Fermenter project

[JVi]

I don't like plastic buckets but st fermenters cost here arm and a leg so i needed to get creative.
I ordered 33l st container from china and going to make fermenter from that.

 

[Dave Y]

That should be enough capacity for a 5.5 to 6 gallon recipe with a vigorous fermentation - think wheat beer with Bavarian wheat yeast. I blew the lid off several 6.5 gallon buckets doing wheat beers; it would ferment quite actively, clog up the airlock and eventually : POP!

This looks good so far.

 

[Donoroto]

It does look good, I think it will do well for you. Check that it seals airtight though, or the lack of bubbles in the airlock might be disconcerting. 0.1 Bar (1.5 psi) is plenty of pressure to test with.

 

[JVi]

It does look good, I think it will do well for you. Check that it seals airtight though, or the lack of bubbles in the airlock might be disconcerting. 0.1 Bar (1.5 psi) is plenty of pressure to test with.

Didn´t think that at all, thank you for tip.

 

[Craigerrr]

And then again, it really doesn't matter if it is air tight. Fermenting in open top vessels is still a thing (althought Anchor closed up not long ago).

 

[JVi]

And then again, it really doesn't matter if it is air tight. Fermenting in open top vessels is still a thing (althought Anchor closed up not long ago).

I never thought fermenting beer with open fermenter, does it work?
I have only done moonshine mash with open bucket.

 

[J A]

Be careful of corrosion of any sort. The steel on these vessels isn't top grade and it can get bad spots that will make infections happen. The good thing is that you can boil directly in the pot and that should sterilize it.

 

[Craigerrr]

I never thought fermenting beer with open fermenter, does it work?
I have only done moonshine mash with open bucket.

That is how beer began really. This is why yeast strains are specific to certain areas of the world.
Antonio and Louis were scoffed at for claiming that yeast are living organisms.
Anchor steam is called Anchor Steam as the open fermenters (I believe made of wood) on the roof would give off apparent steam as the wort cooled. I saw a Brew Dogs" episode on the subject which was done before Anchor closed. I believe that here are many breweries that still ferment this way.

 

[JVi]

Be careful of corrosion of any sort. The steel on these vessels isn't top grade and it can get bad spots that will make infections happen. The good thing is that you can boil directly in the pot and that should sterilize it.

This is the thing that i am little bit worried. Said that it is SUS304 not 201, but as normal person can´t really test this it can be what ever.
My dream is to be rich enough to buy 35 or 50l stainless steel fermenter from Polsinelli.

 

[JVi]

That is how beer began really. This is why yeast strains are specific to certain areas of the world.
Antonio and Louis were scoffed at for claiming that yeast are living organisms.
Anchor steam is called Anchor Steam as the open fermenters (I believe made of wood) on the roof would give off apparent steam as the wort cooled. I saw a Brew Dogs" episode on the subject which was done before Anchor closed. I believe that here are many breweries that still ferment this way.
View attachment 33715View attachment 33716

Need to be pretty sterile room for open vessel fermenting. Not here

 

[Sandy Feet]

If you ever want to make a Hefe or a Belgian, make sure you have a way to adapt a blow off tube. They get a little active.

 

[Craigerrr]

Need to be pretty sterile room for open vessel fermenting. Not here

Yeah, I don't mean to suggest that you open ferment, just that a tight seal, while maybe preferred, isn't absolutely necessary

 

[JVi]

If you ever want to make a Hefe or a Belgian, make sure you have a way to adapt a blow off tube. They get a little active.

Hefes and Belgians are not on my list anytime soon but good to know

 

[JVi]

How much sediment i can expect to be on the bottom of D35cm fermenter.
I mean when you aren't dumping everything from the kettle.
Because this last and my first i did that and ended up over inch of sediment.
I am thinking putting sleeve and mesh(kind of like bazpedo) inside spigot hole. This would work as filter

 

[Minbari]

This is the thing that i am little bit worried. Said that it is SUS304 not 201, but as normal person can´t really test this it can be what ever.
My dream is to be rich enough to buy 35 or 50l stainless steel fermenter from Polsinelli.

304 and 316 are both good stainless. As long as it holds the lid solid, it will work. I did something similar for my first fermenter.

 

[J A]

This is the thing that i am little bit worried. Said that it is SUS304 not 201, but as normal person can´t really test this it can be what ever.
My dream is to be rich enough to buy 35 or 50l stainless steel fermenter from Polsinelli.

It's not just the alloy but the quality of the finish and machining. It'll probably be just fine and certainly much better than plastic, just be aware that it's not a silver bullet. Passivating initially and filling with hot PBW every now and then will help insure success.

 

[Bigbre04]

it would be a good idea to passivate it using nitric/phos or citric/phos acid. strong acetic may work as well.

304 should not be magnetic, if a magnet sticks to the side it is not 304. also check any of the welds or rivets that are exposed.

 

[Sandy Feet]

Hefes and Belgians are not on my list anytime soon but good to know

I learned a little something trying Trappist yeast the first time. That shit is nuts. It damn near blew the top off my fermenter. I haven't tried a Hefe yet, but I understand it is the same way.
I now own a blow off tube, and I use it anytime I want to do a Belgian or a Saison.

 

[JVi]

Nicely polished, almost mirror. Handles are spot welded and i am little worried also about those might need to fix those at some point. First bach will be 10l that i will ferment at this one, so starting small and light.
Magnet doesn't stick, no rivets or weldings visible.

 

[Bigbre04]

Nicely polished, almost mirror. Handles are spot welded and i am little worried also about those might need to fix those at some point. First bach will be 10l that i will ferment at this one, so starting small and light.
Magnet doesn't stick, no rivets or weldings visible.

should be good to go! give it a nice spray with acid, rinse it and then clean it like you would normally and it should be fine.

fun fact. mirror polished is actually not as good as just straight rolled ss. the polishing is actually a ton of tiny scratches.