I have been very interested in home brewing for months. I have not started but I am a few weeks out from having the funds to get my first starter kit. I live in a very small apartment and have little room for anything new. I want to brew 1 gallon batches for a few reasons: 1) I can drink the beer faster 2) I can make more batches 3) takes less space. That being said, I have seen several versions of large plastic conical fermenters. I have an idea about adapting a cut off valve to 2 liter coke bottle on one end and a smaller 8oz mini water bottle on the other end. Essentially a homemade version of the FastFerment conical fermenter. I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts out there as to how I might be able to do this or if anyone has done this before and wants to help me out. Thanks! - Mitchmoore12
Have you seen this 3 gallon conical fermenter? Only $40. It's good for 2 to 2-1/2 gallons. https://www.brewdemon.com/conical-fermenting-system.html You can order them from Amazon as well: https://www.amazon.com/Little-Demon-Gallon-Conical-Fermenter/dp/B00DCC50BC Here's a good review about it: https://stainlessbrewer.wordpress.com/2014/03/18/new-fermenter-just-for-small-batch-brewers/
OldBrewer, Yes I have seen that one before. It looks very promising from all that I've read about it. The only concern I have is with my 1 gallon batches will there be too much head space?
It's recommended for 2 gallons, so it might be a little risky for making 1 gallon batches, but it should work if you don't ever open it. Why not just make 2 gallon batches? One gallon will only give you about 10 or 11 beers. You wouldn't have anywhere near enough time to make the next batch before you finish those beers.
I'm not an engineer, but I don't think you're going to be able to brew one gallon batches in your proposed setup. Also, if you want a gallon of finished beer, you're going to need more than a gallon of wort going into the fermenter.
To piggyback onto what @VikeMan suggested. 2L + 8oz < 1 gallon. By a lot. Make bigger batches and get that above linked fermenter would be my advice. 1) A one gallon batch takes just as long as a 10 gallon batch to make-- you won't be drinking faster. If you mean you will drink more of your supply faster, that may not even be true. You'll probably be drinking slower because you will end up with such a limited supply. 2) Since it takes the same amount of time regardless of batch size, you can brew just as many batches on a larger system. You may not drink your whole supply before that happens, but that isn't really a problem is it? Just give gifts/share or hold onto bottles longer than 1 week. 3)True, 1 gallon fermenters can even fit under your sink so they are very space friendly. But as a long time brewer in exclusively small apartments, I can say that bigger is doable.
Other option is to grab a Mr Beer fermenter, they are good for 2 gallon batches and can be found on craigslist dirt cheap, most haven't ever been used
I own an SS brew bucket mini. It is a conical and pretty awesome. The detachable base is a design flaw but I got a second base and it remedied the issue moving it.
yes haha, I am aware that the set up I proposed isn't enough for one gallon of beer, I had planned on making two, possibly three to accomodate slightly more than a gallon. And yes, I do plan on secondary fermenting hence my desire for the conical shape with a flush valve for easy transition to secondary.
yes haha, you are secondary fermenting ...you will learn over time that is a waste of time in most cases. Cheers and welcome to the addiction
I have a pseudo conical fermenter (brew bucket) that I love more than cunnilingus ...but having said that , plastic flat-bottomed buckets work just fine...I wouldn't touch a carboy
