Fermenting Buckets - How Long Do You Keep'em?

[brewnewb]

I have a few 5 gallon buckets that are over a year old now. They seem harder to clean and show signs of stains. Is it time to replace?

I'm considering going back to good ole LBKs. They are inexpensive, fit nicely on the shelves where I brew and they seem to last. From a cost persective 2 LBKs are cheaper than one 5 gal bucket, lid, spigot and airlock.

The Brew Demon conical is nice but I can get 4 LBKs for the price of one conical. Plus the conical does not fit on my shelving.

Also, I've been trying to "grow my brewing experience" a little by doing more 2.5 batches with new recipies and steeping different grains with extracts. Another reason to consider LBKs is that I have 4 of those small 2.5 kegs so it's easy match a batch to a keg.

Did I just talk myself into getiing a couple more LBKs or am I going nuts?

[Beer-lord]

The one's I ferment in I keep for about 18 months but I have a SS fermenter I use 75% of the time and don't use the buckets that much anymore.
They're cheap enough that buying new ones every 18 months isn't bad. The old ones I keep to store grain in or for other house hold reasons though I have had enough over the years to ditch the really old ones.

[BlackDuck]

I've got one going on close to 2 years. It sees approximately one batch per month. It is showing some slight staining, but that's about it. But I should probably replace it before it ruins a batch.

[Beer-lord]

Really, if you keep them clean, even the scratches shouldn't be a problem but for $15, why not get a new one?
The Big Mouth plastic is really great IMO. I got the strap and it really helps move the fermenter into the keezer and removing it. And, I really don't think it will need to be changed as often as a bucket.
For the record, I don't put anything in my fermenting buckets at all. They are cleaned and the lid goes on it and kept that way. That reduces the chances for the large gouges that can be a problem.

[RickBeer]

I use 4 LBKs on a regular basis (sometimes 6), and have a few more. If you're considering getting more LBKs, I would recommend you wait until the January/February timeframe when the stores put them on clearance. For me the size is perfect - I make 5 gallon batches but don't want to carry 5 gallons due to a bad back. And my upright freezer with coils under the shelves perfectly fits LBKs and nothing else - I could have 5-6 in there at once.

In January 2013 I bought 2 full kits from Rite Aid for $12.49 each (sold one for $30 and the other for $25 before deciding I wanted more than my initial 2).

Last year Mr. Beer made special packages just for Target consisting of an LBK, a can of CAL, carbonation drops, and no rinse sanitizer. I bought 5 of them for $8.98 each. I then sold the cans of CAL (I don't like it) to a fellow homebrewer, gave them a deal, ended up costing me nothing for the LBKs. I also picked up another LBK and ten 25 oz bottles, plus another can of CAL and a can of Irish Stout, for $10 on Craigslist, have the can of CAL again for sale.

So that's 2 original LBKs (I from Woot, one from CL), 5 more from Target, and another from CL for a total of 8. I also have 2 others that were replacements for ones with defective holes, I ended up using a file and got them so they wouldn't leak - so with 2 more spigots and 2 more lids I'd have 10. I only really have a need for 6 max - my youngest son (who moved back home after grad school but professes to want to brew when he goes on his own) may take 2 or 4 with him.

So I'd say wait. Get the list of local retailers from Mr. Beer's site in your area (usually Target, KMart) and search online come mid January.

Also - Mr. Beer just changed the LBK to a bigger opening and a black spigot. Some other things going on - I expect large clearance sales coming up in January.

[brewnewb]

Also - Mr. Beer just changed the LBK to a bigger opening and a black spigot. Some other things going on - I expect large clearance sales coming up in January.

RB - All great points. I'll have to look up those local retailers. Like you, all I want is the LBK.

[ScrewyBrewer]

I have been using the same four 6.5 gallon Ale Pails for going on 5 years now and have never had any issues with flavors or worst of all infections. I have replaced the spigots several times during that time though and take them apart to clean the inside of the valve between fermentations. You would be surprised at just how much trub can hide inside the spigot and valve assembly after fermenting a batch of beer, I know I was.

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[John Sand]

I've scrapped all of my LBKs, too hard to get my big mitts in them, don't like spigots on fermenters (broke two!). I'm glad MrB is improving them. I have two buckets, a glass carboy and a BDC. The older bucket is over two years old, no trouble yet.

[Pudge]

Plastics should be replaced fine as a rule of thumb... just saying.

[Whamolagan]

Go to glass if you have the space, you never have to replace them unless you drop one. There are a lot of glass options out there these days. If you do happen to get an infection in plastic, you can never get it out of the plastic due to the fact that plastic is permeable. I used LBKs for over 2 years until I had massive mold due to 2 out of 8 spigots leaking and didn't catch it in time. Just remember that just because it is a 5 gallon glass carboy, doesn't mean you can't just put 2.5 gallons in it. You can make a real big beer and not have to have a blow off tube that way.

[Rebel_B]

I only replace them if they are cracked or leaking. I use the Mr Clean magic erasers to clean plastic, cause they don't scratch the plastic surface.

[Knightmare]

I'm with Screwy on this one. I'm using the same buckets goin on 4 years. If I feel they are scratched, I might replace. As long as they don't get scratched or end up with an infection, I'll continue to use them. Ya just have to make sure they get cleaned good after every batch. Hell, I have beer tap lines that are over 2 years old. Never had a problem with off taste or infections as long as I've remained diligent about cleaning.

[bpgreen]

I have an Ale Pail that is several years old. I buy wheat from Costco in buckets that are a perfect size for fermenters. So I use those as well. I had a bucket develop mold, so I threw it out.

If a bucket doesn't have any problems, I don't worry about it.

@ScrewyBrewer, you ferment in ale pails with spigots? My LHBS told me that was a bad idea. If you've been doing it successfully, I've got another bucket I can use.

[Dawg LB Steve]

@ScrewyBrewer, you ferment in ale pails with spigots? My LHBS told me that was a bad idea. If you've been doing it successfully, I've got another bucket I can use.

My LHBS gave me the same advise, but I was using it in a plastic bin with water and ice packs in the summer as a swamp cooler so I think that was more the possible nasties from the water for 2-3 weeks. I think it would be ok if the spigot was clean and sanitized, to be extra diligent maybe sanitize a sandwich bag and wrap the spigot in the bag and secure it with a rubber band.

On the topic, I am going on 18 months with the same ale pails no problems so far, knock on wood. I did have to re-purpose one, somehow plumbers got solder and who knows what else stuck to the inside of a bucket when they were replacing water heater. After scraping the solder out of it, only gets used for carting around grain or water.

[brewnewb]

Thanks guys! I'll keep what I have for now and maybe mix another LBK or 2 once the clearance sales go on.