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Glass Carboy vs. Better Bottles
Okay everyone...what do you reckon is the best choice for a secondary fermentation vessel? I know that there are pros and cons for each, but if you only had $25 to spend once, what would you do?
Northern Ike wrote:
Okay everyone...what do you reckon is the best choice for a secondary fermentation vessel? I know that there are pros and cons for each, but if you only had $25 to spend once, what would you do?
Buy the carboy. I have 3 of them. Bottles can be had by buying sam adams or another beer that is not a screw off bottle and save the bottles to use for homebrew. That's what I do and I got plenty of them.
DC
deafcone wrote:
Northern Ike wrote:
Okay everyone...what do you reckon is the best choice for a secondary fermentation vessel? I know that there are pros and cons for each, but if you only had $25 to spend once, what would you do?
Buy the carboy. I have 3 of them. Bottles can be had by buying sam adams or another beer that is not a screw off bottle and save the bottles to use for homebrew. That's what I do and I got plenty of them.
DC
WOW, I didn't realize that Sam Adams was bottling beer now in Better Bottles!
DC sorry to poke fun, but NorthernIKE is refering to these fermentor alternatives to glass.
http://morebeer.com/view_product/6531/102270
Northern Ike wrote:
Okay everyone...what do you reckon is the best choice for a secondary fermentation vessel? I know that there are pros and cons for each, but if you only had $25 to spend once, what would you do?
I prefer the Better Bottle. They are little and don't break. I have three glass carboy (used to have 5). I have seen no difference between the Better Bottle fermentor and the glass carboy. The O2 permeability is apparently really low. I only keep the glass for doing something that I plan to really let sit for a long time. Just in case there is some O2 exchange in the Better Bottle.
But for routine secondary fermentation (or primary for that reason) the Better bottle is the way to go.
BB's over glass......I've used BB's since I started brewing and I like them even "better" than my conical..... 
dartgod wrote:
BB's over glass......I've used BB's since I started brewing and I like them even "better" than my conical.....
I'll trade you 2 BBs for that conical.... 
I use buckets. I have 1 glass carboy, and a few buckets. I don't see the difference. Although, if I were, and I am, going to let a brew sit, I'll rack over to glass, but for a simple secondary period, I think another regular bucket will work fine, and it's a lot cheaper....
dartgod - any reason to rub that conical in our faces! 
So the buckets work okay for you Ricka 182? I read on John Palmer's How to Brew that buckets are not ideal for a secondary given the large surface area exposed to oxidation.
Whereas a carboy only has a few square inches of exposed wort, a bucked has the full top section exposed. I've got a few spare, food-grade buckets, so I'd love to use those...but oxidation scares me!
WOW, you learn somethin new every day. The only carboy type bottles I knw of made of plastic were the usual water cooler type bottles. Definately if they are as good as they say the plastic ones (better bottles) should be better. I've never used one obviously since I just found out they existed, but are they easy to clean? Do they clean up easy with a carboy brush or do they get scratched? I have 3 glass and love them but they are heavy when full.
FYI, I am drinking my 4th Kolsch community beer right now. Pretty decent stuph! Not fully carbonated yet but still get a good buzz after the turd one (hic)
DC
I've used both 5 gallon carboys and 5 gallon buckets for secondarys. I like buckets better in general. easier to clean, rack, etc, If I'm going to leace in secondary more than 2 weeks I'll go glass, other than that go to any home depot and buy a 5 gallon paint bucket for 4 dollars, they're HDPE and will fill up almost to the brim.
I'll keep the conical, but thanks anyway 
and no reason to rub it in, other than I can... 
.......as far as cleaning BB's I just use PBW, let it soak and if there is any residue on the walls you can drop a rag in it and shake it around that way you don't scratch it like you would with a carboy brush.... 
I like my glass carboys!!! Clear glass easy to see results... never have used the better bottles. Never had the interest and I already have enough glass carboys. I can see how the plastic may be safer, but still like the good old glass.
I'm with KyNGmedic on this one. Glass carboys are 'slightly' more work (heavy and caution must be taken), but the peace of mind is worth it. One thing about it, a glass carboy removes all doubt regarding O2 permeability, cleanliness, scratches, etc.
I just read that BBs can't be exposed to water (or anything else) over 140F which won't work for me. As a last step in cleaning, I douche all my equipment with steam.
I've used both 5 gallon carboys and 5 gallon buckets for secondarys. I like buckets better in general. easier to clean, rack, etc, If I'm going to leace in secondary more than 2 weeks I'll go glass, other than that go to any home depot and buy a 5 gallon paint bucket for 4 dollars, they're HDPE and will fill up almost to the brim.
FYI, If you call the bakery at any grocery store they will usually give you their food grade 5 gallon buckets for free. They just require a little cleaning.
When i was trying to decide what secondary to use I read someone's post on here I can't remember who's but they were saying try both for youself and see thats the best way to find out what you like. I found I like both. I first bought a glass and love it because there is no question that it's sealed and although they are very hard to move when full I have everything setup where there is minimal movement. I really like the BB as well but I bought mine at walmart for 6.50 per 5 gal BB and they are not like the ones everyone talks about because the neck is different in a bad way. its hard to seal its too big to take the cork or drilled plugs so i modified it to take the 5 gallon carboy caps. these are really nice because they are easy to move and store no big deal to move them around when cleaning or washing. I just wish I had a better way to seal them. I recommend getting one of each and that way you can have the best of both worlds.
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