Just bought one last week. I have wanted one for a long time but like you said the price was too much and I didn't feel I could justify spending that amount . I currently have my first brew in it so it's too early to say if it was worth buying but so far I am quite pleased. The only mistake I made was leaving the transfer valve open when I was putting my wort in from my Grainfather! Luckily I only lost about half a litre! I won't make that mistake again!
Absolutely fantastic video David I’ve been looking at getting one of these recently after using the standard plastic fermenter for 13 years I really think they are great your video has definitely swayed me now much appreciated
Thanks for the video. I too just bought one because of your advise. Researching the Brewtech both conical and unitank all I could think about was how much time would be needed to disassemble and clean the thing. Add the cooling coil, a cleaning ball, gallons of PBW cleaner, mess etc made Grainfather the best choice for me.
David really appreciate all the videos and honest opinions of the products you reviewed. Your videos have helped me out a lot with my new Grainfather. I've been able to achieve all my numbers on brew day with the tips you've provided for efficiency.
Great video David, thank you for making it. My conical fermenter and chiller are currently in the garage, awaiting the next brew but I'm very excited to begin using them, and I don't do 'excitement'. So good to watch this in advance and get a feel for how the system works, I'm like a kid waiting to play with new toys.
@Half Dream Room Yes, so far has worked like a charm, I've done about six brews in it. Not really needing the glycol atm as it's totally baltic in my garage 🤣
Hi David. As an new student homebrewer I trust my mentor. So I ordered one of these. I prefer to have the best equipment possible, this way if it things go wrong it's the brewer I have to look at. I did not check to see if there are comparable products nowadays ( 4-5 years after the video). What you describe here suits me well. Very well made video. One question about yeast and trub dumping: How much and how often do you dump? Is there something that tells you it's time to dump? The information on this topic seems very sparse on the internet. Again, thank you so much for sharing your knowledge.
Hi Luc, great to hear. It is good to dump a small amount once the fermentation starts to calm down. No need for more than 500ml. After fermentation you could do another dump half that size before transfer.
Hi David, I'm not sure if anyone has pointed this out before, it would be super helpful if you List & Link any videos mentioned in the video - your videos are an awesome resource for us beginners, hope this helps.
I love how you cool and calm as a cobra tell us how this fermentor is simply obliterating by far all others .... :) normally people are yelling and screaming to be heard....
Thank you. There are other fermenters now that are dual skin with insulation in the cavity but they are much more expensive and do not have a controller that is so good. I would suggest checking out all options of course before you decide. Hope this helps.
Peter Y Same as any other fermenter really Peter. Dry hopping has never lead to Oxidisation for me , I know this because ive never had oxidisation in such styles :) It actually takes longer to oxidise a beer than some people realise.
"I absolutely hate the cleaning aspect of brewing" That made me smile as that's basically 80% of the job; this become more a 95% of the job once in the commercial businesses 😅
I brew 5 to 5.5 gallon batches. I understand the cone of the fermentor contains the heating unit. So my question is: When transferring my wort into this 8 gallon fermentor will cooling portion of the fermentor wall be lower than the max upper level of my wort??
During active glycol cooling the area where the cooling sleeve is will be the coldest part. When actively heating the cone will be the warmest part. However during transfer neither will be active. Also this fermenter has a couple of spots that it reads temp from so it evens out the temperature.
Wow Another outstandingly well informed, well reasoned review. It looks quite beautiful and fantastically well engineered. Will I be buying one, probably not Thanks again Cheers
Hi David. Thank you for your videos. My wife and I really enjoy listening and brewing your recipes. When do you think the Grainfather will bring out a stainless steel pressure fermenter?
Great to hear :) I find this unlikely based on trade information. However other suppliers will be releasing more hardware of this type in 2021. I am using the Kegland Kegmenter at present for stainless steel pressure fermentation. Cheap yet effective.
Dear David, i was wondering .. there is no dedicated video for yeast collecting and preserving with grainfather conical fermenter.. would you be so kind and make such one at some point , i think i speak for everyone that we would greatly appreaciate it :)
Hey :) I have already provided a video on this :) My recommendations are included with this method as well as why I suggest this. ua-cam.com/video/LCocmYRTsiw/v-deo.html
I am now equipped with the conical fermenter. It's handy. But I would like to know if we've got to remove the bubbler when we use the dual valve to dump the dead yeast or to transfer the beer. Many thanks.
No need during dumping. When transfering without the pressure transfer kit it is best to open the lid then put it back on without the clips. This usually is enough to avoid sucking back of the fluid in the airlock.
Very great video David!! I have ordered too one GF fermentor, and now I am waiting for it. If you are so kind I would like to make you questions. According to look after the inner surface along the cleaning and sanitizing before and after fermentation... how do you do that work?? Whith a CIP ball for example?? What sort of sanitizer do you use?? Are you planning to upload any cleaning/sanitizing video on this fermenter?? (I ask this last question because, anyway you will have to do this sort of work, and if you share it, you will be helpful and very apreciated hehe). Congratulations for your channel!!
