First Use Of My Conical

[mobrien]

Hi everyone,

While I was in San Francisco recently I bought a Conical fermenter from Northern Brewer (see http://www.aussiehomebrewer.com/forum/inde...6274&st=45). Then I cam back to Australia and upgraded my brewery with a pump and a bunch of new stuff (see http://www.aussiehomebrewer.com/forum/inde...amp;hl=upgrade).

Last weekend was first use of the conical - 40L of a Belgian Golden Ale have been fermenting all week. It was awesome to fill, awesome to use, awesome to watch bubbling in the fridge.

Today it was time to drop off the settled yeast - I now have 1L of creamy white yeast sitting in the fridge, ready for the next belgian which will be a strong, brewed the day that this current batch gets kegged.

Thought you might all like some photos (OK, I'm just bragging!)

The yeast was thick like toothpaste to start with, and ended up clear beer (funnily enough) - by the looks of it, the conical has worked perfectly!

M

 

[Doc]

Looking great Matt. Nice big smile to go with the yeast collection too
Did you draw a little of and discard before collecting the middle section of yeast in order to get the good healthy stuff ?
How is the Belgian Ale tasting ?

Doc

 

[mobrien]

Yeah - pretty happy here!

I drew off about 100mL first and tossed that - I'm only guessing though - must find out what I should really be doing.

The belgian tastes awesome - can't wait to keg it. Hardly any hops though.... I want a big hoppy beer!

I'm currently sitting here drinking a version of your Octoberfest that lagered for the time I was in San Fran - very nice indeed!

M

 

[roger mellie]

Looking great Matt. Nice big smile to go with the yeast collection too
Did you draw a little of and discard before collecting the middle section of yeast in order to get the good healthy stuff ?
How is the Belgian Ale tasting ?

Doc

That would be a 'Mid Stream' Sample then Doc



Your not a 'Doctor' are you?

 

[fixa]

Yeah, alright i'm jealous!!!!!! nice piece of gear mate!

 

[fixa]

And love the... ahem.... sherry bottle too....

 

[yardy]

That would look so good in my shed next to the other shineys, nice bit of kit Matt

Yard

 

[enoch]

%$%$#$ ^&*)(!!!

Now that I have that out of my system (kind of) - that is a really nice looking piece of kit!!!

 

[matti]

Recall dreaming about a giant conical last time read that post mobrien.
Now I am just plain jelous :super:

 

[Jazzafish]

Nice bit of kit there!

Must have conical...must have conical...must have conical...must have conical...must have conical...must have conical...must have conical...must have conical...must have conical...must have conical...must have conical...must have conical...must have conical...must have conical...must have conical...must have conical...

 

[clintmo]

Is there any way for a steelworking company to fabricate some of these conical fermenters...? They dont seem like that much design, but from prices you would think otherwise.

Anyone know any quotes for making these?

 

[Sammus]

I've read several threads about organising people to make them. I think the killer is getting someone to spin the body of it - I think thats what its called - its preferable because theres no seam anyway. Ends up cheaper to import them from the states. There's an ebay seller who can land them at your door for a hair over $400 AU. Not quite as nice looking as mobriens blichmann though

The seller I'm thinking of is waiting for new stock (just sold 100 of em in a couple weeks) should be more up shortly. If you do a search for 'stainless conical' it usually comes up.

 

[mika]

About 18months ago we approached a local metalworking company for a material feed hopper which coincendentally had a 60deg cone, was made from 316 stainless and held ~35L. They 'pressed' the sheet to make the cone (supposedly simpler with smaller cones), though rolled the cylinder, but we're still talking welded seams. Cost the company ~$700 for the electropolished cone. And they were the cheaper of two quotes. The second company specialised in food grade equipment and their price was a good deal more.
Our parent company in Germany used to spin hoppers for all the equipment that could be used for foodgrade, produced some wonderful work, but once again the $$ would just kill it for a homebrewer. Never seen it happen, but been told by a guy that had, to create a spout they laser cut a much smaller hole in the sheet and pull a big ball thru it, forms a perfect, no weld, sanitary spout.

My advice, keep buying the morebeer/bilchmann/whoever versions, or keep fermenting in the plastic fermentor.

 

[RobB]

We all like our stainless trinkets, but isn't the main benefit of a conical fermenter the shape, not the material?

I wonder what a seamless plastic equivalent would cost?

Time for some research, methinks.

In the meantime, add my name to the list of the insanely jealous.

 

[fraser_john]

Personally I think the advantage of stainless in terms of a conical fermenter is the ability to clean and sanitise. You can get the lid off and scrub like crazy and not worry about scratching up the surface and allowing nasties to hide. I sanitise my conical by using a steam generator, plug up all the holes and leave the dump valve cracked open and in 5 minutes its pressure/steam autoclaved!

I just wish I had a rotating racking port built into mine when I had it made Now that would have been trick!

(edit for spelling)

 

[Sammus]

We all like our stainless trinkets, but isn't the main benefit of a conical fermenter the shape, not the material?

I wonder what a seamless plastic equivalent would cost?

Time for some research, methinks.

In the meantime, add my name to the list of the insanely jealous.

Has been a lot of talk into that too. I think the best option ended up being http://www.rotamoulding.com.au/Cone.htm

 

[roger mellie]

Personally I think the advantage of stainless in terms of a conical fermenter is the ability to clean and sanitise. You can get the lid off and scrub like crazy and not worry about scratching up the surface and allowing nasties to hide. I sanitise my conical by using a steam generator, plug up all the holes and leave the dump valve cracked open and in 5 minutes its pressure/steam autoclaved!

I just wish I had a rotating racking port built into mine when I had it made Now that would have been trick!

(edit for spelling)

Good idea to steam clean it - never considered that

As for the rotating racking port - surely that cant be too hard to sort out. I am taking delivery of my new conical in the next few days - sans rotating racking arm - but will nut something out and post the results - have mates with TIG but hoping to do something using the triclover fittings that Mashmaster has on his site.

Im pretty sure thats all this is - purely as an example - I wouldnt DREAM of copying it!





RM

 

[fixa]

There was some bloke a while ago made a conical with a large funnel and a bucket. Said it worked well.. anyone remember that?

 

[RobB]

My 'research' (OK, five minutes on google) led me to the v-vessel, which is a plastic conical fermenter sold in the US. They've been around for a while from what I can gather. Their website suggests that they'll be selling online from next month.

It comes complete with a swivelling wall-mount. Handy for brewing at sea!

 

[facter]

My 'research' (OK, five minutes on google) led me to the v-vessel, which is a plastic conical fermenter sold in the US. They've been around for a while from what I can gather. Their website suggests that they'll be selling online from next month.

It comes complete with a swivelling wall-mount. Handy for brewing at sea!

Man I want a conical.

Hey Malty, you're my neighbour