Invest in kegs or carboys?

[big_dog32]

Hello fellow homebrewers! I’m getting back into brewing after a few year hiatus and have a problem. I’m going back into the hobby full swing because I still have all the knowledge that I had before, the problem is that I gave all my equipment to a buddy when I stopped brewing a few years back.
I have a few buckets so far, but it’s time to start putting some of my ferments into secondary. I like brewing beer but wine and ciders are simplest and take less time and equipment so I usually do those. If I was doing things that were ready quick then I would choose to invest in kegs next, no question, but the ciders and wines take a while to age. The problem is that I know I’ll want to keg and carb and have mostly sparkling ciders and wines. Kegs would also take away the cost and time of bottling.
So the question is should I go the keg route and get 4 kegs after my next paycheck, and do all my primary and secondary’s in buckets. Then I would keg and carb the ciders and wines and let them age there.
OR should I forget kegs for a couple months and invest in carboys to age in, then get kegs later on.
What do you all think?

 

[DownstairsBrewing]

Kegs are a lot more expensive than carboys. I'd be inclined to tie up a cheaper carboy for the aging stuff, and use the kegs to avoid bottling. I don't think it is an either/or - two carboys and two kegs will get you the same outcome over the next few months, and quite a bit cheaper.

 

[bmd2k1]

Hello fellow homebrewers! I’m getting back into brewing after a few year hiatus and have a problem. I’m going back into the hobby full swing because I still have all the knowledge that I had before, the problem is that I gave all my equipment to a buddy when I stopped brewing a few years back.
I have a few buckets so far, but it’s time to start putting some of my ferments into secondary. I like brewing beer but wine and ciders are simplest and take less time and equipment so I usually do those. If I was doing things that were ready quick then I would choose to invest in kegs next, no question, but the ciders and wines take a while to age. The problem is that I know I’ll want to keg and carb and have mostly sparkling ciders and wines. Kegs would also take away the cost and time of bottling.
So the question is should I go the keg route and get 4 kegs after my next paycheck, and do all my primary and secondary’s in buckets. Then I would keg and carb the ciders and wines and let them age there.
OR should I forget kegs for a couple months and invest in carboys to age in, then get kegs later on.
What do you all think?

I have 3 Speidel fermentors....love em...no siphoning...easy to move...fit in fridge for cold crashing! Next step 4 me is getting kegs et al.

Doesn't exactly answer your question though...

Cheers [emoji111]

 

[z-bob]

Disposable 4 gallon plastic (PET) carboys. Like this one:
https://www.samsclub.com/sams/member-s-mark-purified-drinking-water-4gal/200757.ip
or this:
https://www.menards.com/main/grocer...cooler-water-4-gallon-jug/p-1444433847115.htm

You get 4 gallons of good water plus a lightweight unbreakable carboy for about $5. They take a No. 10 stopper or a standard carboy cap.

 

[big_dog32]

Thank you both for the advice! I have some plastic buckets for fermentation, so I think I’m gonna go with the kegs. Any further advice is appreciated though!

 

[Sailingeric]

I say kegs, I age some beers in the keg and when it is ready to carb and go on tap, it is ready no transferring.

 

[afro_lou]

Here’s a great HBT thread on fermenting in cornies. I haven’t actually put a batch through one yet, but I’ve got all the bits and pieces to do it. Next batch for sure. Spunding valves are really easy to make!

 

[Toejam792]

I vote for the kegs. I've never liked the carboys too small of opening always fear of glass mixed with fluid flying everywhere, I can be real rough with my kegs and don't think twice. I just started making bigger batches so I can fill my conical and a keg to test out different yeast and I really like fermenting in a keg. It's so easy you just get a smaller batch, and the opening is bigger than a carboy so some people can fit their arm in to clean.

 

[schematix]

Here’s a great HBT thread on fermenting in cornies. I haven’t actually put a batch through one yet, but I’ve got all the bits and pieces to do it. Next batch for sure. Spunding valves are really easy to make!

That is a great thread. Guy who wrote it really knew what he was doing!

 

[homebrewer_99]

...always fear of glass mixed with fluid flying everywhere...conical, the opening is bigger than a carboy so some people can fit their arm in to clean.

I've been using carboys since 1994. I have about 20 of them. Never cracked or broke one yet.

Conical openings must be pretty large...I can't even get my forearm in a keg opening.

 

[afro_lou]

That is a great thread. Guy who wrote it really knew what he was doing!

Yeah, he did alright. Not half bad! [emoji12]

 

[MarkKF]

Ferment in bucket, age in carboy, carb. in keg, then bottle or fill growlers.

 

[golfindia]

Fermenting in corny kegs is fantastic. Used kegs are cheaper than glass carboys. Cut an inch off the diptube and go to town. Using CO2 to transfer is a breeze and reduces chances of oxidization. I mostly use kegs for secondary, since headspace is small.

 

[schematix]

Only 2 things i can complain about fermenting in corny's:

1. You don't get a full 5G. Batch sizes need to become either about 90% and 135% (if your MLT and BK can accomodate)
2. Cleaning corny kegs is a pain due to all the crevices.

@Jaybird has made these an official product though, and makes corny fermenting a more pleasurable experience as well.