NEWBIES: All Carboys Not Created Equal

[roadwarriorsvt]

This is just mainly a note for us newbs. I learned the messy way that not all (5 gallon) carboys are exactly the same size! I was racking some blackberry today, concentrating on not getting any sediment sucked up. I had some store bought blackberry wine on hand to top off since I'd be losing some wine to the sediment. My feet began to get wet. Looked down to see BB wine overflowing in my carboy! :< Lesson I learned today: Not all carboys are exactly the same size! Just something to keep an eye on next time you're racking.

 

[Runningwolf]

Road a couple things to watch. Look at the bottom to see where they are made. There are two types. One made in Italy and the older ones made in Mexico. If you have both it would be best to start with the one from Italy as it is a bit larger and rack down to the Mexican carboy which is about 1/4 gallon shorter. Keep any extra wine in a wine bottle under air lock.

Another thing to watch is your siphon hose in the receiving carboy. As the vessel gets fuller you want to pull out any extra hose as it is also taking up space.

 

[Wade E]

At least you wont have to use that wine to top off this time! Dan is absolutely correct but even between the same kinds they cvan vary.

 

[Ernest T Bass]

I have two kinda of 5 gallon carboys. One kind has slick, smooth sides and the other ones have sides that are not smooth, they have a design on them, for lack of a better way to describe them, they have shelves that the krud collects on them. After it clears, you have to kinda twist the carboy or bump the sides to get the krud off the shelves. This adds a couple more days before bottling. I guess that why they make two different styles, so you can choose, I like the slick sides best.

Semper Fi

 

[Wade E]

The ones with the designs or shelves that you mention are the Italian which are always bigger then the smooth sided ones that are not being made anymore!

 

[jwalker1140]

Does anyone know if the wine kit manufacturers take the larger volume of the Italian carboys into account, or are we watering down our wine by following the directions?

For instance, the instructions for a WE Limited Edition kit I started recently said to mark the fill level of my primary by filling my carboy with water and pouring that into my primary. Later, immediately after stabilizing, it says to top with water (it does say that using water to top after subsequent rackings will water down the wine).

It seems that kits designed for use with Mexican carboys would produce relatively watered down wines with the now more common (at least in stores) Italian carboys. Or, maybe the difference in volume isn't enough to worry about?

 

[Angie]

I have several Italian style carboys and they seem to be different volumes as well. It has gotten to the point that when I first start a kit I measure in one of the carbys first, then rack into the primary, add a bit for top off, and then measure to make sure my sg is in the right area.

 

[mxsteve625]

I also found out the HARD way that all carboy's are not created equal.

 

[sly22guy]

The ones with the designs or shelves that you mention are the Italian which are always bigger then the smooth sided ones that are not being made anymore!

My local Homebrew Shop just got new PET containers in 5 & 6 Gal size they are a new company and they are the smooth side carboys. They are about $5-8 cheaper then the Better Bottle brand. As for glass carboys im not sure about whats available as i only use the plastic

 

[Runningwolf]

They are about $5-8 cheaper then the Better Bottle brand.

What does the price end up being for these bottles?

 

[roadwarriorsvt]

Since we're talking about carboys and price, I bought a 1 gallon jug from my LHBS for about $10.00. Later I went to my local Wally World and saw where I could have bought a FULL 1 gallon jug for $12.00! Granted it was a Gallo wine, but for 2 bucks,....

 

[Runningwolf]

Holy jugs but I guess everything is higher in HI. We pay a little over $4.00

 

[sly22guy]

Wow ur local hobby shop is expensive i bought my 1 gal jugs from mine for $4.50 each. Oh nevermind i just saw that everything is expensive where you live! yeah id def get the ones with wine in them you can use it to top up with, or in extreme cases you could actually drink it, but id recommend against it

Don't be afraid to look outside the box for equipment too. You could use a cooler for a primary fermenter, also if there is a bakery or ice cream shop around (basically any food place that has fruit shipped in buckets) you can get free food grade buckets & lids if your lucky from these places.

 

[sly22guy]

Last one i got was a 5 gal for just over $20.00 i think the price tag is still on it ill check when i get home if i think about it.

 

[Runningwolf]

At Walkers we can get 5 gal BB's for $15.00
at Luva Bella's we pay:
3 gallon better bottle $ 18.90
5 gallon better bottle $ 19.90
6 gallon better bottle $ 21.00
3 GALLON GLASS CARBOY $ 22.95
5 GALLON GLASS CARBOY $ 29.90
6 GALLON GLASS CARBOY $ 34.50
15 GALLON GLASS DEMI-JOHN -no spout $ 49.50

 

[CB750]

My gripe is with the companies who make the so called 6 gallon kits. If you follow the directions you always start with 6 gallons in your primary. After you rack to secondary, and again for finishing you will loose well over 2 quarts of wine which must be made up with water of more wine I wonder why they don't start out by making a 6 1/2 gallon kit to make up for the 10% loss.

I don't have that head space problem when I brew beer because the wort always has some form of fermentation going on even after you put it in the bottle for natural carbonation.

 

[Runningwolf]

I always ensure I added enough water in the primary so when I do transfer to the seconday I have a full carboy. Others may argue this point but it works for me.

 

[jdeere5220]

That's my strategy. I also try to rack from primary into the Italian carboy, and I don't top up at that point. It's still fermenting, and the extra space is needed for clearing agent(s). After 10 days clearing in Italian carboy, I rack to one of my smaller smooth-sided carboys. Usually only need about 1/2 bottle to fully top up for the long sit.

 

[Flem]

I always ensure I added enough water in the primary so when I do transfer to the seconday I have a full carboy. Others may argue this point but it works for me.

Dan, How much does that typically affect your initial SG?

 

[Runningwolf]

I don't measure it until I have everything in it. I then measure sg and add simple syrup to my target sg (usually 1.085).