4-5 gallon food grade storage bucket.... Where to find?

[Deuce]

Can anyone point me in the direction of a shop that sells the food grade buckets?

some people call them pickle buckets...

thanks

[PeteC]

I had to look it up to see what they looked like. Here's the link for anyone who may have seen them:



Second, here is a link explaining what makes them "food grade" apparently.

http://www.wikihow.com/Identify-Food-Grade-Buckets

I think the caution here in Thailand is if the plastic is actually food grade, or something less. I would assume that if for personal use and no young children involved such as for school lunches etc., there's some leeway concerning how "official" it is? Pete

[STEVE G]

I don't know where to get them but I would be interested in finding out so that I could marry said five gallon food grade bucket with a forty pint homebrew kit! I think it's technically illegal but I could secretly drink it in the garden.

[PeteC]

"Although this list of possible BPA risks is frightening, keep in mind that nothing has been established. The concern about BPA risks stems primarily from studies in animals.

A few studies in people have found a correlation between BPA and a higher incidence of certain health problems, but no direct evidence that BPA caused the problem. Other studies contradict some of these results. Some experts doubt that BPA poses a health risk at the doses most people are exposed to....."

http://www.webmd.com/children/environme ... ad2toe/bpa

And.....there are many articles on Google saying that BPA free plastics are just as bad, or perhaps worse. The bottom line is THEY DON'T KNOW!

For your beer Steve, just go to the nearest TOA store and buy some new 5 gallon paint buckets and get on with it IMO. More than likely the beer will kill you before what's in the plastic does.

[Bristolian]

Just a thought, if plastic buckets are not available what about stainless? There seems an abundant supply of SS pots, pans and the like. More expensive for sure but no health issues.

[Dannie Boy]

Just a thought, if plastic buckets are not available what about stainless? There seems an abundant supply of SS pots, pans and the like. More expensive for sure but no health issues.

Most home brewing is done in plastic buckets, certainly in the UK, however when you move up to commercial brewing, even in a micro brewery, they use stainless steel, so as you mention, other than the price, it's a very good alternative.

[Bristolian]

If anyone is using plastic buckets for brewing beer ( not paint buckets) I am willing to put myself at considerable risk to test the first batch, all in the course of research of course, I will personally gain to personal enjoyment from the test. Depending on the size of the bucket I will eventually publish my report on the brew.

[chaspul]

Bristolian

Having spent many years in "Dry Country" where beer was made from a no alcohol beer to a point where it had to be diluted before drinking, probably about 14% alcohol by volume. I know that the brew was started in steralised (Steradent tablets) dustbins and finished up in bottles with wire closures (Grolsh? German beer and some wines).

Pure spirit producers (sidiqui or moonshine) were punished heavily by the authorities but was freely available. When cut with water by a third it gave me a spirit of about 30% by volume to drink with coke, or our favorite, steeped in our Juniper berry barrel to make a very pleasant Gin.

Personal brewing was restricted to red and white wine, which was carried out using 4 gallon water containers (food grade). Drink the cooler water, brew the wine in what is still a sterile container, drink the wine, wash the bottle thoroughly and return for a newly steralised container of water.

The trick when using these bottles was not to completely fill for the first couple of days where the brew was in its violent aerobic phase, but to wait for it to calm a little before topping up and sealing with an air lock of sandwich bag and rubber band for the anaerobic phase where alcohol is produced. Usually ready to drink in about 10 days.

I still have a couple of empty 4gal bottles if you are interested.

Also somewhere I have a "borrowed" copy of the Saudi ARAMCO book on brewing which contains many home brew ideas, for instance--
"Champagne" for our wedding party was made by putting 2 grains of bakers yeast in a grolsh bottle before filling with white wine, leave 7 days, chilled thoroughly before opening. Even then the bottle had to be wrapped in a towel (happens in all the best restaurants) as with all champagnes there is a risk of the bottle breaking. Not a thing you would do in the real world but needs must.

Chas

[STEVE G]

For your beer Steve, just go to the nearest TOA store and buy some new 5 gallon paint buckets and get on with it IMO.More than likely the beer will kill you before what's in the plastic does.

My partner makes fermented fish for the Mother in law in those TOA paint buckets and so far, it's done no harm to the plastic.

[Korkenzieher]

@Chaspul

Is the aramco document actual paper, or could it be emailed? If paper, how large is it for scanning - should you be in the mood to share, of course :-)

[NOKYAI]

I was thinking about this and doing some brewing for Christmas!

What about Chlorine buckets as I have a shed full of them. I'm sure when rinsed a few times they shouldn't taint the food drink.

[chaspul]

Korkenzieher
I'm sure that the document survived the antideluvian event to my man cave, which occurred shortly after OP. However, its a 30 to 40 page double sided paper document and would be too large to scan and send.
You are welcome to contact me and I will share. Most of the document contents are now on line.
I used to have a book brought in the UK which described brewing using tinned and dry fruits i.e. peaches, prunes, dried bananas, raisins, currants, tried the prunes, one small tin de-pitted in a gallon, took almost a year to finish brewing. Also made an orange melomel, like a mead with orange juice and honey.
It is entirely to your taste and imagination, I mentioned juniper berries in spirit to make gin, Jack Daniels BBQ wood chips steeped in spirit produce a quite pleasant sipping whisky.

NOKYAI
You can brew in almost any container that will hold water, not aluminum due to the acidic nature of yeast piss (alcohol). Make sure the container is steralised I use denture cleaning tabs. You can use bakers yeast instead of commercial wine or beer yeast to make alcohol, but should be decanted and taken off the lees straight after finished brewing (when all bubbles have stopped) or may taint finished product.
Referring again to the container, consideration must be given to the life cycle and alcohol production of yeast.
Aerobic phase, a teaspoon full in a half cup of warm sugar water will double in size in about half an hour. Add this to your liquid, cover to avoid fly contamination, but still allow air which is essential for the yeast to multiply feeding on the fruit or added sugar. This phase can be quite violent and cause the container to overflow.
Anaerobic phase, when the yeast has finished growing, air must be excluded from entering the container for the yeast to make waste products (alcohol) otherwise you will be left with a fruit or beer non alcoholic cordial.
This requires an air lock which still allows the yeast gasses to escape while excluding air. An easy fix in Thailand would be adapting the container lid using the blue water pipe (Lego) that all kids learn and the poly bag and elastic band I mentioned in OP.

Chas

[Korkenzieher]

Thanks. I located a document called The Blue Flame which may be the Aramco thing at least in part - it is only 11 pages or so. PM on the way!

[Pagey]

SteveG, did you find a food grade storage bucket or what did you use or is the kit still sat in a cupboard...........

I have also 'acquired' a 23 litre bitter kit and need the bucket.