Why a bucket? Can you ferment in a carboy?

[BrewOnBoard]

I see buckets always as primary fermenters. Is there a reason for this? Do you need headspace?

I was wondering if you could use a better bottle or regular carboy as your primary and then go straight to bottles? This is going to explode isn't it?

BrewOnBoard

 

[ifishsum]

As long as you have an airlock or blow-off, it won't explode.

I'd wager one reason buckets are popular is that they're cheaper than carboys. You do want headspace in the primary to keep from losing too much through the blowoff, and 6.5 gallon carboys are getting harder to find and more expensive. I have 2 carboys (5 gallon) and use them for apfelwein and secondaries, and buckets for primary. But yes, you can primary in a carboy.

 

[boo boo]

As long as you have an airlock or blow-off, it won't explode.

I'd wager one reason buckets are popular is that they're cheaper than carboys. You do want headspace in the primary to keep from losing too much through the blowoff, and 6.5 gallon carboys are getting harder to find and more expensive. .

My work here is done.

 

[Grinder12000]

I believe carboys are what 90% of brewers do once they get a few batches under their belt (literally).

ifishsum hits it on the head. Buckets are used for beginners because they are cheaper and when you find out it s not as easy as you thought you are not stuck with a $30 glass jug).

Don't get me wrong - it IS easy but also tedious at times. ou have to love making beer, it won't fall into your lap.

 

[flyangler18]

Buckets are used for beginners because they are cheaper and when you find out it s not as easy as you thought you are not stuck with a $30 glass jug).

Buckets aren't just for beginners! I use buckets, BBs and glass carboys interchangeably as fermenters.

To the OP, you can certainly use BBs as fermenters- though I find them a touch small. At 6 gallons, a very vigorous fermentation will potentially cause the loss of beer through blow-off. Buckets are cheap and easy to replace if they become scratched- then pressed into other brewing related service outside of fermentation vessels.

 

[EdWort]

I brew in buckets. They are easier to clean, have a nice handle, don't need blowoff tubes, are inexpensive, and I use a spigot for easy racking.

When you buy a new one, it will last a long time as long as you do not put anything in there except beer.

 

[Yooper]

I brew in buckets. They are easier to clean, have a nice handle, don't need blowoff tubes, are inexpensive, and I use a spigot for easy racking.

Me too. For all of those reasons Edwort mentioned, plus they are so much lighter! (I don't usually use the ones with a spigot- only occasionally.) I'm a weakling and lifting and hauling around a full 6.5 gallon carboy is dangerous for me. I like the Better Bottles, but they are a bit small at just 6 gallons, since I like to do a 5.5 gallon batch. I have many glass carboys, but I use them mainly for wine secondary fermenters.

 

[bull8042]

Real men primary in carboys! Just saying....

 

[ohiobrewtus]

I use both 6.5 gallon carboys and 7 gallon buckets for primary. I have no preference, they both do their job.

 

[Yooper]

Real men primary in carboys! Just saying....

Are you calling me a GIRL?

 

[syd138]

Ive never used a bucket.. from what I was told, buckets can get scratched and get contaminated. You can't go wrong with glass imo.

 

[jspence1]

Are you calling me a GIRL?

LOL if the heels fit.


Back on topic

I like my buckets. I only use buckets for my primary's I find them easier to clean. I do use carboys for my secondaries and I use carboys for the primary on my wine.

 

[camiller]

I only use buckets as well. It is easier for my wife to clean them.

 

[BooneDocks]

I use a 6 gallon glass carboy as my primary, as, first and foremost, that's what was in the stuff I scored at an estate sale to get started with. But as a new brewer, I can't yet imagine not being able to watch the fermentation -- seeing everything churning, bubbling, swirling, floating etc. In time, I suppose I will get over the thrill (but then I still use my lava lamp), but right now, I would be going nuts if all that was going on in an opague plastic bucket and I couldn't see it. I did have a bit of blow off on one batch, but not bad so far with just 6 gallons

 

[schneemann]

At 6 gallons, a very vigorous fermentation will potentially cause the loss of beer through blow-off.

I'd like to dispute this.
I started off with 6.5 gallon carboys. As I expanded the rate of my brewing, I needed to buy additional carboys and, as we all know, 6.5s are a thing of the past, so I picked up a 6 gallon carboy.

I doubt I've ever seen anything ferment as vigorously as my Oatmeal Stouts and I've yet to see any "loss of beer" through the blowoffs.

I'm not saying it isn't possible, but I haven't seen it.

 

[bull8042]

LOL if the heels fit.

BWAAAAHAAAAHAAAA! I just spewed coffee on my computer screen.
Sorry Yoop.....

 

[flyangler18]

I doubt I've ever seen anything ferment as vigorously as my Oatmeal Stouts and I've yet to see any "loss of beer" through the blowoffs.

Brew a Roggenbier or similar Bavarian with a Bavarian wheat strain and we'll talk.

To be fair, I've had blow-offs in the past and never lost a substantial amount of beer- but if you couple a very active strain with higher fermentation temps or pitch onto a cake, it's certainly plausible.

 

[madewithchicken]

I am switching to glass right now. But I think I might give up on that. It is sooooo heavy.

