FastFerment conical fermenter??????

[cantrell00]

Conventional wisdom is often wrong. Long term storage on the trub is probably bad. But from what I've read, as long as there is active fermentation going on trub is good for the beer.

I don't know either way but I do know that commercial breweries go through considerable lengths to remove it via whirlpool processes.

Maybe they do it for other reasons , I don't know.

 

[jbb3]

Conventional wisdom is often wrong. Long term storage on the trub is probably bad. But from what I've read, as long as there is active fermentation going on trub is good for the beer.

Agree. I wouldn't want a beer sitting on trub for more than 2-3 weeks. But I'm convinced the yeasties chew on some of that trub while they're active. It is surprising how much the trub pile reduces in size and how they clean things up toward the end of fermentation.

 

[jbb3]

I stumbled across an interesting read on the subject in the Articles section of HBT. I was even surprised at the outcome.

Check it out...

http://brulosophy.com/2014/06/02/the-great-trub-exbeeriment-results-are-in/

 

[jbb3]

I brewed a Caramel Amber Ale recipe and used a sanitized paint strainer bag to filter a good portion of the hot break and trub as I racked from the BK into the FF. The yeasties were pitched right away since I was successful in getting the wort down to pitching temps (mid 60s) with the cool weather.

Nine days into the ferment, a collection ball full of trub was dumped. Here it is 18 days into ferment. Sunday will mark 3 weeks in the FF and kegging/bottling day. Will keg the first 5 gal and bottle the rest.

Those yeasties are amazing things...

Cheers!!

 

[CoreyT]

I have a Milk Stout in my FastFerment now. After following some of the advice on here about trimming the leftover plastic on the threads I think this thing is pretty good.

Out of curiosity are people bottling straight from the conical, or are they transferring to a bottling bucket and bottling from there? I am still bottling, so I am wondering what people have done, and how they're getting the priming sugar mix in. I was thinking of just dumping the mix into the conical and then stirring with one of my paddles.

 

[jbb3]

I have a Milk Stout in my FastFerment now. After following some of the advice on here about trimming the leftover plastic on the threads I think this thing is pretty good.

Out of curiosity are people bottling straight from the conical, or are they transferring to a bottling bucket and bottling from there? I am still bottling, so I am wondering what people have done, and how they're getting the priming sugar mix in. I was thinking of just dumping the mix into the conical and then stirring with one of my paddles.

I used a bottling bucket to make sure the priming sugar mixed well. Also, I didn't want to chance scratching the inside of the FF with stirring.

 

[Dade0]

I got a 12 in. x 48 in. Concrete Form Tube from a hardware store for $12. I cut it in 1/2 since I have 4 FFs. A perfect fit. I use them for holding the FF while pouring wort from the kettle or if I need to put them somewhere other than on the wall. They are plenty strong. I do worry about them degrading from getting wet and softening to the point of failure from leeks or spills. They do not allow you access to the valve or anything, but a cheap solution to what seems to be a common problem.

 

[bembel]

I got a 12 in. x 48 in. Concrete Form Tube from a hardware store for $12. I cut it in 1/2 since I have 4 FFs. A perfect fit. I use them for holding the FF while pouring wort from the kettle or if I need to put them somewhere other than on the wall. They are plenty strong. I do worry about them degrading from getting wet and softening to the point of failure from leeks or spills. They do not allow you access to the valve or anything, but a cheap solution to what seems to be a common problem.

You can also just put them into a standard bucket or AlePail, a standard 5 gallon bucket holds it without the collection ball, a 6.5 gallon bucket holds it with the collection ball

FYI, if you ever need to raise or lower the temp in a hurry, fill a 6.5 gallon bucket up with cold/hot water and rest your Fastferment inside, works like a charm

 

[redwing_al]

I got a 12 in. x 48 in. Concrete Form Tube from a hardware store for $12. I cut it in 1/2 since I have 4 FFs. A perfect fit. I use them for holding the FF while pouring wort from the kettle or if I need to put them somewhere other than on the wall. They are plenty strong. I do worry about them degrading from getting wet and softening to the point of failure from leeks or spills. They do not allow you access to the valve or anything, but a cheap solution to what seems to be a common problem.

Can you post pictures of how they sit in those tubes?

