Fermenator G4

[SpikeBrewing]

Oh, wah. Design ripoffs are rampant in every facet of commerce and home brewing equipment is hardly immune.
Along with Spike, how many companies ripped off @Bobby_M's Steam Slayer?

Cheers! ("Cry me some beer" )

The resemblance is uncanny!

The reason Bobby (A Spike Dealer BTW and an awesome one at that!) and us come up with similar products is because we are both so in tune with the market. I'm sure he'll see this thread and chime in as well. The steam condenser was not invented by our engineering team nor Bobby. However we both adapted the design in different ways and delivered it to our audiences.

 

[day_trippr]

Taking the smart-ass approach is unbecoming. Take away the lid with all it's irrelevant ports and what's left?

Cheers!

 

[SpikeBrewing]

Taking the smart-ass approach is unbecoming. Take away the lid with all it's irrelevant ports and what's left?

Cheers!

Take away the $10,000's of dollars in tooling costs for the lid and piping? So we're talking about a nozzle in a pipe? This ain't gunna go anywhere productive ha ha

Cheers!

 

[day_trippr]

The Steam Slayer isn't viable without including a lid festooned with unrelated ports?

Cheers! (boggled)

 

[Toadies]

Taking the smart-ass approach is unbecoming. Take away the lid with all it's irrelevant ports and what's left?

Cheers!

It’s a silly gadget no one really needs. just another product to clean.

let’s focus back on the blichmann g4.

 

[Toadies]

Has anyone received their G4? Mine came in and is an absolute beast. I am missing a couple of accessories though. I haven’t been able to get ahold of Blichmann and been over a week. Frustrating.

 

[HBearBrew]

Has anyone received their G4? Mine came in and is an absolute beast. I am missing a couple of accessories though. I haven’t been able to get ahold of Blichmann and been over a week. Frustrating.

I'm interested in the G4 but I'm not sure from the pictures on blichmann's website whether the coil would be big enough for cold crashing? I don't mean lagering for extended period of time, but few days of cold crashing with my glycol chiller for fining, carbonating, etc. Have you had a chance to put the coil into action?

 

[Toadies]

I went with an upright freezer for the fermenter. I kept talking myself out of the glycol system.

Attached is a picture. Is till need to build a shelf to fit it over the hump with the casters.

 

[fuzzybee]

I'm interested in the G4 but I'm not sure from the pictures on blichmann's website whether the coil would be big enough for cold crashing? I don't mean lagering for extended period of time, but few days of cold crashing with my glycol chiller for fining, carbonating, etc. Have you had a chance to put the coil into action?

I wonder this as well. Also, I wonder if the coil can be purchased without the controller.

 

[HBearBrew]

I wonder this as well. Also, I wonder if the coil can be purchased without the controller.

Seems so according to the website: Fermenator™ G4 - Cooling Coil

 

[crooow]

Anyone else tried one of these yet? The price point is tempting, but there are only a few reviews out there.

 

[highland_brewer]

So far I've been happy with mine. The lid seal was problematic. (Over 10 psi) But they have redesigned it and are sending out updated seals for early models. I was able to ferment, carbonate, and can some beer right from the fermenter.

 

[matt_m]

Comparing apples to apples against my recent 2 x Spike CF10 purchase the pricing is very close but I see some key differences.

- Some of the included items might be included but pricing is about a wash. The "competitive comparison" includes some errors and misleading language which is a pet peeve of mine.
- Blichmann's aseptic valve is a nice design but precludes you from attaching the carb/oxygenation stone there so you would have to use the body port.
- Blichmann's carb stone won't work on a butterfly valve so you must commit a port up front. That also means you need one per fermenter where the cup design can be shared. They list this as an advantage. Not sure who is more righter on the functionality.
- Blichmann's level gauge is really slick. Wish Spike had that. Wonder how it will be to clean?
- Blichmann's Y-shaped caster base looks really stout though the Spike extended bracing shelf is solid once bolt on as well.
- Blichmann doesn't have a sample valve. Spikes was nothing to write home about and Brew Hardware sells a much better design. But Blichmann has no where to put it if you want to use the carb stone. The Aseptic valve is meh for sampling on my cornical under pressure. And you can't put a cool pigtail on it.
- Blichmann's bottom port is only 1.5" where Spike uses 2"
- Blichmann has no heat option listed.
- Blichmann has no jacket option listed but shows it on the competitive comparison.

One think I find interesting. Not saying who's wrong or right, just interesting. Ben from Spike recommends against small port spunding valves like Blichmann, Blow Tie, etc. Blichmann not only uses their own obviously but they also use a keg-type PRV. They do note in the manual to leave 20% dead space so you don't clog the spunding and PRV valves.

 

[Toadies]

So far I've been happy with mine. The lid seal was problematic. (Over 10 psi) But they have redesigned it and are sending out updated seals for early models. I was able to ferment, carbonate, and can some beer right from the fermenter.

How do I know if I have the older design or newer? I received my 7g fermenter back in May.