Clawhammer Supply 6.5g keg/fermenter

[Willy]

Has anybody given the Clawhammer Supply 6.5g keg/fermenter a try? What is your experience? I am interested in trying it out but would love to hear of your personal experience if you have one. Here's a link if you want more info
https://www.clawhammersupply.com/co...ucts/stainless-steel-keg-fermenter-6-5-gallon

 

[Broken Crow]

I honestly wouldn't trust the handles at that volume... I have a few of those cheap-chinese 1.6G baby-kegs and while at that volume I don't foresee a problem with the handles they do still flex the tank a bit and based on that I really wouldn't want to use them with a heavier load. The reason I mention this is because that fermenter/keg appears to simply be the 6.5G version with a 4"TC welded to it. If the dimensions appeal to you, you could probably just get by with the ordinary cheap 6.5G corny at half the cost:
https://www.ontariobeerkegs.com/ob-keg-6.5gal.html
Apologies for the Canadian link... I can't seem to find a US link outside ebay or scamazon.

 

[Broothru]

Has anybody given the Clawhammer Supply 6.5g keg/fermenter a try? What is your experience? I am interested in trying it out but would love to hear of your personal experience if you have one. Here's a link if you want more info
https://www.clawhammersupply.com/co...ucts/stainless-steel-keg-fermenter-6-5-gallon

I was really interested in this a year or more ago. They’ve had a number of production and vendor supply issues, as well as a major redesign of the TC top to prevent a mishap like the one they had (while filming a promotional video) early after the initial release. Every subsequent production run has sold out before I could get one ordered, so I went in a different direction (2 different directions, actually), so I no longer need one but I’d sure like to have one.

As far as kegmenters go, this one with the redesigned TC lid is likely the Gold Standard. It incorporates some serious safety features that everybody who does pressurized spunding and fermentation should have. I’m not sure if their “Don’t Do This” video is still up on their website, but it’s a valuable one to view. If a boneheaded mistake can be made by an experienced, professional brewer, any hobbyist can surely do one as well.

Looks like a solid piece of gear, if you can get your hands on one.

 

[Willy]

I honestly wouldn't trust the handles at that volume... I have a few of those cheap-chinese 1.6G baby-kegs and while at that volume I don't foresee a problem with the handles they do still flex the tank a bit and based on that I really wouldn't want to use them with a heavier load. The reason I mention this is because that fermenter/keg appears to simply be the 6.5G version with a 4"TC welded to it. If the dimensions appeal to you, you could probably just get by with the ordinary cheap 6.5G corny at half the cost:
https://www.ontariobeerkegs.com/ob-keg-6.5gal.html
Apologies for the Canadian link... I can't seem to find a US link outside ebay or scamazon.

I don't think they ship to the US ... Canada is the only country option on checkout. Grrrr

 

[Willy]

I was really interested in this a year or more ago. They’ve had a number of production and vendor supply issues, as well as a major redesign of the TC top to prevent a mishap like the one they had (while filming a promotional video) early after the initial release. Every subsequent production run has sold out before I could get one ordered, so I went in a different direction (2 different directions, actually), so I no longer need one but I’d sure like to have one.

As far as kegmenters go, this one with the redesigned TC lid is likely the Gold Standard. It incorporates some serious safety features that everybody who does pressurized spunding and fermentation should have. I’m not sure if their “Don’t Do This” video is still up on their website, but it’s a valuable one to view. If a boneheaded mistake can be made by an experienced, professional brewer, any hobbyist can surely do one as well.

Looks like a solid piece of gear, if you can get your hands on one.

Yeah. I saw that video a while back - the triclamp fitting about took his head off and slammed into the ceiling. Yikes.

 

[Willy]

Yeah. I saw that video a while back - the triclamp fitting about took his head off and slammed into the ceiling. Yikes.

Here's the video

 

[Broothru]

Here's the video

Thanks for the link. I went to their website, and it appears Clawhammer is currently stocked and shipping the kegmenter. Decision time for me. I've got a unitank as well as a 5.2 gal. keg with a 4" TC top that has a 1.5" TC welded onto the 4". No thermowell, so I have to tape the glycol control thermocouple to the side and hope it's close to accurate. I use a CoolStix connected to the glycol system for temperature control. It's not as good as the unitank, and probably not as good as the Clawhammer, but it gets me by when I'm trying to pump out multiple batches around 'competition season' which is now until September.

