Clear plastic fermentor worth it? Thoughts?

[9137SBR]

Thinking about getting a fermzilla Tri-conical 7.x gal. The starter kit buckets work fine for learning the ropes and the Pill transmits through them. I know stainless would be easier to clean but they cost more and the low end ones don’t do pressure. Corny’s solve both issues cheap but don’t work with the pill without a raspberry pi and considerable effort. It seems like the Tri-conical may be the sweet spot but I am not sure what others success rate is with them. Do they last ok? Thanks in advance,

 

[hotbeer]

Depends probably on whether you value being able to see into the fermenter. I have a Fast Ferment that is translucent. While I can tell through it if the beer is clean or still murky if the light and my eyeballs are at the correct angle, I miss being able to see into it as I did with my smaller 5 liter glass jars that I fermented smaller brews in.

For sure it's a better price than the Stainless Steel conical fermenters isn't it? Maybe a AIO stainless might be had for the same. But I'm not big on AIO's. And then I absolutely would not be able to see my beer without opening the lid.

So what is of value to you? Long lasting would say get a $550 SS conical. But I can buy a few of the clear plastic conical's for that price and if I change how I want to brew and ferment, then I won't have a lot of lost investment. So that to me is more value.

I've had my Fast Ferment for several years now. It's not PET, but I think is HPDE, IIRC. I don't have to do anything special to clean it. Most everything comes of with a rinse. At most a wipe with a wet cloth. So nothing to really gouge the plastic. I'm fairly certain PET is similar. And will last long enough that I'll be satisfied with it's longevity.

I've been eyeballing that Fermzilla for a while too. Just need to convince the spouse that I'll die without it!

 

[SkyPilot]

I've been eyeballing that Fermzilla for a while too. Just need to convince the spouse that I'll die without it!

I have both the Fast Ferment and Fremzilla All Rounder. I use both but prefer the Fermzilla. I can see what is going on and I can pressure ferment with it as well as easier closed pressure transfer. Personally I don’t have an interest in being able to dump through the bottom port. My experience with using the ball on the Fast Ferment is it is a PITA.

Hotbeer I am afraid if faced with your last comment my wife would steal a line from Men in Black..”Your offer is acceptable… “

 

[wdavis2003]

Fermzilla is a great investment. As long as you don't abuse it, should last a few years.

 

[hotbeer]

My experience with using the ball on the Fast Ferment is it is a PITA.

Mine too. Every beer I made with their valve and collection jar resulted in the loss of all or most of the beer. When the collection jar adapter was removed, it would unscrew the core of the valve. If you put the core in too tight the thing would leak. Poor design IMO to have that adapter unscrewing the same direction as the valve core.

Also threads in general shouldn't have been any part of their design. After I found a sanitary/TC to NPT adapter to put on the bottom of the fermenter and got my own butterfly valve and other sanitary/TC fittings is now works somewhat correctly and I've made quite a few beers with it. Essentially all I use of FastFerment's stuff is the fermenter and it's lid.

The Kegland Fermenter didn't interest me until they came out with this new model that actually has a sanitary/TC fitting for the valve connecting to the body. Why any one previously will have done otherwise is beyond my comprehension. The FastFerment could have easily had a sanitary/TC fitting molded to the bottom.

With the stuff I have on the bottom of it now, I can bottle directly from it. And that is a great convenience to me.

 

[Snuffy]

My Speidel 30L is hard to beat. Tilt works fine in there. Not clear, but you can see level and krausen.