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Through the looking glass
Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 10:51 am
by Smed
I know there are differing opinions on glass carboys, seems some like them and some think they aren't worth the trouble. I just put a batch in one for the first time this weekend and it is churning away. I think it is very cool to see - and helps, ever so slightly, with the long wait till it's done!
My wife looks at it and says "You drink that?"
Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 7:02 am
by lpapkin
I have been using glass for several years now and have yet to break one. I also really like being able to see the activity in the carboy during fermentation, it's very cool. However, the disadvantages are that they are heavy and can cause severe injury if one breaks, not to mention the five gallons of liquid to clean up and the fact that you just lost a batch of beer! I've read some posts on Tech Talk (the AHA site) about the Better Bottles and they have been very positive. I think Jeremy uses one and likes it. If I have a need for another carboy I might give the BB a try, mainly for safety and the lighter weight. Have fun with your new carboy.
Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 7:28 am
by BrewHound
Yeah I actually have about 5 of them now. There are several things that are really good about them.
- You can see through the bottle
- They are much lighter then a glass carboy
- You can get the bottle in a ported style (has a spout on the bottem very convienent).
- They make some cool attachments for them (proprietary air lock, ect..)
- They don't break
The only downside I have seen to the better bottle is that I made a mead and didn't chill it. Was hot enough to distort the bottle. Still useable but harder to clean now.
The other downside to them is the accessories are quite pricey.
But all in all I would recommend the better bottle to anyone.
Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 4:46 am
by Smed
There was an added benefit of the glass Carboy's - they were free! A friend of mine used to homebrew and hasn't done it for a couple of years, so he gave me a bunch of stuff including the carboys and a wort chiller. This last batch was the first time I used a wort chiller as well, and wow is it better than what I was doing before.
I know - old news for most of you, but it's part of the fun for me.
Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 7:46 am
by BrewHound
Hey thats cool, I would rather ferment in Free glass then a purchased Better bottle. Its great that you got a wort chiller I remember my first time using a wort chiller vs. an ice bath, it was night and day, betst thing since sliced bread I say.
That is one of the coolest things about brewing. You can always take it to another new level. Bigger batches, all-grain, stain-less conicle fermenters, kegging, makes it nice you can start so cheap and go all the way up to commercial brewing.
Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 5:07 pm
by tony b
The wort chiller gets a double thumbs up!!! I remember the last beer batch that I did without one, I seem to recall being up to almost midnight waiting for the wort to cool off enough to pitch. Never again!!