Speidel 20l

Ingredients
1

Just got the Speidel 20 liter. I have 3 questions:

  1. I do not see any marks identifying volume. As a lazy brewer, I would prefer not to pour gallons of water in the fermenter, mark the sides, etc.

2)I was disappointed at the roughness on the inside (near the mouth) of the fermenter- any reports of issues with keeping that area clean/sterile?

  1. If I mark the fermenter, it might answer this question- does the 20 liter brew 5 gallon (with enough head space) or is this a “4 gallon” batch. I generally brew half batches unless my co-brewer is home from school- then go for the 5 gallon.
2

20 L is just a little over 5 gallons so sounds like, if you do 5 gallon batches, yours may be too small. You could use a foam control agent but IMO you really need more head space for 5 gallon batches.

I do not have any roughness.

If you want marking your just going to have to mark it yourself.

3

I am fairly certain that spiedel labels their fermenters to the size they will brew. I have four 30L spiedels. My 5 gallon mark is right about in the middle. They hold about 9 gallons total. I marked mine at 5 gallons, 5 1/2 gallons and 6 gallons. For 5 gallon batches I shoot for 5 1/2 into the fermenter and stop at 6 if I have that much.

I would suggest taking five minutes and measuring 5 gallons into it and marking. Then you’ll know.

One of mine is a little rough inside near the mouth. Ive never had a problem with it.

4

I have the 20L and the 30L, love them both. No issues with the “roughness” you commented about. I have a few of these and marked one of them. I think you’ll really enjoy them. One tip that I’d like to pass along is that you fairly shortly after you transfer you get some water in there and at least break up some of the krausen line that will be left over on the side.

I put a scoop or two of PBW in mine after a brew and it comes out really clean. There is a faint hop smell that sticks around but has never posed an issue.

I’d like to know how much wort you can get away with in the 20L before it becomes a problem. I’ve never actually used this one, but would like to throw 3.5-4 gallons in there.

5

My 30L is rough around the mouth. No problems with infections.

I brew 6G batches in my 30L all the time. 30L = 7.9G. Not trying to argue, Jim, but, I don’t think you can ferment 7.9G in the 30L.

6

PS. One way to know the true capacity is to fill it with water and weigh it. 1G water is 8.35 lbs. My Speidel 30L weighs 4 lbs with spigot and lid.

Stand on your bathroom scale with and without the Speidel.

7

I bet that the 20L holds at least 6 gallons when filled all of the way to the top.

8

It would totally depend on how volcanic your fermentation was, huh?

9

Yes. I just can’t imagine the 30L holding more that 7.9G total. But maybe it does. I am too lazy to measure total capacity.

10

My guess is close to 9 total, maybe more. But less than 10 because the 5 gallon mark is slightly above half.

Edit: this is not the best picture, but it shows one of my 30Ls with 6 gallons inside.

11

Ah but it tapers. That could account for a lot of volume. BTW I want one of these. Badly.

12

Here’s a better shot, though still graining, photo. I had it marked for 5, 5.5, and 6 gallons. I added a mark showing where the center seam is at exactly half full. That mark should be 4.5 gallons, meaning the 30L will hold 9 gallons if filled up to the bottom of the threaded neck. So, if you fermented 30L which is 7.9 gallons,  you’d have a little over a gallon of head space. That might work for a cold lager. I know for a fact you can do 7 gallons on Roselare with no blowoff. I wouldnt try it with a Tripple or a big IPA though. My guess is that a 20L will handle 20L with about 3 or 4 quarts of head space.