10 gallon batch fermentor

[tre9er]

For either of these methods to work, you need starting container to be elevated relative to the destination container. I guess my question was more: how do you elevate a full 10gal fermenter high enough to get a syphon?

My BK is elevated anyways (gravity setup). For the fermenter-to-keg, I lift it. It's 85lbs full, but if I'm racking to a keg, I only have to lift it a few feet. Another set of hands doesn't hurt. I could use a pump and have considered a plastic head pump (for about $37).

 

[907_fellow]

I saw those Demi-John 14.2 gallon glass fermentors and thought they were badass. Cleaning them up could be a small issue, but I like the idea of using them for fermenting 10 gallons at a time.

I guess the simpler answer to this whole deal is just split the 10 gallons up between two 6 gallon carboys and pitch two different yeasts and play with the results. But at the same time, if I have a beer I know I like, it would be sweet to just do 10 gallons and be done with it.

As far as kegging 10 gallons, obviously the simplest would be two 5 gallon cornys. Thu don't make 10 gallon cornys do they? Is there any other options? 1/4 barrel sanke would work I suppose but I don't have access to them easily.

 

[tre9er]

I saw those Demi-John 14.2 gallon glass fermentors and thought they were badass. Cleaning them up could be a small issue, but I like the idea of using them for fermenting 10 gallons at a time.

I guess the simpler answer to this whole deal is just split the 10 gallons up between two 6 gallon carboys and pitch two different yeasts and play with the results. But at the same time, if I have a beer I know I like, it would be sweet to just do 10 gallons and be done with it.

As far as kegging 10 gallons, obviously the simplest would be two 5 gallon cornys. Thu don't make 10 gallon cornys do they? Is there any other options? 1/4 barrel sanke would work I suppose but I don't have access to them easily.

They make 10g cornies and I desperately want one, but no way in hell I'm convincing SWMBO to let me spend hundreds of dollars on one. I got my 5G cornies for average of $45 each. It IS a pain to have to rack twice, clean twice, sanitize twice, two gas line setups, etc.

 

[Golddiggie]

They make 10g cornies and I desperately want one, but no way in hell I'm convincing SWMBO to let me spend hundreds of dollars on one. I got my 5G cornies for average of $45 each. It IS a pain to have to rack twice, clean twice, sanitize twice, two gas line setups, etc.

cough*wuss*cough...

I transfer my finished brew, getting 6 gallons out of most batches, into two 3 gallon corny kegs. I have enough gas lines in my brew fridge for four kegs (three taps), so I have one carbonating while three are serving.

As for transferring the finished beer into serving kegs. I really like the CO2 push I'm doing. I fill via the liquid post (one on the source fermenter and then on the serving kegs) so it's very easy. Plus, once the hose is sanitized (inside), it doesn't matter what I touch it with (on the outside). I give the serving keg's liquid post a spray with Star San before connecting the feed to it and I'm good to go. I also clean, and sanitize, each serving keg as it becomes empty. Then I store them with some CO2 in there to keep it golden. Very easy to then vent the CO2 pressure, pop the lid, and fill it up. I pop the lid on the kegs so that I can see when it's full and I can shift to the second keg. Or when both are full, I can simply turn off the CO2 feed, remove the QD's and then vent the fermenter of pressure (before cleaning it).

Since I've been fermenting this way, I really can't see doing it any other way. Luckily, I have enough beer fermenters, and mead fermenters, to keep me going.

 

[PowerDispatcher]

I use these for fermenting my 10 gallon batches and I've been very satisfied. I've made probably 10 different batches in these and had no issues:

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f14/vittles-vault-50-pound-282503/

I have a pair of these as well, or their "little brothers", to be precise. Never a problem, clean easy, racking in mine is a breeze (since mine has a spigot on the bottom corner). It came as a "deluxe winemaking equipment kit" a few...umm..maybe more than a few years back.

John