]

All good stuff. Thanks everyone! I'll probably go bottle shopping tomorrow and see what I can come up with. Hoping to strike gold at the redemption center and get a bunch of Grolsch bottles too!

 

[tx-brewer]

I use to work at a winery where we would ferment in 55 gallon plastic pickle barrels. The plastic was food grade and was fine to re-use after fermentation provided you properly cleaned and sanitized.

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I assume the pickle barrels were not previously used for pickles, but if they were used, how did yall remove the smell?

 

[Shred]

I managed to find a #1 PETE 5 gallon water jug at the grocery store. It was $10.99 including the deposit. Not bad considering I spent $8 on bottled water for my last brew and didn't get any re-usable equipment out of it.

I visited the links and read the warnings about using plastic and how more research is needed for #1 plastics, but considering it will be essentially be filled with poison anyway, what harm can a couple more toxins do?

I also struck a sweet deal at the local bottle redemption center. I got 4 cases of nice, moldy bottles for $15 (my hands are raw from soaking and scrubbing... there will be a post about this process in my blog soon) and the guy agreed to hang onto any Grolsch bottles that come through. He's going to sell them to me for $0.20/each!

 

[Yesfan]

Are these the "Primo" water jugs with the molded handle? I have one thinking it would make a good secondary fermentor for a future big beer. I looked on the bottom and see the #7 triangle and the words "not to be filled with any other liquid, for drinking water only".


Guess that one will be going back to the store.

 

[Shred]

No. It's a Nestle and it's a #1. From what I understand #7 is no good.

 

[markm2151]

I assume the pickle barrels were not previously used for pickles, but if they were used, how did yall remove the smell?

They were never used. Bought new from manufacturer.