Boy, could I use that Clawhammer setup right now. If only I could sneak it past SWMBO'd without her prior authorization. If my career in the Navy taught me anything, it was that it's much easier to ask for forgiveness than to beg for permission. What's that IP address again?

 

[Willy]

Thanks for the link. I went to their website, and it appears Clawhammer is currently stocked and shipping the kegmenter. Decision time for me. I've got a unitank as well as a 5.2 gal. keg with a 4" TC top that has a 1.5" TC welded onto the 4". No thermowell, so I have to tape the glycol control thermocouple to the side and hope it's close to accurate. I use a CoolStix connected to the glycol system for temperature control. It's not as good as the unitank, and probably not as good as the Clawhammer, but it gets me by when I'm trying to pump out multiple batches around 'competition season' which is now until September.

Boy, could I use that Clawhammer setup right now. If only I could sneak it past SWMBO'd without her prior authorization. If my career in the Navy taught me anything, it was that it's much easier to ask for forgiveness than to beg for permission. What's that IP address again?

https://www.clawhammersupply.com/co...ucts/stainless-steel-keg-fermenter-6-5-gallon

 

[Broken Crow]

I don't think they ship to the US ... Canada is the only country option on checkout. Grrrr

If that means that a regular corny top will work for you, I did find one in the US on ebay:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1547054900...wPAXVoC9ezN+yIpKv4HE01D/8C|tkp:Bk9SR4yjtsyIZA

 

[Willy]

Found one for $153 on Amazon. 6.5 gallons, it has arrived and gets a good clean/sanitize today before a Friday brew day.

I have a bowtie/spunding piece that attaches to the corny post, and a ball float beer line tube to do oxy free transfers.

Planning on creating a blowoff device off the PRV hole for the first few days and then switching to bowtie spunding to ferment under pressure. I have never done a pressure fermentation - I would love to hear your experience/tips for a newby. Thanks

 

[Broken Crow]

Found one for $153 on Amazon. 6.5 gallons, it has arrived and gets a good clean/sanitize today before a Friday brew day.

I have a bowtie/spunding piece that attaches to the corny post, and a ball float beer line tube to do oxy free transfers.

Planning on creating a blowoff device off the PRV hole for the first few days and then switching to bowtie spunding to ferment under pressure. I have never done a pressure fermentation - I would love to hear your experience/tips for a newby. Thanks

If you just wanna avoid gunking up the gas post, you could use one of these:
https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/cornylidfloating.htm
Or get a bit more complex and maybe include dry-hopping ability:
https://www.amazon.com/BIERKRONE-Attachment-Cornelius-Tri-Clamp-Dry-Hopping/dp/B0CW2H994G

 

[Willy]

If you just wanna avoid gunking up the gas post, you could use one of these:
https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/cornylidfloating.htm
Or get a bit more complex and maybe include dry-hopping ability:
https://www.amazon.com/BIERKRONE-Attachment-Cornelius-Tri-Clamp-Dry-Hopping/dp/B0CW2H994G

Thanks. I often use a yeast starter and get some wild wild west levels of Krausen... So I thought an older school airlock to a bowl of water for the first 2-3 days of fermentation might be a good idea.

What kind of gear is needed for the dry hopping option in addition to the tri clamp equipped corny keg lid?

 

[Broken Crow]

The kegland hop-bong should fit;
https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/hopbongkit15.htm

EDIT: Oh I forgot; You'd also need a 1.5"TC butterfly valve

 

[Willy]

The kegland hop-bong should fit;
https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/hopbongkit15.htm

EDIT: Oh I forgot; You'd also need a 1.5"TC butterfly valve

Cool. Thanks. Doing my first batch of 6.5g corny keg fermenter Friday. Thanks again for the links and know how. Cheers!

 

[Whisky River]

Thanks. I often use a yeast starter and get some wild wild west levels of Krausen... So I thought an older school airlock to a bowl of water for the first 2-3 days of fermentation might be a good idea.

