Brewer’s Hardware has developed hardware to convert Sanke Kegs into full featured fermenters. They feature all stainless construction and are designed to fit american style sankey kegs.
This review is by Homebrew Finds Contributor Brad Probert. Brad is an engineer, expert homebrewer and experienced reviewer. Grab a link to Brad’s website at the end of this review.
Multiple X1 Conical configurations are included int he lineup.
Fermentors are like the cars of the brewing world. There is a wide range of prices, appearances, and features. And just like cars, the most basic model (plastic bucket with a lid) will get the job done. But the basic model has limitations, and you soon find yourself eyeballing the next step up the fermentor food chain to either get one that’s flashier (stainless) or one that has more features (pressure fermentation capable). Of course, the ultimate is one that’s both shiny and has more features (stainless pressure-capable conical).
Fermentor Before Any Assembly
BrewBuilt is a division of MoreBeer that creates homebrew gear. They make a variety of products, and recently launched a series of stainless pressure-capable conical fermentors they call the X1 Uni. The X1 comes with a lot of different accessories for added features, depending on what you want. You can buy the add-ons piecemeal, or they come bundled into different hardware kits. There is the base X1 Uni, the X1 Uni+ that bundles some add-ons and temperature capabilities, and the X1 Uni Pro that also includes a heat pad, Peltier cooler, and a temperature controller.
Cleaning Fermentor Before First Use
This review is by Homebrew Finds Contributor Brad Probert. Brad is an engineer, expert homebrewer and experienced reviewer. Grab a link to Brad’s website at the end of this review.
With all of the fermentor choices out on the market, there are plenty of good reasons to not be fermenting in that plastic bucket that came with your starter homebrew kit. Most of us make that realization when we can no longer fool ourselves into calling it “white”, and it carries the aroma of all the previous hop varieties it’s seen. PET Plastic fermentors are the logical next step up from the HDPE plastic buckets.
PET Is far less porous than HDPE. Because of that, it makes for a great oxygen barrier. As a material, HDPE passes through 50x the amount of oxygen over a given time than PET. So PET makes for better long ferments like if you’re lagering (or are just the forgetful type). Glass is an even better oxygen barrier, not allowing any oxygen to permeate it. But from a practical perspective, just like Coca-Cola figured out, glass is heavy and creates a nasty mess when you drop it. PET Is also cooler than that plastic bucket because the fermentor is clear, which allows you to view the exciting chemistry going on inside your brew.
The Fermonster comes in different sizes and options. They come as big as 7 gallons or as small as 1 gallon. And also intermediary sizes of 6 gallons and 3 gallons. You can get it without a spigot or with one if you want to do gravity beer transfers instead of using a siphon.
MORE MoreBeer Deals!…
Price, promotions and availability can change quickly. Check the product page for current price, description and availability.
The containers we call Ball Lock and Pin Lock Kegs come from the soda industry. Also called Cornelius Kegs, Corny Kegs and Corney Kegs, they were originally intended to store and distribute soda pre-mix. The big soda companies decided on different style containers for their pre-mix. Pepsi landed on the Ball Lock style while Coke uses the Pin Lock style.
Homebrewers have since re-purposed these as homebrew beer kegs. It makes sense. These high quality stainless steel beverages that are meant for years of commercial food use. They’re also tough, can be had for cheap and are easy to move around. Related: Five Benefits of Using Corny Kegs As Fermenters
What if someone said there was a pressure capable, heavy duty stainless steel fermenter that could be had for 50 bucks or so?
Great news…. kegs make great fermenters! Same high quality, stainless steel construction, toughness and easy portability, but this time used for fermentation.
Converting Kegs Into Fermenters, 3 Options
One issue needs to be addressed to convert kegs into fermenters… handling CO2 produced by fermentation. Kegs are generally designed to be airtight. Fermentation requires that we allow excess CO2 to escape. I can think of three options…
Related: Cornelius Keg Lid for Secondary Fermenter – via Adventures in Homebrewing
For a short time Wiliam’s Brewing is discounting their entire lineup of FermZilla All Rounder Fermenters!
Shipping is free or reasonably priced flat rate to addresses in the contiguous US depending on your order size for most items.
FermZilla Reviews!
Related: Hands on Review: Kegland Hop Bong
Visit William’s Brewing – Web Only Clearance Sale
More: Recent William’s Brewing Finds
Price, promotions and availability can change quickly. Check the product page for current price, description and availability.
Speidels are great fermenters packed with features. Heavy Duty HDPE Construction – durable and resistant to oxygen transfer, Safe – no glass breakage risk, built in handles, large lid opening means easy cleaning, all ports seal with gaskets, includes spigot (no more siphoning) and 2 Piece Speidel airlock. Designed and manufactured in Germany. Available in sizes from 3.2 gallons all the way up to 132 gallons.
