Ethanfox
Well-Known Member
I just grabbed a pair of these this week - I've been trying to find a great, affordable solution to fermenting in stainless (currently using Speidel, love it, but wanted to eliminate the HDPE - broke 2 glass carboys already) and Ninkasi has finally answered my prayers (the goddess, not the brewery).
Forgive me if they've been posted elsewhere - I didn't see it. Posting here for anyone partaking in the same hunt for stainless fermentation
I know corny kegs have been used for fermenting, but I never liked the idea of downsizing batches < 5 gallons to accommodate high krausen. These 6.5 gallon Cornelius-style kegs are just the ticket - they provide 6" of head-space when filled with 5 gallons. They hold 60 PSI (great for closed transfers), and use standard corny keg parts (no special parts need to be ordered for replacements).
Here's a few photos:
Side-by-side with 5 gallon Cornelius ball lock keg (mine holds only 5 gallons + 1/2 pint)
side-by-side top view (6.5 gallon is just over 9 inches diameter)
6 Inches of headspace with 5 gallon batch (I typically do a 5.25 gallon batch to allow for trub, but I didn't think of that when I took the photo)
I got them from Williams Brewing.
Upsides:
1. 6" headspace over 5 gallons
2. 60 PSI
3. 9" wide (requires less fermenter space than carboys)
4. Stainless (sweet) - no scratching (plastic) no breaking (glass)
5. Wide opening for easy cleaning
Here's the downsides:
1. They're not NSF (in fact, they're made in China) but so much stainless comes from China, I didn't let it stop me. Inside welds are great - outside welds are ... acceptable.
2. The website lists the keg at 25.5" tall - but I measured 26 5/8" tall. Still fits in my fermentation chamber (thankfully).
3. It's not QUITE 6.5 gallons. When I hit the lip, I still had 1/2 pint of water that didn't fit. But the 6" headspace is measured accurate.
4. It's made in China (worth mentioning twice)
5. They come with a heavy "new item" scent (see items 1 and 4), but the scent dissipated after a good oxy wash.
26 3/5" height:
Here's my 5 gallon corny with 5 gallons of water - note the co2 in diptube is below the surface of the water (only 1/2 pint headspace)
Hope this helps someone! Cheers!
Forgive me if they've been posted elsewhere - I didn't see it. Posting here for anyone partaking in the same hunt for stainless fermentation
I know corny kegs have been used for fermenting, but I never liked the idea of downsizing batches < 5 gallons to accommodate high krausen. These 6.5 gallon Cornelius-style kegs are just the ticket - they provide 6" of head-space when filled with 5 gallons. They hold 60 PSI (great for closed transfers), and use standard corny keg parts (no special parts need to be ordered for replacements).
Here's a few photos:
Side-by-side with 5 gallon Cornelius ball lock keg (mine holds only 5 gallons + 1/2 pint)
side-by-side top view (6.5 gallon is just over 9 inches diameter)
6 Inches of headspace with 5 gallon batch (I typically do a 5.25 gallon batch to allow for trub, but I didn't think of that when I took the photo)
I got them from Williams Brewing.
Upsides:
1. 6" headspace over 5 gallons
2. 60 PSI
3. 9" wide (requires less fermenter space than carboys)
4. Stainless (sweet) - no scratching (plastic) no breaking (glass)
5. Wide opening for easy cleaning
Here's the downsides:
1. They're not NSF (in fact, they're made in China) but so much stainless comes from China, I didn't let it stop me. Inside welds are great - outside welds are ... acceptable.
2. The website lists the keg at 25.5" tall - but I measured 26 5/8" tall. Still fits in my fermentation chamber (thankfully).
3. It's not QUITE 6.5 gallons. When I hit the lip, I still had 1/2 pint of water that didn't fit. But the 6" headspace is measured accurate.
4. It's made in China (worth mentioning twice)
5. They come with a heavy "new item" scent (see items 1 and 4), but the scent dissipated after a good oxy wash.
26 3/5" height:
Here's my 5 gallon corny with 5 gallons of water - note the co2 in diptube is below the surface of the water (only 1/2 pint headspace)
Hope this helps someone! Cheers!