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So I got (another) Conical


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#1 strangebrewer

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Posted 31 October 2020 - 04:10 PM

As you may recall I found a killer deal on a ssbrewtech chronical this summer. Went to pick it up and it was a 14 gallon not the 7 I thought it was. I was excited at 1st but then realized it really wasn't going to work out since I mostly brew 5 gallon batches so I resumed my hunt.

Well I got lucky a 2nd time and found someone selling a Spike CF5 Unitank for half the price of new. I went to pick it up and the guy had the complete TC-100 heating and cooling kit included as well. SCORE!

Cleaned it up and 1st brew went in today. A 1.050 Belgian export. Going with the simple benefits to start with as I'm going to harvest the yeast for a trippel but I'm looking forward to stepping up to carbing and lagering in it once I get a glycol setup figured out!

20201018-153023.jpg

And BTW drez this is mostly your fault. Never would have been searching for Spike gear if it wasn't for you ;-)

#2 HVB

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Posted 31 October 2020 - 04:26 PM

Sweet! That is a nice score. Did it come with a glycol unit? I went the diy route and so far it works great.

#3 strangebrewer

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Posted 31 October 2020 - 04:34 PM

Sweet! That is a nice score. Did it come with a glycol unit? I went the diy route and so far it works great.


No glycol unit. Just the neoprene jacket, stainless cooling coil, heating element, temp controller, and pump. Going to have to figure out how to cool a reservoir still.

#4 neddles

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Posted 31 October 2020 - 05:16 PM

Awesome find!



#5 denny

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Posted 01 November 2020 - 12:39 PM

Cool!  I'm up to 3 conicals these days and I can't believe how it's simplified things for me.



#6 HVB

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Posted 01 November 2020 - 12:51 PM

Cool! I'm up to 3 conicals these days and I can't believe how it's simplified things for me.


Not sure I could afford three conicals... Lol In reality I am happy with the flex. I never dropped yeast when I had a conical before so the angled bottom of the flex works well for me.

#7 SchwanzBrewer

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Posted 01 November 2020 - 03:42 PM

After I build the brew shed, so long as I dont have kids, im gonna get glycol in the shed so I dont have to worry about fridges.

#8 positiveContact

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Posted 01 November 2020 - 05:23 PM

After I build the brew shed, so long as I dont have kids, im gonna get glycol in the shed so I dont have to worry about fridges.

 

what do kids have to do with this?  in fact I think you have it backwards in any event :)



#9 porter

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Posted 02 November 2020 - 12:01 AM

Good find - looks like a nice piece of equipment for sure.



#10 strangebrewer

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Posted 02 November 2020 - 08:17 AM

Cool!  I'm up to 3 conicals these days and I can't believe how it's simplified things for me.

 

While finding a CF5 at the price I did was a bit of a humble brag what you said Denny is what this is all about for me.  Over the years I've honestly probably brewed just about every style in the BJCP book and done so using modern through traditional methods.  I also amassed quite a bit of gear and gadgets doing so to the point where I realize I've got a lot of brewing gear, taking up a lot of space, most of which I barely use and a part of the reason it's barely used its because of the time and complexity involved.  
 
So while it sure is a cool and shiny new (to me) toy the end goal is to get brewing back to being easy so I do it more often.  Having 1 vessel that I can primary, secondary, lager, and ferment saisons in during the winter checks all the boxes in the fermenter category.  Speaking of which I need to go raise the temp in my fermenter by 2 degrees  :D


#11 HVB

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Posted 02 November 2020 - 10:07 AM

 

So while it sure is a cool and shiny new (to me) toy the end goal is to get brewing back to being easy so I do it more often.  Having 1 vessel that I can primary, secondary, lager, and ferment saisons in during the winter checks all the boxes in the fermenter category.  Speaking of which I need to go raise the temp in my fermenter by 2 degrees  :D

 

Get teh wifi inkbird controller and you can do it from your phone :)



#12 denny

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Posted 02 November 2020 - 01:24 PM

 

While finding a CF5 at the price I did was a bit of a humble brag what you said Denny is what this is all about for me.  Over the years I've honestly probably brewed just about every style in the BJCP book and done so using modern through traditional methods.  I also amassed quite a bit of gear and gadgets doing so to the point where I realize I've got a lot of brewing gear, taking up a lot of space, most of which I barely use and a part of the reason it's barely used its because of the time and complexity involved.  
 
So while it sure is a cool and shiny new (to me) toy the end goal is to get brewing back to being easy so I do it more often.  Having 1 vessel that I can primary, secondary, lager, and ferment saisons in during the winter checks all the boxes in the fermenter category.  Speaking of which I need to go raise the temp in my fermenter by 2 degrees  :D

 

My entire brewing life these days is about enjoyment and ease.  Moreso even than the beer.  One of my conical has a wifi controller so I can check and adjust temp at will.  The controllers on all of them are able to have a fermentation schedule programmed into them.



#13 djinkc

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Posted 02 November 2020 - 06:57 PM

My entire brewing life these days is about enjoyment and ease.  Moreso even than the beer.  One of my conical has a wifi controller so I can check and adjust temp at will.  The controllers on all of them are able to have a fermentation schedule programmed into them.

 

I get that.  Me, it's a rudimentary electric brew system with a window rattler controlling fermentation temps but not that dialed in.  Close enough though but still things ferment a bit different with the seasons.  I suppose it could be easier.  Not perfect but that wasn't ever the point was it..........  B)




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