Don't Be Misled — When someone says that Better-Bottle carboys are made of a special polyethylene terephthalate copolymer (PET) , not plastic, they know that PET is a plastic; however, they are making the point that PET is very different from other plastics used to make carboys. Beware of substitutes and if your colleagues speak or write about plastic carboys, be sure they are specific. Better-Bottle carboys have been extensively field tested and widely recommended for fermenting wine and beer, propagating yeasts, and infusing vodka. Every new Better-Bottle carboy is labeled with the Better-Bottle logo.

Carboys made of polyethylene & , polyvinyl chloride , polypropylene , polystyrene, or polycarbonate (the plastic made from Bisphenol-A, BPA) are not suitable for winemaking or brewing. They are too permeable and they scalp flavors and stain. Those that are not translucent or opaque will probably be tinted a fairly deep color to mask the color of stabilizing additives.

Permeability — Of all the plastics that can be made into bottles and carboys, only special types of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) have been successfully used to make containers for carbonated beverages. The reason is simple – only these types of PET are sufficiently impermeable to keep carbonation (i.e., carbon dioxide) in and the oxygen out. Better-Bottle fermentation carboys are designed and manufactured to have such extraordinarily low oxygen permeability that they have been widely used for extended fermentations. Use the Technical tab at the top of page to access a discussion of Permeability.

Purity — The special PET used to make Better-Bottle carboys does not contain BPA, plasticizers, or other problem additives. It is also one of the safest and most desirable plastics to recycle. Carboys made from most other plastics smell of plasticizers, mold-release compounds, and unpolymerized organic substances that dissolve to give disagreeable, plastic flavors. Use the Technical tab at the top of this page to learn about the Purity of Better-Bottle carboys.

Flavor Scalping — Better-Bottles carboys and fittings do not release or absorb flavors and odors. Other plastics do and they alter the character of wines or beers (flavor scalping) by transferring flavors from one batch to another or by contributing plastic flavors. Cleaning carboys and fittings, made from these other plastics, in order to avoid flavor cross contamination is, at best, extremely time consuming. Use the Technical tab at the top of this page and access the Flavor Scalping section for additional detail.

Clarity and Color — Better-Bottle carboys are clear and colorless. It is not possible to visually gauge the progress of a fermentation when carboys are molded from translucent or opaque plastics.

Cleaning — The surfaces of Better-Bottle carboys and fittings are so hydrophobic and non-porous that they wash easily and rinse down quickly. Opaque or translucent carboys are likely to be made of plastics that have rough or porous surfaces, and they are much more difficult to wash and rinse clean. Use the Technical tab at the top of this page and access the Wash/Sanitize sections for additional detail.

Chemical Resistance — The special PET used to make Better-Bottle carboys is undamaged by concentrated alcohol or the wide range of cleaning and sanitizing agents commonly used by winemakers and brewers. Other plastics used to make carboys are not nearly as durable. Use the Technical tab at the top of this page and access the Material Specs and Wash/Sanitize sections for additional detail.