Has anyone converted a 15.5 Sanke for fermentation or would there be just way too much head space in one for 5-10 batches?
Sanke fermenters
- Thread starter donshizzles
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kcinpdx
Well-Known Member
That is my plan - I think that for a 5 gallon batch you would have a lot of headspace. That said, primary can create a lot of CO2, and that layer will stay over the beer assuming you have sealed in in some fashion. I am considering using CO2 to push it out, so you could simply inject a little extra to purge to O2.
What's to convert, lots of folks just simply remove the stem and insert a stopper and airlock. The older 7.75 gal short kegs would be perfect for a 5 gal batch.
Gordie
Well-Known Member
I use 15.5 g sankes as primaries. You could ferment a 5g batch in them, the yeast will produce enough CO2 to blanket the wort and avoid any issues. Shouldn't be a problem. Leave the stem in and you can move the fermented wort out and even harvest yeast with CO2. Super easy. Check Wortmonger's Wiki on closed system fermentation.
I have two of them setup like this.
I have only used them once and had an off flavor, not sure if it was from the keg or not. But I have redone that brew and did not use them and no off flavor.
I have also since used them as a backup keggle when we were brewing 3 batches at the same time. Thinking of selling them though.
I have only used them once and had an off flavor, not sure if it was from the keg or not. But I have redone that brew and did not use them and no off flavor.
I have also since used them as a backup keggle when we were brewing 3 batches at the same time. Thinking of selling them though.
Swagman
Well-Known Member
Here is the picture of the sanke built last week, its now in use. The picture shows it with a pressure gauge now has air lock. Also picture of the racking arm. Its also has a two inch end cap installed in bottom for easy cleaning.
Dominus Vobiscum
Swagman
Dominus Vobiscum
Swagman
Here's mine, and I love it.
I attach a testing line where the penny is shown for gravity samples when needed. I do 12.5 gallons in it at 15 psi of back pressure, and then up the pressure a few points out to what I would like for carbonation. Kegs are great no matter how you use them, I would just like to keep mine if wanted for serving ever. Nice designs though guys, very nice.
I attach a testing line where the penny is shown for gravity samples when needed. I do 12.5 gallons in it at 15 psi of back pressure, and then up the pressure a few points out to what I would like for carbonation. Kegs are great no matter how you use them, I would just like to keep mine if wanted for serving ever. Nice designs though guys, very nice.
calpyro
Well-Known Member
This is my setup.
I use a homemade pickup tube assembly to rack from the fermeter to the Corny Keg. One fitting has a liquid tube and the other is a gas-in.
It works great. I use Oxyclean to clean and sanitize by filling with a gallon of water and boil it over a burner for about 15 minutes.
calpyro
Well-Known Member
OK,
The center Sankey keg has my home-built gas-in, liquid-out setup. It is built from a Tri-Clover clamp and blank cap that I drilled, tapped, and silver-soldered.
I copied it from a setup used by the wine industry. The wineries use a Sankey keg to top-off wooden barrels with wine that had evaporated. They run around with the keg and use CO2 to force the wine out a hose and into the barrel.
Here is a commercial version: Wine Barrel Topping
springer
Well-Known Member
I just started using a Sanke as a fermenter. With Wortmongers assistance I was able to transfer the beer from the keg to the corny's. All I did was hook up regular Sanke tap to gas and a line to the corny liquid post sans poppet valve then turned on the gas to about 4 psi. Filled the corny in about 2 minutes no splashing no O2. And best part no lifting the sanke with 11 gallons of beer in it...
