Fermenter / Batch Fermentation

Question: Would light ruin my home brew in a plastic fermenter?

(Posted by: Jym H on 2008-01-16 16:20:55)

My home brew is sitting in my room (constant temperature) in a white, plastic fermenter. Would having my ceiling light on "skunk " the beer like it would with a glass or clear fermenter?

Posted by: oikos on 2008-01-17, 08:43:52

You have two things going for you. First, the milky plastic doesn't pass much light. Second, your ceiling light isn't all that bright. You should be fine. I always cover my glass carboys, though. It insulates as well as shades. If you want skunky beer, bottle in clear glass and store the bottles in the sun. Or contact Corona to find out how they do it.

Posted by: Oldwhiteguy2earth on 2008-01-16, 16:25:35

Should be all right. I've made beer in a glass carboy and lights didn't affect the taste.

Posted by: pyroguy90x on 2008-01-16, 16:44:14

They say in the Samuel Adams commercial it dose... it probably dose only a lil thou

Posted by: yukrchick on 2008-01-16, 17:49:46

I think it'll be ok. Used to make beer in a plastic container and also clear glass. We did used to drape a towel over them but we didn't make any other considerations for the light . Ours always came out great.

Posted by: AleSmith on 2008-01-16, 18:36:23

You'll be fine, even in a glass fermenter the effects of skunking are more forgiving since there's far less beer actually getting exposed to light vs. a 12oz. bottle. It's far easier for light to travel through an inch or so of bottled beer than it is for it to penetrate 5 gallons.

Posted by: paganman on 2008-01-16, 18:51:59

Beer, or the hops in beer are sensitive to sunlight and florescent light. Because your beer isn't in a clear container it should be OK. If you're really worried about it wrap a towel or something around it. Don't worry have a home brew.

Posted by: Ivan H on 2008-01-17, 07:08:23

It will be fne in the plastic primary fermenter. The container blocks out most of the light - or atleast I think it would. If you expose tit to constant light when it is secondary you will notice off flavors.