What is the perfect fermenter for homebrewing?
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- Опубликовано: 28 июн 2024
- What is the perfect fermenter for homebrewing?
The perfect homebrew fermenter for one person might not be the perfect one for someone else. Remember you can buy cheap but it pays to buy something that will be a long term investment in your homebrewing hobby.
Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
0:25 - Homebrew Book Giveaway
0:46 - How I got started with carboys
2:22 - Big Mouth Bubbler 6.5 with spigot Fermenter
2:31 - Fermzilla All Rounder Fermenter
2:44 - Anvil Crucible Conical Fermenter
5:04 - The Best fermenter for you
10:42 - Secondary Fermentation fermenter for kegging
Products mentioned:
Anvil Crucible Conical Fermenter
www.anvilbrewing.com/product-...
FermZilla All Rounder Pressure Brewing Kit from MoreBeer
www.morebeer.com/index?a_aid=b...
Big Mouth Bubbler 6.5 plastic with spigot
www.midwestsupplies.com/produ... 
Хобби
I moved from using glass for years to fermenting in several Fermonsters (a 7-gallon and a pair of 3-gallon, they are similar to the Big Mouth Bubblers). I would have a hard time going back to not having a spigot for easy bottling and closed keg transfers. I could see the benefit of stainless, but I could not justify the price for multiple fermenters. It is a common mistake for a brewer to spend all their budget on brew day equipment, when fermentation and packaging are bigger drivers of quality beer.
I fully agree as I've watched and read stuff from professional brewers and the #1 thing they all seem to agree on is if they had a chance to start over when they first started homebrewing they would have focused more on their fermentation equipment and temp controls.
Congrats! The book is yours!!! - commentpicker.com/youtube.php?id=ycp_6176dd2e4dc83218 - When you get a chance go to my about and drop me a shipping address! Thanks again for the support. Also I was sub'd to your channel but not under my personal so ...sub'd there too.
I started home brewing at 16 in 2006. RUclips didn't really have this kind of information. I wish I had this kind of information back then! Light-years different in technology
I can relate as I'm actually learning more about wood working than I've leaned in my entire life, and RUclips is huge now days. Back in the day, the only way to learn wood working was to work with someone that knew what they were doing. Home Brewing is really starting to take major jumps in technology and sharing of information.
Really appreciate the run down of the different options in the fermenter category. I think you captured all the pros and cons really well!
Thank you as this video was really targeted to new to intermediate home brewers in hopes they won't waste their money like I did on my earlier fermenters. (Although I probably got my money's worth on my old systems.)
I just started homebrewing and I went with the Anvil Conical fermenter. I love it.
You made a much wiser choice compared to when I first jump into brewing. I really wish I had spent my money more wisely in regards to my fermenters earlier on.
Great fermenter video! I’ve done three batches on my Anvil foundry and two in my anvil bucket fermenter, so far working perfectly! Keep up the great work I enjoy your videos very helpful!
Ditto on my last reply and thanks for the support.
Thank you for another great video. I have been considering a new fermenter.
Thank you and my goal with this video was to get people thinking and spending their money wisely on great long term fermenters.
Another great video! Thanks a lot. Just got an all rounder. Bout to try it out. Always willing to learn something new about fermenter (S).
SS is a bit expensive although extremely easy to clean most are a bit large which keeps me from being able to put the one I have in my fermentor box. As for the All Rounder, I think you will REALLY like its flexibility as I'm starting to do more non-pressure fermentation lately but love the ability to do either. Also like the ability to being able to put my hand into the fermenter to make cleaning easier too. The only negative is that it is round, so the straps are pretty much required to avoid having your fermenter from falling over. Cheers, and have a great year!🍻
Only just discovered your channel when I was looking at the fermzilla all rounder, love how simple they are and informative keep up the good work!
Welcome and thank you. I was impressed enough to buy a second all rounder. Thank you again and hopefully in about 8+/- months I'll have a new location with a 500 sq ft mini brewery setup for the studio, brewing, and for guests to come hang out and enjoy some brew. Cheers 🍻
That sounds like a great mate I’m in Australia will keep a regular eye on your channel!
Great fermenter review! Nice job! I have an anvil bucket fermenter and I bottle, it works great! 3 batches on my Anvil Foundry and 2 in the bucket fermenter so far and they came out great!!! Keep up the great videos I enjoy them and they are very helpful!
You were much smarter than I was as that is money well spent and wish I had realized that earlier on.
Great job on the Fermenter video!
Thank you and thanks for the support!
Great video. I bought the Anvil SS bucket fermenter on Day one of my homebrew journey and will never look back at glass or plastic. And my bucket fermenter plus airlock easily fits into my Inkbird temp controlled chest freezer for temperature control without a big & expensive glycol chilling system or the hassle of a recirculating ice bath through an internal coil. Thanks
I expect the SS bucket to clean up as easily as their conical does and as for the coil chillers I'll be doing some tests on that to see how easily and cheaply I can do that soon just to get a good grasp on temp control using the coils in a poor mans glycol setup.
Can’t wait to try my Fermzilla fermenter once I get my kegerator up and running.
If you have any issues let me know as things should go smooth but make sure that you get the lid and the two ball lock connectors nice and tight as most first time users seem to get a leak from being afraid of tightening it properly.
Really enjoyed this video on the Fermenter, I've used the buckets and carboy and now I'm looking at the Anvil all thou the big mouth bubbler has my interest too.
I'm starting to like anything that does the job effectively and is easy to clean afterwards. 😀
I just started using an all rounder, previously fermenting in kegs. Excellent fermenter video.
