Inexpensive fermenter options

Barr · Post by **Barr** » Sat Oct 10, 2015 8:11 pm

Ok so I fully realize that both of these options are less than ideal but they are inexpensive and hopefully I can upgrade in the future. I need some discussion and advice guys and brew gals.

Option 1: Variable lid wine tanks
http://ecom.bosagrape.com/product.php?productid=18518" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Pro- can clean with hot water
Con- flat bottom

Option 2: Plastic conicals
http://www.plastictanks.ca/product.php?prod_id=01500" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Pro- cone bottom
Con- may not get tight seal on lid and plastic can be harder to keep clean.

With either option I'm planning to instal a stainless steel coil for temp control.

GuingesRock · Post by **GuingesRock** » Sat Oct 10, 2015 8:16 pm

Please ferment right in that square thing. If you don't believe me, take a trip to the UK and look around some old famous breweries ...and taste the beer.

Barr · Post by **Barr** » Sat Oct 10, 2015 8:22 pm

GuingesRock wrote:Please ferment right in that square thing. If you don't believe me, take a trip to the UK and look around some old famous breweries ...and taste the beer.

Well I could but I'll need a lot more and they are kinda hard to come by.

Post by **chalmers** » Sat Oct 10, 2015 8:34 pm

I'd go with the stainless myself, I think you'd have too hard of a time to clean that MDPE conical, especially because you couldn't use heat.

Could punch a hole and install a racking arm in the SS one, perhaps?

GuingesRock · Post by **GuingesRock** » Sat Oct 10, 2015 8:40 pm

Ferment ales for 1 week in there, throw any dry hops in on day four, and then keg on day 7 when temperature control is no longer a concern. Then keep the kegs at room temp for 1 week, then chill and carb. That's what I do. Also spend the money you were going to spend on fermenters and take a trip to the UK ...and Germany and drinking beer there. Money better spent for sure. I'd recommend that to anyone, maybe also go to Ireland, drink real draught Guinness and enjoy a sing song in the pubs (out of the rain). That's all I have to say.

Barr · Post by **Barr** » Sat Oct 10, 2015 8:48 pm

chalmers wrote:I'd go with the stainless myself, I think you'd have too hard of a time to clean that MDPE conical, especially because you couldn't use heat.

Could punch a hole and install a racking arm in the SS one, perhaps?

Thanks Chris.
Yeah I'm leaning more towards the wine tanks but I've read that some nano brewries do use hot water on the plastic. I also read a lot about infections in plastic. A friend of mine who owns a craft distillery recently bought these SS wine tanks and he loves them.

GuingesRock · Post by **GuingesRock** » Sat Oct 10, 2015 8:55 pm

Oh! you guys!

Barr · Post by **Barr** » Sat Oct 10, 2015 9:10 pm

I've been considering your open fermentation idea Mr.G-Rock. I wouldn't go directly to a keg tho. I'd probably do primary in the square kettle with a coil built in to control the temp and then after 3-4 days transfer to the wine tank at ambient room temp to condition. I could probably manage with only occupying the square kettle twice a week. Still not convinced that open or openish fermentation is the answer but I'm considering it.

This is a video I found where a guy uses a technique something like that.
http://youtu.be/w7h7RsbN1_Q" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

GuingesRock · Post by **GuingesRock** » Sat Oct 10, 2015 9:22 pm

Not necessarily open, I have a lid on mine to keep the dust off and dust is what carries in the bacteria and wild yeast, those things don't creep in nastily under the lid, they settle onto the beer on dust particles. You're idea might work. The crux of it is for how long temperature control is needed. It might be 3 days, I go with seven to be safe and because I don't know the answer to that question. Three days might be OK. You need to do a bit of research and suggest start here (second item): http://www.brewnosers.org/forums/viewto ... ary#p74857" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

please let me know what you find out.

I think you will still need to go with the full week as you will want to dry hop for sure with some of your beers ...4 days for fermentation to settle and 3 days for the dry hop. You really don't want to dry hop in the kegs.

GuingesRock · Post by **GuingesRock** » Sat Oct 10, 2015 9:28 pm

Once the week is done then keg. That way you get the best from the yeast. It's referred to as keg conditioning and is similar to cask ale. that's one of my tricks

GuingesRock · Post by **GuingesRock** » Sat Oct 10, 2015 9:35 pm

You might need to shorten the dip tubes though 1 1/2" for a corny (if you are doing real ale). You don't lose any beer that way, as the last pint that pours is crystal clear instead of being charged at the end with a shot of trub. That's the worst thing!, you pour your last beloved glass of beer and watch it go to hell in the final moments. The bottom of corny's are conical, so it's the same loss, and the dip tube goes to the bottom of a well at the bottom of the cone. They are designed for crappy pop and not for beer. Shorten the dip tube by 1 - 1 1/2 inches and hey presto! ...you have a beer keg, and a suitable vessel for keg conditioning, which in my opinion is the same as cask conditioning and makes the best beer.

Hope that gives you ideas.

