The 'no Messin Method' Fermenter To Keg

[Pumpy]

For those who found there filtering process messy .

Just a pic of my attempt at an enclosed system Fermenter with new 'Super lid' (as patented by Pistolpatch) and 'fermenter outlet' (as patented by Doogiechap) for filtering beer into a keg.

Thanks for all the help you guys gave me.

Gas in top of the fermenter the other bulkhead fitting is a bit surplus but can be used as the blow tube or for taking hydrometer reading samples .

Fermenter outlet instead of a conventional tap.

Keg inlet into normally beer outlet tube .


Pumpy

 

[Pumpy]

fermenter inlet

 

[Pumpy]

Fermenter outlet

 

[Pumpy]

outlet fitting 3/4 male 1/4 female BSP

 

[Doogiechap]

Looks the good bloke !

The one thing that Pat and I found out the hard way is it's best to crash chill the fermenter before you filter to drop as much yeast out as possible. It took way tooooooo long to filter our respective warm batches.
Cheers
Doug

 

[Pumpy]

JG fitting

keg inlet on outlet

 

[Pumpy]

Looks the good bloke !

The one thing that Pat and I found out the hard way is it's best to crash chill the fermenter before you filter to drop as much yeast out as possible. It took way tooooooo long to filter our respective warm batches.
Cheers
Doug

Yep DC I always thought dropping the temp made it was less likely to oxidise ( may be totally wrong but stops excess foam too )

Pumpy

 

[Tony]

good work pumpy

I like it

cheers

 

[Pumpy]

good work pumpy

I like it

cheers

Thank Tony ,It makes it so much simpler

 

[redgums500]

Thank Tony ,It makes it so much simpler

Cumbs Pumpy........How much gas do you use in filtering into the keg like that ?

redgums

 

[NRB]

I'd guess the volume of the fermenter, approximately 30L?

 

[kook]

Pumpy / Doogiechap, have either of you experienced issues with dry hops clogging the outlet? That looks like a really cool idea, but I'd be concerned that using 1/4" fittings it would be too easy to clog with hop particulate?

 

[tangent]

that's the only problem is you have to use more than the size of your fermenter in gas to make it all move. take a while to save the $'s in gas with a peristaltic pump though... be interesting to do the sums.

 

[Andyd]

that's the only problem is you have to use more than the size of your fermenter in gas to make it all move. take a while to save the $'s in gas with a peristaltic pump though... be interesting to do the sums.

Especially if you're buying CO2 in 22L lots....

Not sure why you're using the bottom outlet... I have two bulkheads in my fermenters, one of which has a beer line dip tube to take up the beer. That works a treat for me...

Andy

 

[Doogiechap]

Pumpy / Doogiechap, have either of you experienced issues with dry hops clogging the outlet? That looks like a really cool idea, but I'd be concerned that using 1/4" fittings it would be too easy to clog with hop particulate?

G'day Kook,
Sorry but the only dry hopping that I have done has been in the keg. Certainly a possibility of clogging. I think I would toss the hops in a muslin bag if I was to dry hop in thr fermenter.

Especially if you're buying CO2 in 22L lots....

Not sure why you're using the bottom outlet... I have two bulkheads in my fermenters, one of which has a beer line dip tube to take up the beer. That works a treat for me...

Andy

I have tried both methods and have found that I pick up less trub and yeast off the bottom using the bottom outlet. (Providing I chill the fermenter first ) . I also have one less item to pull apart and clean afterwards.
CO2 wise it's a fairly small amount in the scheme of things and at my current level of production and consumption it suits me fine , on the other hand, a perestaltic pump, more brewing toys hmmmmmm.
Cheers
Doug

 

[Pumpy]

Cumbs Pumpy........How much gas do you use in filtering into the keg like that ?

redgums

I have the gas set on the lowest and just turn it on until it starts flowing then turn it off then back on again when it slows , I really could not say how much gas but I dont think it is much.

Pumpy

 

[Pumpy]

Pumpy / Doogiechap, have either of you experienced issues with dry hops clogging the outlet? That looks like a really cool idea, but I'd be concerned that using 1/4" fittings it would be too easy to clog with hop particulate?

Kook as Doogie I only dry hop in the keg with flowers in a SS mesh basket

pumpy

 

[Pumpy]

Especially if you're buying CO2 in 22L lots....

Not sure why you're using the bottom outlet... I have two bulkheads in my fermenters, one of which has a beer line dip tube to take up the beer. That works a treat for me...

Andy

Andy ,

I added the bottom outlet after I had put the two holes in the lid and happy with the result


I felt it may need less gas to get it moving either way I have both options .

Its all Research annd Development and unless you try these things you never know if it is an improvement .


Pumpy

 

[BrissyBrew]

I must admit I have some design plans around this issue already. One this that has always concerned me is the air that gets sucked into the fermenter when your draining it. I know you normally have a blanket of C02 but in inrush of air into the top of the fermenter must disturb this.

Furthermore, maybe over kill but you could always purge the fermeter a little before filling it and pitching. Provide a C02 blanket from the very first minute of the fermentation process. Sorry I am always worried about airborne nasties. A cheaper solution would be to filter air and purge it with an aquairum pump, airstone add 02 to the fix at the same time

No doubt Ross will have all the necessary fittings for the no Mess Filter kits soon.

 

[Thirsty Boy]

I experimented with something similar to this on a batch of koelsch that I was putting down the drain (dont ask..)

Anyway, for the outlet I managed to fudge a connection between the standard fermentor tap and the inlet of the filter, out let of the filter just went to a tube and in through the lid of the keg.. anyway, all that is a little academic, the fittings in Pumpy's setup would be much better, the main bit is how I pressurised.

I just fitted a bog standard mag wheel schrader valve into the airlock hole in my fermentor lid, and pressurised the whole thing with a bike pump !!

It worked a treat. I wasn't worried about contamination because I was throwing out the batch of beer anyway, but you could certainly shove a sanitary filter into the outlet of the schrader valve to take care of any airborne nasties.

I suppose that you could freak out about oxygenation... but its not like i was bubbling the air through the beer. It was about 30mins worth of exposure of the top layer of beer to air that was mixed in with the C02 that was already in the fermentor. I cant see how it would be any worse than when I drain the fermentor straight into the keg when I'm not filtering even without the sanitary filter. And thats 30 litres plus of C02 that isn't being wasted.

Maybe good, maybe bad.. just thought I'd share.

BTW, whats the purpose of the line connecting the fermentor to the vent on the filter?? I cant see a reason why they need to be connected.

Thirsty