New SS Brewtech FTSs user ---- discussion

[Freddyj123]

Hi all,
Just ordered the 7gallon chronical fermentor (was torn between it and the brew bucket) and should see it in the next week or two.

I'd like to have a discussion with other users so that I can get the most out of it and great results.

My basement where i plan to ferment is usually <70f in summer & 50-60 in winter, which I see as a benefit because heating is less "hands on" than cooling.

What is the longest that people have left a batch in the fermenter (as a secondary of sorts)?

Is anyone using the FTS to bring down wort down to pitching temps after the boil?

Thank you for any tips and advice.

 

[cyberbrew]

I have the 7 gallon, with the FTSS and it works great. I also picked up the extensions for the FTSS as using my aquarium heater this past winter there was a fairly large difference in temp between the bottom and top of the fermenter. and the extensions get the coil further down into the beer.

I've left beer in the conical for as long as 3 weeks (dry hopping etc), but I wouldn't hesitate to leave it longer, I'm just impatient about getting my batches kegged and consumable.

I generally use an immersion chiller in my kettle as I brew 10 gallon batches that I split between the conical and a glass carboy. If I was brewing a 5 gallon batch I'd consider bringing the temp down to maybe 100 and then let the FTSS take over in the conical. As it is now I usually bring it down to the mid 70s and then finish it off in the conical (which takes all of 5 mins).

Overall I'm pretty happy with it. Swapping out ice packs (I use frozen mayo jars in a cooler) is kind of a pain, but it really does work well, and at this point I'm too cheap to build out a glycol system. I have a batch of blonde in it now hanging out at 60F.

 

[njpatg]

Heres mine , use i/2 gallon milk jugs for ice and refreeze which I swap out every 12 hours

 

[cyberbrew]

Here's my setup. My cooler is a little too small, but so far it seems to be working well. I think I'd have a tough time keeping it down for lagering with the smaller cooler. Also I find I have better results using the lower thermowell for the FTSS.

 

[Freddyj123]

Heres mine , use i/2 gallon milk jugs for ice and refreeze which I swap out every 12 hours

That is a killer set up. I like the idea of the frozen milk jugs, might have to incorporate that.

 

[Freddyj123]

I have the 7 gallon, with the FTSS and it works great. I also picked up the extensions for the FTSS as using my aquarium heater this past winter there was a fairly large difference in temp between the bottom and top of the fermenter. and the extensions get the coil further down into the beer.

I've left beer in the conical for as long as 3 weeks (dry hopping etc), but I wouldn't hesitate to leave it longer, I'm just impatient about getting my batches kegged and consumable.

I generally use an immersion chiller in my kettle as I brew 10 gallon batches that I split between the conical and a glass carboy. If I was brewing a 5 gallon batch I'd consider bringing the temp down to maybe 100 and then let the FTSS take over in the conical. As it is now I usually bring it down to the mid 70s and then finish it off in the conical (which takes all of 5 mins).

Overall I'm pretty happy with it. Swapping out ice packs (I use frozen mayo jars in a cooler) is kind of a pain, but it really does work well, and at this point I'm too cheap to build out a glycol system. I have a batch of blonde in it now hanging out at 60F.

That's great info, I'm also thinking that when I get a kettle large enough for a full boil that I'll need to add a wort chiller unless the lid of the ferm is similar size to the kettle, I could just attach hoses to it and viola.

 

[Freddyj123]

Here's my setup. My cooler is a little too small, but so far it seems to be working well. I think I'd have a tough time keeping it down for lagering with the smaller cooler. Also I find I have better results using the lower thermowell for the FTSS.

That is a really nice brewery! I see that you've added barbs to the valves and something tells me that they are not included with initial purchase.

Great tip on the extensions, I was wondering about that

 

[Freddyj123]

Heres mine , use i/2 gallon milk jugs for ice and refreeze which I swap out every 12 hours

That is a really sweet set up no, I like how everything fits and works together so well in such a relatively small area

 

[cyberbrew]

That is a really nice brewery! I see that you've added barbs to the valves and something tells me that they are not included with initial purchase.

Great tip on the extensions, I was wondering about that

Yes, I grabbed a cheap barb from the hardware store for the racking tube. The lower dump valve barb was impossible to find, ended up going with the one that SSBrewTech offers. One of the really nice things I've found about SSBrewTech is that their little accessories are really reasonably priced.

One other thing I picked up from brewhardware.com was the triclover fitting for the dome lid so that I can do pressurized transfers. Definite back saver!

 

[Freddyj123]

Mine just showed up, pretty stoked! :rockin::rockin::rockin: