Big Mouth Bubbler

It solves the biggest problem with inexpensive carboys—how to get them truly clean

Test lab notes

The Big Mouth Bubbler is great entry-level fermentor, and if you’re considering purchasing one, it’s probably because you’re deciding between this and a glass carboy. The tradeoffs are this: the carboy is glass, which reduces your risk scratching the fermenting surface, which in turn reduces your risk of infection. The Big Mouth Bubbler is made from a relatively thin plastic, but it does offer a large opening at the top, making cleaning much easier, as well as a gravity reading/bottling spigot to pull samples while your beer is fermenting. We’ve fermented about 10 brews in the Big Mouth Bubbler without infection, so due to the upsides, we reach for this fermentor before a glass carboy every time.

One warning on this one … you cannot go into it hot (trust us, we tried—for science). While the other plastic fermentors we tested can handle the heat, you are going to need to get your wort to a reasonable temperature (below 100°F/38°C) before transferring.

Price: $29.99 Manufacturer: Big Mouth Bubbler

Available from: northernbrewer.com