I'm hoping to step up to 10 gallon batches soon. I brew allgrain and the only piece of equpment that isn't big enough is my fermentation fridge. I just picked up one of these for camping http://www.rei.com/product/618168/reliance-aqua-tainer-7-gal I can't fit two carboys in my fermentation fridge, and I really don't have the space for a full size fridge anyway. I could however fit two of these in the fridge. Any reason not to use them? As a plus they're cheaper than better bottles.
You can probably use them with a little prep. Most containers of this type are considered 'food safe' only for water, however if it's PE you're likely ok with beer too. I'd just fill them with very hot, not boiling, water, let cool and dump a couple of times just to flush any plasticizers, etc. that are easily releasable. There will likely be some disagreement with this, and yes, glass or stainless is ideal, but if the beer tastes ok I say go with it. There are a lot of scary articles out there on the health hazards of plastic containers, and they do have a valid point. But pretty much everything else we eat or drink is packaged or processed in plastic so being picky with your beer containers probably won't save you.