I like the keg solution but prefer my All rounders for the a primary over the kegs. Have you had a chance to do a pressure fermentation?
@@BitterRealityBrewing Yes, I have done pressure fermentation in kegs.
Great review video. I recently got the the Anvil bucket fermenter as an upgrade to my Coopers starter system, and so far it's worked really well, and like you said SS is much easier to clean.
Blew me away at just how easy it was to clean even though I had heard the same but it is different when you are actually cleaning it yourself and get to see first hand at how easy it is.
I use a modified Spiedel HDPE for my main fermenter. I do closed transfers to kegs. I do a CIP system for my kegs and use it for my fermenter as well. It all works really well for me. Thanks. Another great video.
Cool and thanks for the support.
Great video, thanks for sharing your thoughts. I never did like the glass carboys. I like the big openings in the fermenters because you know things are getting cleaned and not going to miss a spot. I've always fermented out of a bucket. I'm ready to upgrade. Now I'm looking at getting a stainless steel fermenter. Still doing the research to see which one will be good for me. Cheers!
Sadly it took me a while to realize the larger opening is a good thing and not a bad thing. As for the SS, no matter which one you pick the ease of cleaning will amaze you, I promise.
Great video! I got a stainless fermenter , its a Kegmenter and it has all the benefits of the plastic-pressure-fermenters and a keg and it has a 4" opening. Perfect for primary and secondary.
Thank you and the Kegmenter will work although I wonder about the opening being a bit tight when cleaning like I am all about wiping the upper inside of kegs to verify I got it really, really clean. I'm a bit OCD on somethings and cleaning my kegs is definitely one of them.
Great fermenter video !
Thanks for the support.
Great Fermenter video
Thank you and thanks for the support.
Still using carboys and buckets as my primary/secondary fermenter. Researching for phase 2.
😂😂😂Phase 2😂😂😂 Love it! Yep, I did the same thing minus the buckets but all my big glass carboys were 2nd hand. I'm just starting to realize quality, ease of cleaning, and functionality really make investing in better fermenters by far a better long term choice and wanted to share that with newer home brewers.
I have used all of the fermenters that you shown except for the Anvil. I prefer the all rounder fermenter because it is so versatile.
I agree but wish the All Rounder would come with the straps as part of the stand alone all rounder as I don't feel it is safe without them. Especially for people like me who are a bit overly accident prone.
Good info. Thanks!
Thank you and I've added a few since, but honestly the All Rounder is still one of the best bang for the buck fermenters you can buy.
I must vote for the Fermzilla All Rounder here. Ferment with och without pressure, closed transfer to a keg or to bottles using a counter pressure filler. No vacuum problems when cold crashing, just put a bit of pressure on it before chilling. I love every part of home brewing except all the hassle after fermentation is done. I used to put a balloon with CO2 on the airlock to avoid oxygen when cold crashing the bucket! No more buckets for this guy, I'm went pressurized all the way.
I fully agree. It is crazy easy to clean, and extremely versatile. One of the main reasons I bought a second one.
I recently bought the all-rounder thanks in large part to your excellent in-depth review of it. I have yet to use it though, I didn't manage to get it airtight at first so I had to use my regular bucket instead but I looked at it again the other day and I got it tight.
I am not so much into pressure fermentation but I like the idea of natural carbonation and oxygen free transfer so my plan is to ferment at a fairly low pressure at first and then crank it up when the beer is getting closer to the finish (checking with the Tilt) and then throw it in my cold fermentation chamber to do a cold crash as well as carbonate properly.
My first time with the All Rounder I failed to keep it air tight too, so don't feel bad as it is a learning experience. Thank you for the kind words on the review I did and Kegland actually asked if they could link it on their main website under the All rounder which I was very happy to let them do that.
I love my Fermzilla All-Rounder Fermenter !
I feel you on that as I just got my 2nd All Rounder Fermzilla about a week ago.
Awesome fermenter video
Thank you and thanks for the support.
I like the all rounder. Best fermenter for me. I like to pressure ferment and only keg.
I actually just bought a 2nd one as I liked it soo much.
I use a fermzilla all rounder and a big mouth bubbler as my fermenter of choice!
The big mouth bubbler is my go to for Ciders and Wines, plus I've done a few beer in it too. I wanted to use the All Rounder for a Pear Cider I made tonight but already have to other beers fermenting. A Czech Pilsner and a Tres Leches Cream Ale fermenting in my All Rounders already.
Just picked up the all rounder fermenter and i have my first NEIPA in it. I refused to brew one without a better way to transfer it to a keg. Enjoyed the video!
Thank you for the kind words and I fully understand. I just got a 2nd All Rounder as I was really impressed with my first one. I currently have a Czech Pilsner in one and a Tres Leches Cream Ale in the other.
Great video
Thank you and thanks for the support!
I love that plastic one in the middle, cheers!
Of course you do! Always talking about brewing on a shoestring budget...which I can full relate to but it is nice having nice gear too. 😀😂😂😀
One other note! You can also use a keg to ferment in, they are great for pressure fermentation. I typically use the big mouth bubbler since it has a flat bottom it works well in my DIY fermenter chamber.
True just bit harder to clean 100% on the top underside as I can't see it. (I scrub the hell out of mine in that area to ensure they get really clean in between brews.)
I have 2 Fermzilla All-Rounders. I used one for fermentation and the other as a brite tank. When fermentation is finished, I do a zero-oxygen, pressurized transfer to my brite tank for carbonation & conditioning. I use a Boel iTap counter-pressure filler for bottling direct from my brite tank. Key word: Fermenter
Sounds like you have a good process down. I like the idea of having a fermenter and a bright tank setup as it makes perfect sense. One my new house is built, I'm considering a walk in cooler which could work well for lagering like have a bright tank.
