Could I just pump the trub out with CO2?

ColdbeerRockandroll · 02-03-2012, 04:09 PM

Been looking at conical fermenters and really like the trub drain valve feature. Seems way easier than moving all the beer into a secondary fermenter. But they're so expensive. So this got me wondering: what if I pumped the trub out of the fermenter (converted 15 gal sanke keg) with CO2 instead? I'd pressurize with gas at the top and pump the trub up and out via dip tube that extends all the way to the bottom of the keg. Anyone ever tried anything like this? Does it clog? Would it even be able to pump all the trub off the bottom? Thanks!

**ajm163** · 02-03-2012, 06:04 PM

cant say ive ever done it but the theory should work.... the issue might be the pressure you may need to put on the beer to get the thick trub out of a pretty small dip tube. I have heard yeast cant survive more than 30 psi. with out trying it i dont know if it would take more than that to get the trub out... "stout tanks" makes a pretty affordable conical at least as far as conicals go