[thatguy314]

The makers of better bottle say there's not enough demand demand to produce a 6.5 gallon or larger better bottle at a reasonable price. Personally, I think that's their biggest failing. What do you think?

(x-posted to the BN forum and Northern Brewer)

[tygo]

I use better bottles and I'm okay with the 6 gallon size.  However, if I was presented with an option to buy a 6.5 gallon or larger size, I probably would.

[Hokerer]

6 gallon size is fine for me

[richardt]

Carboys are antiquated, IMO.  If you're trying to move away from glass (a good idea for safety reasons), there's no reason to remain attached to the shape of a blown glass carboy.

I'd much rather have a 7.5 gallon Better Bucket made of PET so I can have plenty of head space, and be able to watch the cool fermentation process.  It would also be far easier to dry hop or do fruit additions in the secondary.  It would be much easier to clean, as well (just pop off the lid).  I'd also like it to be usable as a bottling bucket--installing a spigot would be much easier and cheaper in a bucket than a carboy.

[glastctbrew]

I use a couple of their 6 gallon bottles as primaries but I'd love the increased headspace of a 6.5g to 7.5g version.  I hate using a blow off tube on IPA and APA's and I'm not thrilled with using fermcap even though I ordered some today.

[The Professor]

For now, I'll stick with my 7 gal carboy.  The extra headspace is much better than a blowoff tube, and I honesly think that I'd revert to using a bucket rather than a smaller carboy or BetterBottle with a blowoff tube attached.

Unfortunately the folks who make the BetterBottle seem to have no interest at all in making a bigger version.  If they came out with a 7 or 7.5 gal version, I'd be first in line to buy one or two

[denny]

Carboys are antiquated, IMO.  If you're trying to move away from glass (a good idea for safety reasons), there's no reason to remain attached to the shape of a blown glass carboy.

I'd much rather have a 7.5 gallon Better Bucket made of PET so I can have plenty of head space, and be able to watch the cool fermentation process.  It would also be far easier to dry hop or do fruit additions in the secondary.  It would be much easier to clean, as well (just pop off the lid).  I'd also like it to be usable as a bottling bucket--installing a spigot would be much easier and cheaper in a bucket than a carboy.

THIS!!!

[Mark G]

Carboys are antiquated, IMO.  If you're trying to move away from glass (a good idea for safety reasons), there's no reason to remain attached to the shape of a blown glass carboy.

I'd much rather have a 7.5 gallon Better Bucket made of PET so I can have plenty of head space, and be able to watch the cool fermentation process.  It would also be far easier to dry hop or do fruit additions in the secondary.  It would be much easier to clean, as well (just pop off the lid).  I'd also like it to be usable as a bottling bucket--installing a spigot would be much easier and cheaper in a bucket than a carboy.

THIS!!!

I'm with you on this... I have a couple carboys, but they sit empty most of the time, unless all my buckets are full.

[beersk]

Carboys are antiquated, IMO.  If you're trying to move away from glass (a good idea for safety reasons), there's no reason to remain attached to the shape of a blown glass carboy.

I'd much rather have a 7.5 gallon Better Bucket made of PET so I can have plenty of head space, and be able to watch the cool fermentation process.  It would also be far easier to dry hop or do fruit additions in the secondary.  It would be much easier to clean, as well (just pop off the lid).  I'd also like it to be usable as a bottling bucket--installing a spigot would be much easier and cheaper in a bucket than a carboy.

THIS!!!

I don't really see any problem with 6.5 gallon glass carboys.  I use them mainly because I like to see the fermentation activity and to use an undrilled bung to shake for aeration.

[denny]

I don't really see any problem with 6.5 gallon glass carboys.  I use them mainly because I like to see the fermentation activity and to use an undrilled bung to shake for aeration.

To me, thew whole carboy shape just doesn't lend itself to easy cleaning or storage compared to buckets.  I could care less about being able to see fermentation activity.  If I really want to see it, I open the lid.  And I would never shake or rock a carboy for aeration.  It's inefficient compared to other methods, not to mention dangerous.

[narvin]

I really don't have any need for 6.5 gallons over 6.  I'd use a blowoff tube either way just in case.  Two 6 gallon better bottles fit just right in my chest freezer, also.

As for cleaning... throw in some PBW.  Dry hopping... throw in the hop pellets without a bag.  And carboys are easier to start a siphon on without disturbing sediment using a carboy cap.  Plus I don't have to worry about a bucket not sealing airtight for a long lagering period.

[beersk]

Are the openings to better bottles larger than on the glass carboys?  I wonder if my 1" blow off hose would fit properly in a better bottle.  Could be a possible option for the future...

[Hokerer]

Are the openings to better bottles larger than on the glass carboys?  I wonder if my 1" blow off hose would fit properly in a better bottle.  Could be a possible option for the future...

Yes they are.  BB's take a #10 stopper if I remember correctly.

[thatguy314]

Carboys are antiquated, IMO.  If you're trying to move away from glass (a good idea for safety reasons), there's no reason to remain attached to the shape of a blown glass carboy.

I'd much rather have a 7.5 gallon Better Bucket made of PET so I can have plenty of head space, and be able to watch the cool fermentation process.  It would also be far easier to dry hop or do fruit additions in the secondary.  It would be much easier to clean, as well (just pop off the lid).  I'd also like it to be usable as a bottling bucket--installing a spigot would be much easier and cheaper in a bucket than a carboy.

I agree PET buckets would be great.  However, the PET material is more brittle and less flexible, so it might not work as well for large buckets.  I'd have to talk to the people who make them.

Carboys have the opposite advantage that you can open up a small portion at at ime without exposing the entire surface.  I think it's 6 of 1, half a dozen of the other depending on what you're more concerned with

Are the openings to better bottles larger than on the glass carboys?  I wonder if my 1" blow off hose would fit properly in a better bottle.  Could be a possible option for the future...

They are bigger and it won't fit.

[ipaguy]

I didn't vote because you didn't include an option for not being interested in better bottles in any size.  I'm pretty happy with glass & don't mind the extra weight.  What I would really like to see for safety is a glass carboy with a protective plastic coating on the outside.  Back when I was a lab rat you could order your gallon jugs of concentrated acids with that type of coating.