 

[GREM]

Bought myself two of these from Tom's Brew Shop before years end to use for ales in our 65-70 degree walkout basement. Purchased the stands, carrying harnesses, & temp gauges. Decided to break them in with a ten gallon batch of Imperial Oatmeal Stout. After a lengthy brew day we ended up with an OG of 1.115 & 5 gal in each FF for a barrel aged project. Pitched a HUGE amount of washed yeast from a previous 5 gal batch of Stout into each & used a blow off hose from each into a 5 gallon bucket. Valve closed & no collection ball. The blowoff from both wort & yeast was so intense; that the blowoff bucket itself started fermenting. Needless to say...it left one heck of a mess in the fermenters. No problem with leaky lid. However...next two batches threw me a curve. Brewed up a 7 gal batch of a Golden Ale. After 48 hrs...no activity. Swirled up the conical & finally got some activity then it died. Three days later brewed up a 1.070 DIPA in the other and again after 3 days no activity. Took a sample from the top (definitely fermenting) & it was down to 1.030. The Golden is close to finished at 1.010. After running across this thread it all makes sense now. Thanks to all of you for the great ideas & experiences. I love these conicals & thanks to the feedback of others I now know what needs to be done to seal the lid as it seems to be the culprit. I'm looking forward to making some suggested changes when they are again empty

As for cleaning & sanitizing...I fill them with a little hot water & oxy-clean & wipe them softly with a sponge to remove the heavy grit. The "Marks Carboy Washer" is versatile enough to wash & sanitize a five gallon bucket as well as Corny's & carboys; so I sacrificed one of my food grade buckets & cut a hole in the bottom & walked away. Works great for cleaning & sanitizing with or without the collection ball...

 

[jleiii]

As for cleaning & sanitizing...I fill them with a little hot water & oxy-clean & wipe them softly with a sponge to remove the heavy grit. The "Marks Carboy Washer" is versatile enough to wash & sanitize a five gallon bucket as well as Corny's & carboys; so I sacrificed one of my food grade buckets & cut a hole in the bottom & walked away. Works great for cleaning & sanitizing with or without the collection ball...

Brilliant, thanks for this idea!

 

[Kalmah]

I'm seeking some advice. I've only used my conical once a few months back and would like to have a better strategy when I brew again this spring.

My first time using the FF conical I had a ball on and the valve open and the yeast clogged up above the valve. People have recommended waiting a few hours and dumping the trub before pitching the yeast to prevent clogging. Will the trub naturally collect into a ball or would it be better to simply open the valve and purge a few pints into a pail?

I have essentially the same question for dry hopping. I plan on using pellets (maybe made into a hop tea first). After removing the yeast ball, have people had better results attaching a second ball and allowing the hop sediment to settle in or leaving the valve closed and doing a quick dump at the end of the dry-hop?

 

[cantrell00]

Modified a rack for my fridge when lagering.. Also hung the mounts in the fermentation for ales...

 

[GREM]

Taking gravity samples up until now has been a PITA. Should be a bit easier now . Will be testing it out this upcoming weekend

 

[blaster_54738]

New issue I noticed when I transferred a cyser to keg. Half of the thermowell has changed color and I can not get it removed...will definitely be swapping out for a stainless thermowell

 

[cantrell00]

New issue I noticed when I transferred a cyser to keg. Half of the thermowell has changed color and I can not get it removed...will definitely be swapping out for a stainless thermowell

Using brass was dumb on their part. But cheaper than stainless...

I changed it to a sample port and will use a thermowell from Stainless Brewing through the lid & held in place with a stopper.

 

[bembel]

New issue I noticed when I transferred a cyser to keg. Half of the thermowell has changed color and I can not get it removed...will definitely be swapping out for a stainless thermowell

Amazon has SS ones that will fit for $17

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0091M0WM4/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

 

[bembel]

Taking gravity samples up until now has been a PITA. Should be a bit easier now . Will be testing it out this upcoming weekend

This is brilliant! I did the same but used the port for the thermowell, can you share the source for your ball valve and the method you used to attach it?

The valves I have from US Plastics are NPT thread not straight, so I cant screw any nuts or washers on to it to form a seal inside the FF,I would love an alternative .

Thanks for posting the pics, hope it works well!!!

 

[cantrell00]

A 1/2" NPT male will fit into the same hole formed into the FF for the thermowell.

I used a 1/2" X 3/8" reducing adapter & a 3/8" valve with 3/8" barb.

