Fermentation in Bin bags?

[phatboytall]

Have read a few americans boasting of how they ferment in binbags inside their FV, saves on cleaning up and sterilising etc. Critically the bags have to be food grade plastic.
Has anyone ever found a cheap source of these in the UK?

Dont get me wrong I dont see cleaning an sterilising a FV as much of a hassle, just intreaged by this as an option to have "in the locker" as our friends accross the pond would say.

[Rick_UK]

Can't say the idea appeals. Even if the bags didn't impart off flavours I would imagine sterilizing and siphoning off would waste more time than would be saved cleaning manually.

Also it's less ecologically friendly...use just once and destroy.

Rick

[Rov'rumBrewhouse]

I imagine they would be difficult to find or at a reasonable price due to the UK generally being more eco concious in comparison to the US. For some reason the first thing I did was imagine the clingy shower curtain effect when trying to syphon.

[GrowlingDogBeer]

A quick look on eBay suggests the bags would cost about 44p each so not too bad really.

[Fil]

its an old idea as C.J. Cherry advocated your black bin liners for the job back in the early 70's, didnt ring right to me even then,so i never gave it a go.

Robust Food use approved plastic should be fine though.
one thing to consider is fitting in a clean environment as opening and fitting will expose the interior to both your hands and will suck in the open air. Dont lick your fingers to rub open the bag seal to start

another thing is you will still want clean sterile and dry FV to contain as you wont want to maintain an anaerobic environment at fermenting temps just a plastic skins distance away from your beer, and be very careful when inserting syphon tubes

personally tho i think a new bucket should be cheaper in the long run, at 40-50p per bag, after 20 brews its starting to cost you more..

just out of interest do you have a link to the bags your considering?

[Scott-ayling]

Ill try look out where i got bags from i got large clear bags which are food safe , i have fermented in a bag a couple of time , first time i was needing to replace my scratched fv so lined it with a bag and worked great was also easy for collecting the yeast, Used it another few times and have to admit its great but i stopped as wanted to be a bit more eco friendly

[Padalac]

I've got to say - the idea does appeal if you don't need to starsan them. If the bags are clear food-safe ones in particular. To get around the air suction i imagine you'd fill it without filling the bag with air first - seems quite idea. If they need starsan I'm not so sure..

[phatboytall]

Great discussion.

Anyone got any links to food safe bags? I've not found any.

[GrowlingDogBeer]

Great discussion.

Anyone got any links to food safe bags? I've not found any.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CLEAR-POLYTHE ... 5406d39778

I guess the 36" x 48" would be big enough for a 5 gallon fermenter