Does anyone know where I could get cheap plastic or glass carboys? $27 for a plastic carboy at my local homebrew shop just seems like an outrageous price to pay for something that probably costs around 2 bucks to manufacture.
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 - 1:01pm
#1
Cheap Plastic or Glass Carboys?
I think the term "manufactured for fermentation process" means they come in sizes larger than 5 or 4 gallon water bottle sizes you see. Plus they are made clear...instead of blue....
If you think about it...water bottles are made to hold water, and for long periods. And I am sure they are cleaned and sanitized with products just as caustic as what we use in homebrewing...The only drawback I see is the size...you can only make a 4.5g beer in a 5g water bottle...
I have BB, Carboys, and Pails...and honestly I love my pails...I only use my glass carboys for long term conditioning, and my BB if i run out of pails....
I am not versed in the finer points of plastic bottle manufacturing process. Better Bottles were manufactured for fermentation process. Water bottles are manufactured to hold water. If you feel confident that water bottles are ok, go ahead and use them. For me a it is not.
I wouldn't recommend water bottles. They weren't manufactured to handle the rigors of the cleaning chemicals and brewing process. Some people have had success with them, but for an extra $20 it is not worth risking the 6+ hours and $30 dollars you just spent brewing.
Awesome. I'll be in Chicago this weekend for the Cinco de Mayo event. Any chance I could pick a few up?
bquellhorst said:
Kevin Saberniak
Well you can always use a 5 gallon pail from Menards for $2.76, plus a dollar more for a lid... Do a search on craigslist...I actually found a pail ale plastic bucket with spigot and lid at a goodwill store once...paid like $5...
Honestly you can ferment in anything...doesn't have to be a carboy...just food grade plastic...My dad used to ferment in open crock pots with just cheese cloth on the top in the late 70s....