How to use 5 gallon buckets

[dpittard]

So I just picked up some (12 exactly) food-grade buckets that I found through Craigslist (gotta love the free section). Are these going to be useful for brewing? I haven't measured them out yet, but the label says 5 gallons, so I'm assuming that's 5 gallons to the brim. I know this won't work for primary fermenting, but maybe I could split a batch between two of them and use them for secondary dry hopping or something.

Can you guys think of any other uses for brewing?

 

[OHIOSTEVE]

I've done two batches split ....2.5 or so gallons in each one. Also for smaller test batches I would say.

 

[JeremyCT]

I'd use 'em for a wine with little krausen.
Apfelwein, maybe?

 

[djt17]

Due to back problems; I use them to ferment 3.5 gal batches. Works great.

 

[erock2112]

I'm constantly using 5-gallon buckets - 2 for wort, one for Star-San, one for Oxy-Clean. And I keep a few extra around for things like siphoning waste, etc. I have a couple of older buckets which I fill with ice to keep corny kegs cold at events. Coincidentally, I've never used buckets as fermentors. Given the risk that the tiniest scratch could harbor possible infection, I would be careful about fermenting in used buckets.

 

[lunchbox]

You can buy bulk grain and keep them in the buckets.