Thinking of getting SS fermenter

[UKSkydiver]

I'm very tempted by the BKT Kegland SS fermenter deal. Very sexy.

I have a few questions/ issues which I'd like you collective opinions on.

1. I already have two (undercounter) fridges, neither of which will take the 50+cm height of the SS FV. Have any of you managed to get the 50+cm headroom needed? To put it another way, I would probably need to get a new ferm fridge, but no point bothering if appropriate sizes do not exist. I do not have the option for tall FF or chest freezer so please don't suggest that.

2. I use an ispindel for monitoring fermentation. Are there solutions to get sound the Faraday cage effect? I know about the passive antenna which I use currently but not sure if that is effective with SS. (I have not yet searched)

3. It's SS nd sexy. Shut up and take my money.

 

[Dorst]

You did not post the specific dimensions of the FF or your fridge so it's hard to comment on it fitting or not. I do know that replacing the waterlock with a blow-off tube solution is a good way to reduce height on most fermenters if space is tight. That's what I did when I wanted to fit 2 SS Brewtech buckets in my tall fridge.

Getting an expensive iSpindel before investing in nice fermenters is also an interesting choice

 

[Braufather]

I can recommend the SS brewbucket for what it’s worth. I’ve had it years now, scores of brews and it’s still as good as day one. So easy to clean too.

 

[UKSkydiver]

These SS fermenters are all in the 50+cm range. (52-57cm without airlocks)

I guess my question was a more general: Has anyone been able to fit a(ny) 50+ish cm fermenter in a standard undercounter fridge?

For example, if everyone that has one uses a fermentation chamber other than an undercounter larder fridge, then that answers my question.

iSpindels are pretty cheap, about £30 compared to the Tilt which are much more expensive. Plus I bought the components and put it together myself as I like the challenge.

Thank you

 

[UKSkydiver]

I can recommend the SS brewbucket for what it’s worth. I’ve had it years now, scores of brews and it’s still as good as day one. So easy to clean too.

Thanks - the equiv SS Brewtech ones are £210 so this BKT one seemed like it was worth a look.

 

[YeastFace]

I could fit my SS Brewtech 5 Gallon bucket no problem (that's 52cm height) in a normal undercounter fridge (without the top freezer section). There was a hump but I didn't need to build a frame for the fermenter to sit on as it fitted on the floor of the fridge fine.

I had to take it to the recycling centre when we moved, so regrettably don't know the make/model.

 

[foxy]

Keg King Apollo, small and compact.

 

[foxbat]

If you don't specifically need a conical then I can recommend the Brewbuilder flat bottom FV. I've had the 33l model since 2018 and love it. It still cleans up internally to the same perfect finish that it had when it was new. It's totally air-tight and it fits perfectly in a budget Curry's under counter fridge. Drawbacks are that you need about £50 of triclamp fittings and there is about 4 litres of dead space under the outlet ferrule.

 

[BlackRegent]

Can't help you with whether it would fit in an undercounter fridge as I use a larder fridge for fermentation, but I have used an iSpindel in a SS Brewtech Brewbucket without any problems at all. I do have a network extender next to the fridge, however.

 

[BlackRegent]

Keg King Apollo, small and compact.
View attachment 58199

Round of applause to Keg King for coming up with something original, rather than just knocking off the SS Brewbucket like everyone else, but I'm not holding my breath for seeing these in the UK. There is only one UK Keg King distributor and there's no news on lead times for any of Keg King's new stuff, like the Thermentor King and the PET Apollo.

 

[Ossiary]

I’m currently using an SS Brewtech Brewbucket 7 Gal in a Hotpoint undercounter fridge. Needed to build a platform at the bottom to raise up slightly due to compressor hump at back. This does end up with a tight fit, but is possible by installing the 90 degrees barb and blow off tube rather than airlock.

 

[foxy]

Round of applause to Keg King for coming up with something original, rather than just knocking off the SS Brewbucket like everyone else, but I'm not holding my breath for seeing these in the UK. There is only one UK Keg King distributor and there's no news on lead times for any of Keg King's new stuff, like the Thermentor King and the PET Apollo.

I believe they are in talks with a European distributor at the moment.

 

[WonkyDonkey]

@UKSkydiver I posted this over in the Black Friday deals:

https://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/product/brewmaster-bucket/

 

[allotment_fox]

there is the kegmenter like a small stainless steel beer barrel a bit of a price but worth a look @ Kegmenter Unitank 29L Fermenter/Keg
Specifications
Volume: 29L (7.6 Gallons)
Maximum Working Pressure: 2.5 BAR
Test Pressure: 5 BAR
Wall Thickness (Body/Chimes): 1.8mm/2.1
Diameter: 39,5cm
Height: 38cm

 

[Alastair70]

I’ve been mulling this over for some time now, and couldn decide between the Brewbulider Flat Bottom and the SSBrewbucket. That MM deal just clinched it for the brewbucket. Its first run out will be a lager brew in a couple of weeks time.

 

[hoppyscotty]

Got a Grain father conical and Brewzilla and to be totally honest I prefer the Brewzilla. SS is lovely, and if I were brewing larger volumes I'd love an SS Brewtech jacketed fermenter all hooked upto Glycol etc, but that is very spendy. What I like about the Brewzilla is you can pressure ferment with it and it's nice to be able to see the beer too. I always miss that when there is a brew in the Grainfather. Also the ability to pressure transfer is brilliant. I tried to do that with the Grainfather and even with only 2 psi of pressure CO2 was leaking from around the lid in between the lid clamps. Also ability to pressure ferment is nice too. Don't do it for all my brews but a nice feature to have.

 

[Alastair70]

Arrived today. And just so you know, it’s all of you lot’s fault. I hope you’re happy.

I am positively ecstatic!!!

 

[Braufather]

Arrived today. And just so you know, it’s all of you lot’s fault. I hope you’re happy.

I am positively ecstatic!!!

View attachment 58626

You won’t regret it!

 

[BlackRegent]

You won’t regret it!

Although reseating the gasket in the lid drives me up the wall every time. It's like mental torture

 

[Braufather]

Although reseating the gasket in the lid drives me up the wall every time. It's like mental torture