 

[bembel]

A 1/2" NPT male will fit into the same hole formed into the FF for the thermowell.

I used a 1/2" X 3/8" reducing adapter & a 3/8" valve with 3/8" barb.

I did the same thing with a 1/2 x 1/4 reducing adaptor into the thermowell hole, but it looks like GREM made a second hole just next to the thermowell, since he still has his thermometer attached.

 

[Westermans]

Here's my build. View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1424402669.034069.jpgView attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1424402682.539653.jpg

 

[rmchair]

I've been thinking about these ferm chambers and stands. This device presents some challenges with the shape and needing top and bottom access along with the weight of the full vessel.

My wish list: 2 fermenters, can roll when full and able to move to wet room etc, tall enough to keg from, yet still small enough for mobility and storage footprint.

I am conceptualizing some design the allows me to plug a mobile chamber into the doorless mini-fridge when cooling, and then to separate like a booster rocket when it is time to service the fermenters. As much as I would like to use the provided stands, I think a more workable design involves the circular openings in some kind of raised platform that I can wheel in and out of the garage. I would like an access panel below the fermenters to hook up the hose or remove the collection ball.

In short, I am thinking about a double stand, mounted on a square dolly that is a self-contained ferm chamber, with top door-all capable of mating with the min-fridge . This will obviously require a raised location for the fridge, but I don't want to move the fridge with the chamber when I have to wheel the fermenters down the hall to the laundry room.

Stay tuned.

 

[DustyBrew]

Nice job on the build. Cheers!

 

[adamranders]

Has anyone attached handles to their fastferment? I was thinking carrying handles attached where the mounting bolts go would make it easier to move from where we brew to where we ferment. Anyone have any ideas of any handles that would be usable for this that could be mounted with the mounting bolts?

 

[jleiii]

What about a 5gal bucket handle with adjusted ends?

 

[whattheschmidt]

I will definitely be replacing the brass thermowell with SS. It doesn't feel smooth anymore and I just don't trust it.

I also have the problem that the metal FF holder I bought makes the fermenter sit too low and I can't remove and reattach the collection ball. The fridge the FF goes in is huge so I wouldn't have a clearance issue at all with something different. Why didn't they make them tall enough to remove the ball!?

Do I talk to Adventures in Homebrewing to see if they have a newer model to exchange it for? Do I do the half ass cut tube around it to raise it hopefully 1/2" or so? Rather not have to put time and money into fixing it since I bought it to just work well and be able to fit 2 in my fridge easily...

 

[bembel]

I will definitely be replacing the brass thermowell with SS. It doesn't feel smooth anymore and I just don't trust it.

I also have the problem that the metal FF holder I bought makes the fermenter sit too low and I can't remove and reattach the collection ball. The fridge the FF goes in is huge so I wouldn't have a clearance issue at all with something different. Why didn't they make them tall enough to remove the ball!?

Do I talk to Adventures in Homebrewing to see if they have a newer model to exchange it for? Do I do the half ass cut tube around it to raise it hopefully 1/2" or so? Rather not have to put time and money into fixing it since I bought it to just work well and be able to fit 2 in my fridge easily...

The metal stand has 2 sized rings, the larger ring is the bottom, the smaller ring holds the FF at the right height to remove the ball easily.

 

[whattheschmidt]

The metal stand has 2 sized rings, the larger ring is the bottom, the smaller ring holds the FF at the right height to remove the ball easily.

Larger ring is at the bottom, more stability that way...

They resized the stand at some point so the new ones are shorter I believe.

 

[ku5e]

Has anyone attached handles to their fastferment? I was thinking carrying handles attached where the mounting bolts go would make it easier to move from where we brew to where we ferment. Anyone have any ideas of any handles that would be usable for this that could be mounted with the mounting bolts?

I use the strap from the accessory kit. It works great. If you start to put things in the screw holes that torque, it will rip the fermenter in half.

 

[adamranders]

What about a 5gal bucket handle with adjusted ends?

Thought about this but it wouldn't be big enough to connect both ends and still have room for hands.

I use the strap from the accessory kit. It works great. If you start to put things in the screw holes that torque, it will rip the fermenter in half.

I doubt it would rip it in half, worst case it would rip out the bolt fittings, pretty sure if they can take the weight on the supplied stands they should be able to take the same weight with handles.