Stainless Conical Fermenter from Bitter Creek Homebrew: Review ala Boerderij Kabouter

[Austinhomebrew]

What is the point of being all stainless when the beer passes through brass at the end.
Brass contains lead = not good.

Forrest

 

[freddyb]

Seems a little silly to use such a nice, large, expensive, full-port valve and then reduce it down to a 1/2"(?) hose. But if it flows, it flows. Thanks for the review.

The dump port on my conical project is a 1" pipe connected to a 1" ball valve. From there, I haven't decided what I'll connect for harvesting yeast.

 

[mmb]

What is the point of being all stainless when the beer passes through brass at the end.
Brass contains lead = not good.

Forrest

That is easily changeable and according to previous comments from Rich the brass elbow is not included.

Also, after 2010 it is doubtful you'll see much "leaded" brass for potable water use because of new laws on brass content in California.

 

[Boerderij_Kabouter]

Yes yes. There is a brass fitting on there. Rich had it on there for some other testing he was doing and I just left it because I am lazy. If I was using this full time it would have a 1.5" stainless TC fitting to connect to my system.

 

[Reverend JC]

I have a question about attenuation in that bad boy. On some of the yeast that flocc out a lot quicker will they be forced into that steep cone and become unable to continue to work?

a 60 degree cone is ideal and that looks to be a bit smaller. My 14.5 conical is half as tall.

curious.

 

[gxm]

I too am curious about the price.

I am also wondering if the pictures are of a prototype. I've seen a number of beautiful hand crafted prototypes that led to less beautiful production runs.

 

[thantos]

What is the point of being all stainless when the beer passes through brass at the end.
Brass contains lead = not good.

Forrest

The key thing is that the brass is on the down stream side of the valve so it is not in constant contact with the product. Also there is NO lead in brass! A very common miss conception. Brass piping, valves and fittings have been used for hundreds of years with no problems!

From Wikipedia,
Brass is any alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties.[1] In comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin.[2] Despite this distinction, some types of brasses are called bronzes.

 

[gxm]

Also there is NO lead in brass! A very common miss conception.

No, I don't think this is a misconception.

If you read further down on the wiki you linked to - Brass - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Plumbing. To enhance the machinability of brass, lead is often added."

Which links to this CA bill about lead content going from 8% to 0.25% - AB 1953 Assembly Bill - Bill Analysis

Right now 8% lead is "lead free", which I suppose is true for *very* large values of free.

 

[Gordie]

Say, what gauge is the steel on the cone and the steel on the sidewall (in case someone got ants in their pants to add a glycol jacket)? And is there any possibility of sourcing a 1bbl size?

Gordie

 

[bendavanza]

I noticed the fissure right off the bat, also. That looks like a problem.

 

[runhard]

What about adding a spray ball in the lid for recirculating cleaner or sanitizer? Did Rich ever visit that idea from a previous post.

 

[Droot]

I noticed the fissure right off the bat, also. That looks like a problem.

Where is that picture in relation to the rest of the fermenter?

David

 

[Austinhomebrew]

That is easily changeable and according to previous comments from Rich the brass elbow is not included.

Also, after 2010 it is doubtful you'll see much "leaded" brass for potable water use because of new laws on brass content in California.

I realize that you can change it to stainless parts.

The brass parts won't be made in California. They are made in China where they don't care about such things.

 

[Boerderij_Kabouter]

Say, what gauge is the steel on the cone and the steel on the sidewall (in case someone got ants in their pants to add a glycol jacket)? And is there any possibility of sourcing a 1bbl size?

Gordie

I do not know the gauge but it is substantial. You could definitely add a cooling jacket if you were so inclined. The manufacturer does make all sizes, so maybe if this one comes out and goes well, Rich would look into other sizes??? I don't know.

I noticed the fissure right off the bat, also. That looks like a problem.

What kind of problem? Harboring bacteria?

Where is that picture in relation to the rest of the fermenter?

David

This is on the inside of the fermenter at the leg weld.

What about adding a spray ball in the lid for recirculating cleaner or sanitizer? Did Rich ever visit that idea from a previous post.

You could easily add a weldless one, I don't think Rich would add it welded in a stock, not enough people have that capability. IMHO

I realize that you can change it to stainless parts.

The brass parts won't be made in California. They are made in China where they don't care about such things.

The brass elbow are not normally on there. It was just for some random stuff Rich was testing and I was too lazy to swap it out. My bad. But yes, China is not as eco friendly as we are, the brass and bronze that we use in our plumbing has surface lead. That is why it is always a good idea to pickle your fittings before brewing use.

