craigb12 Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 Hey guys, anyone ever had a go at making a massive fermenter? I was thinking about buying two of these (http://www.smithsofthedean.co.uk/Blue%20120%20litre%20Barrel2.JPG) (http://www.smithsofthedean.co.uk/120%20litre%20Barrel.JPG) 1 to ferment in, and one as a secondary. They're about \xa320 each! They're HDPE plastic, which is food grade (or so i've read). The tap is pretty high up on the vessel, but im sure i can just tilt it to get the last 10 or 15 litres out. Alternatively, they sell them without the taps, so i could just bore a hole myself and attach it at a lower point. Has anyone had a go at brewing volumes as big as this? Are there any added complications to think about? I'm sort of hoping that i can just scale up one or two recipes that ive made before, and store it all in the new kegs that i've bought. Perfect for huge summer parties! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biermoasta Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 Haven't tried it myself, but remember if there is an infection... that is alot of beer to have to throw out! [crying] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigb12 Posted February 25, 2011 Author Share Posted February 25, 2011 yeah, ive thought about that. I'm gonna have to sanitize the hell out of everything. Also, might need to get myself a bigger spoon, ha. I was also thinking that i might need to put in (sorry muddy) three or four airlocks, to allow for the larger volume of CO2 coming off the tank. I would make so much beer... ha... like 200 pints per batch. That would still leave me with 2 corny kegs free to fill with whatever im making in my regular 23 litre fermenters Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matty A Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 I wouldnt worry about making an effort to put a hole in for the airlock and just use glad wrap[cool] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muddy Waters Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 [innocent] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matty A Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 Sorry Muddy, you converted me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PB2 Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 Once you get into fermenting larger volumes, fermentation being an exothermic process, it's important to have a method for cooling the brew. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matty A Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 Wow you would need a large fridge for that sucker. Maybe a chest freezer with some temperature control. I have learnt alot about chest freezers recently, I am thinking of making a keg and tap setup in one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LazyDave Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 Thats a mammoth brew, but 200 pints of the same stuff could get a bit dull? I'm so used to having 6 or 7 choices in the cupboard. I don't even want to think about bottling day haha [crying] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matty A Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 I don't even want to think about bottling day haha [crying] Hmm maybe I should get one of these fermenters, it might be a little easier to convince the finance manager for a keg setup if I have one of these. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigb12 Posted February 26, 2011 Author Share Posted February 26, 2011 PB2: How much extra heat is given off when you're brewing at this volume? Im brewing in Scotland, so the ambient temperature in my room is about 18 C. I don't imagine that the reaction is so exothermic as to raise the temp by 10 degrees, is it? If this is the case, i might get two of them and use them to heat my house in the winter! Lazy Dave: Yeah, I know what you mean, it would get boring pretty fast. But im planning on kegging it all and using it for parties. 200 pints probably wont last that long when there's 50 or 60 people drinking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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