I've been fermenting most of my batches in an ancient MoreBeer SS conical for (I think) over a decade. It's no longer made, and the replacement lid gaskets now being sold are a different material than the original and are quite finicky with regard to getting a good seal. And to top it off, the sample valve needs to be replaced, so I'm seriously thinking about moving on.
So... a question for anyone with extensive experience with modern homebrew sized conicals (for 5-ish gallon batches), what would you recommend? I've seen a lot of options, sometimes in action at other homebrewer's homes, but I don't really have much personal runtime with any of them.
Whatever I end up with, it has to do/have/support the following:
- Sample Valve
- Thermowell
- Spunded (vice airlock) Fermentations at 2-ish PSIG
- Closed Transfers
- Reliable Seal
Also, nice to haves:
- a tri-clamp connection on the lid to accept a hop dropper.
- Dump Valve
TIA for any insights into a conical(s) you've been using for a while. I'd also consider configurations other than conical that meet the "must haves" listed above.
(I have a modded Fermonster, which I use as a backup. But I'm looking for a SS or at least extremely rugged HDPE conical to replace the MoreBeer unit.)
I have a couple spike cf15s, obviously cf5 would be your size range. They would check all your boxes. I love mine, I have no complaints, the lid seals just fine and good up to 15psi. They have a 3 port lid with a 4th port in the middle for glycol coil. The only downfall to the 3 port lid is the port for dry hops is 1.5 inch and in my opinion it should be 2 inch, getting hop pellets in can be finicky but I've got a good process for it now. I also plan to get a 1.5 to 2 inch adapter and put a 2 inch butterfly on it to allow the hops to drop easier. I have eyed some other ones, more beer carries some by brew tools now that look pretty awesome and I think they are jacketed. But I have no experience with them.
I haven't had any issue with the 2 I have. I think someone posted on the spike conical best practices thread about having an issue and I think they resolved it by spike sending them a new clamp for the lid. The gasket fits nice and snug in the lid so it doesnt fall out when putting the lid on. Also spikes customer service is fantastic, they really are a great company to deal with. I have pressure fermented to about 11psi and held that for quite some time with a dopplebock I did recently. No problem at all.
Post time 2022-9-16 10:40:06
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