Keep the questions coming guys!

 

[bendavanza]

Yes, harboring bacteria, like a scratch in a plastic bucket. I'm sure that those problems can be addressed before manufacturing starts. I see a lot of prototypes/samples having issues. The fermenters look beautiful.

 

[SuperiorBrew]

I realize that you can change it to stainless parts.

The brass parts won't be made in California. They are made in China where they don't care about such things.

It did not and will not come with any brass.
I just had it handy so I used it for testing as others have already mentioned.
The other minor issues are eing addresses and I hope to have the final samples in route in the next few weeks.

 

[homebeerbrewer]

I haven't spent a lot of time reading this thread. Are these things available, and how much?

 

[bendavanza]

ugh^
-Ben

 

[Boerderij_Kabouter]

I haven't spent a lot of time reading this thread. Are these things available, and how much?

dude...

 

[homebeerbrewer]

dude...

Like I said, I didn't spend a lot of time reading this thread, just the first page or two. I'll have to read through it tonight.

 

[FSR402]

I take it it isn't any good? Like I said, I didn't spend a lot of time reading this thread, just the first page or two. I'll have to read through it tonight.

The post right above yours.....

I just had it handy so I used it for testing as others have already mentioned.
The other minor issues are being addresses and I hope to have the final samples in route in the next few weeks.

 

[TheCHICompany]

We should be selling those soon for at least $100 less then Blichmann's units.
Matt

 

[springer]

^ I will be waiting for them to go on sale

 

[Cheeto]

&^**&^%$%^&*()_)*&^%$#@#$%^&*()_*&^%$#@#$%^&*()_)(*&^%$#@#$%^&*())(*&^%$#$%^&*()_+)(*&^%$#$%^&*()_)(*&^%$#@#$%^&*()_)(*&^%$#)(*&^%$#%^&*()(*&^%$#@$%^&*()_)(*&^%$#@#$%^&*()_(*&^%$#@$%^&*()


I just went through 83 dang posts to find out that they still are not up for sale !!!


WTF........................

 

[SuperiorBrew]

&^**&^%$%^&*()_)*&^%$#@#$%^&*()_*&^%$#@#$%^&*()_)(*&^%$#@#$%^&*())(*&^%$#$%^&*()_+)(*&^%$#$%^&*()_)(*&^%$#@#$%^&*()_)(*&^%$#)(*&^%$#%^&*()(*&^%$#@$%^&*()_)(*&^%$#@#$%^&*()_(*&^%$#@$%^&*()


I just went through 83 dang posts to find out that they still are not up for sale !!!


WTF........................

Guess you should have skipped to the end if you were in a hurry

I am trying to get some of the small but important details worked out quality wise. I would rather spend the time and get it right rather than jump in and sell stuff that people will have trouble with down the road.

 

[Yooper]

&^**&^%$%^&*()_)*&^%$#@#$%^&*()_*&^%$#@#$%^&*()_)(*&^%$#@#$%^&*())(*&^%$#$%^&*()_+)(*&^%$#$%^&*()_)(*&^%$#@#$%^&*()_)(*&^%$#)(*&^%$#%^&*()(*&^%$#@$%^&*()_)(*&^%$#@#$%^&*()_(*&^%$#@$%^&*()


I just went through 83 dang posts to find out that they still are not up for sale !!!


WTF........................

Guess you should have skipped to the end if you were in a hurry

I'm sorry, but you two just made me literally LOL. You owe me for a new computer keyboard, since I just shot beer out of my nose onto my keyboard.

 

[Rick500]

I just shot beer out of my nose

The only way to fully experience the hops.

 

[Cheeto]

I'm sorry, but you two just made me literally LOL. You owe me for a new computer keyboard, since I just shot beer out of my nose onto my keyboard.

The only way to fully experience the hops.

Yooper glad to help !!!!



-Jason

 

[cherrman]

I ordered two 150 liter stainless fermenters directly from china. A place I may name later. The fermenters should be arriving in Chicago this weekend and I will go pick them up. There has been some issues with shipping. I prepaid for shipping to Chicago and now they are trying to charge me for that. I will let you know if the company is honest and if there are extra fees. If chicompany.net sees this then please email me as well to find out the outcome if you plan on dealing with this group. I hope they are going to make this right.

 

[TheCHICompany]

PM Sent
Matt