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Author Topic: Conicals  (Read 3507 times)

Offline flbrewer

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Conicals
« on: April 14, 2015, 07:01:23 am »
Has anyone seen a remarkable difference in using a conical vs traditional fermenters?

Offline klickitat jim

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Re: Conicals
« Reply #1 on: April 14, 2015, 07:29:02 am »
In my opinion, on the homebrew scale, the difference is cost.

Offline dkfick

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Re: Conicals
« Reply #2 on: April 14, 2015, 07:52:52 am »
I have 4 conicals.  1 14.5 Stout stainless, 1 7 gallon mini-brew plastic, 1 Onederbrew (plastic bucket), and 1 Fast Ferment plastic.  All have their advantages and disadvantages.

Flavor wise I don't notice any difference.  Harvesting clean yeast wise... that's where their main benefit is to me.  Sure you can just pitch on the entire cake but I like to remove as much trub as I can and I don't wash my yeast or anything.
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Offline Pinski

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Re: Conicals
« Reply #3 on: April 14, 2015, 08:52:32 am »
Quality of beer- negligible if any
Convenience- My conical is easier for; filling one vessel instead of two, sampling, dry hopping, transferring with CO2, harvesting yeast.

Cleaning is probably a draw.  I still use both depending on need/application.
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Offline mabrungard

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Re: Conicals
« Reply #4 on: April 14, 2015, 10:58:57 am »
I agree with all the reasons Steve mentioned. My primary reason for using my SST conical is safety and avoiding glass carboys. I don't find an improvement in beer quality, just the enjoyment of the hobby.
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Offline ocddot

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Re: Conicals
« Reply #5 on: April 14, 2015, 12:09:22 pm »
To all the owners of conical,

What method of temperature control is used? I want to buy a conical, but I am not sure of the best way to controls temps.

Offline brewday

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Re: Conicals
« Reply #6 on: April 14, 2015, 12:12:38 pm »
To all the owners of conical,

What method of temperature control is used? I want to buy a conical, but I am not sure of the best way to controls temps.

Upright freezer, Ranco & heat pad.

Offline dkfick

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Re: Conicals
« Reply #7 on: April 14, 2015, 12:32:33 pm »
Yep.  Upright freezer with temp controller (BrewBit in my case) and heat wrap.
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Offline flbrewer

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Re: Conicals
« Reply #8 on: April 14, 2015, 12:48:24 pm »
No one has mentioned the fact you don't have to rack anymore...I thought that would be a big plus.

Offline dkfick

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Re: Conicals
« Reply #9 on: April 14, 2015, 01:01:19 pm »
Well... Some of the conicals I have I do still rack out of (like a bucket).  If it doesn't have a racking arm built in it's just too much trouble to go through the dump valve.
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Offline dkfick

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Re: Conicals
« Reply #10 on: April 14, 2015, 01:03:23 pm »
To clarify... Yeast sticks to the walls of the conical's cone.  So while you get a lot of yeast and trub when you do a dump... you don't get all of it.  You would have to do quite a few dumps and waste a decent amount of beer to avoid racking altogether and just go out of the dump valve.  50% of my conicals do have either a racking port or a rotating racking arm... and they are handy in comparison to not having one....
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Offline denny

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Re: Conicals
« Reply #11 on: April 14, 2015, 01:36:55 pm »
No one has mentioned the fact you don't have to rack anymore...I thought that would be a big plus.

Really?  I consider racking to be so inconsequential that I never would have considered it.
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Offline flbrewer

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Re: Conicals
« Reply #12 on: April 14, 2015, 02:09:24 pm »
No one has mentioned the fact you don't have to rack anymore...I thought that would be a big plus.

Really?  I consider racking to be so inconsequential that I never would have considered it.

Well it's certainly not a hassle, just one less thing to worry about. I imagine you are still having to transfer to a bottling bucket, so one way you're pumping the siphon a few times and the other you're turning a ball valve.

Offline majorvices

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Re: Conicals
« Reply #13 on: April 14, 2015, 02:34:42 pm »
No one has mentioned the fact you don't have to rack anymore...I thought that would be a big plus.

Really?  I consider racking to be so inconsequential that I never would have considered it.

Well it's certainly not a hassle, just one less thing to worry about. I imagine you are still having to transfer to a bottling bucket, so one way you're pumping the siphon a few times and the other you're turning a ball valve.

Technically they are both considered "racking" ... just sayin'.

Offline flbrewer

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Re: Conicals
« Reply #14 on: April 14, 2015, 03:16:01 pm »
There is absolutely no room to get technical in homebrewing!  ;D