55 gallon plastic barrells

[HerkimerBrewer]

Hi All,
So I've got 15- 55 gallon food safe barrells. They started life as pepsi cola syrup containers...then were sealed up and used as floats for a dock. Now I've got them, thought I would use them for a dock, but changed my mind.
Any reason I couldn't use these as large fermenters? It's just like a very large bucket. I cut one open and after many seasons in the water...still smelled a little like soda.
Thoughts?

 

[augiedoggy]

Hi All,
So I've got 15- 55 gallon food safe barrells. They started life as pepsi cola syrup containers...then were sealed up and used as floats for a dock. Now I've got them, thought I would use them for a dock, but changed my mind.
Any reason I couldn't use these as large fermenters? It's just like a very large bucket. I cut one open and after many seasons in the water...still smelled a little like soda.
Thoughts?

Should be fine once cleaned well..I have seen others use these..

 

[JoshuaW]

A local brewpub does this. They use food safe bags inside the drums to make it easier to clean.

 

[user 163849]

I use one to catch my chilling water then use the water for whatever need comes up. This way I waste almost no water chilling my wort.

 

[HerkimerBrewer]

Great ideas! I was a bit concerned because the spots around the plugs are kind of rough... But the wort wouldn't touch this. I'll have to look for these food safe bags. I thought one of them would make a nice large mash tun for 1 barrel sized brews.