Northern Brewer is well known for their wine and beer supplies. They were founded in 1993 and offer a wide range of products including ingredients, equipment, supplies, kits, keg systems, and bottling tools. They also provide excellent customer service.
Among many of their products is the Big Mouth Bubbler. It’s a plastic carboy fermenter for home brewing and winemaking. If you are looking for a big mouth fermenter, then this carboy is for you.
Big Mouth Bubbler: General Features
This is a plastic carboy with a capacity of 6.5 Gallons. It is constructed of a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic. It is heavy plastic that can easily hold the weight of a five-gallon batch. It is different from a traditional plastic bucket fermenter in that the plastic is clear. This way you can see through the plastic similar to a glass carboy – they do, however, have a glass model
This is a wide mouth carboy, hence the name Big Mouth Bubbler. This is a feature many people may enjoy. It makes cleaning and sanitizing the vessel extremely easy. If you have a spray hose on your sink, it just about eliminates the need for a scrubbing brush.
To cover the mouth is a lid that fits tightly around the jar. This is meant to be kept on during the process of fermentation. The lid also has a hole in the center that allows you to fit airlocks and blow off valves. This big mouth carboy also allows you to use testing equipment that may otherwise be too difficult with a standard size model.
This big mouth fermenter also includes volume markings for easy measurements. And the bottom is punted to assist sediment to the sides. This can aid a clean transfer.
The fermenter is very lightweight. This is a huge plus for people that have to transport their units up and down stairs. It is also advantageous for storage. This way you can put it about anywhere that it will fit.
Pros
- Very light
- Includes lid
- Wide Mouth
- Very easy to sanitize
- Accommodates most blow off valves
Any Shortfalls?
Although the plastic is sturdy on the big mouth carboy; it may not be able to withstand hot liquids. Most of the time you should be cooling your wort before placing it in a fermenter. However, some people have reported warped and shrinking plastic when hot liquids have been added.
Also, the addition of any lid is going to bring possible leaking issues. This lid does not include an o ring or threading. This means that you need to make sure you are getting a proper seal. If you don’t, it may compromise all of your hard work. Northern Brewer says the non-thread design keeps the vessel from over pressurizing, but this shouldn’t be an issue if you are using an airlock.
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Cons
- Thin Plastic
- Possible leaking
Big Mouth Bubbler Review: The Bottom Line
Personally, I would prefer a fermenting bucket or traditional glass carboy. I don’t have an issue with weight in transportation, and I find that a bucket provides the same ease of use that this plastic carboy does. I also don’t like the idea that I may possibly introduce oxygen from a compromised seal.
In the end, this is a good fermenter. It is perfect for 5-gallon batches, and it should get the job done. Also, if you need to visually monitor your yeast activity and need something lighter than a glass carboy, then you should consider the Big Mouth Bubbler.