Choosing the right carboy is a critical step for any home brewer. This vessel is where the magic of fermentation happens, transforming your wort or must into a delicious, finished beverage. The ideal carboy not only provides a safe, sanitary environment for your brew but also makes the entire process, from cleaning to bottling, significantly easier and more enjoyable.
With options ranging from classic glass jugs to modern, feature-rich plastic fermenters, the choice can be overwhelming. This roundup is designed to guide you through the best carboys available, highlighting the unique benefits of each to help you find the perfect match for your brewing setup and style. Whether you’re a beginner starting with one-gallon batches or a seasoned pro scaling up, there’s a perfect fermenter here for you.
The Best Carboys for Your Home Brewery
- Big Mouth Bubbler EVO – 5 Gallon Glass Carboy
- North Mountain Supply 1 Gallon Glass Jug Set of 4
- FastRack 7 Gallon PET Wide Mouth Fermonster
- FastRack 6 Gallon PET Carboy
- FastRack 1 Gallon Glass Jug with Bungs & Airlock
- Big Mouth Bubbler EVO – 6.5 Gallon Glass Carboy
- FASTFERMENT Floor Stand for 7.9 Gallon Fermenter
- Fermonster PET Plastic Carboy with Spigot – 6 Gallon
- Big Mouth Bubbler Plastic Carboy – 6 Gallon
Big Mouth Bubbler EVO – 5 Gallon Glass Carboy
The Big Mouth Bubbler EVO revolutionizes the traditional glass carboy with its signature wide-mouth design. This opening makes every step of the brewing process more straightforward, from scrubbing the interior to pitching yeast or adding dry hops. You can say goodbye to the struggle of fitting a brush into a narrow neck.
Constructed from smooth, scratch-resistant glass, this carboy is simple to sanitize and won’t hold onto odors or stains. Gallon graduations are molded directly into the glass walls, providing clear and permanent measurement markers for monitoring your fermentation progress. It’s a durable and user-friendly vessel for serious brewers.
North Mountain Supply 1 Gallon Glass Jug Set of 4
This set from North Mountain Supply is the ultimate starter kit for small-batch brewing. With four separate one-gallon jugs, you have the flexibility to experiment with different recipes, fruits, or yeasts simultaneously without committing to a large batch. The built-in handle on each jug makes them remarkably easy and safe to carry.
The set is incredibly complete, including everything you need to begin fermenting right away. Each jug comes with a black plastic lid for storage, a rubber stopper, and a two-piece airlock. Beyond brewing, these jugs are excellent for making large yeast starters, testing new flavor combinations, or simply storing sanitizer solution.
FastRack 7 Gallon PET Wide Mouth Fermonster
As a primary fermenter, the 7-gallon Fermonster offers ample headspace for vigorous fermentations, preventing messy blow-offs. The wide mouth provides the same cleaning and ingredient-addition benefits as its glass counterparts, but in a lightweight and shatter-resistant PET plastic body. The included airtight lid is key to maintaining an oxygen-free environment.
This fermenter is made from food-grade, BPA-free plastic that is taste and odor neutral, ensuring no off-flavors are imparted to your brew. It also comes as a complete kit with a drilled stopper and a twin-bubble airlock, which is highly effective at releasing excess CO2 during active fermentation.
FastRack 6 Gallon PET Carboy
The FastRack 6 Gallon PET Carboy is a versatile and durable workhorse for the home brewer. Its classic carboy shape is ideal for secondary fermentation and long-term aging, where minimizing headspace and oxygen exposure is crucial. The plastic construction makes it much safer and lighter to handle than a comparable glass vessel.
Built from high-quality, leak-proof PET material, this carboy is both stain-resistant and will not transfer flavors between batches. This makes it an excellent choice for sequentially brewing different styles of beer, wine, or kombucha without concern for residual tastes. Its clarity allows you to easily monitor the fermentation and clarity of your liquid.
