I went the middle road with chapman stainless fermenters, which are really just stainless buckets. I have the 14 gallon one, and am quite happy with it. I hope to get another so I can do two batches simultaneously. Right now I still have to use my plastic buckets if I want to brew more often.
I went this route because I was retiring some of my buckets, and was looking at alternatives. I didn't want to pay the cash for the conicals or even some of the more expensive stainless bucket style, and then found the chapman. I've also seen some modifications to use triclamp fittings for racking and CO2 transfers that I'm considering for the future.
I think the chapman stainless fermenters are a great deal, though they have been creeping up the cost the past year. Even with those cost increases, their 14 gallon fermenter is still the best deal out there that I've found.
I might eventually go for a conical in the future if I save enough money, but I really am quite happy with the chapman stainless bucket style.
I went this route because I was retiring some of my buckets, and was looking at alternatives. I didn't want to pay the cash for the conicals or even some of the more expensive stainless bucket style, and then found the chapman. I've also seen some modifications to use triclamp fittings for racking and CO2 transfers that I'm considering for the future.
I think the chapman stainless fermenters are a great deal, though they have been creeping up the cost the past year. Even with those cost increases, their 14 gallon fermenter is still the best deal out there that I've found.
I might eventually go for a conical in the future if I save enough money, but I really am quite happy with the chapman stainless bucket style.