| Author |
Message |
    
John (205.188.208.75)
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 07, 2003 - 04:54 pm: | 
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Wondering if anybody knew where to get cheap fermenters? I paid 12.50 for my ale pale with airlock and thought that was quite expensive. This is the only thing holding me back from brewing more because im having too wait for my only fermenter to be free. I know of a place to get cheap 5gallon buckets with lids but dont i need a 6 gallon bucket for a 5 gallon batch, so it can ferment with enough room? |
Doug Pescatore (141.232.1.10)
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 07, 2003 - 05:01 pm: |
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I think my buckets lids and air locks were slightly less than $10.
-Doug |
Hornbrau (130.76.96.14)
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 07, 2003 - 05:17 pm: |
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John,
Any food grade bucket/trash can/container will work, and yes you probably need at least 20% extra space for the krausen so it doesnt spill out. What you could do is to get another container for primary, many of us open ferment for primary, and then use your bucket with the lid and airlock for secondary. Then you can brew a new batch after you transfer over to secondary. It just becomes a timing issue so that your secondary is empty when your beer in primary is ready to rack over. Doing this you could brew a batch a week assuming that your secondary can be completed in a week. |
John (205.188.208.75)
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 07, 2003 - 05:30 pm: |
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I have a 5 gallon home depot bucket with no lid. Can i use this as a open primary? I realize it will spill over.... ALso what are the drawbacks to open fermenting your primary? |
Jack Corrozi (192.195.217.10)
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 07, 2003 - 05:39 pm: |
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I know, I know, I know, support your LHBS.
But, at one of those kitchen superstores has 5-gallon glass carboys for 12.99. Pretty good deal, so keep your eyes open.... |
Dan Grady (65.29.240.188)
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 07, 2003 - 05:41 pm: |
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You have to make sure that the Home Depot bucket is food safe. |
Bill Pierce (24.141.63.119)
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 07, 2003 - 05:46 pm: |
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Five gallon buckets are easier to find than 6 gallon ones, but ask around at donut shops, bakeries, delis, restaurants, institutional kitchens, supermarkets, etc. There are some items that come in the larger size and you may be able to snag a few buckets for free. Clean well, drill a hole in the lid, fit a grommet from your local hardware store or home center, and you're good to go.
As for open fermentation, most people drape a piece of sanitized plastic over the top to keep out the obvious contaminants. I often fit a lid until fermentation takes off and then remove it while the beer is actively fermenting. The CO2 being generated puts a rather effective blanket over the beer. I would not recommend open secondary fermentation, however. |
big earl (209.222.26.27)
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 07, 2003 - 05:48 pm: |
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just open-ferment in your bath-tub |
Hornbrau (130.76.96.14)
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 07, 2003 - 06:15 pm: |
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big earl, then where do you pee? |
big earl (209.222.26.27)
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 07, 2003 - 06:30 pm: |
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out in the back-yard, where else ? |
PalerThanAle (65.168.73.62)
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 07, 2003 - 06:55 pm: |
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big earl - If we get around to having an all Brews & Views Forum competition, you will need to publicly announce what categories you intend to submit. That way we can give those to the new guy or Bill P.
PTA |
Timothy Wulfers (56.0.84.110)
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 08, 2003 - 05:04 pm: |
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John , I would get some more of the cheap 5 gal. buckets , lids , and air locks . Spilt your 5 gallon batch into 2 buckets and you will have plenty of headroom that way . Don't worry about racking to a secondary unless your repitching on your yeast cake . As you brew more and more batches you will need the buckets anyway . |
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Brews and Views Archive 2003