Good luck on your next batch. The only thing I would add is that since you mentioned possibly having a lot of krausen, you might want to think about how big a PRV and blow off you might need. I’m not the safety police and you can obviously do whatever you are comfortable with but the PRV on a keg wasn’t designed to handle being fouled by krausen, which has a tendency to be sticky and dry up clogging small openings. Take a look at the size of the PRVs made for fermenters by companies like stout and Brewers Hardware.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/threads/4mm-eva-barrier-for-blow-off-tube.730021/#post-10318497

https://www.brewershardware.com/1-5...compact-pressure-release-valve-vacuum-breaker

 

[Broken Crow]

Hey @Willy .. I was just looking at a few other threads and thinking; "Damn, he comes up with some neat threads.." and it reminded me to check back on this one so; What brew did you put in it and how's it coming along? Do you feel like posting pics of the configuration you settled on?

 

[Willy]

Style - Pilsner in an inkbird mini freezer.
Novalager yeast.

Fermentation begins on 7/1. First time fermenting in a 6.5 g corny keg. I got the luxury model from China via Amazon for $150. Just like a typical corny only all stainless, no rubber and bigger. I used a blowtie and pressure gauge, set at 10 psi on the third day of fermentation. For the first part I used a blowoff tube in a jar.

On July 13 I transferred to the serving corny keg doing my first oxy free transfer. Gravity fed with a modest amount of pressure, about 5 Psi . Used a thick ID tube and was very happy with the speed of transfer. I had heard it takes forever (but not with a big tube!) I am using the mini freezer to slowly crash the next batch in a traditional ball lock corny.

I had a few tastes of the pilsner and it is very good, but still needs to lager for a few weeks to optimize all its glory.

Very pleased with my first try and thanks so much for all the helpful hints from HBT members. I was much less cautious and went for greatness. Brew on my brothers and sisters.

 

[Willy]

Style - Pilsner in an inkbird mini freezer.
Novalager yeast.

Fermentation begins on 7/1. First time fermenting in a 6.5 g corny keg. I got the luxury model from China via Amazon for $150. Just like a typical corny only all stainless, no rubber and bigger. I used a blowtie and pressure gauge, set at 10 psi on the third day of fermentation. For the first part I used a blowoff tube in a jar.

On July 13 I transferred to the serving corny keg doing my first oxy free transfer. Gravity fed with a modest amount of pressure, about 5 Psi . Used a thick ID tube and was very happy with the speed of transfer. I had heard it takes forever (but not with a big tube!) I am using the mini freezer to slowly crash the next batch in a traditional ball lock corny.

I had a few tastes of the pilsner and it is very good, but still needs to lager for a few weeks to optimize all its glory.

Very pleased with my first try and thanks so much for all the helpful hints from HBT members. I was much less cautious and went for greatness. Brew on my brothers and sisters.

Pix

 

[Yesfan]

The way that keg is made, you could buy another lid with a wider bail, drill a hole, and use a 1.5" triclamp bulkhead. This is what I did with one of my lids. LINK Reorienting the bail was a bit of a pita, but worth it in the end. I can add a dry hopper or better spunding valve, etc. The major downer is the modded lid won't work on standard rubber handled ball locks because the handles are in the way of the bail. I have no issues with any of my Torpedo kegs. The handles on your keg look like they are spaced out more than the ones on my Torpedos, so I'd imagine you'd have no issues either.

That site also lists a commercial version on Amazon if you didn't want to make your own (though the reviews don't look promising).

 

[Willy]

The way that keg is made, you could buy another lid with a wider bail, drill a hole, and use a 1.5" triclamp bulkhead. This is what I did with one of my lids. LINK Reorienting the bail was a bit of a pita, but worth it in the end. I can add a dry hopper or better spunding valve, etc. The major downer is the modded lid won't work on standard rubber handled ball locks because the handles are in the way of the bail. I have no issues with any of my Torpedo kegs. The handles on your keg look like they are spaced out more than the ones on my Torpedos, so I'd imagine you'd have no issues either.

That site also lists a commercial version on Amazon if you didn't want to make your own (though the reviews don't look promising).

Interesting and cool article. Thanks.