Stainless brewpot as a fermenter

mmcnally · February 20, 2016, 1:56am

Anyone ever thought of buying an economy SS brewpot and using it as a fermenter? I know that it isnt the cheapest nor is it the standard homebrewer approach. I think some of the positives are:

The ability to heat sanitize it.
SS is used extensively in both the food and brewing industry
Cheaper than a conical.
more sanitary than a bucket or other plastic fermenters
Sturdier than glass carboys

I am seriously thing of buying one drilling a port on the bottom and adding a valve to drain fermenter. The part I cant quite visualize is some type of gasket to get a good seal and a closure system. Any Ideas?

brew_cat · February 20, 2016, 4:26am

Just wrap the lid with electrical tape. Drill s hole in the lid for your airlock and you should be good to go. I thought of it and also thought of using a keg. Never did it though.

flars · February 20, 2016, 5:14am

Inexpensive step drills are available at Harbor Freight for the hole.

loopie_beer · February 20, 2016, 12:45pm

There used to be a guy on here who would use his BK as a fermenter (haven’t seen him in awhile). I think he just put the lid on it and allowed the CO2 to gas off. He then would rack it to the keg for “secondary” and to avoid oxidation.

sneezles61 · February 20, 2016, 1:55pm

I wouldn’t drill the hole and add a spigot to the bottom. Another place to hide stuff and get an infection. Sneezles61

mmcnally · February 20, 2016, 2:21pm

Hey thanks for the feedback, the reason I am thinking stainless is that you can heat sanitize and remove chances for infection it’s a proven practice. I thought about just leaving the lid on loose but think that is probably the biggest risk in the system. I think a gasket and some type of clamps would be all I need. I think I angora ng to go for it with an open ligand start out with something quick like a bitter.

brew_cat · February 20, 2016, 2:39pm

Clamps and gaskets are overkill . nothing is going to lift the cover and sneak in. Nothing can live in a co2 saturated environment. I often ferment without an airlock. People have been open fermenting for hundreds of years. Just wash and sanatize. No need to sterilise

gdtechvw · February 20, 2016, 6:02pm

Put the lid on then wrap plastic wrap around the lid/pot. People do this when they do quick sours in there brew kettle to try and keep out o2 while the beer is being soured with lacto.

old_dawg · February 21, 2016, 9:50pm

Go to theelectricbrewery.com and read their instructions for adding a spigot to a kettle. They have links to sources for a stainless spigot, washers, and o-rings.

I was fortunate to find a bit of the correct diameter for my spigot. I was not comfortable trying to use a step bit. Whatever bit you use, use plenty of cutting oil, go slowly, and dress the hole gently with a fine round file.

mmcnally · February 22, 2016, 1:02am

That site is pretty cool. I would like to go electric sometime in the future. I already have what I need to drill the hole( I have done a couple of kettles and buckets in the past.) Initially I was more concerned with finding a way to clamp lid down. I plan on ordering everything this week and complete next weekend.

Thanks for the feedback.

tankie · November 2, 2016, 12:39am

Wondering how your idea worked…Any good?

mmcnally · November 19, 2016, 4:51pm

Actually decided to just stick with fermentation buckets with a port 3 inches up from the bottom, in the end I felt the ease of moving a bucket into and out of a chest freezer was easier with a bucket. Also it really isn’t that expensive to replace a bucket.