+Jesus Martin Moreno I am not a fan of CIP balls, they never seem to clean to the standard that I am happy with. I use PBW to clean and Starsan for sanitation. I could certainly make a cleaning video for the conical. The process is quite simple though. Pbw solution/ fill with water to rinse/ sanitise in the same way you would plastic.
Great review, David! If I were to brew mainly Belgian style ales, which do not really need cooling, do you think if I need a fancy fermenter like this one? Or, a brew bucket will do?
Hi David, hope you're well. I have just bought the pro version of this with the new controller. My question is, I have a lager in it at the moment., with lager yeast which is fermenting at 10c. I'm 24 hours in. When do I do a trub dump or should I wait until fermentation is over? Thank you in advance.
Would it be possible advise on or make a video someday about what to do when dumping yeast, taking samples and cold crashing in order to stop suckback of air into the fementor along with a little sanitiser at times? Thanks for your helpful videos David.
David Heath Thanks David. I meant preventing suckback during yeast dump. Luckily I have a valve on order and can’t wait to use it. I will check out your video. Thanks again.
@@DavidHeathHomebrew So air is let into the fermenter when the valve releases? Does this mean I would need to attach some sort of CO2 balloon to the valve to stop oxidizing? Thanks for your help. I've only been brewing for 7 months or so.
After going through the video and the comments, I am wondering if this unit still holds up in value when paired with the glycol chiller? Presently, I use ice water on an anvil bucket - which works but no pressure transfer. I could see myself spending this kind of money for two fermenters and the glycol chiller eventually if it was basically the final stage of my brewery.
Very soon GF are releasing a glycol chiller connection adapter kit. This allows the use of many other brands and types of equipment. I am currently creating this video and I suspect it will be released in 3-4 weeks maximum. I believe this adds greater value. The GF conical is certainly a great product that I still use often, despite having access to other types of vessels.
Hi David Just recently started watching your videos. They are just great. Have to work my way through them all as I always find and advice or two in almost all of them. Made my first brew on my new Grainfather connect and also first time fermenting on Grainfather conical fermenter. I have some, but hopefully not too many questions I hope you are able to answer. • Do I want to dumb yeast? If yes. When do I dump yeast for the first time and for how many times during 14 days of fermentation should I dump yeast? • How much amount is it recommended to dump each time? • Do you check the FG during yeasting? In this video, you mention doing a gravity test before dry hopping. Which value do you like to see? • The recipe I now ferment is an all-grain beer package (Kinn Vstkyst) and I shall dry-hop after five days. Do you recommend to use a hop bag or just spread the hop directly into the fermenter? If I use a hop bag how do I avoid it to sink to the bottom and potentially get stuck in the yeast dump valve or get stuck over the sample outlet? Can it be a good idea to attach the hop bag to a string to avoid the hop bag to sink to the bottom of the fermenter? Or do you have other advice?
Hi Espen, great to hear :) Yes, I would suggest you dump. I would suggest you do this firstly after the main storm of fermentation (After 5-7 days usually) and then a final one at the end. No need to open the valve for more than a couple of seconds each time.Yes, I use a tilt hydrometer so that I can see what is happening during the fermentation. I dry hop when there are 5 points remaining of final gravity. A hop bag is good or a tea stainer for dry hopping. I have a video that shows this. Marbles are great for weight. Ive never had any bag sticking issues in my GF conical but I guess it is possible. Hope this helps :)
Brilliant review as usual, but one question, how would you use it to ferment the occasional extract kit that I like to do. Make it up in a plastic bin then just dump it into GF?
Hi David. Great review. Is the GF capable of warming wort to 38 to 40 degrees Celsius for Kviek yeast? Also when you disconnect the cooling hoses do the fittings retain the glycol or does it need to be drained first?
Thanks Rob. Mine maxes at 35C but that works just fine for kveik and saison yeast. Yes, the ports have fittings to avoid leakage. So the glycol remains after use which is no issue.
@@DavidHeathHomebrew thanks for your speedy reply 😘 yeah the connector that screws into the fermenter just looks like an open male fitting. Grainfather have other connectors on their website that seem to be dedicated to sealed disconnects. About 30 Aud
I finally have a GF Conical V2. But i newer did a yeast dump. After how many days should i dump my dead yeast. At the moment i'm using M44 West Coast yeast for a IPA between 21-22 degrees Celsius.