Another great video 👍. I use a stainless steel fermenter and they are very easy to clean.
I wish I knew how easy they cleaned up a long time ago as you don't get it, until you own one and go to clean it and "Tada" the clean is over really quickly and it looks great again.
I've been thinking about getting a new fermenter from my plastic buckets so this video was just in time!
Keep in mind it is all about what works for you. I would say the all rounder is probably the best value if you are kegging although I do wish the all rounder by itself would come with the straps as they are pretty much a required part.
@@BitterRealityBrewing thanks for the reply. Didn't expect one haha. Yeah I like the look of a stainless but I think an upgrade to a kegging system would be the first move.
Great video. I am trying to choose the best fermenter.
Think about what is important to you. Also consider size and the space you have as they all have pros and cons. I feel the all rounder is probably the best for the value if you want to be able to do pressure and non-pressure but otherwise the big mouth bubbler or the Fermonster are good for beer, cider, and wine without pressure.
Great video! My problem with glass carboys isn't the small opening, but rather how utterly dangerous and quite deadly they can be, and it doesn't take much to break them. After years of reading and hearing disaster stories involving loss of product, severe injury and death, I retired both my glass carboys in August 2019. One I'd had since my first batch of homebrew in 1995! Had some of the first Big Mouths with the stopper lids. Had to use bricks to hold the lids down [the bricks were stuffed inside old gym socks for a little cushion, LOL!]. Later I switched to Fermonsters. Cheers mate!
The only thing that kept me from going to the big mouth type earlier is all those horror stories with seal issues so I fully understand the bricks. Impressed with the 24 year old carboy...I'd bet it was Italian glass as they the Italian glass makers seem to take a great pride in the quality and care in they manufacturing. Cheers!
@@BitterRealityBrewing As a matter of fact is is Italian glass! LOL!
Nice comparison! I have the Anvil bucket fermenter with temp control instead of the crucible and love it. Also a proponent for using kegs as secondary especially with stouts and adjuncts
I bet the Anvil Bucket fermenter cleans up really easily too! I'm waiting for someone to invent something better than a keg for a secondary but it will have to be amazing as a keg just seems to work perfectly that purpose.
@@BitterRealityBrewing yeah, the anvil bucket is basically the crucible minus the deep cone and legs. It does have a little bit of an indention for yeast/trub. You leave behind more beer than I expected, but overall I’ve been happy with it.
Fementer great video as always!
Thank you for the kind words and Thanks for the support.
I've got two all rounder fermzilla fermenters and they are great
Just bought my second all rounder recently and both are in the fermentor, fermenting away.
I just bought an all rounder. I really like the idea of a no O2 transfer. Fermenter.
Make sure you have all the seals tight for the first pressure fermentation as it seems to be a common thing to have a leak the first time as we all seem to be too afraid to tighten everything down enough on the first go around.
Great video! I have an anvil bucket fermenter and some glass carboy for secondary. I making wine since many years, maybe it explained why i still appreciate glass :)
I bet you love the bucket fermenter, especially when you have to clean it. Funny about the wine as that is where I got my glass carboys, from a person who use to make lots of wine. I will say from everything I understand about wine the glass is probably still an excellent go to to reduce head space.
@@BitterRealityBrewing inpressive how the bucket fermenter is easy to clean.
Hi great video. Thanks. I'm looking to get a bigger Fermenter having, like you, started out using 1 gallon carboys (we call them demi johns here in the UK), and then moving on to 10 litre plastic buckets. I think I will go for the fermzilla as I really like the idea of pressure fermentation.
It is nice to have your beer pre-carbonated or partially carbonated so when you transfer it to the keg it is ready to drink either right away or much sooner.
I have an Anvil bucket fermenter now but have used plastic buckets for nearly 10 years and still like the simplicity of a bucket.
Shockingly I hadn't used a bucket fermenter until I got the one from Brewferm (a fancy looking bucket). I really do like to be able to see my wort while the yeast is doing its job.
@@BitterRealityBrewing Yes, I agree. Being able to see what is happening is definitely a plus. Right now I rely on the Tilt which I must say was one of the best purchases I have made when you cannot see into the fermenter.
Have a Anvil fermenter love it
SS fermenters seem to be the way to go for long term fermenters that are really easy to clean.
I can’t wait to do my first brew using a corny keg as a fermenter.
Good Luck and incase you weren't aware, Torpedo Keg has released a 6 gallon version recently.
I am looking to up grade to a conical fermenter in the near future thanks for the video
I love my conical and will probably be buying another one when I get my new house that is still in progress of getting permits.
@@BitterRealityBrewing I am planing to slowly ramp up to start my own brewery in about 5 years so a conical fermenter will be a good learning experience
@@chrisowen4138 Awesome! Keep watching as I am working on a series where I will be working with professional brewers in the near future.
Good information, thank you.
I like to use the Genesis 6.5 Gallon Plastic Fermenter. They are made of thick plastic and they are very sturdy. They have a wide mouth and a smooth interior that makes cleaning easy. They come with two handles which makes it easy to carry them. They also come with inner liners, but I have not seen the need to use them. And, they are a lot cheaper and much more robust than the wide-mouth bubblers.
I didn't know you could use them without a liner and it would be an easy thing to add a plastic spigot. They appear to be on sale for only $18 each right now on AIH. I actually hadn't talked to anyone who used the Genesis system but honestly like I said, I didn't know they didn't need the liner.
