Fermentasaurus, Fermzilla or Fast Ferment. Which to buy?

[phildo79]

I find it’s very straightforward to scale batches to whatever volume you like with software like BrewFather or BeerSmith.

Gravity reading are as you said just poured with a picnic tap.

Yeah, I use brewers friend. But I am also a greedy ******* and want my kegs full. First Charlie Papazian recipe I ever did was an imp stout and I halved everything and made 10L. It was delicious and I instantly regretted not making the full batch. Think you said earlier that 15L is the max you can brew in a corny. I could live with that if the beers are of a higher standard.

 

[Matt_W]

FermZilla, usual problems, doesn't seal well, lid gets stuck awkward to open, splits open, collection bottles tend to explode.
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Not seen any yet of the Fermentasaurus, Fermenter King etc
Buying Chinese get what you pay for.

Never had a problem with mine and I ferment at 10-15 psi. I suspect many of these issues are user errors.
I once didn’t push the spunding valve down all the way and the pressure relief valve went off when it hit 35psi. It makes me wonder that PSI some of these folks have it at

I imagine both products react the same when people put boiling wort in.

 

[Session]

Yeah, I use brewers friend. But I am also a greedy ******* and want my kegs full. First Charlie Papazian recipe I ever did was an imp stout and I halved everything and made 10L. It was delicious and I instantly regretted not making the full batch. Think you said earlier that 15L is the max you can brew in a corny. I could live with that if the beers are of a higher standard.

Yeah I find 15L to be the most I would do, but now I serve from 10L kegs I don’t find myself fermenting more than this anyway.
I like drinking relatively highly dry-hopped beer, and so brewing smaller volumes means I can drink it all whilst it is still fresh.

Plus I get bored easily and would struggle to get through 19L without wanting to tweak the recipe for the next batch!

 

[Brew_DD2]

Never had a problem with mine and I ferment at 10-15 psi. I suspect many of these issues are user errors.
I once didn’t push the spunding valve down all the way and the pressure relief valve went off when it hit 35psi. It makes me wonder that PSI some of these folks have it at

I imagine both products react the same when people put boiling wort in.

A lot of it is down to user error. I very much like the Keg Land products. Very innovative and show a good understanding of what brewers want. And you can get their stuff readily in the UK.

The whole "Keg Land are bad" stuff is becoming tiresome. The Keg Land Vs Keg King saga has been going on for years and carries very little significance to UK brewers; even less so given that Keg King products aren't available here.

Might be worth grinding the axe somewhere else. (Not aimed at you Matt)

 

[phildo79]

So hang on. Is the Keg King snubnose not made in Australia but the Keg Land one is?

 

[Brew_DD2]

So hang on. Is the Keg King snubnose not made in Australia but the Keg Land one is?

Other way around, I believe.

 

[Matt_W]

A lot of it is down to user error. I very much like the Keg Land products. Very innovative and show a good understanding of what brewers want. And you can get their stuff readily in the UK.

The whole "Keg Land are bad" stuff is becoming tiresome. The Keg Land Vs Keg King saga has been going on for years and carries very little significance to UK brewers; even less so given that Keg King products aren't available here.

Might be worth grinding the axe somewhere else. (Not aimed at you Matt)

I was looking at the fermentasaurus, the thing that tipped me to the fermzilla was the wide opening.

After buying it I’ve purchased a few more kegland things. Only problems I’ve error had with any equipment have be 99% my fault. The other 1% was trying not to fall over the baby.

 

[Brew_DD2]

There is definitely some issues with leaking, but it's a pretty simple fix. Don't over tighten and a wee smear of lube. Same as any vessel that can take pressure. The collection jar is a bit over engineered but I suppose they've addressed that with the "all-rounder'.

 

[foxy]

Never had a problem with mine and I ferment at 10-15 psi. I suspect many of these issues are user errors.
I once didn’t push the spunding valve down all the way and the pressure relief valve went off when it hit 35psi. It makes me wonder that PSI some of these folks have it at

I imagine both products react the same when people put boiling wort in.