Hi David, very informative, helps my research no end. You mention your brew room is 14 degrees. My brewing is restricted to the garage, so the ambient in there can be 3-6 degrees in the UK winter. In your opinion would the double wall / insulation along with the in built 30w heater be sufficient to keep a brew stable at 20 - 23 degrees in ambient temperatures such as this? Thanks
Hi David, Just picked up a GF Fermenter with the dual valve and the non-wifi upgraded controller. Unbeatable price. My only issue is I cannot afford a chiller at this point. Is there a recommended way to clear the beer as it does not fit into my fermentation fridge as my SS Brewtech does? Is there a better option on the market? Thanks
So i decided since i got this beauty as well to brew a lager .. how often should i dump yeast though ? I can see bubbles from day 2 . Great video one more time Thanks for allthe help m8
Have you ever dry hopped in it? I have done lots of brews with it but never dry hopped now i have a pale in it and want to do so in 5 days. I would just put the airlock away, throw it in and put the air lock back on. You think this is going to give a Problem with oxidized beer?
I have used it a lot for dry hopping. You will be fine of you do not splash the hops in. Lowering in by hand works well. Make sure all is clean and sanitary.
@@DavidHeathHomebrew Do you take the lid off or just the airlock? Im just able to lower by hand, if i take the lid off. If i take away the airlock i can put the hops through that hole on top without taking away the lid, but the hop will splash than. Thanks for replying - i really like your content and appreciate the work you put in.
A lot of all grain recipes say to change fermentation vessels after 7 days. Do you still have to do this with this conical fermentor, when you are able to do yeast dumps?
That is a very old process and something most home brewers do not do these days. No need to do it. I would suggest a trub dump after storm fermentation (the initial busy time) and then after fermentation finish.
Hi David before bottling extra sugar can added by making a priming sugar solution and add this solution directly in the fermenter. Before adding this solution what is your advice for the yeast dump ? flush out this dump ?And is it necessary to add extra fresh yeast togehter with the sugar solution before starting the bottling ?
@@DavidHeathHomebrew Finally I've ordered the conical fermenter Pro and is delivered today. Do you have already tips to setup the fermentation in the grainfather app. What is your advice for a temperature controlled fermentation profile ? Thx
Congrats. I no longer use the GF app, so it is hard to advise here. Fermentation profiles will vary according to the yeast used. I can help if you can tell me what you next fermentation yeast is?
Hi David after how many days a first trub dumping is required during the fermentation in the conical fermenter ? How many times you repeat this action ?
Damn I could really use my brew fridge for lagering. Trouble is I'd need 2 of these and the chiller as well. It's 43 degrees celsius outside today and my lager is fermenting at 12 degrees in the brew fridge.
@@DavidHeathHomebrew ok, but nothing yet on linking them? I’ve got the Rapt pill but doesn’t look like it will connect. I really don’t like the fact you have to log into a website… Rapt should have it’s own app like Grainfather
How did you transfer from the grainfather to the grainfather fermenter? Any splash? How did you aerate the wort... during transfer or prior/after ? Thanks, very informative, I like the review. Thinking about getting a GF and 3 of those fermenters to get some production line going. Too many thristy friends I guess....
Hi, I have a hook up and extension from my gf into the fermenter to splash it in from a height and I then use an aeration paddle on a drill. You can see this in this video starting at 14 munutes ua-cam.com/video/lfuIz0cZ6c0/v-deo.html
Hi David Great video. Your Grainfather conical fermenter videos have convinced med to buy one, as soon as it is available in my town again. I have a question about the fermenter and yeast harvesting. When you harvest yeast from the Grainfather conical fermenter do you primarily harvest yeast when you do a yeast dump right after high fermentation? And if that is the case do you need to go through the same process of washing and decanting as you do in your Easy beer yeast bottom harvesting video?
The general rule is that if you are going to use the yeast within a week then washing is not needed, just use the entire slurry. The problem with the initial dumps is that it could mostly be trub. They only way of knowing is to add water and let it settle in a jar in a fridge overnight. Top cropping is more desirable in the early stages to harvest the better healthy yeast.
What would be the smallest batch I could brew to have the cooling sleeve make contact with the beer? From what I can tell the top of the cooling sleeve is at about the 19l mark. But say I wanted to do a 15l batch at higher gravity would I still be able to make use of the cooling functionality?
+Landon Boe To get the full benefit of cooling a batch size of 19L plus is suggested. High gravity batches really benefit from secondary conditioning also of course. Ive never found carboys in 15L size they go 10-11L, 19-21, 25L.
How long will Starsan be usable in the spray like container? Can it last for a month for example? Or do you just put in what is needed for cleaning and make a new solution every time you need it? Thanks
Hi David. Thank you for the very clear and professionally presented videos. I was very happy to subscribe and 'like' the videos I have watched. I like to brew smaller (20 pint) batches of beer and I note that the cooling sleeve is halfway up the fermenter, so depending on the batch size the wort may not reach up to the cooling sleeve or perhaps only partially. Would the cooling function (when hooked up to the chiller or cooling pump) still work on these smaller batch sizes?
Hi Tim, Really great to hear that you are enjoying my videos. Many thanks for your kind comments :) . Yes, I also prefer small batch sizes for more than a-few reasons. The cooling sleeve offers the limitation of being able to a cool a minimum of 19L. It really depends on the ambient temp of room you intend to ferment in as to how this will effect you on a regular brew, unless you intend to cold crash or lager. I guess this was done on the basis that most worldwide will go with a min 19L batch size.