@@BitterRealityBrewing Yes, you do not need the inner liners, and there are several reviews on the AIH site to the same effect. And, yes, they are on sale now for a great price. I own several and I like them a lot.
Fermenter I went from buckets to anvil crucible. I wouldn’t recommend harvesting yeast without the yeast attachment. The with the attachment you can use a crucible for secondary fermentation‘s well all you have to do is remove the yeast
I fully understand the yeast harvesting attachment as it was like turning on a fire hydrant when I opened mine up the first time.
Just starting my brewing journey and have been a bit overwhelmed with the information overload when it comes to fermentation.
This was a great video, thank you.
Thank you and sorry for the delay as I am usually fast to reply but with a recent move, I've been a bit overwhelmed and playing catch up. I remember when I got started as I had no one to assist but RUclips and reading. If you have any questions or concerns just give me a shout. If you are in or near Jacksonville, FL, give me a shout and I'll be glad to let you swing by for some free beer.
@@BitterRealityBrewing thanks mate, legend. Might have to leave the visit, she's a bit of a treck from Australia!!
@@ShayneJellyman Too Funny! Didn't realize but would love to visit AU someday but currently working to save up for Ireland and Germany as they are at the top of my bucket list based on family history.
I use the fermzilla and corney keg as my fermenter 😊
Fully agree with both. Thanks for the support.
I think the coolness factor of having several of the Anvil conical fermenter makes it look like you have a mini brewry
So true! Plus when friends come over they are like "D@mn....this man is into some serious brewing!" I am planning on buying a 2nd one of the Anvil Conical and the big mouth as I already bought a 2nd All Rounder.
@@BitterRealityBrewing Yeah, I'd like set up a man cave mini brewery with lots of shiny steel brewing equipment, poker table, bar top with a half dozen taps on the menu when friends come over.
@@shotgunt-rex1601 That is my goal once my new house is built and I get the 500 sq ft garage all to myself. Trick is to try to buy everything 2nd hand as I use to have a decent pool table that I got off Craig's list for $100 and eventually sold it 2 years later for $100 so it was like renting it for free.
I have the big mouth and the all rounder like them both I just got an ss brewtech brew bucket only used the brew bucket once but I agree the stainless is easy to clean oh FERMENTER
I'd heard how easy the SS was to clean but you really don't get it until you have to clean one and then is seems like magic.
Great video. Fermenter.
Thank you and thanks for the support.
Great video.
I started with the FastFerment(didnt like it), but I did add my own ss spigot. That FermZilla can be easily drilled for a spigot, at a cost of maybe $5
Never thought about just adding a spigot but you are right as it would be an easy addition. I just bought some spigots in bulk for some fermenters which it did save me a few bucks compared to buying the fermenters with them.
Fermenter. Keep up the videos. 👍👍
Thank you and thanks for the support!
Love my kegs for fermentation. In the process of upgrading all my kegs to floating dip tubes so everyone of my kegs can serve or fermentation. Someday a conical would be nice but just can’t see the cost of them at this point in my hobby. Love multi use pieces of gear. Sláinte
The prices are a bit steep but they are nice for bragging rights and ease of cleaning. Not to mention they seem to stay about 1 to 2 F cooler over plastic and glass.
I always give myself a minimum of 8 hours of brew day, to get it brewed, cleaned up ,and into the fermenter.
Smart as some people think I'm crazy for taking that long but to me it is a full day event. Occasionally I wake up early and even prepare the night before which might free up my early evening but that is only during a rare alignment of the planets when that happens. 😀
Nice video Mike, I use the Fermzilla Conical Fermenter but almost wish I had just gone with the All-rounder Fermenter
I will probably eventually get a Fermzilla Conical Fermenter but I've seen so many people with the yeast catcher break so I am very concerned with creating issues with my fermentations that I've never had to deal with in the past. Plus I'm thinking for an extra $125 another Anvil Conical would be a better investment with the spigot being a huge plus.
@@BitterRealityBrewing I’m actually wondering if I can get something to replace the yeast catcher…
@@shaggaroo Like sealing it off or another type of jar to capture the yeast?
@@BitterRealityBrewing yes Mike exactly. There is a lid for the collection jar that might fit but I believe it’s not pressure rated.
So tanks your awesome
😂😂Excellent comment and funny too!
@@BitterRealityBrewing You were honest in your explanation ❤️
@@justreal7224 Thank you as I try to be as non-bias as I possibly can and with these, it really is what works best for you with your current brewing habits as that can change too over time. At the same time in this video I was trying to get newer homebrewers to maybe spend a little more for better long-term investments compared to wasting money on things like I did in the beginning.
What would your suggestion be for someone bottling off of the bigmouth bubbler on adding the priming sugar, and stirring it in, without stirring up the yeast on the bottom?
Carb drops to make life really easy for most beers, otherwise they would need to move it to another container with the sugar and then move it a 2nd time sadly. Can you say "Kegging" is highly recommended? 😀
Kegs have become my fermenter of choice lately. You said you don't like them for primary but I feel they check too many boxes to not be used. Stainless, cheap, pressure rated, and multi-purpose. Add a floating dip tube (bought some FLOTit 2.0 based on your review) and I've even put the fermentation keg right into the keezer and severed without transferring with success.
I saw Torpedo Keg came out with a 6 gallon keg which I must say it made me think about buying one for doing primaries but I do like fermenters I can see inside of, probably more than I should. I do need a couple more new kegs and maybe I'll get one as a 6 gallon keg to try out.