FastRack 1 Gallon Glass Jug with Bungs & Airlock
For the experimental brewer, this one-gallon glass jug is an indispensable tool. It’s the perfect size for testing a new recipe, brewing a small batch of mead, or creating a custom cider blend without the risk of wasting large volumes of ingredients. The clear glass provides a perfect view of the fermentation activity.
This kit is sold as a complete package, including the jug, a rubber bung, and a twin-bubble airlock. As a sustainable and reusable container, this glass jug offers an eco-friendly alternative to plastic, and with proper care, it can last for countless batches, making it a smart long-term investment for your brewery.
Big Mouth Bubbler EVO – 6.5 Gallon Glass Carboy
This larger 6.5-gallon version of the Big Mouth Bubbler is precision-crafted from extra-thick, crystal-clear glass. The larger capacity is ideal for five-gallon batches, providing ample headspace for a vigorous primary fermentation. The taller, narrower body shape is designed to reduce liquid loss during transfers, helping you get more finished product into your bottles.
It includes a universal single-port lid that creates an airtight seal with ribbed silicone rings. The non-threaded design is a safety feature that prevents dangerous pressure build-up. Combined with the massive 5.55-inch mouth, this carboy offers a premium fermentation experience for brewers who prefer the classic nature of glass.
FASTFERMENT Floor Stand for 7.9 Gallon Fermenter
While not a carboy itself, the FASTFERMENT Floor Stand is a vital accessory for owners of the 7.9-gallon conical fermenter. This stand provides a stable and secure base for your fermenter, eliminating the worry of it tipping over. Its sturdy design can reliably support the full weight of a fermenting batch.
This stand offers the freedom to brew in any convenient location in your home, not just on a counter or table. It helps with organization by giving your conical fermenter a dedicated spot, and it positions the collection ball at an ideal height for easy monitoring and harvesting.
Fermonster PET Plastic Carboy with Spigot – 6 Gallon
The Fermonster with a spigot adds a layer of convenience to the fermentation process. The integrated spigot allows for easy sampling of your brew without having to open the lid and risk contamination. When it’s time to bottle, the spigot can be used with a bottling wand for a streamlined and efficient transfer.
Combining the benefits of a wide-mouth design for easy cleaning with the practical utility of a built-in spigot, this PET plastic carboy is a fantastic choice for brewers looking to simplify their workflow. The plastic construction is lightweight and durable, making it a safe and user-friendly option.
Big Mouth Bubbler Plastic Carboy – 6 Gallon
The plastic version of the Big Mouth Bubbler brings the famous wide-mouth accessibility to a shatter-proof platform. It offers the same effortless cleaning and ingredient addition as the glass model but is significantly lighter and less prone to accidental damage, which is ideal for brewers with active households or who transport their carboys.
Made from durable, food-safe plastic, this carboy is designed for long-term use and will not affect the flavor of your beer or wine. It’s an excellent entry point for new brewers or a reliable, easy-to-handle secondary vessel for experienced ones, providing all the functional benefits without the weight and fragility of glass.
Buying Guide: How to Choose the Best Carboys for Home Brewing
When I first started home brewing, I thought any big glass jar would work as a carboy. I learned quickly that the vessel you choose for fermentation is a critical piece of gear. It’s not just about holding liquid; it’s about creating a safe, stable environment for your yeast to work its magic. The right carboy makes the process smoother and your beer cleaner. The wrong one can lead to off-flavors, oxidation, or even a sticky, messy disaster.
The first and biggest decision you’ll face is material: glass or plastic. Each has its staunch defenders. Glass carboys are the classic choice. They are impermeable to oxygen, which means your beer is better protected from staling over long aging periods. They are also incredibly easy to sanitize and won’t scratch, so you don’t have to worry about bacteria hiding in tiny grooves. The main drawback is weight and fragility. A full 5-gallon glass carboy is heavy and, if dropped, can shatter into a thousand dangerous pieces. Always use a carboy handle and a brew hauler strap for safety.