In the stainless steel versus plastic fermenter debate, are plasticisers an issue? Do the lower temperatures reduce this risk for fermenting (and bottling) compared to say nylon hop/grain bags during the mash/boil?
Hi David, great videos. Really helping me with upgrading my set up! With the time of year and brewing in a shed outside in the west of Ireland, how do you think the temperature control will stand up against some bitterly cold nights? I'm new to the conical fermenters and so far they seem to be the way to go, and the temperature controlled option is really singing to me but I'm worried about my battles with the weather! Thanks in advance and keep up the great work! Harry
Thanks Harry. The heating in these units is powered by quite a small element. I would feel concerned about outside use in a shed during the winter past perhaps fermenting low temp lagers.
@@DavidHeathHomebrew Thank you David! I must actually see how much warmer inside the shed it is, if at all! I may have to get insulating it as it’s my only real viable option. Especially if I’m going to be having to keep an ale for X amount of days. I would want it around the hight teens I guess?
Hi david! Thank you for your videos! I want to ferment my beer on 14 degrees in the conical fermenter outside on my balkony without any extra cooling. The temperatures are not getting higher than 15 degrees during day and not lower as 2 at night. I wonder if the cooling will be sufficient during daytime when it starts fermenting? Thanks you
Great review David, I have a question. I did my second brew on my grainfather at the weekend and my connect box froze. It wouldn't register temps over 30degc and although the heating element was still heating I couldn't control it. Have you ever had this problem ? I rectified this by unplugging everything shutting the app down and plugging it back together then starting again. Thankfully it was on a cleaning cycle and and not mashing or boiling.
+Warren Fegan Hi Warren. That does sound odd. I have never had any problem to be honest, nor have I heard of such an issue before either. Hopefully its just a one off hiccup.
David Heath I'm hoping that's the case too, especially as it's only my second time of using. Should it happen again I'll contact the guys I got it from
Hi. Nice and informative, as usual. I’ve found a used setup with the glycol chiller and the same fermenter as you’ve been testing - for 10kNOK. Used a couple of batches. Do you mind me asking what you think of price, and are there anything i should be aware of with used set? Thanks a lot!
Hi David, do you have a good method for batch priming directly into the conical? just wondering if taking the lid off and dumping the sugar solution in is the best way forward or would this introduce to much oxygen thanks for the great review!!
Grate video. Can i use the grainfather conical fermenter for storing my beer after fermentation? I only have to kegs so i need to store the beer for a week or two :)
Thank you. Yes you can on average store for a month if you do not open the vessel after fermentation has finished. Use of a floating hydrometer can be very useful for this. I have a guide to 3 popular versions here:- ua-cam.com/video/E9x0t4plFHo/v-deo.html
@@DavidHeathHomebrew Ok grate so when my recipe say "Age for 10 days at 16.0 C" i can do that in my conical fermenter? And after 8 days i can add Mangrove Jack's Liquid Finings before keging?
Hi David great videos. I just wanted to know how you dry hop using the grainfather conical fermenter. How do you dry hop whilst minimising oxygen entering the fermenter?
Thanks for the review David. Quick question: Does this fermenter only heat to a set temperature or does it cool it down as well? If it does not, will I need to invest in cooling equipment for summertime fermenting?
Cheers. It is capable of cooling and it supports two products to do this. The cooling pump kit:- ua-cam.com/video/nFK1yw2rvuw/v-deo.html Glycol chiller - ua-cam.com/video/5C1awkeJGdU/v-deo.html They also recently released this new related product- ua-cam.com/video/KU2CaEnxPoU/v-deo.html I hope this all helps 🍻🍻🍻
Hi David Thanks for the review. I use the Grainfather and the WilliamsWarn brewmaster. Great combination. I also keg to free up my WilliamsWarn. I am looking to expand my output and I am considering this unit and the WilliamsWarn brewkeg 25. I want another brewmaster but I would need to hire a divorce attorney if I tried that:) based on the price, I can get a brewkeg 25, a temp controller and a brand new fridge to use as a ferm chamber. Plus the brewkeg 25 self carbonates and doesn’t need additional parts to pressure control transfer? Have you looked at that system? What are your thoughts? Thanks
Hi David, I just tried my first yeast dump after 2 days and... stuck. I ultimately used a sterilized stainless steel rod to break up the trub at the bottom of the cone, which resulted in discharge that was a combination of hops residue and yeast. Am wondering if you have any pro tips for preventing clogs in the conical and how to unclog when/if it happens. Thanks!
Hi Nicholas. Yes this can happen. Personally I have found a few quick blasts of co2 up the dump pipe works well. You will need one person on the dump valve and one person controlling the co2. Adding silicone tubing makes this easier but fast reactions are needed really. Naturally you do not want beer flow hitting the regulator if connected. Ive used an unregulated trigger mostly pushed upto the hose.
