Pictured with the recommended #10 stopper installed.  I feel like the #10 stopper is just a tad undersized.  When the temperature dropped towards the end of fermentation on the Zythos IPA, the stopper got sucked in a little bit.  I was able to get it out without issue, but I’m concerned that cold crashing would pull it in completely.  Fortunately, there is an easy solution… the 5 gallon carboy hood FE500 fits and works great.  I will say that the product description says that this works with a #10 stopper but the “You Might Also Need” section links to a #10.5 stopper so maybe this is an issue that’s been recognized.  Either way, I’d suggest considering the carboy hood.

In my opinion, this carboy is super easy to clean.  This picture is after fermenting the Zythos IPA.  It looks like new!  Here’s how I cleaned it: 1. Dump out trub and thoroughly rinse with hot water. This carboy is light and it’s not going to break.  That means you can easily pick it up and shake it with a bit of water in it to get most everything off.  2. Soak with PBW and hot water overnight.  I used 3 ounces.  3. Empty and rinse.  4. Spray with a few squirts of Star San.  Star San contains a surfactant that produces a sheeting action to reduce or water spots.  I spray a few squirts and then add a little bit of water.  Shake the carboy to coat all surfaces.  5.  Drain the carboy upside down to get the majority of water out.  6.  Place the carboy upright to finish the drying process.  This dries everything out much more quickly than when the carboy is inverted.

Side by side with a 6 Gallon Better Bottle

Top down view vs Better Bottle

Conclusions

MoreBeer’s PET carboy lineup is solid. A big plus for me is the PET construction. I switched to non-glass options right after a pretty bag accident that resulted in an injury, a lot carboy full of work and hours and hours of cleanup. Of course there are fancier (and more expensive options) but this is a solid and economical choice for a homebrew fermenter.

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