adding a sampling spigot to my fermenter?

[singybrue]

I'm thinking of adding a spigot to my plastic bucket fermenter about half-way up the side to make it easy to take gravity samples. I would just use a basic bottling spigot.
I know it's one more thing to clean, but I don't mind.
Any other reasons this would be a bad idea?

 

[corkybstewart]

It's a great idea. I started with spigots on buckets 22 years ago and love them. But put the spigot about 1-1.5 inches from the bottom so you can rack directly to your bottling bucket.

 

[butterpants]

Spiedel!


Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Home Brew mobile app

 

[Cyclman]

You can also buy a wine thief, they work if you do carboys also.

 

[Braufessor]

Just use bottling buckets for fermenters.... no need to put the spigot up on the side - just use it as it is. Take a sample if you need, and then you can just drain directly to keg or bottling bucket from the spigot. eliminates the need for siphoning.

 

[Smewood]

So no worries about pulling density samples from the spigot during fermentation? I was thinking about doing this too, but wondered about possibility of contamination.

 

[Braufessor]

Make sure you keep the spigot CLEAN. I keep a plastic bag over them when I ferment in a bucket. I spray them out really well with star san before I draw a sample. Spray out with starsan after. Take the air lock out before opening the spigot or it will draw solution in through the airlock. With some attention to detail and good procedure though, it works great.

 

[L8-Again]

Just use bottling buckets for fermenters.... no need to put the spigot up on the side - just use it as it is. Take a sample if you need, and then you can just drain directly to keg or bottling bucket from the spigot. eliminates the need for siphoning.

^^^This was a "doh" moment for me! Have a bottling bucket sitting unused since I am kegging, but now it is my new fermenting bucket!

 

[Braufessor]

^^^This was a "doh" moment for me! Have a bottling bucket sitting unused since I am kegging, but now it is my new fermenting bucket!

Here are a few tips I posted in a similar thread a while back:

*Make sure to keep that spigot clean. Take it completely apart - the valve comes out. I assemble it into the fermenter while submerged in star san.

*I use seal rings on inside and out. after assembling and putting the spigot in the bucket, take it out with a gallon or two of star san in it to make sure it is not leaking. They will leak a bit sometimes. That way you can adjust it and make sure it is not dripping at all before you put your beer in it.

*Keep spigot twisted a bit to the side - not up and down. Often the spigot will actually sit a bit lower than the bottom of the bucket. You don't want it resting on the spigot - it will break or leak.

*I put a sandwich bag with a rubber band over the spigot to keep dust, fruitflies, debris out of it while fermenting.

* I keep star san in a spray bottle and spray it out well before opening spigot for samples or transfer.

*Take the airlock out before opening the spigot or it will suck back into fermenter.

*Set it up on counter a couple days before you want to transfer - that way it allows any yeast/trub to settle back after moving.

Basically, I think they are absolutely great fermenters - no siphoning, easy transfers, there is enough dead space for trub and yeast to settle below valve. Also a great way to collect yeast from beers that are rather low hopped and turn out well. After transfer just leave a bit of liquid behind, swirl it up and transfer into clean, sanitized mason jars through the spigot.

Like I said - they worked great for me for 5+ years before I started to use some SS brew buckets. I would use them before any other type of fermenter besides my ss buckets.

 

[IslandLizard]

Here's what I do:

I just wrote this in another thread:

I leave the beer in my (primary) buckets, and leave the lid on, until I'm ready to keg or bottle them.

For a hydrometer and taste test, I snake a 1/4" OD vinyl tube down the grommet hole, after removing the airlock, and suck/siphon enough beer out. You can start the siphon with a hard suck by mouth, as long as you don't let it run back, just pull the tube out of the beer when you have enough. Try with a bucket of water first. Or suck with a turkey baster, making and adapter from a small piece of wider tubing that just fits around the 1/4" tube and the tip of the baster.

When you finally need to lift the lid, sanitize the whole lid area very well. Spray the underneath rim area liberally with Starsan. Twice.

I use small washcloths soaked in Starsan to wipe those critical areas. Like the bucket rim after the lid has been removed.​