Hi David, I am doing my first Lager using the conical fermentor with M84. There has been a lag in the fermentation starting should I still start to dump yeast after 3 days or leave it a bit longer? Thanks in advance
i know someone that uses plastic bucket fermenter without an air lock by just placing the lid loose on fermenting bucket is there any reason i can do the same with grainfather conical fermenter or can't do this
Hi David, I was inspired to make the jump and purchase one of these from your videos... so far I’m glad I did. I love it! Question though: I will be bottling from my GF Fermenter for the first time in a few days. I was planning on bulk priming from the fermenter as well, after one final yeast dump. Just wondering if you have done this and if you found it left more beer behind than you might have liked? When doing the fizz drops do you not need to be concerned with a final yeast drop? Thanks again for your videos and keep up the great work!!
Thanks for the great video, David. I've got a quick question on dealing with the heat generated during fermentation. Given that this fermenter is well insulated, how do you keep the temperature down without using the glycol chiller once the fermentation kicks in and the temp starts to rise? Is your low ambient heat sufficient to overcome this increase? My ambient temperature is quite a bit higher than yours and I'm worried that I will end up with a too-high fermentation temperature. Thanks!
+David Park Its really best to allow the yeast that extra space temperature wise in the storm period of fermentation. So instead of trying to work against it, work with it. It will stabilise out. For hotter ambient temperature (a different thing ofc ) you will really need glycol or a brew fridge. Getting your beer into the fermenter at the right temperature is key.
Thanks for this David(s!) - Just received one of these for my birthday, and had exactly the same question around rising and ambient temps. Looks like I can manage without the glycol...for a while ;-)
Because it is insulated I can't just put in my fermenting fridge and I'd need the addons like glycol up front, maybe better if you lived in NZ or Norway.
+Duncan Lindley You can Duncan, it will just take longer to cool that way but because the unit has this insulation it won't be as effected by temps anyway. That will be furthered by having it in a fridge. Win - win
A fridge w/ ss brew bucket and brew-pi controller struggles to keep up with the ferocity of heat generated by windsor yeast as it is :) It's the only yeast I've used that's pushed it to the limits now, I think the insulation would make it impossible to control in this scenario without glycol.
Does disconnecting the glycol lines from the fermenter after use, allow the remaining glycol to leak out of the cooling sleeve ??? I picturing having to buy more ball valves to close off the cooling sleeve to lock in the glycol, especially if your using more then 1 fermenter, so the total volume of glycol is more than what the chiller can hold ??? (Is this a true statement?)
No, the connectors are self sealing, so you get no leaks at all. When you hook up an additional conical you will add more glycol into the tank to compensate. The glycol chiller comes with enough glycol to set up the full four conicals to it.
I was given the wrong connectors so I was a bit "what the?" and "what are others doing?" . But have sorted the correct self sealing connectors which should of came with the kit. Thanks for the reply, Happy brewing
Great video Dave! I'd love one of these but for now will have to settle for my Ss Brewbucket with chiller coil. Not completely related question but, whenever you sparge, you always emphasize how critical it is to not rush this step. For a typical 6 gallon (22L) batch, how long does your sparge last? Much thanks!
You need silicone hosing with an inner diameter of 14 mm (0.55") for the bottom tap. As for the dump ,I am not totally sure, I picked up an off cut and tried it before buying. The tap is small enough to take along with you to a store for sizing luckily. Sorry that I could only half help here.
David. Great, informative video as usual. Did you dry hop directly to the conical, or use a hop bag etc? Also, I've never used priming tabs before but they'd seem to suit this set up for simplicity. For an IPA style, do you find one tab is enough for correct carbonation, and would you double up for a 500ml bottle?? Do you have a preference for brand? Many thanks!!
Thank you! I am very glad that you found it to be useful. I used a hop bag, it worked really well. The day one beer was very drinkable :) For sure you want to use two tabs for a 500ml bottle but this was me being lazy. I will dump the yeast and use priming sugar in future. Much cheaper and more control.As for brands I used Muntons this time but any will do the job I feel.
David Heath Thanks David. I guess it's easy enough to dump the yeast with the dual valve tap until you're getting clear beer and add a priming solution. Can't wait to see the chiller in action. I fear the savings will be taking another hit!
David, thanks for another great video. I had a question regarding the bottom valve. I like how it has the extended tube inside the fermenter and draws beer from above the sediment, but do you know how much volume is actually below that inlet? I guess my concern is if I'm dumping yeast along the way there probably won't be too much sediment left before transfer and I don't want to lose a bunch of beer below that inlet... Another question is how do you feel about fermenting a small batch in this? Between the large headspace and lost volume below the bottom valve inlet, I'm guessing it's probably not suited for anything under 5 gallons, right? Thanks in advance for your insight.
+JR F The volume at the bottom cone is very small and full of things you really do not want in your finished beer. :) The dump valve only needs a gentle touch and thus it is easy to control. Easier than what ive used commercially for sure. My first beer in this was a small batch that had no issues. The system is fine for 10L batches up to 25L. So it's suitable for anything really.
