Catalyst Fermentor Kickstarter

[jimmayhugh]

For now, I took a #10.5 rubber stopper and bored two holes into the stopper, one for the thermowell, and one for the blowoff, looks like it will work.

I also do "no-chill", so after whirlpooling the wort for 45 min, I dumped the hot (about 165F / 74C) wort directly into the Catalyst, and moved it directly to my fermentation chamber. I also put a quart wide-mouth mason jar on the valve, and opened it.

After about 15 hours, the wort had cooled to pitching temp, and the trub had settled out.


I replaced the quart jar with a pint jar for the yeast.

 

[M0KCE]

That's the very setup I'm looking at. Just have to get past the price tag!

Yeah, that's a heck of a price break they have if you order 3 vs just 1. I'll probably reach out to the local club(s) when I'm ready to order and see if I can't find a couple other brewers to get in with me on the order.

 

[jimmayhugh]

Just oxygenated and pitched yeast, and sanitized and dropped in my Tilt Hydrometer. The Tilt's reading 1.078 while my eDrometer showed 1.086. Not too worried though, I only use the tilt to track progress.

 

[Dan8379]

Hi, got my Catalyst a couple of weeks ago and brewing my first batch with it this weekend. Question (and sorry if it's been asked but I tried a quick search and didn't find anything)-I'm still a newbie brewing extract kits and my next beer is a hoppy porter. The last hop addition are whole hops that the recipe says can be added in the last two minutes of boil, or dry hop for a few days prior to bottling. I'm thinking whole hops will cause a ton of problems in the catalyst and will potentially clog up the valve. Should I add them to the boil and then strain my wort as I pour into the Catalyst? I would prefer the dry hop method but afraid it will cause issues. Any thoughts? Thanks.

 

[user 151645]

I dry hopped an IPA I just brewed. I sanitized a mesh bag, put the hops in the bag, and put that in the catalyst. Pulling the bag out when it was time to keg was easy - nothing to clog or clean up.

 

[Tikiman]

I thought it might be helpful for owners of the Catalyst fermentation system to see a thermowell and sample port mod (no leaks) in a photo. Albeit, some may prefer different spigots, you get the idea.

You can also see the new cover with handles.

 

[jimmayhugh]

I thought it might be helpful for owners of the Catalyst fermentation system to see a thermowell and sample port mod (no leaks) in a photo. Albeit, some may prefer different spigots, you get the idea.

You can also see the new cover with handles.

Looks good!!:rockin:

I did something similar with the stopper, I just used a blowoff tube going down to a yeast collector.

What did you use to drill the hole for the sample port, and what weldless adapter did you use?

 

[Tikiman]

Thanks!

I used an "Easy Seal Stainless Steel Weldless Bulkhead" for the sample port and a Steel Step Conical Drill bit to core the hole.

You're right a blow off tube is better as this airlock can fill up at times.

 

[RoGuE_HAHG]

Any other Catalyst users having trouble with Diacetyl?

I think my yeast is floccing out and losing contact with the wort as it settles into the mason jar. Any ideas? I use yeast that's specific to high- alcohol tolerance

thanks in advance

 

[whovous]

I have not had that problem and do not understand why the mason jar might make a difference. Once the yeast flocs out, isn't it done no matter where it flocs to?

 

[pjrom7]

Would it work to "bottle" into the 8 oz mason jar after primary, then attach full 8 oz jar? I would think there would be a CO2 blanket atop the beer in the jar that would minimize oxidation when reintroduced to the rest of the beer?
Looking for workarounds on this and kicking myself for not anticipating it beforehand. What have others done on other conical for this type of problem?

 

[whovous]

I do not understand your question.

 

[pjrom7]

I'm worried about oxidation from introducing air into the fermenter from the empty mason jar that's attached for secondary/yeast collection. I thought a workaround might be to attach the bottling apparatus, fill the mason jar that will be used for secondary, then attach the full mason jar so as to minimize oxidation.

 

[andrewmaixner]

If you are concerned about the O2 from air in the jar, fill the jar with CO2 immediately before attaching it.

The CO2 "blanket" is a myth, it's not how gas diffusion works (2 gasses together start to mix immediately -- gas stratification doesn't happen in the circumstances we care about for brewing).

 

[whovous]

I'm worried about oxidation from introducing air into the fermenter from the empty mason jar that's attached for secondary/yeast collection. I thought a workaround might be to attach the bottling apparatus, fill the mason jar that will be used for secondary, then attach the full mason jar so as to minimize oxidation.

Sounds like a plan! I've just been filling the jar with RO water, but that dilutes the brew a bit. I like your idea better.

 

[RoGuE_HAHG]

I have not had that problem and do not understand why the mason jar might make a difference. Once the yeast flocs out, isn't it done no matter where it flocs to?

I don't know. I wonder if the yeast isn't still eating some diacetyl while its compacting in the jar.

 

[RoGuE_HAHG]

I don't know. I wonder if the yeast isn't still eating some diacetyl while its compacting in the jar.

