Just read a great article over at Brew Dudes talking about the decision whether to use plastic or glass fermenters.
This is a decision you’re going to have to make when you’re looking for your fermenter, and there’re a few things to consider.
First and foremost, what’s your budget? Plastic fermenters are cheap – and they can be cheaper if you’re willing sacrifice a bit of style for the sake of your pocket. If you think about it, any big milk or juicecontainer will serve perfectly well as a fermenter!
However, you need to bear in mind that they have their limitations. Often plastic containers are somewhat translucent, making it tricky to see the contents. Commercial plastic fermenters are also prone to scratching, which can obscure the view into them.
I therefore recommend sticking to glass carboys for racking, when it’s clearly imperative that you be able to see right into the container to see how the clearing is coming along.
It has been said that the scratches which can accumulate on plastic fermenters can harbour bacteria and other microbes. This is likely true – however, sterilizing your container in bicarb overnight should clear out anything still lurking.
And finally, you might want to consider that glass just looks nicer – there’s something appealing about a room full of glass carboys. If you’re just starting out in this hobby however, it probably makes sense to save your pennies until you’re sure this is for you.
