Glass Vs Plastic carboy

[twanger1994]

there is a cargo net type sling that goes around and under the carboy.. little more work to attach it properly. (very little) but the neck holders put more strain in places you don't want to test

 

[okie joe]

Yes a little late ....but? 26years of Homebrewing all types of beer and wine....kits ...all grain ....etc.

Glass all the way ....cleaner no scratches and I use sanitizer and iodine....some use bleach...
I use glass for primary and secondary I use a blow off tube....

Tube end is attached to carboy and other end is in bucket of bleach water...No exploding carboys here and I have only droped a carboy 2 times....my bad both times...broke both..

I now do my secondary ferm in 5 gal SS corny kegs...I have about 25 SS kegs.My two cents... I Keg and 4 tap System...

 

[wimpy]

Been brewing since '85 Started with all glass, then about ten years ago, making 11.5 gallon batches, started using 7.5 gallon buckets stacked one slightly offset on top of the other(to avoid the airlock) to ferment in a fridge for Lagers. Secondary though in SS kegs in the chest freezer. Never had a problem with infections or off flavors. Just real carefull not to scratch, cleaning soak with bleach, wiping with paper towels, rinsing, bleach soak again if neccesary, then sanitize with iodophor or my favorite, Star San. Not had a problem ever with plastic. Still use glass with most Ales though.

 

[bullbythehorns]

I've been fermenting with both for  years and have no preference.  On the home-brew forums there are a lot of horror stories about broken glass carboy's and some pretty gruesome injuries from them, seems to be from some of the newer ones possibly made in Mexico.

I do like my Better Bottles for their weight, ease of handling and durability, but the glass ones are nice for ease of cleaning and having that "classic" feel.

To me, it really doesn't matter which one, they both make good beers and to each their own, whatever works in your process. 

 

[coyote-1]

The solution to this problem is in the solution! 

By that I mean: Do not use a bottle brush on your plastic fermenting bucket. Use proper cleaning solutions, gentle wipes, and elbow grease. Wash it thoroughly, then fill it with diluted solution and let it set for an hour. Then wash it again.

No need for abrasive cleaning of your plastic bucket. This is what I've been doing for the past year, and my beer is coming out great.
 

But that doesn't worry me, (things are replaceable) what does it the fact that germs and foreign contaminates thrive on finding nooks and crannies (or scratches) to live in... What this means is that should you get a small scratch from the metal in a bottle brush, you could have serious problem... worst of all a spoiled batch of beer... this will not happen with glass.