I am going to up my yeast count by 25% next time and see if it helps my situation. I may just be under-pitching.

 

[jimmayhugh]

Has anyone had any issues with the silicone seal on the lid coming off? I went to take the lid off in order oxygenate and pitch the yeast, and the seal came off and fell into the wort!! I fished it out, re-sanitized everything and carried on, but now I'm concerned that it will happen again when I go to dry hop.

 

[Jettison]

Has anyone had any issues with the silicone seal on the lid coming off? I went to take the lid off in order oxygenate and pitch the yeast, and the seal came off and fell into the wort!! I fished it out, re-sanitized everything and carried on, but now I'm concerned that it will happen again when I go to dry hop.

Haven't had it happen to me personally, but have heard of the issue before.

Manufacturer recommends prying the lid open on one side only, to prevent the vaccuum effect and the seal dropping off into the wort.

Works for me when opening to add sugar solution prior to bottling - hope this helps you too

 

[whovous]

Does anyone use a chest freezer as a fermentation chamber for their Catalyst? What dimensions do you look for?

 

[u81doughboy]

Just saw on Craft-A-Brew's site that they are offering a sample port / ball-valve for the Catalyst. I've been holding off on purchasing the Catalyst because of the lack of sample port. From what I can tell you have to drill your own hole for this. Has anyone heard more about it? The Kickstarter site doesn't provide any information.

 

[jimmayhugh]

Just saw on Craft-A-Brew's site that they are offering a sample port / ball-valve for the Catalyst. I've been holding off on purchasing the Catalyst because of the lack of sample port. From what I can tell you have to drill your own hole for this. Has anyone heard more about it? The Kickstarter site doesn't provide any information.

I ordered two for my Catalysts on 4/26/17. My order confirmation said it would take two business days to ship. Nothing delivered yet...

 

[str8jkt]

Has anyone had any issues with the silicone seal on the lid coming off? I went to take the lid off in order oxygenate and pitch the yeast, and the seal came off and fell into the wort!! I fished it out, re-sanitized everything and carried on, but now I'm concerned that it will happen again when I go to dry hop.

This exact issue happened to me on the second use of the catalyst (didn't dry hop the first batch so no need to open partway through).

No matter what I tried (keeping airlock out, opening slowly from one side only, trying to pry the whole thing up slowly, etc.. It would still come unseated. Hell I got to the point where I was feeding my dry hop bag through the tiny airlock hole in the lid just to keep from having to open it up and risk the seal dropping off again.

I emailed Craft-A-Brew and they sent me out a replacement seal. The new one seems to fit much better than the previous (I don't have near the problems I previously did with it coming loose on me).

I did notice on the old seal that where they joined the rubber to make a ring there was a clear silicon piece (how they joined the white seal). Mine was quite large on the initial seal compared to the replacement so it may have just been a little looser.

Worth emailing them for a free replacement to see if it alleviates the issues for you.

 

[Artifishal]

Thanks for the info. Same thing is happening to me, but I can't Dry hop mine through the airlock hole bc I have a thermowell going down in and can't pull it all the way out bc ferm fridge ceiling is too close, so I'd have to take the whole thing out of ferm fridge.

Do you have that email handy?

 

[RoGuE_HAHG]

Thanks!

I used an "Easy Seal Stainless Steel Weldless Bulkhead" for the sample port and a Steel Step Conical Drill bit to core the hole.

You're right a blow off tube is better as this airlock can fill up at times.

Tiki, do you have suggestions for drilling the catalyst? Any pics of you adding your sample port? Would you do it the same way again?

 

[str8jkt]

Thanks for the info. Same thing is happening to me, but I can't Dry hop mine through the airlock hole bc I have a thermowell going down in and can't pull it all the way out bc ferm fridge ceiling is too close, so I'd have to take the whole thing out of ferm fridge.

Do you have that email handy?

I just emailed [email protected]

They initially made the offer to ship out replacement gaskets off their kickstarter comments. You can see my comments regarding the gasket there along with a few other people as well.

 

[CraftaBrew]

Does anyone use a chest freezer as a fermentation chamber for their Catalyst? What dimensions do you look for?

Here you go:

 

[RoGuE_HAHG]

Anyone added it to their catalyst? Wondering how the drilling went and if the port is working as they want it to.

I like the idea of just closing the valve once the brew clears and keg from the port.

Thanks in advance!

 

[RoGuE_HAHG]

I added the cover and moving it is MUCH easier. Well done on the design.

@Craftabrew - need suggestions on best procedure/bit for drilling the hole for the sampling port.

Also, Is the Catalyst designed to cold crash with a solid plug?
Does anyone have tips on cold crashing it?

Thanks

 

[Jettison]

I added the cover and moving it is MUCH easier. Well done on the design.

@Craftabrew - need suggestions on best procedure/bit for drilling the hole for the sampling port.

Also, Is the Catalyst designed to cold crash with a solid plug?
Does anyone have tips on cold crashing it?

Thanks

I cold Crash with a solid bung, no issues. This was after I got the inevitable suck-back leaving the blow off tube in place