A couple of months ago, the
Glass Big Mouth Bubbler was released. I was so excited that I sold
off my glass carboys and purchased a pair of them immediately. I was,
and still am, enamored with these things. The ability to stick your
entire arm down into your carboy not only makes cleaning faster, but
much easier.
However,
I found myself wondering what it would be like if a plastic version
of these were to be produced. Low and behold, not even a month later
my dreams came true. The Plastic Big Mouth Bubbler was born!
At
a glance, carboys are awesome! I have been using solely glass for so
long, I forgot how light a fermentor can really be. They are nice and
rigid as well. The first thing to catch my eye, and the most exciting
part for me I think, was the lid.
The
lids are made of HDPE material. I fully expected these lids to be
kinda flimsy, not knowing anything about what HDPE was, but work
nonetheless. Boy was I wrong, the lids are really solid. I have
absolutely no fear of them breaking, or having an issue with screwing
the ring down tightly to make a good seal.
Another
thing I was worried about, how easy are the disc part of the lids to
set? Is it just a smooth bottom that you have to get just right to
screw it on? Nope! It has a really nice ridge right on the under side
of it that lets you get it perfectly on the mouth of the bottle
effortlessly.
Also
noteworthy, no need for any gaskets. This lid seals perfectly without
the need for any gaskets. Reducing any recurring cost, albeit a rare
one.
My
favorite thing about the lid? The dual ported option you can
purchase.
This
carboy is awesome. It will allow for so many options. Thermowell,
taking gravity samples without removing the lid, etc. The lid is
large enough to fit any siphon and thief that I own. Sampling is now
a breeze.
Which
brings me to my next point, the punted bottom.
I
figured this would be a nice addition, but I did not anticipate how
much I would actually fall in love with it. With either lid my 1/2”
siphon sits in the punted bottom surprisingly securely. I carried it
up the stairs to take this picture with the siphon inside and it
didn't move an inch; resting in the indent perfectly.
Also,
a side note. Other than some extreme hopping there is plenty of space
around the indent for everything to fall, leaving you with crystal
clear wort for your secondary.
Next
is the harness. If you have been looking into the glass Big Mouth
Bubbler, and loved the harness that came with it you are in luck. I
am not sure if it is the exact same harness, but the similarities are
obvious. It secures exactly the same, with added support around the
neck for pouring (which I love). Much easier to tightly secure than
the Brew Hauler. The harness is also made in the USA, which is an
added bonus.
Last
but not least. The volume markings. These were a really nice touch
for those that don't have a sight glass on their kettle, or just want
conformation. I have an accurate sight glass on my kettle so I don't
really need this per se, but I found myself liking it being there
just so I can double check my volumes. Would have been nicer if there
were some numbers next to the markings, but I feel that is just me
being nit picky.
All
that being said there are some disadvantages still.
Flexing
of the plastic. Yes this is still an issue, same as the previous PET
bubblers. However, this does have 3 big anti-flex ribs. It helps, but
it doesn't eliminate the problem. I have noticed the 5 gallon is
significantly more rigid than the 6.5 gallon as well. I personally
find this to be a minor problem, easily solved by using a solid
stopper when moving the carboy.
Long
term aging. It has been known for a long time that air permeates
plastic. This PET plastic is better yes, but not immune. I find this
problem solvable by aging any beer you're going to have in there a
while in glass, or like me – in a keg if possible. I prefer to get
a blanket of co2 on it anyway if dry hopping or other additions
aren't a concern.
In
summary, I find these new fermentors to be a great leap forward in
portable, and affordable fermenting gear. They're light, almost
invincible, and pretty cool looking to boot. If you're trying to
decide between these and glass, keep an eye out for my next article.
However, if you have your mind made up on the plastic version, you
won't regret it!
I
picked mine up from Northern Brewer. I got the 6.5 Gallon and the 5 Gallon. Their customer service has always been excellent to me, and with the
flat rate shipping you really can't beat the price.
Keep
an eye out for my next article where I will compare the glass vs
plastic and hopefully help you decide which is best for you.
Cheers!
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