Fermzilla

[ehk089]

anyone thinking about buying one of these if they release this month? I’d love to hear feedback from other people who owned the original Fermentasauras. I own 2 ss brew buckets and love those, but would like to be able to ferment/pressure transfer. This seems like a much cheaper, easy way to get that without the spike buckets $350ish price tag. I’m wondering how well this plastic hold up; same as a bucket? It wouldn’t be much savings in the long run if it has to be replaced every year or two because of micro scratches. Dunno, anyone have thoughts?

 

[Mark Solomon]

I get mine tomorrow, but likely won’t use it for a couple weeks. There are a couple videos posted on YOuTube.

-Mark

 

[ehk089]

I appreciate the response. I wish someone could chime in on the durability....I’m most worried about how easily it can get scratched.

 

[Mark Solomon]

From what I read, they are using a new plastic formula that is much more durable than the old one. It also can withstand boiling temperature while the old one couldn’t.

The pressure kit is cheaper than the old one...only issue is that they are not yet available, however you can use your old float, along with two carb caps and that’s all you need.

-Mark

 

[kh54s10]

Why do you think you need to replace plastic every year or two? Be careful and never use a brush and your plastic should last for years. I have been brewing for 8 years. I do have 2 buckets, 6 Better Bottles and 2 three gallon water bottles so there is rotation. Also a bottling bucket. I have yet to get an infection and have not retired any of my plastic fermenters. They get cleaned only with an Oxyclean soak and a dish cloth.

 

[Mark Solomon]

Where did you read you need to replace it every two years? I don’t believe this is true. They do say it should be hydro tested every two years, but this likely holds true for any vessel under pressure.

 

[ehk089]

I’m not saying it needs to be replaced every two years, I’m just saying that when I used plastic buckets I would regularly replace them for fear of small scratches harboring bacteria. It looks like an awesome fermenter but I’m curious if it’s more durable than plastic buckets,

 

[kh54s10]

I’m not saying it needs to be replaced every two years, I’m just saying that when I used plastic buckets I would regularly replace them for fear of small scratches harboring bacteria. It looks like an awesome fermenter but I’m curious if it’s more durable than plastic buckets,

Can't say what plastic it is made of, or how durable. But the need to replace in two or three or even 4 or 5 years is unnecessary if you take care of the plastic.

 

[BrewInspector]

You may be overly concerned about scratches here.

Take care when cleaning, don't use anything likely to scratch it, sanitizer properly and keep using them for years.

I have a bucket that is older than my adult kids that I still use on occasion

 

[nick sekerak]

I should be receiving mine today, after watching the youtube videos i am even more excited to fill it with some sweet hoppy wort!

 

[nick sekerak]

i have heard you can use the collection jar to make yeast starters. I am wounder if i set my stir plate under the jar(when its attached to the FV) i can just keep the starter in the FV from day one, then you dont need any flasks for starters. Also i was thinking if i have a powerful enough stir plate, i could use it to circulate your wort when dry hopping for better hop utilization. Just a though...

 

[ehk089]

^ interesting idea... let us know more when you get some beer in it

 

[kh54s10]

i have heard you can use the collection jar to make yeast starters. I am wounder if i set my stir plate under the jar(when its attached to the FV) i can just keep the starter in the FV from day one, then you dont need any flasks for starters. Also i was thinking if i have a powerful enough stir plate, i could use it to circulate your wort when dry hopping for better hop utilization. Just a though...

Not sure what you are getting at? The wort inside the fermenter is really a huge starter and the collection jar is where the yeast settles. Just save the yeast cake and pitch a portion of it in your next wort.

 

[RevDroz]

I am not sure if it is relevant now but I bought a FermZilla. The day I got it I cleaned it real good and sanitized it. I started my brew and assembled the FZ, it worked great and seemed quite durable, but that is about all I can say good about it. Once I kegged my brew I went to disassemble the unit for cleaning, this is where things went wrong. I couldn't get the damn thing apart, with the left hand threads and right hand threads I ended up breaking the trub jar and managed to make the butterfly valve unusable.

Since that first and only brew I have purchased 3 Craft-a-Brews Catalyst conicals. They cost a bit more but in my opinion well worth the money.

I am really pleased with the Catalyst fermenter and highly recommended it to those who like to see what their beer is doing during process in a conical without having to pop the lid off.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Smudgey]

The Catalyst is a different beast from a pressure system, certainly less to go wrong but there's a reason for that!
Can you purge the trub dumping jars? Otherwise its a litre of oxygen laden air bubbling up every time you dump. Thats got to unsettle a fair bit of the trub you're trying to remove too. You need some sort of exhaust port like the canning jar yeast brink systems. This norcal vid shows it well.

 

[Abhishek Dewan]

Opening the collection jar while fermenting is impossible. At least I can’t open it. I tried everything from applying food grade gel lubricant to releasing the pressure and even keeping it not tight ( created real mess once pressure built). If anyone can give ideas, I’d be thankful. I do love it otherwise as I can serve beer right from it. No need for any transfers and oxidation risks. It does have CO2 purging ports on collecting jar but since I can’t open it, haven’t tested it. I no longer dry hop in it but since I ferment at pressure, don’t lose much aroma.