What would be great is a huge glass jar with huge sturdy handles. The lid wouldn't have to be glass.

I guess I should consider switching to stainless steel. But it is hard to get a corny to do a full 5 gallons. The half barrel kegs have to be hard to clean.

 

[EdWort]

Real men primary in carboys! Just saying....

Actually, real men have conicals.

 

[Tenchiro]

I like my buckets, they are easy to clean, they stack nicely for storage, and cab be used for all manner of sanitation of equipment and bottles, removing labels, etc. Not to mention the price it right.

I do secondary in carboys though, and they serve as the primary for my ciders.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Ive never used a bucket.. from what I was told, buckets can get scratched and get contaminated. You can't go wrong with glass imo.

Except when gravity shatters them.

If your bucket gets scratched, you are doing it wrong and prolly deserve the contamination to make you examine your practices.

I don't even use a carboy anymore. The two I have are holding down the subfloor in the attic until I decide to get into larger batch meads or Apfelweins.

 

[Jaha35]

I just started and am using a 6 gallon carboy as a primary and I had no problems with blow off with a 5 gallon batch of Irish Red Ale.

I want to expand though to make more than one batch and possibly move to a secondary stage with later varieties. I am heading to the Brew Shop this afternoon. Should I go Better Bottle or is a bucket just as fine?

 

[nosmatt]

I cannot imagine carrying a 6.5 gallon glass carboy with 5.25 gals of beer, and wet hands.
i do this with buckets every brew day, and most bottle days.

and as ed said, racking is so much easier when there is a handy dandy spigot on it, just above the trub line. every time i rack (i have buckets without spigots too) i get a ton of junk when i rack out of my buckets. im a bad racker apparently.

 

[Moonshae]

I use both for primaries, but usually prefer buckets...they have handles, which make them easy to carry, and pouring from the brew kettle into the bucket makes for easy aeration. Carboys are nice to watch fermentation ripping along, but that gets old after a while.

Jaha35, you'll be better off with a 5-gal carboy or better bottle for your secondary, as you want to minimize headspace. Don't use a bucket for that.

 

[Talloak]

I do secondary in carboys though, and they serve as the primary for my ciders.

Is there any reason you can't do secondary in a 5 Gallon bucket?

 

[Tenchiro]

Is there any reason you can't do secondary in a 5 Gallon bucket?

Oxygen permeability, I usually let my ciders sit for a long time. I doubt the bucket will let much through, but better safe than sorry. For beers which only sit a couple of weeks I have done the secondary in the bucket without any issues.

 

[Talloak]

I plan on moving across the country in 8 months, but want to invest in brewing equipment in the next couple weeks. I think I would rather have lightweight plastic stackable buckets than heavy glass carboys as long as it doesn't compromise my product.

 

[McKBrew]

Better bottles have served me well. The only reason I ever got them to begin with is because shipping to Hawaii was way cheaper than glass. I sold the one glass carboy I had.

I'm seriously considering using those vittles vaults, or buying some of SuperiorBrews carboys once they become available. My only issue with a regular BB is not being able to get a hand in to clean it. (Yes, I know oxyclean works, but I still would like to be able to wipe with a dishrag).

 

[BrewOnBoard]

I use both for primaries, but usually prefer buckets...they have handles, which make them easy to carry, and pouring from the brew kettle into the bucket makes for easy aeration. Carboys are nice to watch fermentation ripping along, but that gets old after a while.

Jaha35, you'll be better off with a 5-gal carboy or better bottle for your secondary, as you want to minimize headspace. Don't use a bucket for that.

So I'm a little confused about headspace. You want to minimize it? But other posters were talking about the fermenter bowing off if it's too full... How much space do I need? Also is the constant motion of the sailboat more likely to cause problems in a bucket or in a BB??

So lets say I have a cooper's kit or any other standard 5 gal recipe. Can I do it in a 5 gal bucket/BB if so how much space do I leave/water do I use? Or do I have to have a larger vessel like a 6 gal to do a 5 gal batch?

How about doing 1/2 batches in a 3gal better bottle? Too much space? About right?

BrewOnBoard

 

[monty3777]

So I'm a little confused about headspace. You want to minimize it? But other posters were talking about the fermenter bowing off if it's too full... How much space do I need? Also is the constant motion of the sailboat more likely to cause problems in a bucket or in a BB??

So lets say I have a cooper's kit or any other standard 5 gal recipe. Can I do it in a 5 gal bucket/BB if so how much space do I leave/water do I use? Or do I have to have a larger vessel like a 6 gal to do a 5 gal batch?

How about doing 1/2 batches in a 3gal better bottle? Too much space? About right?

BrewOnBoard

Moonshae was talking about headspace in a secondary, not a primary fermenter. The fermentation in a secondary will not be nearly as prone to blow-off as the first stages in a primary.

My suggestion as per your other questions is simple. To avoid any confusion simply get an ale pale (bucket) and then you will certainly be safe. You will save money and you will know that this is one less issue for you to fret about on your first brew. I'm willing to bet that you will stick with buckets - but if you don't and want to get a carboy you will have the bucket for storage (I use a bucket to keep a gallon of starsan at the ready so I'm not wasting it).
Have fun!