I own both 5.3 and 7.9 gallon Speidels. These are great Fermenters! Check out my Hands On Review of the 5.3 and 7.9 gallon sizes. See the whole line including replacement parts.
MoreBeer Labor Day Sale!
MoreBeer is discounting select items by up to 45% as part of a short Labor Day Sale.
The very popular 7.9 Gallon Speidel Fermenter is included in the mix and on sale for $75.98.
Shipping is free to many US addresses
Speidel Plastic Fermenter – 30L (7.9 gal) FE715 | Labor Day Sale
Price, promotions and availability can change quickly. Check the product page for current price, description and availability.
For a short time Wiliam’s Brewing is discounting their entire lineup of FermZilla All Rounder Fermenters!
Shipping is free or reasonably priced flat rate to addresses in the contiguous US depending on your order size for most items.
FermZilla Reviews!
Related: Hands on Review: Kegland Hop Bong
Visit William’s Brewing – Web Only Clearance Sale
More: Recent William’s Brewing Finds
Price, promotions and availability can change quickly. Check the product page for current price, description and availability.
The containers we call Ball Lock and Pin Lock Kegs come from the soda industry. Also called Cornelius Kegs, Corny Kegs and Corney Kegs, they were originally intended to store and distribute soda pre-mix. The big soda companies decided on different style containers for their pre-mix. Pepsi landed on the Ball Lock style while Coke uses the Pin Lock style.
Homebrewers have since re-purposed these as homebrew beer kegs. It makes sense. These high quality stainless steel beverages that are meant for years of commercial food use. They’re also tough, can be had for cheap and are easy to move around.
What if someone said there was a pressure capable, heavy duty stainless steel fermenter that could be had for 50 bucks or so?
The Best NEW Ball Lock Keg Deal Going on Right Now – $85 Shipped – SEE UPDATE
Great news…. kegs make great fermenters! Same high quality, stainless steel construction, toughness and easy portability, but this time used for fermentation.
One issue needs to be addressed to convert kegs into fermenters… handling CO2 produced by fermentation. Kegs are generally designed to be airtight. Fermentation requires that we allow excess CO2 to escape. I can think of three options…
A five gallon keg isn’t really suitable for a primary fermenter for a 5 gallon batch. You could use it as a secondary for a full 5 gallon batch, as a primary fermenter for smaller batches (maybe 3 to 4 gallons max) or you could split 5 gallon batches between two kegs.
There is a 6 gallon keg available that should allow you to ferment a 5 gallon batch.
10 and 15 gallon size ball locks have become readily available at relatively reasonable prices. A 10 gallon keg could easily accommodate a full 5 gallon batch (up to 7 or 8 gallons) while a 15 gallon keg should be able to easily handle a 10 gallon batch (up to 12 or 13 gallons).
Fermzilla 60 Liter All Rounder Fermenter via William’s Brewing
More InfoFrom the product description, check product page for current description, price and availability:
Unlike white plastic semi-porous HDPE Fermenters, the Kegland Fermzilla 60 Liter All Rounder is made of smooth non porous PET plastic, to make it completely impervious on the inside to krausen and beer film soaking into the plastic, while protecting your ferment from the oxidizing effects of air contact coming in from the outside. This fermenter is pressure rated to 35 PSI, and can be used with our C71 Spunding Valve as well as our C77 Pressure Kit for pressure ferments, pressure transfers, and even to use as an extra ball lock keg!
• Super smooth PET plastic makes it easy to clean and hard to contaminate.
• Oxygen barrier to prevent oxidation
• Tap Free Design for easy cleaning and less chance of infections
• 4¾” wide lid making it easy to clean
• Fermzilla lid makes it easy to add things like a Temp Twister Cooling Coil and KegLand Thermowell for year round temperature control
Perfect for brewing, wine making, kombucha, and spirit wash fermentation. 35.5″ tall on stand with airlock, and 14″ wide.
Includes All Rounder Tank, Stainless Stand, Stainless Handle, 1 Airlock, 1 Fermzilla Lid with 35 PSI pressure relief valve, adhesive gallon markers, and an adhesive strip thermometer.
IMPORTANT NOTES: Do not put liquids inside this tank over 140° degrees F. It will melt the tank. Do not switch out the red 35 PSI Pressure Relief valve for a higher rated valve, as the tank may explode!
Fermzilla 60 Liter All Rounder Fermenter
FermZilla Reviews!
Related: Hands on Review: Kegland Hop Bong
Visit William’s Brewing – Web Only Clearance Sale
More: Recent William’s Brewing Finds
Price, promotions and availability can change quickly. Check the product page for current price, description and availability.