Will a fermzilla fit in a fridge

[Beer Barron]

I would like to do pressure fermentation and closed transfer and would like to know if anyone knows if a fermzilla fit in a normal under the counter fridge?

 

[AdeDunn]

Mine wouldn't. I think there's a shorter model come onto the market in Australia maybe? The one I have is way too tall though. Not that I have a fridge for it to go into anyway, hence purchased the jacket for it too to try to keep a more constant temperature.

 

[Beer Barron]

Thanks, I suspected as much. I might have to look at alternatives

 

[Chris_S]

Thanks, I suspected as much. I might have to look at alternatives

Pressure fermenting and closed transfer are not dictated by refrigeration?

 

[MickDundee]

Pressure fermenting and closed transfer are not dictated by refrigeration?

Successful fermenting is dictated by temperature control though, and if he already has a brew fridge he’s probably as well to look at other options if he doesn’t want to change his temperature control methods. If my Fermentasaurus is anything to go by, it’s unlikely the frame will fit in a builder’s trug and the body wont tolerate the temperatures a heat belt gives off.

I’m not sure if the All Rounder might fit in a fridge. I have the original Fermentasaurus and it fits in my bigger tall larder fridge no problem. There’s no room for the airlock (and therefore I assume a Spundig valve will also be a no-no) in my other tall fridge (which will be turned into a kegerator at the end of the month)

 

[AdeDunn]

Aye, if wanting to ferment under pressure, I'm betting on either NEIPAs or lagers. BUT (stuck record time) have you considered using a Kveik strain instead? No need for refrigeration then, in fact (like me) you'll just want to maintain temperature, rather than cool.... I know there are a couple supposed to be good for NEIPAs and WC IPAs too, and I believe you can use some of the less flavourful ones at room temp and get neutral results sort of thing (I don't brew lagers, so untested).

Or, just ferment in a corny keg, which should fit fine.

 

[Chris_S]

Successful fermenting is dictated by temperature control though

Agreed, I wrongly assumed he’d be using kits and the yeasts generally work at room temperatures

 

[Beer Barron]

In answer to some of the points above. I use a fridge to control the temperature during fermentation and I like this set up as it give me consistent results.

Correct about what I am using if for, I really love NEIPA and its my favourite style to brew.

I am well up for trying Kveik yeast, but I like playing and trying different things, so I don't want to be tied down to just Kveik.

I have actually just been looking at the round bottom option and have managed to find the dimensions, so I am going to see if that fits, as it could offer a good comprimise.

At the end of the day, I don't need it, but I am a sucker for a shiny new bit of kit, especially with a Birthday coming up :-)

 

[MickDundee]

At the end of the day, I don't need it, but I am a sucker for a shiny new bit of kit, especially with a Birthday coming up :-)

I know this feeling well. I bought a 10L mini keg Sodastream set up as an early birthday present from my wife last month (my birthday is the end of this month). I love it so much, that since then I’ve ordered the Fermentasaurus pressure kit, spunding valve and flow control shank adapter, and I’ve asked my parents to get me a kegerator conversion kit for my birthday.

 

[Beer Barron]

Lol, my rapid escalation chain started brewing my first NEIPA. I got it on for fermentation, then started reading about oxidation horror stories and panicked. Therefore the only solution was to get a keg. Then of course, I needed a fridge for the keg, oh and C02 set up. Then I needed another Keg, because I didn't want to wait until I had an empty key before I brewed again. At that point I was committed, so of course I had to get a Robobrew :-)

I have been relatively good recently, as I managed to redirect my efforts into convincing my mate to start home brewing at getting him set up. He is now caught up in his own equipment escalation chain :-)

 

[BlackRegent]

I've spent some time looking into this as I also wanted to start fermenting under pressure.

