19 replies to this topic

[Area Man]

 First off, this is my first actual brewing related post in many years. I've begun assembling a new system, and intend to begin brewing again by this fall/winter. I'm putting together a 10 gallon system, but I want the flexibility to do small batches at will. I have no desire to keg, so I plan to do bottles only.

 

 With that in mind, this is looking like a handy piece of gear: https://www.ebay.com...=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

 What sayeth the Brews Brothers?

[codemonkey]

Personally, I wouldn't bother with anything smaller than 5 gallons, but I think those would be pretty cool for yeast propagation/ranching. 

[codemonkey]

Nevermind, there's no bottom dump valve.

[MakeMeHoppy]

yeah I don't get the point. This device allows you to rack directly from the conical to the bottle, but how do you plan to mix your priming sugar in without disturbing the yeast that has settled. I see no advantage to this over a 3 gallon fermenting bucket.

[Area Man]

Yeah, the lack of a dump valve is what prompted the question. Just making sure I wasn't missing something!

[positiveContact]

late to the party but no, you are not missing a thing.

[Hines]

https://morebeer.com...d=hbf?a_aid=hbf

 

I want a brews bro to get this and tell me it isn't worth the money so I stop thinking about it.

[ChefLamont]

I have been getting into small batch brewing, and I looked at this as a possible fermenter.  I have been doing 1.5 gallon batches, but I think I might bump them up to 1.75 gal.

 

This thing is kinda funny sized to me. 3 gal is not exacatly small and would be hard to do on most stove tops.  If I am going to move outside and to bigger pots and all, I am just going to use my 10 gal system.

 

All of this plus when I was cruising walmart I saw the container below.  Accomplishes pretty much the same thing but for $7 rather than 50-something.

 

[matt6150]

https://morebeer.com...d=hbf?a_aid=hbfI want a brews bro to get this and tell me it isn't worth the money so I stop thinking about it.

Looks nice, do they make a bigger version? Say 13-gal?

[Hines]

12.5  different company

 

https://www.ebay.com...=item46203194db

[positiveContact]

12.5  different company

 

https://www.ebay.com...=item46203194db

 

that's a really nice fermentor but how would one control the temps?  it seems too tall for most chest freezers or refridgerators.  most people don't want to build a cold room.

[MakeMeHoppy]

https://morebeer.com...d=hbf?a_aid=hbf

 

I want a brews bro to get this and tell me it isn't worth the money so I stop thinking about it.

I almost bought that but they were in short supply at the time. It seems to be a great deal but in the mean time I went with the Speidel fermeters from morebeer and I really like them.

[Hines]

Speidels truly are great.   I've actually found that if I tilt mine slightly, I can drain from the bottom spigot with minimal trub transferring.

[Brauer]

This thing is kinda funny sized to me. 3 gal is not exacatly small and would be hard to do on most stove tops. If I am going to move outside and to bigger pots and all, I am just going to use my 10 gal system.

I brew primarily 3.25 gallon batches in a 5 gallon pot to fill two 1.7 gallon kegs. I brewed them Inside on an electric stove for a couple years and just moved to a gas stove. Neither had any problem boiling the 4.25 gallons I start with.

Edited by Brauer, 19 May 2014 - 08:48 AM.

[positiveContact]

I brew primarily 3.25 gallon batches in a 5 gallon pot to fill two 1.7 gallon kegs. I brewed them Inside on an electric stove for a couple years and just moved to a gas stove. Neither had any problem boiling the 4.25 gallons I start with.

 

how much headspace do you have in your kettle?  i've always found the "5 gallon" kettle is only 5 gallons if you rely on surface tension

[ChefLamont]

I brew primarily 3.25 gallon batches in a 5 gallon pot to fill two 1.7 gallon kegs. I brewed them Inside on an electric stove for a couple years and just moved to a gas stove. Neither had any problem boiling the 4.25 gallons I start with.

 

 

So are you using the 1.75 gallon kegs from Williams Brewing?  If so, I have been spying them for a while, what do you think?

[Brauer]

how much headspace do you have in your kettle?  i've always found the "5 gallon" kettle is only 5 gallons if you rely on surface tension

I think I figured out once that my kettle is 5.2 gallons, but I'm not positive.  I do 3.25 gallon batches, because that is the most I can fit. It's tight, though, and 2.5 gallon batches would be more comfortable. 

 

So are you using the 1.75 gallon kegs from Williams Brewing?  If so, I have been spying them for a while, what do you think?

I've been considering those, so I must have had them on my mind when I made that typo. When I split a batch like that, I'm putting it into 1.5 gallon Tap-a-Draft kegs, not 1.7 gallon kegs.

[ChefLamont]

 

I've been considering those, so I must have had them on my mind when I made that typo. When I split a batch like that, I'm putting it into 1.5 gallon Tap-a-Draft kegs, not 1.7 gallon kegs.

 

 

Ah.  Well I just couldnt stand it any more and put an order in with Williams.  I will report back.

 

I have also been looking at the tapadraft ones.  I thought they would make good 1-gal mead batch fermenters.

[Brauer]

You can get the 2 gallon Mr Beer fermenters for $10, too.

[ChefLamont]

That's another good idea.  Having the dark container would be beneficial. I looked at them before, but I dont think I ever saw them not as a kit.  Admittedly, I didnt look too hard.