Brew Bucket by SS Brewing Technologies

[skraeling]

What I'm after is being able to keg right out of the bucket. I don't want to use a secondary. I do dry hop a lot though

My last batch I racked right into a keg. Sanitize outside of valve, sanitize hose. Turn valve... done. Was literally the easiest kegging day ever.

Cleaning it was quite nice as well. Its light enough I can hold it sideways on my sink and just rinsed the biggest pile of crap out first.

Filled with hot water soaked with pbw, a mild scrub later and spotless again.

 

[Geneticjim]

I was toying with the idea of getting this instead... Worth it or no? http://www.ssbrewtech.com/collections/fermenters/products/7-gallon-chronical?lshst=collection

 

[skraeling]

I was toying with the idea of getting this instead... Worth it or no? http://www.ssbrewtech.com/collections/fermenters/products/7-gallon-chronical?lshst=collection

Is it worth it to you? Doesnt matter what we think.

I didnt get one of those as the buckets were cheaper, I can fit two of them in my ferm fridge, I do 5g batches so I dont need bigger. I would have had no way to control temps of a true conical just due to the size and I didnt want to invest more money into temp control when I already have a temp control solution.

 

[Geneticjim]

Is it worth it to you? Doesnt matter what we think.

I didnt get one of those as the buckets were cheaper, I can fit two of them in my ferm fridge, I do 5g batches so I dont need bigger. I would have had no way to control temps of a true conical just due to the size and I didnt want to invest more money into temp control when I already have a temp control solution.

I have a fridge I can fit two 7 gallon buckets but only 7 gallon conical... Hmm. I guess secondary fermentation is not that popular anymore. I do keg my beer also so I guess that's OK. I am just looking for the most bang for my buck. I guess getting 2 buckets would do it...

 

[kal]

OK. So I have a single fast ferment. Due to the size it's the only thing I can fit in my fridge for fermentation. The 7 gallon brew bucket I can fit 2 of them. Does it really matter that I can dump the trub and dead yeast? These things look impressive.

That depends 100% on how *you* like to brew, the process *you* like to use. There is no one better or worse way that makes better (or worse) beer.

Like skraeling said, it doesn't matter what we think. It matters how you brew / what your needs are.

Good luck!

Kal

 

[jmark]

I've given my 2 cents re conicals at the small batch (5-10gallons) elsewhere on these forums but after running around 20 batches through an SSB chronical, I simply didn't see the advantages so sold it and replaced it with a couple SSB brew buckets and a couple of new beverage coolers for about the same price as I paid for the chronical and the various attachments I bought.

To each their own though... plenty of folks use them and swear by them so take my opinion with a grain of salt!

 

[pretzelb]

I have a fridge I can fit two 7 gallon buckets but only 7 gallon conical... Hmm. I guess secondary fermentation is not that popular anymore. I do keg my beer also so I guess that's OK. I am just looking for the most bang for my buck. I guess getting 2 buckets would do it...

I'd love to have the features on those conicals but my fermentation chamber is a chest freezer so it wouldn't fit. Even if I wasn't brewing 10g batches I'd want to be able to store two 5g batches in my fermentation chamber. I just filled it today with 2nd high gravity beer. For me the key was being able to fit 2 at the same time.

 

[Geneticjim]

I appreciate everyone's input. It made me think and dig for more research. I am going with brew buckets. Smaller, cheaper, I can fit 2 and easier to clean.... Plus trub vs no trub in fermentation and not using a secondary doesn't have much effect on taste...

 

[Kampenken]

I've given my 2 cents re conicals at the small batch (5-10gallons) elsewhere on these forums but after running around 20 batches through an SSB chronical, I simply didn't see the advantages so sold it and replaced it with a couple SSB brew buckets and a couple of new beverage coolers for about the same price as I paid for the chronical and the various attachments I bought.

To each their own though... plenty of folks use them and swear by them so take my opinion with a grain of salt!

Bucket is 1/2 price of Chronical. Were the coolers and various attachments free?! .

Assuming you harvest yeast, didn't you find it less risky for infection w/Chronical than brew bucket? I just got mini brew buckets to split batches for different yeasts and poured out slurry from the bucket (easy!), but feel like harvesting from my Chronical is "cleaner".

 

[jmark]

For sure harvesting yeast from a conical is easier than the bucket, but like I said, I don't harvest, I overbuild starters so that advantage of the conical is wasted on me.

I had the 14 gallon conical and about $350 in various enhancements... stubby butterfly valves, a more beer yeast harvester (which basically went unused after the first two or three batches when I moved to overbuilding) and a sampling valve. So I was able to get two buckets and a couple of $160 beverage fridges from Sams with the proceeds of my sale.

 

[Kampenken]

For sure harvesting yeast from a conical is easier than the bucket, but like I said, I don't harvest, I overbuild starters so that advantage of the conical is wasted on me.

I had the 14 gallon conical and about $350 in various enhancements... stubby butterfly valves, a more beer yeast harvester (which basically went unused after the first two or three batches when I moved to overbuilding) and a sampling valve. So I was able to get two buckets and a couple of $160 beverage fridges from Sams with the proceeds of my sale.

I must have missed you overbuild and not harvest, I assumed most harvest if they have a conical. Any reason you made that choice?

Being new to the (mini) bucket, anyone here harvest from their buckets as I did?(swirl and pour). Curious on how that's worked for others as conical harvesting has worked well for me.

 

[Geneticjim]

I must have missed you overbuild and not harvest, I assumed most harvest if they have a conical. Any reason you made that choice?

