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Lennie · 12-12-2011, 12:13 PM

I just won the grand prize in the raffle at the St Louis Brews Holiday Homebrew Competition. It was a Brewhemoth with all the bells and whistles (tri-clamps, pressurizer, chiller coil, even valves for a ready-to-go rig). Thanks to Josh and Dale for the fantastic donation.

After reading this entire thread, I realize that several of you helped to develop this product to its current refined state. I'm quite excited to take it on its maiden voyage, and equally excited to use it to try closed-system pressurized fermentation. I just have to build a spunding valve and put it on the pressurizer attachment. Temp control will wait till spring, the basement is nice and cool right now. When it warms up I'll get a small pump and use my keezer to chill a glycol reservoir (bucket).

I've been bragging this around a bit and figured you all might best understand just how freaking lucky I feel right now.

**DustyTheBrewer** · 12-13-2011, 05:46 PM

Sigh... Just saw the price jump. Back to the drawing board...

Lennie · 12-15-2011, 01:01 AM

Heres my Brewhemoth, getting it set up. Have the spunding valve on it and to the left is the wine cooler that I'm going to try to use for temperature control.

EBloom97 · 12-15-2011, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DustyTheBrewer

Sigh... Just saw the price jump. Back to the drawing board...

I just came on to comment on this. When did this happen? I bought a triclamp Brewhemoth in August for $450. I was thinking of getting a second one, only to find that the price had gone up almost $200.

No disrespect meant to these guys, but just as an FYI for anyone considering this product, I would say it's no longer worth the money. For one, it has a 45 degree cone. Most other conicals have a steeper (60 degree) cone, which drains the trub and the yeast more effectively. I imagine other conicals are easier to clean too because they don't have such a narrow lid/cover. My two cents.

Bruwsomtin · 12-15-2011, 10:51 PM

Ebloom, would you buy another one if they were still the same price as before?

Lennie · 12-15-2011, 11:26 PM

I was just reading someone complaining about yeast getting stuck on the conical section of a V-vessel, those are a much more scute angle and yet the same problems exist. I don't think the conical angle is a reason to criticize this fermentor. I personally like the 4" tri-clamp opening because I'm going to do some pressurized fermentations in it.

I just bought a small fountain pump and hooked it up to the chiller coil, it pumps somewhat slowly but will do the trick for temp control. Not completely set up but I'm ready to brew, thinking my inaugural beer will be a black IPA.

bowhuntah · 12-15-2011, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruwsomtin

Ebloom, would you buy another one if they were still the same price as before?

I can't speak for him but I would not. I was ready to buy two before the price jump. I'm looking at Stout conicals now. Maybe someone here with some fabrication experience will see this as a business opportunity.

Lennie · 12-16-2011, 12:46 AM

The Stout conicals look to me like they are around the same price for the volume at the new price when you count the cost of valves, but DEFINITELY of lesser quality. EBloom wouldn't you agree with this?

The 4" triclamp top isn't a factor if you're pumping over your wort and using CIP, who doesn't do this at these volumes?

I understand seeing a fantastic deal go away, but take a breath and evaluate the new reality objectively. If you want to brew up to a half barrel of beer, with the optinos of temp control, pressurized fermentation and counter-pressure transfer, the Brewhemoth is the way to go.

EBloom97 · 12-16-2011, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruwsomtin

Ebloom, would you buy another one if they were still the same price as before?

Yes, I would. I would even pay more than $450 for it, but not $190 more.

EBloom97 · 12-16-2011, 02:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lennie

The Stout conicals look to me like they are around the same price for the volume at the new price when you count the cost of valves, but DEFINITELY of lesser quality. EBloom wouldn't you agree with this?

The 4" triclamp top isn't a factor if you're pumping over your wort and using CIP, who doesn't do this at these volumes?

The only thing I know about stout conicals is that when I was looking into this in August, they were backlogged until December. That was the main factor that made me go with the brewhemoth. As to the quality - I would say if it is stainless steel, and has triclamp fittings, it is of high quality. The brewhemoth might be a bit thicker I guess, which could be valuable...

The main thing for me is the cone angle though. I have never used the 60 degree cone stuff, but I read that the cone angle is enough to make yeast slide down it. So for me, if the two products are the same price, and one has a 60 degree cone, the other a 45 degree cone, then I want the one with the 60 degree cone.