Fermenter Options?

[MrBJones]

Thanks for all the replies!

A couple year ago, before my "hiatus" from homebrewing, SS Brewtech Brew Buckets were quite popular; so were Anvil Bucket Fermenters. Is that no longer the case? If so, how come?

What about stainless steel in general? Without going for huge size, is plastic just generally liked more?

 

[_BullDog_]

Those are still popular but I like the plastic because they are cheaper, you can see through them and they fit in my chest freezer.

I looked at the Spike ones but they were too tall.

 

[Golddiggie]

Thanks for all the replies!

A couple year ago, before my "hiatus" from homebrewing, SS Brewtech Brew Buckets were quite popular; so were Anvil Bucket Fermenters. Is that no longer the case? If so, how come?

What about stainless steel in general? Without going for huge size, is plastic just generally liked more?

I like stainless since I CANNOT see through it. Plus I have far less concerns around longevity when it comes to stainless steel than any plastics available. Over time, plastic will become brittle.

Right now I have a pair of Spike CF10 fermenters. I'm looking at getting one of the Brewers Hardware 15 gallon jacketed conicals (when available later this month) to bring me up to three total. With a glycol chiller you have a lot more flexibility as far as the temperature of what's inside the fermenter is. Having the conical on wheels means I don't need to lift it (at all) once it's filled.

Yes, stainless costs more than plastic. Just like an Audi costs more than a Yugo (for those old enough to remember).

 

[Newsman]

Yep. Every fermenter option has its upsides and downsides. Just curious about your concerns with being able to see through plastic? Are you afraid of your beer being skunked due to daylight hitting it through the fermenter?

 

[csantoni]

What about stainless steel in general? Without going for huge size, is plastic just generally liked more?

As soon I decided to get serious about my equipment I went with stainless. Having used plastic for small batches I could see that it would be something that might need to be replaced periodically, could potentially harbor infection, and just isn't as durable as stainless. I got a Spike Flex+ and am extremely pleased with it. The max batch size I brew is about 5 gal packaged and it has no problem with that. I expect you could go up a bit from there if you needed to.

 

[Golddiggie]

Yep. Every fermenter option has its upsides and downsides. Just curious about your concerns with being able to see through plastic? Are you afraid of your beer being skunked due to daylight hitting it through the fermenter?

No light concerns at all with stainless. Plus, after about the second batch I brewed, I simply didn't feel the burning 'need' to see what going on inside the fermenter. I have much better indicators when fermentation is going full bore and when it's finished.

 

[walker111]

I have 4 fermonsters. I bought the flat lids and fabricated mine with the gas and beer posts for closed transfers to my kegs thanks to help from members here. Easy to clean, light, and reasonable for price. Mine are 7g. Light issue is a N/A for me as my fermenting is done is basement bedroom dark.
I used the glass carboys like many right up to 2 years ago but got wearry of the trip from garage to basement with 50 pounds of beer and 20 pounds of glass and doing this twice at the end of a 5 hour brew day as I brew double batches.
May look at a SS fermenter in the future but like what I am using current.

PS Can someone tell me where to buy a tilt ( I may buy 2) where they do not break the bank......... Although I don't seem to skimp on brewing gear as it saves $$$$ over buying commercial beer, for me at least. I am in Canada though.......... the home of the fermonsters!!!!!!

Thanks all

 

[Newsman]

Tilt? Is that the Hydrometer or a fermenter? Can't find much on that name on the internet

 

[shoengine]

Tilt? Is that the Hydrometer or a fermenter? Can't find much on that name on the internet

Tilt is a wireless hydrometer.

 

[Newsman]

Gotcha. I saw that in the Google search

 

[crazyjake19]

Of all the fermenters I've used so far, I've found corny kegs to be my favorites. Cheap, easy to clean, easy to pull samples, easy to add thermowell if desired, tall and narrow which works great in a keezer setup. Plus, I've done a lot of fermenting and serving right from the same keg and I've found it to be a great method - less chance of oxygen exposure and less to clean.

 

[walker111]

How much head space do you leave when fermenting in the keg? Do you just run a tube of the gas post into a bucket of starsan for blow off?
Might try this method for one brew.

 

[crazyjake19]

How much head space do you leave when fermenting in the keg? Do you just run a tube of the gas post into a bucket of starsan for blow off?
Might try this method for one brew.

The largest batch I brew is 4.25 gallons so there's plenty of headspace in the keg, thoughyou can shorten the gas dip tube to almost nothing if you need more headspace.

I've used multiple methods: spunding valve, ball lock gas disconnect connected to an airlock with a short piece of SS tubing, disconnect w/ barb and a length of tubing to a blowoff, removed poppet from post and had a piece of tubing over gas post into blowoff.

I have never really needed the blowoffs so I usually just go with a spunding valve or the disconnect/airlock contraptions I made.

For transfers and/or serving, I usually use floating dip tubes, but you can also use a standard dip tube and toss the first glass of yeast/trub that comes out.

 

[DuncB]

Why tilt when you could ispindel for a lot less and same features. Look on the excellent thread this forum
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/threads/ispindle-diy-electronic-hydrometer.598187/
re fermenters most of them don't change the weight of your wort or brew. So if that was an issue putting in a few less litres would save the weight of a heavy fermenter.
I'm happy with fermentasaurus which I used as a gateway to pressure ferment but they are too tall for a chest freezer and need door access see photo. I wouldn't upgrade to something a lot more expensive that was shiny and they are lasting well.
They are really light of course during cleaning and bounce if dropped. If they do dent because of suckback ( ie cold crashed and sealed ) a little bit of CO2 puts them back in shape.
Pressure ferment even a few psi or the ability to intermittently pressure does allow sampling via liquid post and party tap so less bending. This would be an option with chubby or all rounder.
So much choice in fermenters and all are right and wrong for many reasons.
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