Plastic buckets and glass carboys are both useful for primary fermentation, but which is better?
As most homebrewers know, the proper equipment is essential to making a better glass of beer in the most efficient way possible. One of the earliest decisions the budding homebrewer must make is the type of brewing container to use for fermentation purposes. Beginners usually purchase an inexpensive homebrew kit that includes a plastic fermentation bucket, but intermediate and advanced homebrewers are likely to switch permanently to glass. Which is better? Let’s take a look:
Plastic Beginnings:
Like any decision, there are certainly going to be pros and cons on both sides. Judging the plastic bucket first, the most obvious advantage is the lower cost. It is, after all, nothing more than a piece of plastic and it was likely included as part of your first homebrewing kit. Cost, alone, will convince many homebrewers to go the route of plastic, even if only for a short time, while they hone their homebrewing skills.
Are there any other advantages with plastic? One that may not be as obvious at first is that a plastic bucket is easier to pour from. Once the wort has fermented, it will be necessary to transfer the liquid to a bottling bucket. It is much easier to pour from a plastic fermentation bucket because the opening is so large. Yet another advantage is with cleaning: Plastic buckets are wide- open and are thus easier to reach into and scrub clean.
Disadvantages of plastic are clear to anyone who has brewed using them. They sometimes impart a plastic flavor into the homebrew that can reduce the drinkability of a batch of beer. They are sometimes prone to leakage as well and even though they are easier to reach into for cleaning, they can develop permanent stains that may be impossible to scrub clean.
Glass is the Way to Go:
Now, what about glass carboys? Are they superior to plastic in every way? Many experienced homebrews would answer this question in the affirmative and there are certainly some clear advantages with glass. First and most important, glass will not impart any strange flavors to your homebrew and for many, this will be reason enough to go with glass. Another advantage is with the checking of the termperature. With glass, you can purchase an inexpensive thermometer strip and attach it to the outside of the container, for easy viewing. With plastic, you have to insert a thermometer into the beer/wort to check the temperature.
However, all is not perfect when you use a glass carboy for your brewing adventures. Due to the narrow opening, glass carboys are prone to splashing when you transfer the liquid from one vessel to another (assuming you pour- you can also siphon and avoid this problem) and they are more difficult to clean. A special carboy brush is often required for cleaning, which still may prove to be difficult. There is also the danger of breaking the glass and a glass carboy is more expensive. Finally, there is the weight and awkwardness of a glass carboy. This is why it is imperative that you purchase a carboy carrying handle if you use a carboy. It makes lifting a full carboy much easier and it reduces the change for spillage.
Bottom Line:
Both plastic and glass have their pros and cons, but most brewers agree that a glass carboy is the way to go. Yes, they do cost more and yes, they are awkward to carry. But the advantage of fresher tasting beer makes a glass carboy the obvious choice for the serious homebrewing hobbiest.
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