Fermentation - Fusti Cans

[atgregory]

Has anyone tried to ferment beer in a Fusti can? I want to move away from plastic buckets and glass. I don't know if these would work with slight modification.

http://www.oliveoilsource.com/content/stainless-steel-fusti-spigot-50-liter

They don't seem that expensive for SS.

Thank you

 

[ebeer]

Been thinking about one of these for a few years. Seems good to me. Could be the anlge, but these seem to have a bigger opening.

http://www.napafermentation.com/catalog_c127268.html

 

[lanvp]

I have been using one for about a year. It works great. The top opening in my fermenter is about ~ 7.5" Dia. The big opening allows for access inside for cleaning. The lid comes with a removable seal for easy cleaning.

Top view:

Now, there are a few thing you need to keep in mind. First, this is a "can". What I mean is that inside you will have folded seem joins. One on the side wall and along the bottom. You need to pay extra attention when cleaning. In my case, I use a steam generator to do the cleaning a sterilization (I also use Star-San for a final rinse!) so the joins are "no factor".

Second, the valve that came with my fermenter was not the best. I replace it with a regular 3/8" ball valve. This is were it gets a tricky. The thread on my fermenter is a straight thread not an NPT thread. I think it is also call "BSPT". I found a coupling at McMaster Carr:

P/N - 4810T223BSPT
Low-Pressure 304 SS Thrd Pipe Fitting 3/8" BSPT Male X 3/8" NPT Male, Hex Nipple, 150 PSIIn stock at $6.81 Each

http://www.mcmaster.com/#cad-2d/=65ilsu

Hope you find this info useful!

Cheers!!!

 

[ebeer]

I have been using one for about a year. It works great. The top opening in my fermenter is about ~ 7.5" Dia. The big opening allows for access inside for cleaning. The lid comes with a removable seal for easy cleaning.

Now, there are a few thing you need to keep in mind. First, this is a "can". What I mean is that inside you will have folded seem joins. One on the side wall and along the bottom. You need to pay extra attention when cleaning. In my case, I use a steam generator to do the cleaning a sterilization (I also use Star-San for a final rinse!) so the joins are "no factor".

Second, the valve that came with my fermenter was not the best. I replace it with a regular 3/8" ball valve. This is were it gets a tricky. The thread on my fermenter is a straight thread not an NPT thread. I think it is also call "BSPT". I found a coupling at McMaster Carr:

P/N - 4810T223BSPT
Low-Pressure 304 SS Thrd Pipe Fitting 3/8" BSPT Male X 3/8" NPT Male, Hex Nipple, 150 PSIIn stock at $6.81 Each

http://www.mcmaster.com/#cad-2d/=65ilsu

Hope you find this info useful!

Cheers!!!

Really nice. Where did you source that Fusti? The opening looks much larger than others that I've seen. Also, do you have any pics of the lid? Did you attache a fitting for blow off? Do you transfer gravity or CO2?

 

[lanvp]

Really nice. Where did you source that Fusti? The opening looks much larger than others that I've seen. Also, do you have any pics of the lid? Did you attache a fitting for blow off? Do you transfer gravity or CO2?

I got my from eBay. The lid was already modified but it is a very DIY!

Here is the photo of the lid. The picture is not great because I took it with my iPhone in low light conditions...

I included a 6" scale for comparison!!!

Cheers!

 

[Cliff897]

They look rather useful.
Right off the bat, it seems to me that you can rig a port in the top for a tri clamp going down to a smaller size, Flip it upside down cut it for a corny type opening, or whatever, and pop the thing on a stand and call it a modified conical.

 

[TerapinChef]

Seems like a pretty nice idea to me. I was thinking of this recently, there's a shop in Traverse City that sells infused olive oils and vinegars and they had shelves of these just lining the shop. It was...a bit....exciting....to see all that shiny stainless. Then I remembered they weren't full of beer. Sounds like a nice deal to me for those that brew a lot of 10G batches...how are they for denting though? They don't look like very thick gauge steel to me, concerned I would have to really baby them. Also, would it be possible to in some way seal that bottom crease with something?