fermentation vessels and chambers

Merleti · Feb 6, 2014

I've been using a small freezer with a controller for a fermentation chamber. My problem now is I'm not happy with the carboy in the chamber. My abuse to my body when I was younger is making it much harder to pull the carboy out. Does anyone know or have thoughts on a system that would help. I'm also seeing the benefits of a conical. Is it a bad idea to use a plastic?

stpug · Feb 6, 2014

I had to switch back to buckets because of my back. Turns out, I really like them :-D

It's nice to have a handle to use and lose the extra weight. Plus, if it drops it's not life threatening.

Merleti · Feb 6, 2014

Thanks stpug. I'm might have mislead the question on plastic. I looking at conicals that are made of plastic. I'm currently using buckets or a brew hauler for my carboy. I'm thinking wheels before "I" have to get wheels.

stpug · Feb 6, 2014

Plastic is plastic. If you have a fundamental objection to plastic then don't use it, but if not then it's a great fermenting material. The key is simply to be gentle with it and don't scratch it. Sometimes this is easier said than done. I used to love scrubbing the crap out of my carboys with a carboy brush as good as I could get it; now I love wiping the inside of a bucket with a soft paper towel

You might look into pressurized transfers. This is something I seriously considered when my back was causing me major grief. I did several but opted for buckets instead. Pressurized transfers are easier with carboys since you can just use the carboy caps. Basically, put a racking cane down to the yeast through the carboy cap; attach co2 to the other air vent on the cap; turn on the pressure at a low psi (2 psi might be enough). The pressure pushes down on the beer in the carboy which is pushed up and out through the racking cane into your next vessel. This allows you to leave your fermenter in-place and push the contents into another container that can be higher in elevation if you want. You could have a bottling bucket sitting on a wheeled cart, for instance. Then bottle directly from the wheeled cart. By the end of the day you're only lifting empty carboys, buckets, and 6-packs

Here's an example (not mine):

Here's an in-depth on this persons setup:
http://www.maltosefalcons.com/tech/racking-co2

flars · Feb 7, 2014

I will be using a trolley and trolley hangar above the chest freezer when I begin using it for fermenting.

BigFloyd · Feb 7, 2014

I switched from a chest freezer (it's now my keezer) to a fridge for fermenting and an upright freezer (for lagering) primarily to avoid having to lift a full fermenter out of the chest. It made moving stuff around much, much easier on the back.

reelmower · Feb 7, 2014

I have a plastic conical that I bought about 15 years ago. I have never used it .. cause I have a stainless 12.5 gallon conical too. I bought the plastic one first .. then went ahead with the stainless purchase. The problem was that plastic was always going to wear out .. get scratched .. or fail in some way. I think I paid about $100 for it. It has a .. I think a 1" hole bored in the bottom. It came with a bulkhead. I am not sure if I was going to use the bulkhead that came with the conical or not. My stainless conical gets steady work .. and I have considered getting the plastic one fitted for service. The other problem with the plastic conical .. is it has a screw on top .. which is not air tight. I have read and seen photos of attempts of making the conical airtight with all sorts of odds and ends. I think my plan will be to take the screw off top out of the conical .. leaving the hole as is .. then get a gasket that covers the complete area outside of the main hole in the top .. and press a pizza pan on top of the gasket .. creating a sealable conical. I would probably drill a hole in the pizza pan to fit an airlock .. and maybe drill a hole in the side of the conical ... for a rotating arm. It is still a work in progress .. but on hold. It is not for sale. I am not sure in hindsight .. if I would buy it again .. but sort of glad that I have it as an alternative .. to use as a fermenter if I want to give it a try. I think it hold 18 gallons .. and is large .. awkward .. and does not have a stand. I would have to fabricate some sort of stand for it out of wood .. if I decide to use it. I don't think it will fit in my beer refrigerator ... so I would have to create a fermentation chamber for for it .. or use ambient house temperatures. If I didn't have a conical .. and was considering plastic .. I would probably stick with glass carboys and plastic buckets. The plastic buckets are inexpensive and easy to replace .. and hope you don't break any carboys. I also have 4 glass carboys .. that I haven't used in 15 years either. So .. I could say I do recommend a stainless conical .. if it fits in the budget. My stainless conical is easy to use .. service .. clean .. sanitize .. and maintain.

northcal · Feb 7, 2014

I have an upright fridge for fermenting. EZ to get fermenting beer in and out since it's at floor level.

acidrain · Feb 7, 2014

Ferment in Sanke kegs under pressure using a tri-clover fitting spunding valve. Cold crash and transfer to serving keg without disturbing the fermenting vessel and without introducing oxygen. I couldn't be happier with the set up.

RM-MN · Feb 7, 2014

I too have back trouble and the 5 gallon buckets of beer would bother it so I started making 2 1/2 gallon batches, then learned how to turn them out faster so I can make up a batch and then a second batch in the time many of the brewers on here are taking for a single batch.