@@BitterRealityBrewing Other than not being able to see inside, volume is about the only downside with using normal 5gal kegs. I've found I just need to cut my batch size down to 4-4.5gal. Not a huge loss and gives me a reason to brew more often. Personally I'm a frugal brewer and the cost of new and larger kegs is a hard pill to swallow when there are cheap used 5gal ones available.
Always needing a couple extra kegs is what I tried to hit on with being multi purpose. It's a very flexible piece of equipment for someone who kegs as you can ferment, condition, or serve with it depending on your current needs.
Love the videos, keep up the good work!
I'm using the torpedo 6 gal kegs for primaries too. I love em so much for all the reasons you stated. I use a Tilt to "watch" the fermentation. Have you looked at something like fermcap? I have been using that to do 5.5 gallons into the 6 gallon keg with zero issues.
@@scottwithrow7791 I've heard about fermcap but haven't picked any up yet. It's on the list of things I want to try along with pressurized fermentation.
Corny kegs are perfect for 3 gal batches.
Good video I have the big mouth bubbler and like it, but would love a stainless fermenter but want the ability to pressurize but unfortunately that's not cheap.
The price and my current lack of space is the only two things keeping me from having 2 SS fermenters. I will try to pick up another big mouth bubbler during Xmas if it goes on sale.
fermenter , cheers mate
Thank you and thanks for the support!
I use the anvil fermenter, works well.
Not sure which of their fermenters you are referring to but at the end of the day I know it is quality.
Fermenter
I started with glass, moved to Big mouth bubbler, then in cracked. Now using the Anvil bucket.
Did you mean you Big mouth bubbler cracked? Was it the glass or plastic version? Bet you love the ease of cleaning on the Anvil bucket.
@@BitterRealityBrewing it was a plastic big mouth bubbler. It was full of water and PBW in my sink, didn't realize it was resting on the sink strainer that wasn't seated correctly. Just filled the Anvil bucket today for the first time with a nice NW pale ale.
@@morsecodebrewing---.-.-...6073 Ouch! If you need a new one...do I what I do and watch for a good sale during Xmas as that is when I stock up on things I need or just want.
@@BitterRealityBrewingwas a good reason to upgrade to stainless steel. No more plastic.
When are you going to video your next brew day?
@@morsecodebrewing---.-.-...6073 Actually this Friday at 10 AM I'll be posting a video of me brewing a Czech Pilsner (Pseudo lager). I have two new brews that I'll be posting one week apart. The 2nd was a Tres Leches Cream Ale that I've personally made before.
Great Video, I am just starting out with whole grain brewing and have been looking at wide mouth fermenters with taps. The question I have is does the tap/spigot need to be sterilized before bottling if its been cleaned before the wort goes in?
A nice large mouth plastic fermenter with a spigot is a great fermenter to have. After my recent Big Mouth Bubbler got cooked in my fermentation chamber I bought two more plastic fermenters with large openings from MoreBeer. As for the spigot/tap, simply make sure your system is well cleaned before fermentation and just before you transfer the beer, spray some water with Star San pre-mixed in a spray bottle up into the opening and let it drip for a good minute before connecting the hose. If you are moving the beer to a keg, connect the hose with a disconnect to the tap first after the keg has been purged of O2 and is still under some pressure. This will help force any O2 out of the hose before you connect it to your tap, to begin your beer transfer. Thank you again for the kind words.
can't believe you didn’t mention a 5gal bucket?? I'm watching this while drinking my first batch of beer fermented in a 5gal bucket!
I agree, I probably should have as I know a lot of people who have used them with good results. I'm a little OCD and really prefer any fermenter that I can see into. The SS is nice, but I'd prefer a window or a mini-camera inside.
I'm looking to move from the glass and plastic fermenters I have to the Anvil stainless fermenter for the ease of cleaning and not having to worry about getting a scratch in the plastic. I have a few plastic buckets and I'm always afraid of not cleaning enough or cleaning too much and creating a scratch where bad things can hide.
I feel your pain on the worrying about scratching the plastic. I'm very careful and so far I've been really good without having issues. The stainless simply blew me away at how easy it was to clean which is huge.
My fermenter is a 15.5 gallon commercial keg CO2 transfer
Dang, someone is brewing a big batches. 😀
PBW soaking in hot water cleans a glass fermenter easily no scrubbing! You’re obviously bias conflicted when corps are sending you free conicals. You can buy 10 carboys for the price of one, so great for lower income on people.
My only bias was which SS conical fermenter compared to other SS conical fermenters as it is the only one I have hands-on experience with. The majority of home brewing is getting away from glass fermenters due to safety, weight, and they are more difficult to clean. My personal favorite is the All-Rounder, which I have 2 of and purchased with my own money. I've done several videos on that one fermenter and will be doing 2 more in 2024, as I feel it is the best bang for the buck overall. The point of the video was simply to provide useful information to new brewers and allow them to pick the fermenter that fits their needs the best. (I personally still prefer my glass fermenters for wine as they allow for negative pressure to help with degassing wine.)
I use a bucket fermenter, it works fine for me, really easy to clean up!
Yeah I fully understand but I'm OCD and love to be able to see my fermenting beer. Sadly the #1 reason I probably never tried using a bucket fermenter was from all the stories of how easy they were at getting scratched and either carrying souring or infections. I know the newer plastic fermenters have they same concern but supposedly are a bit harder to scratch but that is probably just propaganda. 😀
$20! D@mn that is expensive for a bucket....Go to Home Depot or Lowes and get a food grade one with the cap. 😂
@@BitterRealityBrewing indeed it scratches... But I have 2, one for sours and one for standard ones. But in the future, who knows, I might migrate for the fermzilla if I find it here in Brazil ;)
@@gustag Sounds like a plan. I am always looking for deals and hopefully if you get fermzillas in your neck of the woods and at decent prices.
