Catalyst Fermentation System?

I'm new to home brewing, and I recently finished my first batch (Essential Brewing Starter Kit w/Chinook IPA).
I enjoyed it, and want to move forward with more brews, but I found the number of steps and transferals frustrating (I realize that this is part of the process, but the amount of transferring/spilling/cleaning was irritating). I did some research, and I came across the Catalyst Fermentation System. Is this something that would come recommended, or is there another more streamlined system that anyone would recommend.
To be clear, I'm not looking for something that's so streamlined it's like a Keurig for beer with no opportunity to customize anything, and I want to experiment with different flavours/ hops/ custom ingredients, etc. However, I would love it if the process were a little more streamlined, especially with all the repeated transferring & sanitizing.
Cheers for any input!

 

I own and very much like the Catalyst Fermentation System. That said, it only simplifies a few parts of the brewing process, and it would not be very useful at all if you want to go to smaller batches, as you said in another note.

 

Might be better to look at your process first before looking for new equipment. You said, "but I found the number of steps and transferals frustrating". You can stream line your process by going from the boil kettle to primary fermentor and then to the bottling bucket. No other transfers are necessary. Just skip the secondary vessel usually recommended in recipes if this is part of the frustration.

 

What transferring are you doing? My transfers would be exactly the same in a Catalyst. Put the wort into primary, then transfer to my kegs.
If you are doing a secondary, that is a step that you can eliminate.

I guess you can bottle directly from a catalyst. That does eliminate one transfer.

The main reasons that I am not interested in it are the cost. I use better bottles and have 7 of them often 5 or 6 of them are in use at one time. That would be $1400 in Catalysts...... I bought a some of my Better Bottles on 2 for 1 sales so I only have about $150 invested in them.

The other is the size. It might not fit in my fermentation chamber due to the height. It might also be wide enough to limit me to 2 at a time. I can put 3 Better Bottles in it at one time.

 

I'm concerned about the amount of oxygen that contacts the beer post fermentation as you change out the jars. I prefer pressure transfers into purged kegs. It came down to a brew bucket or corny keg for me. I chose keg since I had a spare on hand. Works great and you can spund as well. Very clean and easy transfers.

 

Personally i think the "system" is overpriced.

Start looking into a cheap fridge and keg system would be my advise. Surely that will cut down on the transfers.

Many homebrewers seem to focus on temp. during fermentation and then they scrabble to control temps after fermentation which is equally if not more important. If you plan on making a lot of beer you will need some kind of beer fridge.

 

^^^^ +1

You can get a bar fridge as an itc308 temp controller for less than the catalyst... money well spent.

 

Those controllers are sweet. After i set up my manifold and stuff i will probably finally buy a $400+ chest freezer for a big beer fridge lol

 

I love my Catalyst fermenter. Easy to use and I got it on Amazon for less than $160. I do recommend putting on a larger mason jar to prevent multiple trub dumps on brews with lots of hops etc. Cheers