In the end I got a Fermentasaurus Snub Nose - it is relatively cheap and comes complete with a pressure lid with floating dip tube. It fits in an under counter fridge (I have a taller larder style fridge so height isn't a problem, but it is marketed as being able to fit in an under counter by inverting the stand, although I understand it is still quite tight). It also disposes of the dump valve and collection chamber. I came to the conclusion that was probably a good thing for my needs as I wasn't planning on harvesting yeast, it's not essential for dry hopping and it means there is less to go wrong. Dry hopping from the top is fine so long as you're careful and there is still minimal risk of oxidisation. You can also do closed pressure transfers with the snub nose.

Brew2bottle have the snub noses in stock currently for a good price:

https://brew2bottle.co.uk/collectio...products/fermentasaurus-snub-nose-starter-kit

 

[AdeDunn]

I bought my Fermentasaurus just before my health took a nose dive and forced me to take a break from brewing, literally haven't used it yet. So yeah, totally get the desire to always be on the hunt for better kit. Especially when it claims to make our job a little easier! lol

I mostly brew at room temp, so for me was easy, just got the insulated jacket with mine just to help give more stable temps over just wrapping in that bubble wrap loft insulation and blankets. I'd love a fridge, but given during all the panic buying the Mrs manage to wrangle a 2nd fridge freezer (ours broke, I ordered a new 1, delayed delivery, food was hard to get so we had to get a 2nd hand one fast before all of our food went bad... Et voila, 2 fridge freezers...) it's probably never going to happen. lol

As you probably saw, I finally just bought a commercial single vessel machine.... lol Shinies. :)

 

[eyuptm]

On a similar subject, has anyone converted a fridge-freezer to a 2 chamber ferm fridge? Are there 2 separate cooling circuits, or do they work using ducting or similar? Keeping an eye out for something that'll fit my Fermzilla in, and maybe cornys in the other bit... Cheers all.

 

[AdeDunn]

You'd need to look for one with 2 compressors, most fridge freezers operate off 1 though is my understanding, the ones with 2 are much more expensive.

 

[emerson909]

I have managed to fit a fermzilla all rounder in an under counter fridge, details here;

Brew fridge wanted

 

[Simon Taylor]

Lol, my rapid escalation chain started brewing my first NEIPA. I got it on for fermentation, then started reading about oxidation horror stories and panicked. Therefore the only solution was to get a keg. Then of course, I needed a fridge for the keg, oh and C02 set up. Then I needed another Keg, because I didn't want to wait until I had an empty key before I brewed again. At that point I was committed, so of course I had to get a Robobrew :-)

I have been relatively good recently, as I managed to redirect my efforts into convincing my mate to start home brewing at getting him set up. He is now caught up in his own equipment escalation chain :-)

Assuming when brewing NEIPA the hot side hops are c80C hop-stand and the majority added as dry-hop, main advantages of the butterfly dump valve is the ability to CO2 flush and add dry hop with minimal oxygen ingress? Also there's quite a lot of interesting research re relationship between pressure and ferm temp. I've had solid results fermenting lager at ale temps with a spunding valve. Natural (free) carbonation too. Can't fit the Femzilla in brew fridge but can close transfer to corny for cold crash/condition. Fun bit of kit. Makesure you also order plenty of the red plastic carbonation caps. They're super useful.

 

[George Hawkins]

I have the Fermzilla all rounder. It doesn’t fit in an under counter fridge with the standard stand. I made one very crudely with a bucket I cut down.

 

[George Hawkins]

Here is another example of another solution someone came up with.

 

[Brew_DD2]

I have the Fermzilla all rounder. It doesn’t fit in an under counter fridge with the standard stand. I made one very crudely with a bucket I cut down. View attachment 28943

This is really cool to know. Think I may pull the trigger on this basis. Love the Fermzilla I have and looking to get a second.

 

[George Hawkins]

This is really cool to know. Think I may pull the trigger on this basis. Love the Fermzilla I have and looking to get a second.

Yeah man I love mine. Have found I can have the spunding and tap connected up as well which is a winner.