Beer Forum

Very curious if anyone has used and evaluated the plastic MiniBrew conical fermenters. The main negative I have heard is the possibility of scratches and the harboring of tough to sterilize bugs...hence contamination. Though I have been using plastic buckets for 10 years and never had a problem...I understand they are easily and inexpensively replaced when damaged which would not be the case with one of these contraptions.

I really can't afford the pricey stainless steel conical fermenters so my question is do I stick with buckets or spend a little on one of these plastic conicals?

For reference...

http://www.minibrew.com/index.php?main_ ... ex&cPath=5

I have the Minibrew HLT in my system. Love the 1" port for the 4500W element, and the other ports for recirc, RIMs, temp feedback and delivery. Have not tried their conical as I own stainless. I bite on one of those $230 EBAY stainless conicals. Thought I might regret it, but it has been great. No issues to date, after 2 years. So, Minibrew as an HLT or MT good, but no experience with the Conical.

Always hard choices, as you tend to collect equipment in this hobby, and find out too late that the big investment up front actually pays off in the long run.

Good luck!

Justin visited a brewer that uses these.

The second video down is Fred Housel's setup, with plastic conicals - he loves them.

http://thebrewingnetwork.com/BN-Army-Bl ... 09-Day-One

The price is right and if you carefully clean them, they may last you a long time. Air does pass through plastic, albiet very slowly.

I am staying with glass carboys and stainless conicals for the moment but may experiment with Better Bottles.

Kbar wrote:I own stainless. I bite on one of those $230 EBAY stainless conicals. Thought I might regret it, but it has been great. No issues to date, after 2 years. So, Minibrew as an HLT or MT good, but no experience with the Conical.

Was that $230 ebay one from Stout Tanks and Kettles? I am dreaming of 10 gallon batches and $410 for a 14.5 gallon certainly beats B3's $895 one. The Minibrew plastic one in that size is $350.

I haven't purchased a kettle or burner big enough for 10 Gallon batches yet, so this is just background research, but I had been considering building a glass lined tank by fabricating a padded / insulated / cooled metal enclosure for a 15 gallon glass demijohn.

bcmaui wrote:Air does pass through plastic, albiet very slowly.

Air passes through a plastic bucket quite significantly. I think there is a table with data on this in Sparrow's Wild Brews. Better Bottles and the plastic conicals are probably less permeable, but I can't say I recall any hard data on this.

BEERdedDragon wrote:Very curious if anyone has used and evaluated the plastic MiniBrew conical fermenters. The main negative I have heard is the possibility of scratches and the harboring of tough to sterilize bugs...hence contamination. Though I have been using plastic buckets for 10 years and never had a problem...I understand they are easily and inexpensively replaced when damaged which would not be the case with one of these contraptions.

I really can't afford the pricey stainless steel conical fermenters so my question is do I stick with buckets or spend a little on one of these plastic conicals?

For reference...

http://www.minibrew.com/index.php?main_ ... ex&cPath=5

I have one of those on the ring stand, but made before they started adding the spigots on the side. I guess i've had it ten years. I added a Williams spigot with an inverted back nut. I haven't had a problem with scratching, but I don't use it very often. I use it once or twice a year. It's too bulky and hard to maneuver. I shoulda kept my money and spent it on porn. i have no experience with the other stands.

Well after listening to Mufasa's view on plastic (todays podcast replay 8-17-08) I want to burn my buckets. Man the was a hilarious episode. That dude cracks me up.

Maybe I'll just start saving for the next 2 years and spring for a stainless steel conical.

Wait...I have an idea...How about I start taking donations over the next year and in return I'll put everyone up in my house for next years NHC!!!

BEERdedDragon wrote:Well after listening to Mufasa's view on plastic (todays podcast replay 8-17-08) I want to burn my buckets. Man the was a hilarious episode. That dude cracks me up.

Maybe I'll just start saving for the next 2 years and spring for a stainless steel conical.

Wait...I have an idea...How about I start taking donations over the next year and in return I'll put everyone up in my house for next years NHC!!!

I'm in for a buck!

I'll keep using my plastic buckets, though.