Another good use for 5 gal plastic bucket: Mix up a bucket of Starsan and use that for sanitizing all those little hardware items. Afterwards you still have 5 gallons of Starsan to keep on hand for the next time.
Indeed. I started my stainless journey using kegs as fermenters. The only real downside is that if you are using 5 gal kegs, but the time you leave behind sediment and maybe blowoff for ales, you end up with somewhere less than 5 gallons in the final keg.Kegs also make great and affordable SS fermentors. I have an SS Brewbucket but started fermenting in kegs for spunding and pressure transfers. I have since scored two 10 gal ball lock kegs for dirt cheap. Fitted with floating dip tubes these are awesome as fermenters.
I do this, but I have an aeration wand I keep in it. Fire the pump up and wait for bubbles. No mold, but I cycle it out once a month.It will only keep for a while. If you aren't using RO or distilled water, the mineral content will eventually neutralize the Star San and it will grow mold and nasties (might take weeks or months, but generally within a month or two or three you will probably start to see signs of mold).
Indeed. I started my stainless journey using kegs as fermenters. The only real downside is that if you are using 5 gal kegs, but the time you leave behind sediment and maybe blowoff for ales, you end up with somewhere less than 5 gallons in the final keg.
These days, I am making 7 gallon batches post-boil, so I can leave a gallon of trub behind and put 6 gallons into the fermenter to end up with 5 in the serving keg. There is some waste involved, but it ensures clear wort into the fermenter and a full keg even after blowoff, yeast sedimentation, SG samples, etc...
Yeah, I saw some 6 gallon ones out there somewhere, but they were expensive.Yes, the volume is a downside. Solved that with the 10 gal kegs
...The thought of just tossing the bucket out after a few brews doesn't sit well with me either, I don't like the idea of dozens of buckets sitting in a landfill. I've never liked any other type of plastic fermenter for the same reason (PET carboys, plastic conicals, ect.). Cheap and safe, yes. Durable, no.
+1 on this. I'll mix up a bucket of Starsan and a bucket of PBW on brew day to use for all the hoses and parts, and often have a little collection of other stuff that accumulated the previous weeks, maybe clean a faucet or two, etc. I'll usually keep it around for another day or so for whatever else comes up.Another good use for 5 gal plastic bucket: Mix up a bucket of Starsan and use that for sanitizing all those little hardware items. Afterwards you still have 5 gallons of Starsan to keep on hand for the next time.
Ability to see what's going on with the yeast? Yes.
you know, now that you mention it....i've seen miller lite clone recipes, all kinds of clones actually...but never a heineken one.....or st. pauly girl for that matter.....
you know, now that you mention it....i've seen miller lite clone recipes, all kinds of clones actually...but never a heineken one.....or st. pauly girl for that matter.....
...and your point would be?
lol, because for that skunk!
30 responses, and nobody has mentioned fermenting in a keg? I'm surprised.
I've never done it myself, but I have some Top Draw systems coming soon and I plan on fermenting and serving out of the keg. With Fermcap, I should hopefully be able to fit about 4.5 gallons in there.
What? With people putting who knows what in their soured habanero bitter fruit additive 100IBU hazy as a storm cloud beers these days, you're worried about a little skunk?
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No kidding I hate when breweries stop making the same stuff over and over and try something new. Cheerswhoa, now....that's 'craft' beer, they want $10 for a 4 pack of that stuff! lol
No kidding I hate when breweries stop making the same stuff over and over and try something new. Cheers
You confused me on that one. You mean that by trying new things with more steps and ingredients used there actually doing less for more? Seems like it's doing more for more no? Cheerslol, and when they figure out ways to work less for more money....in the process draining my wallet....making me work harder for less....
edit: and damn it, i just came here to play music match.....