I wouldn't be saying its user errors, if its only happening on the FermZilla and not the Fermentasaurus then it doesn't cast a good light on the FermZilla users.They have to be idiot proof otherwise KL will end up with a revolving door at the court house. One split opened at 10 PSI (there is a video on a Swedish site) That first pic was at 20 PSI, there are a lot of people who have had no issues but a lot who has. To KL's credit they have addressed the issues and the first model is now obsolete. They now have a new model but it remains to be seen whether that gets any problems. They obviously are not pressure testing them for them to burst at low pressures. I have seen the production line off the blow moulder here in Australia and each and every vessel is tested.

All those in the video are made in Australia, the best feature is the plunger, easy to keep clean and sanitary and any pressure on the collection bottle will just push the plunger up, saves taking apart that butterfly valve.

As I said earlier in the post, the UK orders are now getting packed ready to be sent, so you will soon have them there to see for yourselves the difference in quality.

 

[Brew_DD2]

All Keg King PET Fermenters are made in Australia. They will soon arrive in the UK and provide homebrewers with a safe and easy to use fermenting vessel and much more.

Quite happy with my current fermenters but I'll keep a wide eye out.

 

[Brew_DD2]

Well we have been working hard to make sure that Keg King products will be available in the UK very soon now. I think that brewers everywhere are happy to get access to our products judging by the numbers sold once we get a good distributor set up. Luckily we have found one to service the UK market and their first of what I hope will be many containers soon is heading off to them this month.

Looking forward to seeing them. The more choice for homebrewers the merrier. Had my eyes on an all-rounder, but I'll hold fire for now.

Are you able to say which retailer will be selling your stuff?

 

[Brew_DD2]

Is that Brew2Bottle?

 

[phildo79]

So is the one I provided in the earlier link (sold by get 'er brewed) a bum Chinese version?

 

[foxy]

So is the one I provided in the earlier link (sold by get 'er brewed) a bum Chinese version?

No thats genuine Snubby same as the ones I have.

 

[Brew_DD2]

https://www.thehomebrewcompany.co.uk/fermentasaurus-snub-nose-starter-kit-35-litres-p-4350.html
Also at HBC. Is that the price we are likely to see when it goes directly to Brew2Bottle? The reason I ask is that it's nearly double the price I'm seeing for the All-Rounder.

 

[dan125]

I'm on my first brew with a Fermentasaurus 2 after using a gen1 version for two years, and I must say the upgraded dump valve seems loads better than the original.
I just wish there was a better way to purge the bottles than blow CO2 in for a few secs before getting the lid on quick.

 

[Dave Parry]

I note no one has mentioned FastFerment yet other than in the OP’s question.

I have three of them so thought I would chip in. They were heavily promoted in the UK and an experienced brewer friend recommended them to me. Now I come to buy spares though, I find no one carries them.

On the whole I would say they are sturdy and do the job. There are several problems though.

* can’t get spares. The Canadian manufacturers do respond to emails (slowly) but have no distributor in the uk left it seems (other than for the new kit)
* the valve tap (to the bulb) is stiff and one of mine sheered off
* the neck to the bulb is too narrow and often clogs with dead yeast
* the lid cracked on one when the Krausen of a high OG brew blocked the airlock
* they are quite tall and don’t fit in a standard fridge
* the stand is an extra £30 - a third of the cost of the fermenter

I won’t buy another. I’d love to go stainless one day (£££) but temp control is hard with anything bulky that doesn’t fit in a fridge or my hot box.

Some photos:

 

[phildo79]

Thanks for the info on the fast ferment. I did like the sturdiness of them but they are about the same price as the others and don't ferment under pressure. So I think I will avoid them. Cheers.

 

[foxy]

I think I have realised what the problem is, people are pressure fermenting in the BrewZilla.
Another one gone.

 

[phildo79]

Isn't 2.2 bar about 30 psi? Whom would be so daft!