David Heath awesome, thanks for getting back to me on that so quickly! keep up the great work with the videos, they really help us new guys figure things out.
Great video as always David, I always view your videos many times over, always learning from you. I will buy a Fermenter early next year. I have bought a GF, due to arrive today, originally ordered a Speidel 20L Plus but cancelled due to ongoing delivery delays. Do you do any reusing/washing yeast, I do this from time to time but never know how much to pitch for the next brew so just put all of it in!
Hi David, if you are fermenting in a room circa 22 degrees, can the temperature controller cool and maintain a temperature of 18 degrees, without any additional glycol chiller?
+Richard Brown If the room is 22 degrees then there the temperature inside the fermenter will be 22 degrees or above as the fermentation process creates an exothermic reaction generating more heat. You need some form of external coolant to bring the temperature down, ideally the glycol chiller. I fermented a beer last week when the temperature here in the UK went to 26 degrees at one point. I managed to control the temperature at around 18 - 19 degrees by plumbing in a temporary cold water feed from the cold water tap. A small trickle of water kept the temperature down nicely. I think there will be alternatives to the glycol chiller appearing soon for third party or even official sources.
Hi David, Great video again. Do you know roughly when the Glycol Chiller will release? I ordered mine in May, and still can't seem to find a release date. I have my first brew in the conical fermenter now (as of this afternoon) and look forward to seeing the results :) You mentioned removing dead yeast cells every couple of days. Is that normal procedure and something I should be doing in every brew? Thanks for your great videos, they have really helped me in my setup, as I am very new to brewing, and thoroughly enjoying it :)
+Laust Christensen Nice and easy. I used pbw then water. Ran it all through the tap at both ends, then sterilised it with some starsan. No fuss stuff :)
Another spot on video David. On my wish list should them numbers ever come up.I think I'd give the glycol chiller a miss. Would it be an issue with putting the whole unit in a fridge to cold crash? Or maybe rack to a carboy and then to the fridge? Cheers mate.
Hello David, I have a issue the fermenter heating is very slow about 1° a hour is this normal in a room from 14 ° ? Its my first brew after i have seen your video (always great btw) and i bought a set with chiller Greeting Fons
Well, i'm jealous. So i'll be saving up again. :) So plastic it is for now. But now for a excellent question; All remarks on usage in plastic fermenters, when would be a good time to replace a plastic fermenter? Besides a cracked one obviously.
Great review David.. Do you have any concerns that air could be drawn back into the fermenter while dumping the yeast and cause and contaminate causing infection to the beer?
Thank you :) The yeast dump is very quick and it had no effect on the airlock, so not there is no reason to be concerned on that count. I also left the lid on and closed during part of the bottling and noted that it took quite some bottles worth before the airlock sucked in air. So that was also very reassuring :)
Hello David, I have a question about the thread size Grainfather uses. I want to add quick connects to the Conicals IN OUT ports and do my own cooling. it seems to a universal thread they use on all there systems. I'm in the U.S. and having a tough time finding something that mates up. I asked GF costumer service and they didn't give me much. any help on this would be great! Thank you, Chris
+Chris Genest Hi Chris, I really have no info on the size either. I am unsure how to measure it either. I am surprised that customer service couldn't help. I would suggest emailing the head office directly. Sorry I cannot help more here.
Thanks anyway! I did find some posts saying that the size was 3/8 NPT or 10mm. I did try the 3/8 and it's not 100% only goes halfway in. maybe I'll wait and see if they will offer a tubing kit with fittings . Cheers, Chris
+Chris Genest A tubing kit will be sold 100%. You get one with the glycol chiller. I got a demo glycol unit yesterday, which has the full retail packaging.
Question - so this allows me to do closed transfers to my keg out of the bottom valve, correct? Assuming I do not need to hook up any CO2 for pushing the liquid since gravity is on my side. The separate yeast valve allows me to isolate the clean, finished product when i transfer, correct?
how you will do a closed transfer with no co2? if the fermentor is closed, it needs air so the liquid can go off to the keg. When you do an open transfer this air is from the atmosphere, when you do closed transfer is co2. Gravity does not matter, pressure does!
This would only be practical for me if it were able to chill/lager/cold crash without the extra glycol chiller. Although that yeast dump option means you could keg 1st and THEN chill without worrying about clogging from yeast and hops.. meaning I can lager while freeing up my fermentation fridge. Oh geez goodbye money..
Yes, I can very much understand this and I really wish that money was not something that creates a barrier. The Fermzilla is a better option for most people, I have a video that previews this and a full review coming soon that explains the pros and cons.
Forgive me for being too brain dead to understand, but does this unit actually keep the beer at any given temperature of your choosing? I'd like to keep it in my garage with my Grainfather, but let's say I'm trying to ferment at 70 degrees Fahrenheit... is that possible when it's in a 90 degree Fahrenheit garage in the middle of the Summer? If so, is this unit going to kill me on my electric bill? Thanks to any responders!
