Home Made Pressure Fermenter

[Brewelder]

Hi All,

Just thought i’d share my latest project which was born out of sheer frustration trying to brew NEIPA, only had 2 attempts mind but both oxidised.

So, after much research online and countless Youtube video’s watched, i hatched a plan to convert a “Youngs Fermenter” into a low pressure fermenter. See below for photo’s and you will get the general idea and while i haven’t brewed in it yet, i have pressure and trial tested it and it works fine.

Basically i bonded a piece of 4mm acrylic sheet to plug the hole, reinforced the bonding with SS Bolts, drilled out for the gas/beer connectors and screwed in place, gave it all a good rinse out and added 10 litres of water and attached the C02. Brought it up to 20psi and let it sit for an hour and all went well.

I don’t intend to pressure ferment, i mainly did this to do closed transfers.

 

[twopoint]

I like that idea. I've got two of those fermenters I mostly use for wine/cider.

Just looked online and you can get solid caps for those fermenters for about £4 each too.

 

[Brewelder]

I like that idea. I've got two of those fermenters I mostly use for wine/cider.

Just looked online and you can get solid caps for those fermenters for about £4 each too.

Where from? I couldn’t find them cheaper than a tenner

 

[dcbrookes]

I would not want to be around when one of them splits under pressure!

 

[phildo79]

I have seen similar set ups with plastic FVs. Will probably be fine but you could rule out all doubt by fermenting in a corny keg. Use a blow off tube during fermentation and then transfer under pressure to another corny.

 

[Brewelder]

I would not want to be around when one of them splits under pressure!

As i said, i don’t really want to do “Pressure Fermenting” in this set up, it was more for doing closed transfers to the corny after fermentation. I’ll use the Spunding set very low and vent it into a starsan filled bottle, basically acting as a glorified airlock, but also (hopefully) eliminating any oxygen getting back into the fermenter.

I work with pressure and pressure testing in my line of work so i’m well familiar with how it all works and what can happen when it doesn’t

 

[Buffers brewery]

Like it. I take it from the pics that the “beer out” is from the FV tap at the bottom? And will you be gas flushing (and how) your corny before transfer? My experience if you’re using the bottom tap you don’t need any pressure just a supply of gas to fill the head space as it empties.

 

[Brewelder]

Like it. I take it from the pics that the “beer out” is from the FV tap at the bottom? And will you be gas flushing (and how) your corny before transfer? My experience if you’re using the bottom tap you don’t need any pressure just a supply of gas to fill the head space as it empties.

No, the beer out is set up exactly the same as a corny keg with the dip tube cut short so as not to suck any trub from the bottom of the FV, i also intend to put a hop sock over the bottom of the dip tube as a double measure to filter out as much trub as possible.

Yes i do C02 flush the corny prior to filling. I completely fill with Starsan, then connect the gas and beer connections and run the Starsan through as if it were beer till totally empty, but now full of C02.

I then plan to connect the beer out on the FV to the beer in on the corny. C02 attached to the disconnect on the FV and set at a very low pressure, maybe start with a few PSI at first and increase as required if at all as in theory you only need to overcome the pressure in the corny to start the flow process. I will have a spunding valve attached to the C02 connection on the corny.

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

No, the beer out is set up exactly the same as a corny keg with the dip tube cut short so as not to suck any trub from the bottom of the FV, i also intend to put a hop sock over the bottom of the dip tube as a double measure to filter out as much trub as possible.

Yes i do C02 flush the corny prior to filling. I completely fill with Starsan, then connect the gas and beer connections and run the Starsan through as if it were beer till totally empty, but now full of C02.

I then plan to connect the beer out on the FV to the beer in on the corny. C02 attached to the disconnect on the FV and set at a very low pressure, maybe start with a few PSI at first and increase as required if at all as in theory you only need to overcome the pressure in the corny to start the flow process. I will have a spunding valve attached to the C02 connection on the corny.

If your dip tube is cut short you might struggle to push all the Starsan out when you purge?

You could maybe use a floating dip tube.

 

[Brewelder]

If your dip tube is cut short you might struggle to push all the Starsan out when you purge?

You could maybe use a floating dip tube.

Crossed wires mate, the shortened dip tube is in the FV not the corny. But equally a floating dip tube is always an option, i’m just using what i have to hand right now though.

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

Crossed wires mate, the shortened dip tube is in the FV not the corny. But equally a floating dip tube is always an option, i’m just using what i have to hand right now though.

Of course! My bad.

 

[Brewelder]

Of course! My bad.

Nothing bad about it mate and as always any suggestions are good.

So far this is all just a theory in my head, the equipment is all there and ready to go barring a thorough cllean down and sanitation, but as yet i haven’t done a trial run. It should work though and i’ll let you know how it goes.

 

[tigertim]

Worth remembering that even if one does have a shortened dip tube in a Corny, you can get the last of the Starsan out by inverting the keg and pulling the PRV. At least you know there will be no nasties trapped in the PRV!

 

[Brewelder]

Worth remembering that even if one does have a shortened dip tube in a Corny, you can get the last of the Starsan out by inverting the keg and pulling the PRV. At least you know there will be no nasties trapped in the PRV!

Yeah good tip mate, thanks. But as i said before, the shrotened dip tube is in the FV not the corny, still a good tip tho.