Plastic carboys, usually made from PET, are the modern favorite for many. Their biggest advantage is being lightweight and virtually unbreakable from drops. This makes them much easier and safer to carry when full. The plastic is also less prone to causing a “suck-back” during a rapid temperature drop because it can flex slightly. The downside is that PET is somewhat permeable to oxygen, making it less ideal for beers you plan to age for many months. They can also scratch over time, and those scratches can harbor bacteria if you’re not careful with your cleaning. I recommend using a soft cloth or sponge dedicated only to your brewing equipment.
Beyond material, consider the size and shape. A 5-gallon carboy is standard for a 5-gallon batch, but having a 6-gallon “big mouth” carboy is fantastic for primary fermentation. The extra headspace accommodates the thick krausen foam, preventing messy blow-offs. For secondary fermentation or aging, a 5-gallon size that minimizes headspace (and thus oxygen exposure) is perfect. The shape matters too; a wider mouth makes cleaning and adding fruit much easier, while a narrow neck often has fewer places for nasties to hide and is easier to fit with an airlock. Finally, look for clear measurement markings and a sturdy handle design if it’s included. Choosing the right carboy is one of the first steps to a successful batch, so think about your brewing style and safety before you buy.
FAQ
How do I properly clean and sanitize my carboy?
Cleaning and sanitizing are two different but equally important steps. First, you need to clean it. As soon as I’m done siphoning a batch out, I rinse the carboy with warm water to get the bulk of the sediment out. Then, I use a dedicated carboy brush and a no-rinse cleanser like PBW or Oxiclean FREE to scrub away any stubborn residue. For plastic, be gentle to avoid scratching. Once it’s visually clean and free of any film, you must sanitize it right before your next use. I submerge all my parts in a sanitizer solution like Star San for the recommended contact time. For the carboy itself, I put a small amount of solution in, seal the lid, and shake it vigorously to coat every interior surface. Remember, sanitizing a dirty carboy doesn’t work; it has to be clean first.
Is a 5-gallon or 6-gallon carboy better for a 5-gallon batch?
This depends on whether you’re doing primary or secondary fermentation. For primary fermentation, where a massive krausen (yeast foam) develops, a 6-gallon carboy is far superior. It gives that foam plenty of room to rise without clogging your airlock and causing a blow-out. I’ve had many messy incidents trying to use a 5-gallon carboy for a vigorous primary fermentation. For secondary fermentation, where you’re just letting the beer clear and condition, a 5-gallon carboy is better because it minimizes the amount of headspace (the air gap at the top), which reduces the risk of oxidation.
Can I use a carboy for both fermenting and long-term storage?
You can, but it’s not always the best practice. A carboy is excellent for active fermentation and for shorter-term secondary fermentation or aging (a few weeks to a couple of months). However, for very long-term storage of many months or years, like for a barleywine or mead, you have to be cautious. Light is the enemy of beer, so you must keep a glass carboy in a dark place. More importantly, the plastic bung and airlock can allow tiny amounts of oxygen to seep in over a very long period. For extended aging, many brewers prefer to use kegs that can be purged with CO2, creating a more oxygen-free environment.
What’s the safest way to move a full glass carboy?
This is one of the most important safety questions in home brewing. A full 5-gallon glass carboy weighs over 40 pounds and is extremely slippery. Never carry it by the neck alone. The safest method is to use a purpose-built carboy hauler—a nylon harness that cradles the carboy. You can also use a milk crate, which provides a solid handle and protects the bottom. I always make sure my path is clear and I’m wearing closed-toe shoes, just in case. Investing in a plastic carboy or a Fermonster is a great way to eliminate this risk entirely.
Why is there a fruit flies around my carboy airlock?
Fruit flies, or vinegar flies, are attracted to the smell of fermentation. They are a problem because they can carry acetobacter, the bacteria that turns alcohol into vinegar. If they get into your beer, you risk making sour beer unintentionally. The best defense is to make sure your airlock is always filled with the proper liquid (sanitizer or vodka) and has a good seal. I check my airlocks regularly to ensure they haven’t dried out. Keeping your fermentation area clean and free of spilled beer or wort also helps deter them.