SS Bew Bucket Questions

[MrBJones]

Thinking of getting a Brew Bucket, but have a few questions for those of you who have one:

1. I'd have it in a chest freezer. Is it much hassle lifting it in and out to take gravity samples?
2. Again in the chest freezer, is there any issue regarding extra height with an airlock or a blow-off tube?
3. Is there any real potential for leakage by the rotating racking arm or the thermowell (BrewMaster Ed.)? Do they require extra cleaning? Any other issues around them?
4. How much hassle is involved in cleaning the ball valve between uses?
5. Any hassle cleaning the outlet after taking a gravity sample (assuming it isn't ready to rack then)?

I think that's it...thanks!

 

[ProblemChild]

1. Build a bit of a stand so the top of the airlock fits under the lid. A couple bits of 2x4 will do the trick. Do not need to lift in and out. Put a measuring cup and take the sample that way. easier to reach on the stand
2. Use a blow off and I guarantee no issue at all.
3. racking arm cannot leak - inside the ball valve. Remove the thermowell and clean aftereach use. no danger of leaking unless installed incorrectly
4. very little. run hot water through it and a small bottle type brush will do. I soak in starsan just to be sure
5. a spritz if starsan does just fine - never a problem.

 

[LLBeanJ]

1) I have one and also ferment in a chest freezer. I open the spigot and drain the sample into a measuring cup. There's no need to move the fermenter.

2) Depends on your freezer, but there shouldn't be. I went with the domed lid, rather than the flat one that comes standard and have it rigged for a blowoff using the Tri-clover port. However, the hole in the standard flat lid is sized to fit 1/2" silicone tubing perfectly, so using a blowoff with the standard lid won't be an issue. My guess is that using a rubber stopper and an airlock would also be okay, as far as head room in your freezer goes.

3) I have the BM edition and have had no issues with leaking around either port.

4) The ball valve is super simple to clean. I run it under hot water and run a small nylon brush thru it. Nothin' to it.

5) I spray some Starsan into the spigot when ready to rack, no hassle at all, especially when compared the hassle of using an auto-siphon or racking cane and tubing. I have mine set up for closed CO2 transfers to the keg and it's awesome.

Buy it. You won't regret it. I used to ferment in plastic buckets and loved them for their simplicity and ease of access for cleaning. I decided I wanted to move to stainless and couldn't be happier with the BB.

 

[ba-brewer]

I find the rotating racking a bit tricky, you need to tighten just right to prevents leaks. Too tight or loose and it leaks. I get a little leakage sometime when I rotate at the end of the drain. I fill the bucket with starsan to check for leaks before each use, have not had a fermenting beer leak yet.

 

[LLBeanJ]

I find the rotating racking a bit tricky, you need to tighten just right to prevents leaks. Too tight or loose and it leaks. I get a little leakage sometime when I rotate at the end of the drain. I fill the bucket with starsan to check for leaks before each use, have not had a fermenting beer leak yet.

I didn't care for the way they designed the spigot/racking arm to be in one position while fermenting, then rotated 90° to rack as it did seem like a disaster waiting to happen. To get around this, I found that I can position the valve for racking (knob on top) and set the racking arm position inside the fermenter to be parallel with the ground before filling with wort. In this position, the arm does not get gunked up with trub during fermentation and is sufficiently off the bottom to be clear of yeast/trub when ready to rack the beer to a keg with no need to rotate the valve/arm assembly ever. I do an initial leak test when sanitizing the fermenter just prior to filling with wort.

 

[ba-brewer]

@LLBeanJ Thanks for the tip on setting the racking arm sideways, I will give that a try next time.

 

[Kealia]

I'll echo what others have said so far since my methods and results are the same (no issues). Based on recent readings in another thread I actually just bought the 90-degree barb so I can use a blowoff tube more easily.
I don't regret buying the BrewBucket (BM version) and would recommend it to others, as well.

 

[kev211]

I'll echo what others have said so far since my methods and results are the same (no issues). Based on recent readings in another thread I actually just bought the 90-degree barb so I can use a blowoff tube more easily.
I don't regret buying the BrewBucket (BM version) and would recommend it to others, as well.

Everything said here as well. BrewBucket (BM) with 90-degree blowoff barb. Works like a champ

 

[PADave]

I'll echo everything said above. I was skeptical of the valve setup before buying. Now that I have one, have done a few brews with it and had zero leaks, I'm about to order another.