2 1/2 gallon Montana Jar Fermentor

passedpawn · Oct 12, 2010

I bought this 2.5g jar at Target (< $20). It has a nice integrated silicone seal that I thought would make a perfect fermenter for oddball stuff.

It's pretty simple, merely a jar that I added a rubber grommet and airlock to. I don't know where I got the grommet but I think homebrew stores carry them.

Top is some kind of stainless steel, with a very nice soft silicone gasket under it. There is a smallish hole near the edge of the silicone seal that I closed up with a glue gun. I kept wondering why my airlock wasn't bubbling and that is why. I don't think this hole shows in any of the pics.

Drill hole through both the steel lid and silicone gasket... you can see the small holes in the outer rim of the gasket at 7:00 and 1:00 - click on the pic and you'll get a huge version in which the holes are obvious. Fill with hot glue or cover with tape from the back.

Pop in the grommet (onto the silicone seal, not the metal cover) ...

Push the airlock through the top and...

... voilá

Revvy · Oct 12, 2010

Great idea for a small batch experimental fermenter!!! :mug:

android · Oct 12, 2010

nice idea... but i gotta ask, what in the heck are you fermenting in there?

Revvy · Oct 12, 2010

android said:
nice idea... but i gotta ask, what in the heck are you fermenting in there?

Mexico's version of pruno....

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f12/tepache-200053/

passedpawn · Oct 12, 2010

The big nicety of this thing is the large opening. If you are dumping chunks of pineapple and coconut in there, it's perfect. Here's a pic I should have added above, showing the very large mouth of this jar.

juvinious · Oct 12, 2010

Heh, I bought two similar jars from target for precisely that. I use a 2 gallon one for kombucha and a 1 gallon one for kimchi. Good stuff.

DrJerryrigger · Oct 13, 2010

juvinious said:
Heh, I bought two similar jars from target for precisely that. I use a 2 gallon one for kombucha and a 1 gallon one for kimchi. Good stuff.

I need some of those! I've been making my kombucha and kimchi in 1/2gal Ball jars. It's worked, but it's a tight squeeze for my hand.

robertjm · Nov 4, 2010

You didn't mention it, but are these glass?

passedpawn · Nov 4, 2010

robertjm said:
You didn't mention it, but are these glass?

Yes, fairly thick glass. I'm going to put a mead in there this wkend.

robertjm · Nov 4, 2010

Cool! I'm looking for something for 1 gallon batches so this looks like what I'd need, adding plenty of room for head space as a primary!!

robertjm · Nov 4, 2010

Just looked this up on the target website and the lid is actually listed as aluminum, FWIW. Since the wort isn't in contact with the lid then it shouldn't really matter.

duffman2 · Feb 16, 2011

Going to the store tomorrow to build my "hooch" fermenter, lol!

robertjm · Feb 16, 2011

You know, I was looking at this thread a few months ago. I even checked out the Target jar in question. However, considering the cost, I found it would be simpler, and cheaper to get a 4L/5L jug of wine at Bevmo (or whatever company you have near you) and use that instead. True, it doesn't have a spout already, but I have to wonder whether that spout would work for anything that's stored in the jar long term.

Could also get a one gallon bottle of cider at Trader Joe's to do the same.

Robert

duffman2 said:
Going to the store tomorrow to build my "hooch" fermenter, lol!

passedpawn · Feb 16, 2011

robertjm said:
You know, I was looking at this thread a few months ago. I even checked out the Target jar in question. However, considering the cost, I found it would be simpler, and cheaper to get a 4L/5L jug of wine at Bevmo (or whatever company you have near you) and use that instead. True, it doesn't have a spout already, but I have to wonder whether that spout would work for anything that's stored in the jar long term.

Could also get a one gallon bottle of cider at Trader Joe's to do the same.

Robert

Do those containers have a large mouth for coconut, etc?

I really liked this thing. I don't know about long-term storage, but for the 4 or 5 weeks that this concoction took - it was perfect. That silicon seal makes a great seal on the jar.

duffman2 · Feb 16, 2011

$19.99 here in Houston so I might get a couple of them. Bring on the experimental beer!!

passedpawn · Apr 29, 2014

Here's some other uses for this jar that I've found:

Sauerkraut

Pickles

kimchi

Stealthcruiser · Apr 29, 2014

How's the Kimchi, and what's your recipe / procedure, if you would be so kind?

passedpawn · Apr 29, 2014

Stealthcruiser said:
How's the Kimchi, and what's your recipe / procedure, if you would be so kind?

Recipe: http://www.maangchi.com/recipe/easy-kimchi

Look through this thread
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f56/kim-chee-kimchi-172824/

Stealthcruiser · Apr 29, 2014

Thank you much!

chocotaco · May 5, 2014

What section of Target did you find this in? I have been looking in every store for a thing exactly like this... Target, Home Goods, BB&B, etc. No joy so far. I would love to have a 2.5 gallon wide-mouth fermenter, especially for under 20 bucks!

passedpawn · May 5, 2014

chocotaco said:
What section of Target did you find this in? I have been looking in every store for a thing exactly like this... Target, Home Goods, BB&B, etc. No joy so far. I would love to have a 2.5 gallon wide-mouth fermenter, especially for under 20 bucks!

Definitely got it in Target. I think it was the aisles with kitchen stuff. Probably was next to coffee urns and stuff. I don't remember what aisle.

MrG · Jul 29, 2014

I picked up something similar to this, but it doesn't have silicone inside, it's just metal (aluminum), but it's threaded and screws on fairly tight.
I'm sure I could use some plastic wrap around the top to create a better seal, but do you think the bare metal is a problem? Will it oxidize?
Also, the grommet, is it something that specifically has to be 'food safe'?
Thanks
-MrG.

Doctor_Wily · Jul 29, 2014

is there any concern with light making contact with your brewing concoction? I guess no more than say a carboy, huh?

passedpawn · Jul 29, 2014

Doctor_Wily said:
is there any concern with light making contact with your brewing concoction? I guess no more than say a carboy, huh?

Yea, same as carboy. Light only has an effect on hops, and I've used this jar for everything BUT beer.

Doctor_Wily · Jul 29, 2014

I've been using a real tall ball jar for my kimchi work, but I like the looks of this jar for various things. I may go searching for one.

passedpawn · Jul 29, 2014

Doctor_Wily said:
I've been using a real tall ball jar for my kimchi work, but I like the looks of this jar for various things. I may go searching for one.

Amazon has it. $17.99 with free shipping if you're a Prime subscriber, which I am.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000RMTG3S/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

They also have a nice 1.5g model, identical except for volume.

MrG · Jul 29, 2014

Yeah, I wouldn't use it for beer either. Definitely want to follow up on that Tepache thread. Plus the one I bought has a spout, which i thought would be convenient.

hairymare · Sep 11, 2014

Nice job. I'll be fermenting some pickles in one. My daughter too. Ideas are where it's at. Thanks for sharing yours.
Yvette

CheerfulHeart · Nov 15, 2014

FWIW, Bed Bath and Beyond carries these jars too. Love your airlock idea! Thank you for sharing it!

CheerfulHeart · Nov 15, 2014

Oops! I meant to add that I bought mine in Los Angeles.

2 1/2 gallon Montana Jar Fermentor

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