Primary Fermenter needed!

Scoper50 · Post by **Scoper50** » Fri Jan 05, 2018 10:36 pm

This Christmas I received a 7 gallon wide mouth glass fermenter from Kegco so I could expand my operation to 5 gallon batches. Up until now I have only brewed 1 and 2 gallon batches. My first 5 gallon batch is currently fermenting in my new Kegco fermenter, but I'm feeling the need to brew again. I'm thinking that I'd like to have two 5 gallon batches going at one time so I'm in need of another fermenter. I'm not a fan of buckets because I want to see whats going on. What are you guys using? I'm trying to stay away from the traditional small neck carboys. Too much of a pain to clean. So I'm looking for something in the wide mouth category and I'm also trying to stay away from the big mouth bubbler because I hear nothing but complaints about the lid blowing off. If I have to put a brick on top of the fermenter to keep the lid on, it's a defective product. Sorry big mouth bubbler engineers.

John Sand · Post by **John Sand** » Fri Jan 05, 2018 10:40 pm

I often have two batches going, but I mostly use buckets.
I think that both BrewDemon and MrBeer make fermenters for 5 gallon batches. You might also search Amazon. Good luck, let us know what you do.

Scoper50 · Post by **Scoper50** » Fri Jan 05, 2018 11:02 pm

I've already searched around a little bit on amazon. But it's hard to tell whats good and what isn't. From what I can gather the big mouth bubbler is just a big waste of money. I'm interested in what more experienced people are using.

berryman · Post by **berryman** » Fri Jan 05, 2018 11:42 pm

Preview: Re: Primary Fermenter needed!

I have brewed a few batches in a bucket and others on here do it all the time and like it and good results. My favorite fermenter (until what I have now) was a glass 6.5 big mouth bubbler. I had no problem with the lid seal on mine and it worked super well other then being glass and heavy and I say glass again, because while rinsing it out one time in my sink, it broke and cut the crap out of my fingers. I went to a Ss Brew bucket next and that is really better in my opinion..https://www.ssbrewtech.com/products/the ... gKyEPD_BwE It's fun to see the action happening, but after awhile you know it is and just let it go....I think beerlord has the plastic version on what I had and think it works good for him..

mashani · Post by **mashani** » Sat Jan 06, 2018 1:07 am

The large fermenters Coopers and Mr. Beer and Brew Demon sell all will make good beer and you can see inside them. And they are as easy to clean as a bucket - easier actually, at least in the case of the Coopers ones as they have no sharp/90 degree edges. I'm not sure about the Big Demon in that sense, I think Louie knows more about that fermenter.

But they cost a lot more then a bucket unless you find them on sale.

I like my little 3 gallon version of the Coopers ones a lot, and the are identical to the 6 gallon ones except smaller. I got them 50% off so I didn't mind paying for them at that price, the ease of cleaning and how they fit in my space makes them worth it to me.

But the 6 gallon Coopers one is $80 at full price. A bucket is like 1/4th that much.

It also depends on if you want an airlock. You can airlock the Big Demon, but the 6 gallon Coopers fermenters are airlock free (self venting).

That really means *nothing* in reality as far as making great beer, but some people get a bug up their butt about airlocks.

Only time they really matter is if you were doing long aging in a secondary IMHO.

Dawg LB Steve · Post by **Dawg LB Steve** » Sat Jan 06, 2018 7:16 am

I now have 2 Fermonster 7 g fermenters along with 4 opaque 8 g buckets and a few 6.5 g buckets. Like the Fermonster for sure.

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Inkleg · Post by **Inkleg** » Sat Jan 06, 2018 8:14 am

Fermonsters and opaque buckets here as well. Be careful and don't over tighten the lid on the Fermonster. Sometimes getting it off is the problem.

Post by **Beer-lord** » Sat Jan 06, 2018 11:53 am

I use a 7 gallon SS Brewbucket 95% of the time and when I have that in use and need a second fermenter, I use the plastic Big Mouth Bubble. Buckets are just fine but I would suggest you ditch them after about 2 years or so as there is a slight chance (personally I've never seen this) that scratches on the inside can hide bugs and cause infections.

TonyKZ1 · Post by **TonyKZ1** » Sat Jan 06, 2018 3:28 pm

Well, for my 5G fermentors I'm using two "Ale Pails" basically 6.5G white "hard to see into" buckets. However before I got those I bought a 8G fermentor off of eBay from a guy here in southeast Missouri. While it's not as transparent as the plastic/glass bottles/carboys, you can see into it pretty easily. Mine came with an airlock and a spigot too.

FedoraDave · Post by **FedoraDave** » Wed Jan 10, 2018 4:36 pm

When I bought a new 5 gallon carboy I switched from Better Bottle to the Big Mouth Bubbler. I won't use glass because I ferment in my basement, and it has a concrete slab. But I was disappointed in the small neck of the Better Bottle. I haven't had an issue with the Big Mouth Bubbler lid blowing off. There's a lot of head room, so I'm guessing the pressure builds slowly enough to release more gently through the airlock. I use a 3-piece airlock rather than the S-bend, and whether that makes a difference or not, I don't know. But it's much easier to clean, and I haven't had any issues with it so far.