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Author Topic: Plastic Bucket vs. Stainless Conical?  (Read 4562 times)

Offline Bel Air Brewing

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Plastic Bucket vs. Stainless Conical?
« on: November 25, 2020, 10:40:41 am »
Decades ago I used plastic buckets for making beer. Then switched to all stainless after a few years.

To augment my current brewery capacity, I am considering getting some plastic buckets.

What has your experience been? Can you make the same quality of beer in plastic buckets as you can in stainless steel vessels?

Offline BrewBama

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Plastic Bucket vs. Stainless Conical?
« Reply #1 on: November 25, 2020, 10:52:53 am »
I think you can make great beer in plastic buckets. The only thing is making sure the spigots (if equipped) are clean, clean, clean but that can be said of any fermentation vessel.


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« Last Edit: November 25, 2020, 10:54:25 am by BrewBama »

Offline denny

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Re: Plastic Bucket vs. Stainless Conical?
« Reply #2 on: November 25, 2020, 11:15:57 am »
I used buckets for years and still find them a great alternative when all my conicals are full.  Even better than buckets are the Genesis fermenters from Brewcraft.
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Offline majorvices

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Re: Plastic Bucket vs. Stainless Conical?
« Reply #3 on: November 25, 2020, 11:24:36 am »
The only real downside of buckets is they are o2 permeable but as long as you don't age in them they are a great, cheap fermenter

Offline pete b

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Re: Plastic Bucket vs. Stainless Conical?
« Reply #4 on: November 25, 2020, 11:33:46 am »
I think you can make great beer in plastic buckets. The only thing is making sure the spigots (if equipped) are clean, clean, clean but that can be said of any fermentation vessel.


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I agree and would just get ones without spigots.
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Offline majorvices

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Re: Plastic Bucket vs. Stainless Conical?
« Reply #5 on: November 25, 2020, 11:38:53 am »
I think you can make great beer in plastic buckets. The only thing is making sure the spigots (if equipped) are clean, clean, clean but that can be said of any fermentation vessel.


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I agree and would just get ones without spigots.

Spigots are easy to clean and cheap to replace and make racking super easy and easier to rack without picking up excessive o2

Offline tommymorris

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Re: Plastic Bucket vs. Stainless Conical?
« Reply #6 on: November 25, 2020, 11:40:02 am »
And get one of those tools to help remove the lid. My only beef with buckets is getting the lids off.

Offline TeeDubb

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Re: Plastic Bucket vs. Stainless Conical?
« Reply #7 on: November 25, 2020, 12:55:43 pm »
I've had good luck with the Chapman Stainless fermenters.  Not conical, just a stainless bucket with a much better seal, easier lid retention, easier to clean.  Pretty good price point, esp. when occasionally on sale.

Offline pete b

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Re: Plastic Bucket vs. Stainless Conical?
« Reply #8 on: November 25, 2020, 01:32:57 pm »
I think you can make great beer in plastic buckets. The only thing is making sure the spigots (if equipped) are clean, clean, clean but that can be said of any fermentation vessel.


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I agree and would just get ones without spigots.

Spigots are easy to clean and cheap to replace and make racking super easy and easier to rack without picking up excessive o2
Fair points. It’s not hard to disassemble, clean, and sanitize a spigot.
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Offline ynotbrusum

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Re: Plastic Bucket vs. Stainless Conical?
« Reply #9 on: November 25, 2020, 01:52:50 pm »
I've had good luck with the Chapman Stainless fermenters.  Not conical, just a stainless bucket with a much better seal, easier lid retention, easier to clean.  Pretty good price point, esp. when occasionally on sale.

I have two 15 gallon Chapman SS fermenters.  They work great and have lasted more than a decade.  Easy to clean and you can eliminate beerstone with a dairy acid wash soaking.  The only drawback is they are not pressurizable...but they replaced a broken lid clamp for free when I allowed a bit too much pressure to form in mine!

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Offline Bel Air Brewing

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Re: Plastic Bucket vs. Stainless Conical?
« Reply #10 on: November 25, 2020, 02:08:57 pm »
We have 3 Delta Systems Conical SS fermenters (8 gal), and they are great. Also we have 3 Anvil 4 gallon SS fermenters.
Just looking for an inexpensive way to add another way to ferment.
Might go with a nice bucket, and a racking tube.

Offline denny

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Re: Plastic Bucket vs. Stainless Conical?
« Reply #11 on: November 25, 2020, 02:10:57 pm »
We have 3 Delta Systems Conical SS fermenters (8 gal), and they are great. Also we have 3 Anvil 4 gallon SS fermenters.
Just looking for an inexpensive way to add another way to ferment.
Might go with a nice bucket, and a racking tube.

Take a look at this....marked way down and much superior to buckets.....https://www.homebrewing.org/Genesis-65-Gallon-Plastic-Fermenter_p_7662.html
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Offline Bel Air Brewing

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Re: Plastic Bucket vs. Stainless Conical?
« Reply #12 on: November 25, 2020, 03:38:45 pm »
We have 3 Delta Systems Conical SS fermenters (8 gal), and they are great. Also we have 3 Anvil 4 gallon SS fermenters.
Just looking for an inexpensive way to add another way to ferment.
Might go with a nice bucket, and a racking tube.

Take a look at this....marked way down and much superior to buckets.....https://www.homebrewing.org/Genesis-65-Gallon-Plastic-Fermenter_p_7662.html

Thanks! Ordered 2!

Offline Tfwebster

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Re: Plastic Bucket vs. Stainless Conical?
« Reply #13 on: November 25, 2020, 05:21:55 pm »
And get one of those tools to help remove the lid. My only beef with buckets is getting the lids off.

I didn't know this tool existed! I'll be looking asap.
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Offline tommymorris

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Re: Plastic Bucket vs. Stainless Conical?
« Reply #14 on: November 25, 2020, 09:35:02 pm »
And get one of those tools to help remove the lid. My only beef with buckets is getting the lids off.

I didn't know this tool existed! I'll be looking asap.
Apparently you need to get one that matches your bucket and lid.

https://www.northernbrewer.com/products/plastic-bucket-opener-wine-bag-decapper

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Linzer-5-Gallon-Plastic-Lid-Opener-5425/203713320