If you’ve ever shopped around for a new fermenter, you’ve probably asked yourself this question: What are the advantages and disadvantages of fermentation buckets vs. carboys? As a beginning homebrewer, it may be hard to find a definitive answer to the question. Ask other brewers, and you’ll probably get a range of opinions. It seems that everyone has their preference. But there’s a reason that homebrew equipment kits include a bucket fermenter for primary fermentation and a carboy for secondary fermentation. It all comes down to a few pros and cons:
Conclusion Though both fermentation buckets and carboys work well for fermenting beer, buckets tend to be best for primary fermentation and carboys for secondary fermentation and aging. If you anticipate needing to get inside the fermenter during fermentation (to add dry hops or to stir a mead), a bucket may be your best bet. If you plan to age a beer for a long time after primary fermentation, consider using a carboy to minimize headspace. So as you can start to see there is some commonsense arguments for using a fermentation bucket vs using a carboy.Which do you prefer: fermentation bucket or carboy? —– David Ackley is a writer, brewer, and craft beer marketing consultant. He holds a General Certificate in Brewing from the Institute of Brewing and Distilling and is founder of the Local Beer Blog.
Fermenter ChoicesBucket (Plastic or Stainless) Most homebrewers begin with food-grade plastic buckets when they start out the hobby . . . and for good reasons. … Carboy (Glass or Plastic) … Conical (Plastic or Stainless) … Corny kegs (Stainless)
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Bucket (Plastic or Stainless) Most homebrewers begin with food-grade plastic buckets when they start out the hobby . . . and for good reasons. …
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Carboy (Glass or Plastic) …
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Conical (Plastic or Stainless) …
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Corny kegs (Stainless)
Conclusion Though both fermentation buckets and carboys work well for fermenting beer, buckets tend to be best for primary fermentation and carboys for secondary fermentation and aging. If you anticipate needing to get inside the fermenter during fermentation (to add dry hops or to stir a mead), a bucket may be your best bet. If you plan to age a beer for a long time after primary fermentation, consider using a carboy to minimize headspace. So as you can start to see there is some commonsense arguments for using a fermentation bucket vs using a carboy.Which do you prefer: fermentation bucket or carboy? —– David Ackley is a writer, brewer, and craft beer marketing consultant. He holds a General Certificate in Brewing from the Institute of Brewing and Distilling and is founder of the Local Beer Blog.
If you’ve ever shopped around for a new fermenter, you’ve probably asked yourself this question: What are the advantages and disadvantages of fermentation buckets vs. carboys? As a beginning homebrewer, it may be hard to find a definitive answer to the question. Ask other brewers, and you’ll probably get a range of opinions. It seems that everyone has their preference. But there’s a reason that homebrew equipment kits include a bucket fermenter for primary fermentation and a carboy for secondary fermentation. It all comes down to a few pros and cons:
I adopted PET carboys as my fermenter of choice for various reasons, and while the results of this xBmt won’t convince me to give them up, they did increase my confidence in using HDPE vessels for fermentation. As someone who occasionally ages beer the primary fermenter, I maintain a level of concern about the oxygen ingress that can occur when using buckets for such a purpose and view that as a good variable to explore in the future.
While waiting on the water to warm, I weighed out and milled two identical sets of the grain.
Every homebrewer has to start somewhere, and for most it usually involves picking up a beginner’s kit that comes with a small kettle, spoon, hydrometer, some hop bags, and of course, a food-grade plastic fermentation bucket. Cheap, effective, and easy to clean, plastic buckets are made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and remain the fermenter of choice for some, particularly those who prefer the simpler side of brewing.
I placed the filled fermenters next to each other in my chamber and let them finish chilling to my desired fermentation temperature of 66°F/19°C for a few hours before returning to pitch a single pouch of Imperial Yeast A07 Flagship into each.
I started my brew day by adding identical volumes of RO water to separate BrewZilla units, adjusting each to my desired mineral profile, then setting the controller to heat it up.
How to setup a Bottling or Fermenting Bucket
FAQ
What can I use instead of a fermenting bucket?
Can you use any bucket for fermenting?
What can I use as a fermenter?
Can you ferment in a 5 gallon bucket?
What is a fermentation bucket?
A fermentation bucket is a type of fermenter that is commonly used in the brewing of beer. It is an easy and inexpensive way to get started in the craft of brewing, and it is also a great way to experiment with differet styles and flavors. Fermenting buckets are made from food-grade plastic or stainless steel, and they come in a variety of sizes.
Why should you use a fermenting bucket?
Wide mouth offers easy access – The design of a fermenting bucket makes it easy to pour into from the boil kettle – you don’t have to mess with a funnel. It’s also easy to open the lid to pull hydrometer samples or add dry hops or other flavorings. Lots of headspace – Buckets offer lots of room for krausen during primary fermentation.
What size fermentation bucket do I Need?
If you are fermenting a small batch of beer, then a 5-gallon fermentation bucket will be sufficient. For larger batches, you will need a larger fermentation bucket. Fermentation buckets are typically made of plastic or stainless steel. Plastic fermentation buckets are less expensive and are easy to clean.
Can you use a bucket for secondary fermentation?
Yes, you can use a bucket for secondary fermentation. Secondary fermentation is the process where fermentable sugars are converted into alcohol. This generally takes place in a fermenter such as a carboy or bucket, which is then sealed and left to ferment.