I am considering adding a new vessel to my "homebrew facility" so I wonder if there's any difference between fermentation and bottling bucket ? How many fermentation cycle can you do in given bucket? Thanks
And another point of failure that can put 5 gallons of beer all over the floor when you are gone/away.
There's no set number of beers you can make in one bucket, but after a long enough time you'll want to replace them if they're plastic because you'll see the scratch marks on the inside and eventually the part where the yeast sits will tinge a slightly off color. This could affect the flavors. I've been using mine for 2 years and I don't think I've notice any ill effects but I'm also looking to use kegs instead of buckets because stainless steal will last forever. Plus kegs have value later on down the road where as your plastic buckets won't be worth much. It really doesnt matter though. oh and as for the difference between the two, I've always used regular fermentation buckets for bottling. I've had problems with bottling buckets leaking and I've known others who have experienced the same issue. Just not worth the bother if you ask me.
Most bottling buckets I've seen recently are 6.5 gals. also...which makes them perfect for fermentation vessels when you start kegging and no longer have a use for them. The spigot eliminates the need to siphon and makes it my fermenter of choice for most beers. Scratches in buckets are the new boogie men, but still use non-abrasive cleaners and sanitize thoroughly and you will be good to go for many, many years.