Thanks for this. After 30 years I finally coughed up the dough for a stainless pressure fermenter. I wish I had all this advice in the beginning, because like you, I found all the little annoyances by trial and error.
30 years!!! That is impressive! I've been married almost 31 but only brewing for almost 8. I bet once you get it, you probably wish you got one a long time ago. 😀
@@BitterRealityBrewing the first 20 were all extract. From humble beginnings as a cash strapped teen, I scrounged for bottles and fermented in the lounge room. I even brewed all the beer for my own wedding. I'm a lot more experimental now and what I spend on a brew now would have made three batches when I began.
@@adambarbary6956 Very impressed and although I keep saying I wish I knew how to do all of this when I was much younger, like in my teens, sadly I wouldn't have lived this long if I did as I was a bit of a party person back in the day spending every weekend in Miami (I lived in Jupiter, FL) for an entire year doing nothing but partying. And at house parties I was always the bartender and the dude who would score cases by simply walking in the stores with an attitude and cash.
@@BitterRealityBrewing I think the scary thing back then was access to information. There was no internet, and you had to rely on some pretty mediocre books and the somewhat dubious knowledge of the local homebrew store owner. Now, you can find anything online, there are many books and I even managed to befriend a professor of brewing. I love beer culture now, and chewing the fat with others who brew as a hobby and for employment is the highlight of my social interactions. Keep up the good work on the reviews and advice.
@@adambarbary6956 When I mention, you know back when the Internet didn't exist and young people stare at me like I have three heads as they just can't even imagine that. People (mainly homebrewers) keep debunking beer brewing myths... I can't imagine how bad it was back then when you would read or hear something and simply except it as fact because it came from a reputable source. I'm jealous you had a home brew shop and a teach to share information but feel bad for the shop owner as he probably just passed on information that he believed to be correct at the time. And thank you for the kind words as I am just working to share as I didn't have this when I first got started so I love learning and sharing what I learn. I can't wait until I have our new house, as I'll have 500 sq ft to become a mad scientist and do so major experiments as I have a ton planned.
Looking to upgrade to a conical fermenter. Not decided on Fermzilla or Crucible yet.
Good luck as there are a ton of pros with each system but it is really in how it fits your personal brewing needs.
Fermenter. Fermzilla also has a flat bottom carboy with a spigot.
Do you have a link to the flat bottom one with the spigot? I couldn't find it on their main site but I did see they sold a spigot as a replacement part...just couldn't find what it went to. 😀
Great video....did you ever research the Fermentasaurus? Some of the same positives you mention for the Fermzilla All Rounder. However, the lid and opening looks a little smaller and the conical and drain at the bottom could be more complicated to clean. And I'm not sure if you think that feature is even necessary. What are your thoughts comparing the two....
Sorry for the delay but I did and currently I have a few things I'm considering but I like the new version of the Fermzilla conical as it seems to have learned some lessons from previous versions. Still a bit worried about all the moving parts and aging of plastics.
@Bitter Reality Brewing Thank you for taking the time. Hope the new move is a success. As a carboy mead maker, I'm trying to make the transition to beer
To say the least, there is a lot to it. Your vids are so well done and informative, it gives us newbies the confidence to take a shot. With the fementers, just want to get something that gives me the best opportunities to grow. And I'm trying to approach this the most efficiently as possible as I have limited space. So if you think the conical offers the best return for the buck, I will start there. Many thanks
My personal toss up is between all rounder and fermonster for favorite fermenter. I do a lot of small batch so the 1 and 3 gallon fermonsters work great for that. For bigger batches I love my fermzilla all rounder.
I've been using fermonsters and modifying the solid cap with ball lock posts and a floating dip tube. I don't do high pressure fermentation in them, just 5 PSI or so, but it works great to siphon off without picking up the trub at the bottom.
I joke that most things can take up to 5 psi but anything over that might be a bit dangerous. 😀
@@BitterRealityBrewing i’ve done past 10psi on fermonster but it did permanently distort the bottom of the fermenter…
@@ajonrichards i find even 1-2 psi is enough for a closed transfer with that setup, O don’t bother trying to ferment under any pressure, just use it for easy transfer on my 1 gallon. I was doing same on 3 gallon but just went ahead with spigot as that’s even easier and also better for if I want to bottle instead of keg.
@@tonyheron3729 Is it mild or really bad? Wondering if it could simply be pushed back into shape.
I almost feel like is a process or evolution with a fermenter. From myself Im using a bucket for a fermenter, which came with my kit.
It probably is as you realize you are going to stay in the hobby longer you spend more money. I did this video to try to help some newer brewers considering the hobby long term from wasting money and instead buying something a bit nicer up front.
I want the fermenter behind you 😀
😂😀😂😀😂 Fully understand!
Wow no pressure fermenting in the Stainless Steel Anvil, I would have assumed it would have been possible with the materials used... Surprising that it is not a pressure fermenter.
I would too but it seems to cost a bit more to get to that level in SS. - Thank you and thanks for the support!
Great Fermenter video. Do you have a recommendation for someone with the Foundry 6.5 and doing 2.5 to 3 gallon batches? Would these be too large?
Great pint that I didn't cover! I have a small 3.2 gallon Speidel plastic fermenter which would be great for 2.5 gallon batches. I also have 4 gallon glass fermenter but prefer to avoid using them due to the small opening and difficulty getting them cleaned well enough. Brewtech makes a 3.5 gallon SS mini fermenter with a spigot which would be an awesome fermenter for ease of cleaning and just a very nice fermenter overall. On the lower cost they also carry a 2.5 gallon plastic fermenter with lid and spigot as it is really 2.9 gallons but designed to do 2.5 gallon batches. All of these are on Morebeer.com in case you haven't seen them.