Just bought one last week. I have wanted one for a long time but like you said the price was too much and I didn't feel I could justify spending that amount . I currently have my first brew in it so it's too early to say if it was worth buying but so far I am quite pleased. The only mistake I made was leaving the transfer valve open when I was putting my wort in from my Grainfather! Luckily I only lost about half a litre! I won't make that mistake again!
Great. Learning by doing works :)
Absolutely fantastic video David I’ve been looking at getting one of these recently after using the standard plastic fermenter for 13 years I really think they are great your video has definitely swayed me now much appreciated
Great to hear, much appreciated 🍻🍻
Thanks for the video. I too just bought one because of your advise. Researching the Brewtech both conical and unitank all I could think about was how much time would be needed to disassemble and clean the thing. Add the cooling coil, a cleaning ball, gallons of PBW cleaner, mess etc made Grainfather the best choice for me.
Yes, I believe that the GF is the better choice for many.
Great video and review. Also, I went to settings and changed the speed to 1.5 - I suggest doing the same.
Thank you :)
David really appreciate all the videos and honest opinions of the products you reviewed. Your videos have helped me out a lot with my new Grainfather. I've been able to achieve all my numbers on brew day with the tips you've provided for efficiency.
+April Hernandez Thats great to hear April :) More coming soon, as always! :)
Great video David, thank you for making it. My conical fermenter and chiller are currently in the garage, awaiting the next brew but I'm very excited to begin using them, and I don't do 'excitement'. So good to watch this in advance and get a feel for how the system works, I'm like a kid waiting to play with new toys.
Great to hear. Very nice kit for sure 🍻🍻🍻
Hi. Do you have the glycol chiller? If so, what do you think of it?
@Half Dream Room Yes, so far has worked like a charm, I've done about six brews in it. Not really needing the glycol atm as it's totally baltic in my garage 🤣
I do and really rate it. I have a review of it and still use it regularly to this day.
Hi David. As an new student homebrewer I trust my mentor. So I ordered one of these. I prefer to have the best equipment possible, this way if it things go wrong it's the brewer I have to look at. I did not check to see if there are comparable products nowadays ( 4-5 years after the video). What you describe here suits me well. Very well made video. One question about yeast and trub dumping: How much and how often do you dump? Is there something that tells you it's time to dump? The information on this topic seems very sparse on the internet. Again, thank you so much for sharing your knowledge.
Hi Luc, great to hear.
It is good to dump a small amount once the fermentation starts to calm down. No need for more than 500ml.
After fermentation you could do another dump half that size before transfer.
@@DavidHeathHomebrew Thank you David it is a very usefull information.
🍻🍻🍻
thanks david, you really are a big help and very knowledgeable too 😊
Great to hear, thank you 🍻🍻🍻
Just ordered one because of this video, well because of your videos
I am sure you will be very happy with it. This is the best GF product by a fair way.
Hi David, I'm not sure if anyone has pointed this out before, it would be super helpful if you List & Link any videos mentioned in the video - your videos are an awesome resource for us beginners, hope this helps.
Thanks Ali, yes I have started doing this now 🍻
I love how you cool and calm as a cobra tell us how this fermentor is simply obliterating by far all others .... :) normally people are yelling and screaming to be heard....
Thank you. There are other fermenters now that are dual skin with insulation in the cavity but they are much more expensive and do not have a controller that is so good. I would suggest checking out all options of course before you decide. Hope this helps.
as always pleasure to watch your videos... I am sold on this idea
+michał rodziewicz I am glad to hear that Michal, thank you :)
Peter Y Same as any other fermenter really Peter. Dry hopping has never lead to Oxidisation for me , I know this because ive never had oxidisation in such styles :) It actually takes longer to oxidise a beer than some people realise.
"I absolutely hate the cleaning aspect of brewing"
That made me smile as that's basically 80% of the job; this become more a 95% of the job once in the commercial businesses 😅
Exactly, I am from a commercial brewing background.
Same, that's why I found it even funnier and relatable 😅 best job ever, don't get me wrong, but the amount of cleaning required though...
After some decades of it though….
Great video - I have just ordered the G40, 2 conical fermenter pro editions and the glycol chiller. You should be on commission :-)
Haha, that would be nice but I enjoy making these videos. I am sure you will enjoy the set up
:)
I brew 5 to 5.5 gallon batches. I understand the cone of the fermentor contains the heating unit. So my question is: When transferring my wort into this 8 gallon fermentor will cooling portion of the fermentor wall be lower than the max upper level of my wort??
During active glycol cooling the area where the cooling sleeve is will be the coldest part. When actively heating the cone will be the warmest part. However during transfer neither will be active. Also this fermenter has a couple of spots that it reads temp from so it evens out the temperature.
Wow
Another outstandingly well informed, well reasoned review.