I've gone to kegs for all my hoppy beers. You can do 4 plus gallons with a little fermcap. I typically cover the opening with foil for the first three days to be safe and then add the lid when it just starts to slow. I don't use a floating diptube, but I did cut off the diptube an inch or so. My latest IPA is still in that keg getting carbed up. I'm going to try to drink it right out of the same keg on the yeast since we typically drink an IPA in 4 weeks or so. So far it tastes awesome and I only had to pitch the first glass of beer. Taking lazy to a new level I guess.30 responses, and nobody has mentioned fermenting in a keg? I'm surprised.
I've never done it myself, but I have some Top Draw systems coming soon and I plan on fermenting and serving out of the keg. With Fermcap, I should hopefully be able to fit about 4.5 gallons in there.
I have 4 stainless conicals and I tOut of curiosity whats your definition of "home brew levels"? I ask because I found my unitank a very practical addition to my home brewery. Cheers
Sounds like you have the same conical I have one of.(chinese spike clone of the original american Toledo spinning made spike conicals before spike switched to china themselves) I've got a few different kinds of stainless and plastic conicals and prefer the stainless conicals. Ives used them all 6.5g buckets, carbons both glass and plastic, fast ferment conicals.. they all work but some have advantages over others.I have two 12.5 gallon stainless conicals. Two are needed for frequent lager production.
I like the stainless over plastic, and the dump and racking valves keep the trub out of finished beer and allow for easy hydrometer readings. I put in 10-11 gallon batches and have never had anything but CO2 come out the blow off tube.
They were not cheap, but not too bad as I bought them on ebay. I do not know the makes, they are similar to each other but not like anything I have seen for sale lately(one might be a first gen Spike), I brew a lot and for me they were worth the investment, but of course are not needed to make good beer.
Used to ferment in heavy old glass carboys, and still have several. I'd use them for cider or mead experiments, but am glad I do not have to use them regularly, I'm sure I would have dropped one by now.
I was referring to Jtvanns comment that conicals are a waste at the homebrew level which of course is a pretty vague statement similar to saying buying a truck isn't practical for people then clarifying afterwards for a old lady for example. He clarified that homebrew level= a few gallons so it was just a odd way to word it.Very small batch brewers would have been a better way to word it imo as a homebrewer can be doing 1bbl batches or larger and as long as there doing it a home there homebrewing. In the case of a few gallons I agree it's not a practical purchase. CheersI have 4 stainless conicals and I t
Sounds like you have the same conical I have one of.(chinese spike clone of the original american Toledo spinning made spike conicals before spike switched to china themselves) I've got a few different kinds of stainless and plastic conicals and prefer the stainless conicals. Ives used them all 6.5g buckets, carbons both glass and plastic, fast ferment conicals.. they all work but some have advantages over others.
I actually didnt mean to quote you at all.I was referring to Jtvanns comment that conicals are a waste at the homebrew level which of course is a pretty vague statement similar to saying buying a truck isn't practical for people then clarifying afterwards for a old lady for example. He clarified that homebrew level= a few gallons so it was just a odd way to word it.Very small batch brewers would have been a better way to word it imo as a homebrewer can be doing 1bbl batches or larger and as long as there doing it a home there homebrewing. In the case of a few gallons I agree it's not a practical purchase. Cheers
I was referring to Jtvanns comment that conicals are a waste at the homebrew level which of course is a pretty vague statement similar to saying buying a truck isn't practical for people then clarifying afterwards for a old lady for example. He clarified that homebrew level= a few gallons so it was just a odd way to word it.Very small batch brewers would have been a better way to word it imo as a homebrewer can be doing 1bbl batches or larger and as long as there doing it a home there homebrewing. In the case of a few gallons I agree it's not a practical purchase. Cheers
In theory, if you're a home brewer and doing 1bbl batches you really only should be brewing about 6 or so batches a year. Unless things have changed, most states limit homebrewing to 200G per household or less per year...
That's the theory.
The reality is that some folks run a nano brewery out of their home. People "pay for ingredients" and receive beer. I don't do it, but I don't have a problem with those that do.
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