I’m looking to add a new fermenter, probably a metal conical (but I’m open to suggestions). I typically do 5 gallon batches and ferment in a fridge outfitted with temp control. Amyone have any recommendations for/against specific products? Thank you.
I use Spike fermenters and I like them very much. I have a 1BBL and a 1/2 BBL. I have been thinking about getting the flex model so I can take 5+ gallons from a 1BBL brew and experiment.
For all the new fermentors that have come onto the market over the last few years, I wouldn’t trade my 10 gallon corny keg for any of them.
I gave up on mine in favor of a glycol jacketed conical
I like my BrewBucket for it’s small footprint.
Same here! They fit neatly into my fermentation chambers, are sturdy construction, easy to clean, nicely priced, and do well for my batch sizes.
Yeah, that Grainfather gear looks pretty slick, hope it’s treating you well.
It’s flawless. I haven’t regretted spending the money for it.
What do you ferment in now, and why are you thinking of going with a metal conical?
A plastic bucket. I am looking at stainless because it holds up well and is easy to clean. Conical because I’d like to draw to the secondary without sucking up a bunch of trub.
There is no need for a “secondary” when using a conical. The conical will serve as both a FV and a bride tank. Dump the yeast and other junk out through the bottom butterfly valve.
Google some videos on using conicals so you get an idea how versatile they can be.
For all practical purposes, plastic holds up equally as well as SS, and, except for very few beer styles, transferring to secondary is totally unnecessary. Re: cleaning, you might not think that upon cleaning a SS fermenter’s ball valve. There are valid reasons to choose SS over plastic, but these aren’t those. And there are a lot of reasons to choose plastic over SS, not the least of which is that SS fermenters cost at least 10x more than plastic, but they don’t necessarily make better beer.
yup, im considering getting a plastic bucket not for an additional fermentor but to allow open fermentation and skim some krausen too
Fair enough, but I’ll be pleased not to be drawing up trub when I get my beer out of the fermenter, to a secondary or otherwise. I don’t believe I will be sorry to have options that include my plastic buckets (in which I’ve made great beer). As a result of this post, a friend sold me his 7 gallon BrewTech for $75. Thanks for all the great feedback.
I have two Brewbuckets. The only drawback is they are not pressurizable, so I just bought the Kegland Rounder for that, so with a spunding valve and floating diptube, I’m all set.
Look no further:
Delta Brewing Systems
Anvil Brewing (by Blichmann)
https://www.anvilbrewing.com/-p/anv-fv-7.5gal.htm
We use both of the above with fantastic results. Our fermenters do sit in a small 7 cu ft chest freezer, for temp control when brewing those Euro-Lagers that we are so fond of!
I just purchased an SS brew tech 2.5 gallon bucket fermenter. It’s not a conical per say but it does have a cone to collect the trub and an adjustable racking arm. They have in bigger sizes pretty happy with the purchase and it’s made in wisconsin
After having used jacketed fermenters for the last couple years, I don’t think I’d buy one that wasn’t.
you mean a glycol temp control jacket? whats the cheapest a functional setup could run? The ones i’ve seen for sale at canadian stores seem to be minimum 1200 dollars and up from there.
I use this with my fermenters - a bucket in my small fridge with glycol and a pump chill the solution and circulate:
Cheers.