@@BitterRealityBrewing I hadn’t seen those. I had seen the anvil 4 gallon bucket that looked promising. It was hard to tell if a smaller fermenter was needed for primary and if I did a 3 gallon batch how small would be too small.
I'm a bottler and want to move to a stainless fermenter with spigot to minimize transfers and oxidation potential, but I can't figure out how I'm going to add priming sugar without moving the beer to a bottling bucket. Any creative suggestions?
Skip the bottling? 😀 Or you could consider bottling/carbonating drops added to the bottles directly (not as exact as measuring out the corn sugar but a nice constant). You could also move all of the beer to keg, carbonate with sugar or CO2 and then bottle off the keg which is what I do using the CO2 method of course.
The perfect fermenter is the one I don't have that costs 100 dollars more than the last one I bought.
😂😂😂Fully understand, All Rounder and the big mouth bubbler are well under $100 but the Anvil conical is a bit pricy even being the lowest in price compared to like systems.
Just got the fermzilla but haven't used it yet..... fermenter !
Which one, the all rounder? Either way I think you will be really happy, especially if you are kegging.
@@BitterRealityBrewing yep, the all rounder.
one that can be pressurized for pilsners
The Fermzilla All Rounder is personally the most flexible in my opinion and gives you a lot for the money.
I know it is too late for the contest but what are your thoughts on the Spiedel fermenter?
I would NEVER buy one. I bought mine originally on a crazy clearance sale and will still use it in the future for Kombucha. The reason I could NEVER recommend it is due to the sharp and/or ridges of plastic inside that could easily harbor bacteria or other nasties. If the inside was a lot smoother, I'd recommend it in a heartbeat, but sadly mine is very unrefined on the inside. I've used it for Kombucha on several occasions without issues but always worry when used for beer fermentations.
What kind of alcohol can you do the chronicle Furminator
It's designed for beer but can easily do wine or other fermented beverages like Cider too.
can i carbonate in the fermzilla fermenter?
Yes, in most of the fermzilla fermenter but not recommended for the flat bottom one as it isn't rated for pressure although the flat bottom one can handle a few psi for things like doing O2 Free transfers. Technically you can ferment, carbonate (during or after fermentation), chill, and serve direct from most of the fermzillas.
@@BitterRealityBrewing perfect! i might grab one!
If I am not too late to the party. Why do you keep talking about being good for bottling? You still have to transfer to a bottling bucket so you can stir in your priming sugar slurry. If you do it right from the fermenter you will be stirring all the trub and yeast back into suspension.
Actually, no trub.
There are many ways to do this:
1. Regular Keg with CO2 used to carbonate the beer before bottling.
a. The trub will come out during the first pour or less.
b. No trub if you choose to use a floating diptube, which I highly recommend.
2. Regular Keg with Priming Sugar.
a. Highly recommend adding your priming sugar to another keg and moving the beer on to that after purging of course, then shaking to fully blend it.
i. Then you can bottle and allow bottle conditioning.
My personal favorite is to carbonate using CO2 or the CO2 from pressure fermentation. Then, with the use of a floating dip tube, I move the beer into bottles using a counter-pressure bottle filter without issues.
Total noob question- how do you deal with the trub at the bottom of the fermenter when using one with a spigot? What is the process for that?
Most of the time, your spigot will be above the trub, and you will need to lean the fermenter forward to grab the remaining beer. On the rare occasion, your trub is higher than the spigot, you can lean the fermenter back, but if the trub is really high, you may need to do so and allow it to fully settle away from the spigot. If the trub is at an insane level which I've seen but never personally experienced, you should have a siphon pump and a racking cane to move the beer to either another fermenter or preferably a CO2 purged keg.
@@BitterRealityBrewing thanks for the reply. I'm trying to learn more about fermentation temps and how to manage that because it's so critical to the process. It seems like the probe that drops down into the wort is the most accurate way to monitor the temp. I would be interested in doing ales and lagers to start out. I know ales are not complicated because it's a pretty normal temperature range for inside the house. Any suggestions for cooler temps for lagers. Seems like the chest freezer and a temp regulator like and Inkbird are most popular method.
This is to pricy for me being out of the US, being using a bucket for fermenter
Sorry as I didn't take shipping into consideration. I know some of this equipment is supposedly a bit cheaper in AU and NZ but not for all other countries. I am shocked with all the great European that are leaders at so many things that someone hasn't taken the lead to produce a great fermenter for sale throughout the Eastern and Western European countries.
how are you cold crashing your Anvil crucible fermenter?
Yeah, I've done that be accident. Don't cold crash inside the crucible unless you have a way to connect a hose to the top to pull CO2 directly in, otherwise you can oxygenate your finished beer which would be very bad. There is a kit out there somewhere of you can set up a mylar balloon to capture the CO2 given off during fermentation, so when you cold crash, it will suck only CO2 back. The best thing is to move your beer to a keg, and then cold crash to avoid O2.
I don't see it on Anvil Brewing's website, but they used to have a basic kit for allowing CO2 to pull into the Crucible from a CO2 pre-purged Keg, while filling it. It was a simple system and cost a little less than buying all the parts separately.
@@BitterRealityBrewing the only issue I foresee with that, is since it can only hold 1psi without leaking from the top you would waste all your co2 in the keg really quickly.
How do you like the Glass BMB?