GuingesRock · Post by **GuingesRock** » Sat Oct 10, 2015 10:08 pm

Some respected brewer (I forget who) said 90% of beer's flavour comes from the yeast. It was a good argument, and like all these things he may be half right. Love your yeast! and don't believe the fastferment commercials and the new world brewing idium that you need "clean beer" and a "clean fermenting yeast" without those nasty yeast cells ruining your beer. Reward offered (you will succeed) to get rid of them "dead or alive!". That's like a crappy fake porn video with all the fake oohs and aahs that don't do anything for anyone. Just like the fake filtering mega-swill people. Both fake porn and fake beer are big business, but that's not what craft beer is.

BTW how does one become a beer hipster? I know you have to get some Blundstone boots and grow a beard, but beyond that I'm a bit stumped. I've been thinking about it, just so I am not mainstream. Hipsters are getting a tad mainstream too, but what about it! Should Brewnoser's all take the dive and become hipsters ?????????

Barr · Post by **Barr** » Sat Oct 10, 2015 10:16 pm

Go home Mark, you are drunk. lol

GuingesRock · Post by **GuingesRock** » Sat Oct 10, 2015 10:20 pm

OK

Been drinking some good beer ....Can't help myself

ps. I would never buy Blundstones. That's the big prob! Otherwise I would be hipster GRock.

Post by **Jimmy** » Sat Oct 10, 2015 10:34 pm

GuingesRock wrote:OK

Been drinking some good beer ....Can't help myself

ps. I would never buy Blundstones. That's the big prob! Otherwise I would be hipster GRock.

Maybe you should start using even shorter dip tubes on those kegs

jeffsmith · Post by **jeffsmith** » Sat Oct 10, 2015 10:37 pm

I'd vote for those variable lid tanks as well. They're pretty slick. Been thinking about one or two for myself after seeing them in action at RossBee's place.

Barr · Post by **Barr** » Sat Oct 10, 2015 10:44 pm

jeffsmith wrote:I'd vote for those variable lid tanks as well. They're pretty slick. Been thinking about one or two for myself after seeing them in action at RossBee's place.

Ah that's some actual feedback on the actual topic. Thanks Jeff. So this RossBee fella ferments beer in these?

I wonder how it would work to have a SS coil installed through the lid?

jeffsmith · Post by **jeffsmith** » Sat Oct 10, 2015 10:47 pm

Barr wrote:
jeffsmith wrote:I'd vote for those variable lid tanks as well. They're pretty slick. Been thinking about one or two for myself after seeing them in action at RossBee's place.
Ah that's some actual feedback on the actual topic. Thanks Jeff. So this RossBee fella ferments beer in these?

I wonder how it would work to have a SS coil installed through the lid?

Steffen is a winemaker and distiller so I think the primary use for these is wine, but yes we've used them to ferment an RIS for a group brew project.

Not sure if the lids would support a stainless cool given that they're relatively light and held in place by air/surface tension.

Barr · Post by **Barr** » Sat Oct 10, 2015 11:15 pm

jeffsmith wrote:
Barr wrote:
jeffsmith wrote:I'd vote for those variable lid tanks as well. They're pretty slick. Been thinking about one or two for myself after seeing them in action at RossBee's place.
Ah that's some actual feedback on the actual topic. Thanks Jeff. So this RossBee fella ferments beer in these?

I wonder how it would work to have a SS coil installed through the lid?
Steffen is a winemaker and distiller so I think the primary use for these is wine, but yes we've used them to ferment an RIS for a group brew project.

Not sure if the lids would support a stainless cool given that they're relatively light and held in place by air/surface tension.

Good point on the lid. My other idea would be to instal a herms type coil through the side walls like in this pic but scratch it out longer.

jeffsmith · Post by **jeffsmith** » Sat Oct 10, 2015 11:16 pm

Barr wrote:Good point on the lid. My other idea would be to instal a herms type coil through the side walls like in this pic but scratch it out longer.

That'd work!

Barr · Post by **Barr** » Sat Oct 10, 2015 11:18 pm

I'm just a little nervous about having fittings inside the vessel.

jeffsmith · Post by **jeffsmith** » Sat Oct 10, 2015 11:20 pm

Barr wrote:I'm just a little nervous about having fittings inside the vessel.

Sanitary welded bulkheads for easy removal and cleaning? Perhaps triclamp?

Barr · Post by **Barr** » Sat Oct 10, 2015 11:21 pm

Or I could just build some sort of X bracing for the top to support the lid from falling in and put the coil through the lid. That way if there is a leak the beer won't be ruined. And I'm concerned about the fittings being a place for dirt to hide.

Barr · Post by **Barr** » Sat Oct 10, 2015 11:22 pm

jeffsmith wrote:
Barr wrote:I'm just a little nervous about having fittings inside the vessel.
Sanitary welded bulkheads for easy removal and cleaning? Perhaps triclamp?

Great idea. I'll look into that.

GuingesRock · Post by **GuingesRock** » Sat Oct 10, 2015 11:27 pm

Jimmy wrote:
GuingesRock wrote:OK

Been drinking some good beer ....Can't help myself

ps. I would never buy Blundstones. That's the big prob! Otherwise I would be hipster GRock.
Maybe you should start using even shorter dip tubes on those kegs