Fermenting Under Pressure

[SmokingGunn]

Does anybody have any idea how much pressure a fermenting wort will build? I know that's a vague question with many variables, but I'm just wondering if anybody has tried to ferment in a sealed vessel? I'm thinking about getting ahold of an old industrial gas cylinder and trying to ferment a sealed batch... but in thinking about it, I'm betting I'd have to relieve the pressure when it got up around serving pressure so as not to end up with a super carbonated concoction.

It'd be a real PITA to clean the container after fermenting...

 

[uncleleon]

I've heard 11-15 psi, but you will need a valve or gizmo or it will exceed that and hurt the ferm and maybe damage the vessel. White labs has a quick lager yeast they recommend to be under this pressure. Some pro brewers "save" the CO2 in solution with these 15 psi relieve valves.

Warning: some vessels (even commercial) are not rated for this and will fail.

 

[Doctor_M]

Google spunding valve.

And there is a 205 page thread on this subject already on this forum
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f13/closed-system-pressurized-fermentation-technique-44344/