I like the BMB but not the glass version of the Big Mouth Bubbler for reasons beyond it just being glass which can break and hurt you. It is also expensive compared to the plastic version, and it is considerably heavier. I do think it looks amazing, but my goal is to get away from the glass fermenters. I may eventually give most away but will probably keep a few for wine fermentations as they are hard to beat for wine.
@@BitterRealityBrewing Ok
I make Mead.
I will eventually make a Braggot.
I am yet to find my favorite fermenter
Hopefully you will find what works best for you. This video was all about investing in a long term solution that works best for each individual homebrewer but sadly I think I could have done a slightly better job but I think most people will get it. 😀
Stainless steel fermenter is easiest clean by far.
So true! Thank you and thanks for the support!
fermenter
Thank you for the support.
Rad.
Also… Fermenter.
Cute...Rad and "Also Fermenter" 😀
@@BitterRealityBrewing I’m a man of few words. I say what I mean and I mean what I say.
Rad.
have been using small ultrasonic cleaners for making Aging alcohol Cannabis edibles, Tinctures and Coloidal Silver.I had the Idea to try it on my Fermentation of grain mash. My hopes were to make the mash into smaller particles and increasing surface area. I hoped to increase Bioavailability for the yeast. The 6 gal. plastic bucket I used for it kept blowing its top off as the bubbler was unable to keep up with the new rate of fermentation. I had to resort to taping the lid down with duct tape, Watching the bucket bulge from unreleased pressure and hoping it did not explode. !!WARNING DO NOT USE A GLASS VESSEL FOR FERMENTING IF YOU SHOULD TRY THIS METHOD!! I had hoped to show the increased speed of fermentation in this video. I made two mistakes. I used some pretty old yeast and I did not malt the grain first.
Still the control had not even started before the ultrasounde grain had filled its bag full. I believe if I had used a malted grain and newer Yeast the results would have been more dramatic for you to see. I am very new to brewing, only three batches with using ultrasound to decrease particle size the third batch. I did try a sugar wash 4th batch using the ultrasound but saw no changes in the speed of fermentation. . I am hoping someone with a better set up and greater brewing knowledge can experiment with this and show the actual rate of increase. (I believe it to be about 300% or better)
This could have a major significance in such a large market as alcohol and fuel.A factor to consider is stirring the grai water mixture in the ultrasound as a heavy layer of grain at the bottom may reduce effectiveness. I used a 60 watt, 40khz ultrasound unit with just one transducer on this video . On the earlier bucket run I used a home made unit with two 40 khz transducers. Finding the optimal range of transducers, frequency , volume, stir rate and length of time I leave to future brewers with more capital and time to find
ruclips.net/video/xlaGz_3mKhU/видео.html
ruclips.net/video/b_mdvsEF3vo/видео.html
I wonder if that is anything like the fermentation Buddha that MoreBeer recently mentioned in one of their videos. They mentioned they use to sell a "Fermentation Buddha" that strapped to your fermenter and vibrated to help keep the yeast in suspension longer. Maybe the vibration was nice but the ultrasonic version you have come up with might work a lot better. Looking forward to more information.
@@BitterRealityBrewing The ultrsound helps break the grain down to nano particle size .If you had a basket ball of clay and took pieces off to make marbles. The surface area of the marbles would be ten times greater (not exact) than the surface area of the basketball which gives the yeast a lot more area to feed. Also it does keep the particles more in suspension. I did a little test you can see on my page. I took two 2 liter bottles and used equal amounts of ground grain. putting 1 of them through the ultrasound. Then started the yeast in a separate contaner added equal amounts to each bottle. Then I capped each bottle with a plastic bag. It was not the greatest production values at the time due to a stroke that made left arm useles at the time. Also the yeast had been in my fridge a long time. The batch with the ultasound grains plastic bag filled up. The other batch did nothing at all. Looking at the video it is easy to tell whic went in the ultasound as it stayed in suspension and did no settle like the other one. Which brings up a con to the ultrasounded grain. When filtered it remains cloudier leaving more residue in your distiller. I also ultrasound the grain twice. After the first tim I filter the most of the grain out so as to keep it from blocking the ultrsonic waves by settling on the bottom. If the solution was stirred in the ultrasound it would have a greater effect. on my page you can see my brew bucket and how the pressure swelled it out even with the bubbler in and going like a bat out of hell and had to tape the lid down with heavy duty duct tape to keep it on. I really expected a side to blow out.
You should give the bottle test a try though, using good yeastand I am sure it will sell you on ultrasound use for grain mash. I did try ultrasound with a sugar wash but I guess once dissolve its particle size is at it's smallest already.I have onlydone four batches total. AS sugar wash then a grain then ultrasoun grain and ultrsound sugar wash so I am still a total beginner. would love to see someone experienced try this. I did make me anultrasonic washer using two 40 khz transducers and two 60 watt powersupply boards I bought off eba mounted under a larger stainless steel pan. It worksks 3times as good at the same pric as the unit I bought from harbor freight. at the same cost. At this time I own7 ultrasonic cleaners and three handheld used for therapy and fat reductionand am now 50 pounds lighter since june. I have many Ideas on undiscovered uses for ultrasound like hydrogen engies, frozen pipes and cleaning rust out of water lines, a unit to remove bacteria from well and city water, a gold dust shaker table, part of a tattoo removal device and hair removal device. Really doubt I will get all these done as money is lacking and I am getting up in age.
But if anyone wants to partner on any of these message me.
fermenter
Thanks, although a little late on that giveaway. Keep watching as I have many more giveaways coming and I usually do them on Monday video releases.