2.54 barrel S.S conical fermenter build

[Pangea]

I admire you for going ginormous. Bravo!

 

[Cold_Steel]

Thanks a lot Pangea. I worked really hard on it!!!

 

[Kauai_Kahuna]

Well this qualifies as going LARGE or go home.
Love the bunker!
Want the Fermenter, but I think I would need to open up a boarding house to have enough adult household members to use it.
Please keep on posting the pictures, I can only dream.

 

[Cold_Steel]

this is what is left after filling the container twice

 

[dudasaj]

Are you going to have a problem keeping this cool? During primary fermentation of 75 gallons could generate considerable heat.

 

[Cold_Steel]

The short answer is yes. I brewed a belgian triple in 2 batches. The first 40 gallons was ok temp wise. However, the recipe called for 17 gallons of starter and I didnt want make that much starter so when the first 40 gallons had the krauson on top I added the next 40 and was able to only use 40 gallons. The outside air temp was 50 degrees. The fermenter went to 70 degrees while this process was occurring.
I am going to need to add a way to cool it and heat it. I just havent figured that part out yet

 

[Cold_Steel]

updated page 1 for construction.

 

[wetzie]

I bought a 7 gallon SS conical off of ebay and really like it. As a new brewer it has made this fun for me and the fermenting process seems easy.
My wife wanted something that looks good in our clubroom so she was in the process too.:rockin:

 

[chady74]

you could build a coil to go inside and use the coil to heat or cool as needed just like the big breweries do i have built a few for a certan brewerie in cinninnati

 

[dcHokie]

Cold Steel, just saw your write up in the Washington Post, congrats! Can't wait to try a commercial version of your Tripel.

Also, pretty cool that this HBT thread was linked in the article.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/all-we-can-eat/beer/beer-more-or-less-about-nanobr.html#comments

 

[Cold_Steel]

Cold Steel, just saw your write up in the Washington Post, congrats! Can't wait to try a commercial version of your Tripel.

Also, pretty cool that this HBT thread was linked in the article.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/all-we-can-eat/beer/beer-more-or-less-about-nanobr.html#comments

Thanks Man! I am really excited about the article too. I really have to thank everyone here on HBT. I could not have done this without everyone here.
So again Thank you

 

[chuckt630]

Congrats!!

I like the conical fermenter design. The thought of going pro has crossed my mind, but I am sticking to 5 gallons at a time for now.

 

[bendavanza]

Cool article. Maybe my friend in frederick county MD can send me a bottle when they hit the shelves.

 

[Cold_Steel]

Thanks! Feb is my target month and everything looks good! So we shall see.

 

[HHBrewery]

What are you using as a conditioning tank? I like you fermenter build.

 

[JetSmooth]

Just spotted the article in WaPo. Well done! Dibs on a bottle or five!!

 

[jbrookeiv]

This is amazing. I'd love to do something like this.

 

[Islandboy85]

If those welds ever give you trouble we use brite boy pollishing mandrels at work to fix dinged up door pin sockets on airplanes. They're about a half an inch in diameter, so they would be perfect for smoothing out your welds if you ever need. Hope that the brewery is running well for you!

 

[Crypticx666]

I guess if you wanted to fill things like this.

Are those big blue barrels ok to ferment in? I've been wanting to get one or two but don't know the grade of plastic.

 

[htc]

Edit 4/16/10 It is my recommendation to use a open head SS drum. I have found finding or making a custom gasket to be unreal. It saves mone for the lid cost as well. The open drum comes with a gasket so you will get an air tight seal.

I was curious... would the gasket and band (the clamping ring that goes around the lid and barrel to secure it) be sufficient to join the cone to the barrel or is welding the only option at this joint?

Did you ever find a solution to the heating/cooling of the active fermentation?

How much of a rise in fermentation temperature did you see at this size? I assume it is more than what us little guys have to manage at the 5 gal level...

 

[jessup]

any updates on the progress of your nano-brewery? have your tried to make more of your own conicals? i found these guys in Knoxville, TN that are doing the same, but their price is cheaper buy purchasing outright and DIY for a 2 bbl conical.
http://www.bubbasbarrels.com/cf/2-bbl-conical-fermenter

 

[SMITHN8R]

He'll yeah bro! Way to step it up!