In our 2017 Gear Guide issue (April/May), our editors tested and reviewed four stainless-steel fermentors. Here are the results.
Blichmann Cornical Full System
The most unusual and creative fermentation and kegging system we’ve seen to date
Test lab notes
The Blichmann Cornical (above, far left) was perhaps the most interesting fermentor we tested. As we unpacked it, there were mixed feelings on combining the functions of a keg and fermentor. Was this going to be one of those 9-in-1 tools where it didn’t do anything well or was it going to change the way we packaged?
If you’re brewing 5-gallon batches of beers without large adjuncts (e.g. wood spirals), this fermentor will let you ferment, sample, drop out trub/yeast, then flip it over and cap it for carbonation all in one vessel. On the flip side (see what we did there?), if you’re into larger batches, in-vessel temperature control, or splitting your equipment so you can ferment one beer while serving another beer, this might not be the right solution for you.
The Cornical performed flawlessly in our testing, maintaining pressure for kegged beer and never leaking through fermentation.
As with everything that Blichmann makes, it’s built to last with some of the nicest fittings and custom parts. And it’s the world’s easiest keg to clean since the bottom comes off.
Scorecard
Easy to Use? X
Easy to Sanitize? X
Build Quality? X
Enjoyment? X
High Value?
Price: $499.99
Manufacturer: Blichmann Engineering
Available from: blichmannengineering.com
Stout CF15TW-SH 15-Gallon Conical
Solidly well-built, wide and low system that’s easy to clean and easy on the eyes
Test lab notes
The finish inside and out of the Stout 15-Gallon Conical (above, second from the left) is beautiful and surprisingly easy to clean—from a construction standpoint, the welds are executed well with tri-clamp fittings for easy transfer and sampling. For our test, we used their base model fermentor with the racking arm, thermowell, sampling valve, and lid equipped with a blowoff tube. Across the multiple fermentations we performed, we never had any issue with clogged valves, leaking, or sanitation-based infection. The large lid made it easy to toss in adjuncts as well as get them back out and clean the fermentor when we were done.
One batch we tested was a saison, which we theorized would benefit from the lower and wider tank geometry, but tasting the finished batch (that we split across multiple fermentors) could not prove a conclusive benefit.
Stout’s product lineup is one of the most diverse we’ve seen, with options to satisfy almost anyone’s peculiar needs. The only downside is the price, but you get what you pay for in most circumstances, and this one is no different.
Scorecard
Easy to Use? X
Easy to Sanitize? X
Build Quality? X
Enjoyment? X
High Value?
Price: $543
Manufacturer: Stout Tanks and Kettles
Available from: conical-fermenter.com
Ss Brewtech Chronical Fermenter Brewmaster Edition
Pro-level features on a homebrew scale
Test lab notes
We’ve had a regular 7-gallon Chronical in our office brew lab for a couple years now—it’s a great piece of gear, and we’ve made great beer with it. This Brewmaster Edition (above, second from the right) upgrade is quite a bit more expensive—$250 in fact—so the big question in our mind was “is it worth the additional expense.” The answer is “it depends.”
The biggest point of difference with the new BME unit is the drilled interior cooling coils. You’ll still need to buy the FTS temperature controller separately, but these low-mounted coils ensure contact with your beer (yes, we once brewed a smaller batch into our half-barrel chronical, and the liquid didn’t reach the coils in that top-mount system). Other benefits are the 3" tri-clamp port on the lid that allows for mounting their CIP ball and the tri-clamp butterfly valves on the dump and racking ports that are definitely overkill but that look so professional!
In use, the unit did everything we asked of it and did it well. It didn’t make our beer any better than the regular-edition Chronical, but it was more enjoyable to use. If bling is your thing, you can’t go wrong with this one.
Scorecard
Easy to Use? X
Easy to Sanitize? X
Build Quality? X
Enjoyment? X
High Value?
Price: $650
Manufacturer: Ss Brewtech
Available from: ssbrewtech.com
Ss Brewtech Brew Bucket Brewmaster Edition
Entry level stainless-steel offers bang for your buck.
Test lab notes
The 7-gallon stainless-steel Ss Brewtech Brew Bucket Brewmaster Edition’s (above, far right) conical base allowed us to collect clear beer from the spigot, without having to tip the bucket or use suction that might disrupt the trub at the bottom. Even with an airlock on the lid, users can stack the fermentors, which is nice for those operating in small spaces. We also liked that the volume measurements are etched into the inside of the bucket, taking the guesswork out of the equation. The spigot allows for collecting samples for gravity readings throughout the fermentation process, allowing users to keep the bucket sealed, reducing risk of infection. The 304 stainless-steel parts were very easy to disassemble and clean. The only feature we’d like to see improved is the carrying handles, which are rather thin, and don’t have the same non-slip coating that several other Ss Brewtech products have. Nonetheless, we were spoiled by the ability to nuke these with cleaning solution, sanitize with boiling water, and generally beat the crap out of them—they’re a big upgrade from plastic and way easier to use than glass.
Easy to Use? X
Easy to Sanitize? X
Build Quality? X
Enjoyment? X
High Value?
Price: $195
Manufacturer: Ss Brewtech
Available from: ssbrewtech.com