Being new to the (mini) bucket, anyone here harvest from their buckets as I did?(swirl and pour). Curious on how that's worked for others as conical harvesting has worked well for me.

Do you add warm to swirl and harvest?

 

[jmark]

I must have missed you overbuild and not harvest, I assumed most harvest if they have a conical. Any reason you made that choice?

I did harvest the first couple of batches of the conical, but both cases I ended up with very 'hoppy' yeast (due to the styles I brewed) and both re-pitches had longer lag times than I expected. After that, I changed my process to overbuild starters instead... much easier and results in 'clean' yeast with little if any trub (only that from the starter wort) and zero dry hop matter.

 

[dammBrewer]

Hello Kal,

First off, thank you very much for what you are doing here...we all appreciate it. At least, we should lol.

Regarding the setup with your buckets and the new Danby fridges, just wondering where you put a temp probe or if you even use one? I would initially be a bit concerned with temp of liquid rather than ambient. Thoughts?

They're 4.0 cubic feet in size, Danby DWL458BLS wine fridges, shelves removed, no modifications required. Very happy with them. Just set the temp (39-64F) and walk away. Only improvement I'd suggest to the manufacturer would be to remember the temp setting between power off and on (it defaults to 55F).

Kal

 

[kal]

First off, thank you very much for what you are doing here...we all appreciate it. At least, we should lol.

Thanks! I've gotten a lot from HBT and other forums and 'paying back' by documenting what I've done in case others want to follow or critique is the least I can do...

Regarding the setup with your buckets and the new Danby fridges, just wondering where you put a temp probe or if you even use one? I would initially be a bit concerned with temp of liquid rather than ambient. Thoughts?

I use temperature strips on the outside of the buckets (always have) they're surprisingly accurate and show the actual wort temp, which, as you mentioned may be a couple of degrees above the fridge set temp during the most active fermentation so I'll account for that by setting the fridge a couple of degrees lower at the start (I ramp up most of my beers anyway a few days into fermentation or towards the end).

Cheers!

Kal

 

[Kampenken]

Do you add warm to swirl and harvest?

I assume you meant add warm "water"? No, I simply swirled it up from what beer was left on yeast. It's a smaller amount as it's the mini bucket (had about 2.75g of wort) so it all fit in one large mason jar. I plan to test yeast impacts on same worts by splitting batches so we'll see how this collection works!

 

[ISUBirds]

Trying to picture what my bar would look like with a brew bucket added to the setup. Been in my "cart" online for a few days lol View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1485479438.069415.jpg

 

[Drk93TT]

.... interesting

 

[jammin]

Trying to picture what my bar would look like with a brew bucket added to the setup. Been in my "cart" online for a few days lol View attachment 386428

Did you picture how chitty the beer would taste w/o ferm temp control?

 

[ISUBirds]

Would fit in my fermentation fridge during fermentation and sit out while not in use.

 

[skraeling]

Trying to picture what my bar would look like with a brew bucket added to the setup. Been in my "cart" online for a few days lol View attachment 386428

I like mine enough im buying a second one...

 

[sportpak]

Has anyone been using the mini 3.5G guy?
The size is perfect for me, but I don't know about the rubber base. I would love to hear more first hand experience reviews of it. I have read on here once that it's a little scketchy. Has anyone had other experience or solutions for it?

 

[jmark]

I've got two of those minis - I just bought an extra base as well so moving the thing around is a lot easier... just put the base where you intend to go. Granted it's not the nicest solution, but it works and the minis are otherwise as good as their big brother. They don't come with a thermowell, but SSB sell it as an accessory along with a drill bit for the correct sized hole.

 

[sportpak]

I've got two of those minis - I just bought an extra base as well so moving the thing around is a lot easier... just put the base where you intend to go. Granted it's not the nicest solution, but it works and the minis are otherwise as good as their big brother. They don't come with a thermowell, but SSB sell it as an accessory along with a drill bit for the correct sized hole.

Ahh, that's a good idea. Have your destination ready to receive the fermenter.

Can you bottle directly from it? If I small batch I usually use Domino sugar cubes to prime. Not transferring would be awesome.

 

[jmark]

If you put it on the edge of a table or something just like a bottling bucket, yup. Other than the base and size it's functionally equivalent to the bigger ones.

 

[Kampenken]

Ahh, that's a good idea. Have your destination ready to receive the fermenter.

Can you bottle directly from it? If I small batch I usually use Domino sugar cubes to prime. Not transferring would be awesome.

In your case it would be simple. Small piece of tubing connected to port and other end to racking cane and you'd be good.
The base does seem flimsy and w/o an extra you do have to plan your moves, but it can be done. Only 2nd time I'm using my 2 but I like splitting batches to test yeast profiles

 

[acommonsoul]

Does anyone here use the brew bucket for wine? If so, do you do just a primary fermentation with it or do you still siphon to a secondary?

 

[DVilleBrewing]

I actually just finished a primary fermentation of a mead in the mini brew bucket. Worked really well for my purpose....filled it to the 3.5 gallon mark, let it ferment, took my gravity, then just gravity fed into a 3 gallon Carboy. You still need to secondary or more with a mead or wine, and the Carboy is better suited as can fill with less air space.

 

[acommonsoul]

Thanks! Haven't done a wine before, so I'm just starting to wrap my head around it.

 

[acommonsoul]

Anybody else using brew bucket for wine? The 6 gallon kits recommend a minimum of 7.9 gallons primary, but the kit I'm doing doesn't contain grape skins, so I am assuming it will be ok with just 1 gallon of headspace?