It looks quite beautiful and fantastically well engineered.
Will I be buying one, probably not
Thanks again
Cheers
Thanks Andy, its all about informed choice.
Im cheking my Mail for tracking info everyday now. Can't wait to test it. Hope they ship it soon 🍻😇
+Even Skaaren-Fystro Haha, I was the same:)
Hi David. Thank you for your videos. My wife and I really enjoy listening and brewing your recipes. When do you think the Grainfather will bring out a stainless steel pressure fermenter?
Great to hear :) I find this unlikely based on trade information. However other suppliers will be releasing more hardware of this type in 2021. I am using the Kegland Kegmenter at present for stainless steel pressure fermentation. Cheap yet effective.
Dear David, i was wondering .. there is no dedicated video for yeast collecting and preserving with grainfather conical fermenter.. would you be so kind and make such one at some point , i think i speak for everyone that we would greatly appreaciate it :)
Hey :) I have already provided a video on this :)
My recommendations are included with this method as well as why I suggest this.
ua-cam.com/video/LCocmYRTsiw/v-deo.html
I am now equipped with the conical fermenter. It's handy. But I would like to know if we've got to remove the bubbler when we use the dual valve to dump the dead yeast or to transfer the beer. Many thanks.
No need during dumping. When transfering without the pressure transfer kit it is best to open the lid then put it back on without the clips. This usually is enough to avoid sucking back of the fluid in the airlock.
Very great video David!! I have ordered too one GF fermentor, and now I am waiting for it. If you are so kind I would like to make you questions. According to look after the inner surface along the cleaning and sanitizing before and after fermentation... how do you do that work?? Whith a CIP ball for example?? What sort of sanitizer do you use?? Are you planning to upload any cleaning/sanitizing video on this fermenter?? (I ask this last question because, anyway you will have to do this sort of work, and if you share it, you will be helpful and very apreciated hehe). Congratulations for your channel!!
+Jesus Martin Moreno I am not a fan of CIP balls, they never seem to clean to the standard that I am happy with. I use PBW to clean and Starsan for sanitation. I could certainly make a cleaning video for the conical. The process is quite simple though. Pbw solution/ fill with water to rinse/ sanitise in the same way you would plastic.
Great review, David! If I were to brew mainly Belgian style ales, which do not really need cooling, do you think if I need a fancy fermenter like this one? Or, a brew bucket will do?
Thanks. Fermenters like this will last much longer and provide much more functionality.
Hi David, hope you're well. I have just bought the pro version of this with the new controller. My question is, I have a lager in it at the moment., with lager yeast which is fermenting at 10c. I'm 24 hours in. When do I do a trub dump or should I wait until fermentation is over? Thank you in advance.
Hey Lisa, all good thanks 😎
Congrats on the pro version.
I suggest doing a quick dump after the more aggressive fermentation is over.
Enjoy 🍻🍻
Would it be possible advise on or make a video someday about what to do when dumping yeast, taking samples and cold crashing in order to stop suckback of air into the fementor along with a little sanitiser at times?
Thanks for your helpful videos David.
Hi David, I covered dumping in the review video. In terms of avoiding suckback check out my review of the Plaato valve :)
David Heath Thanks David. I meant preventing suckback during yeast dump. Luckily I have a valve on order and can’t wait to use it. I will check out your video. Thanks again.
PS. When dumping yeast or taking samples while using the Plaato valve, what replaces the the liquid or is a vacuum created?
Vacuum to a point, the valve opens to release also.
@@DavidHeathHomebrew So air is let into the fermenter when the valve releases? Does this mean I would need to attach some sort of CO2 balloon to the valve to stop oxidizing? Thanks for your help. I've only been brewing for 7 months or so.
Great, informative video as usual David , something worth saving the pennies for i think , thanks Ivan
+MultiChef888 Sure is :)
After going through the video and the comments, I am wondering if this unit still holds up in value when paired with the glycol chiller?
Presently, I use ice water on an anvil bucket - which works but no pressure transfer. I could see myself spending this kind of money for two fermenters and the glycol chiller eventually if it was basically the final stage of my brewery.
Very soon GF are releasing a glycol chiller connection adapter kit. This allows the use of many other brands and types of equipment. I am currently creating this video and I suspect it will be released in 3-4 weeks maximum. I believe this adds greater value. The GF conical is certainly a great product that I still use often, despite having access to other types of vessels.
Hi David
Just recently started watching your videos. They are just great. Have to work my way through them all as I always find and advice or two in almost all of them.
Made my first brew on my new Grainfather connect and also first time fermenting on Grainfather conical fermenter. I have some, but hopefully not too many questions I hope you are able to answer.
• Do I want to dumb yeast? If yes. When do I dump yeast for the first time and for how many times during 14 days of fermentation should I dump yeast?
• How much amount is it recommended to dump each time?
• Do you check the FG during yeasting? In this video, you mention doing a gravity test before dry hopping. Which value do you like to see?
• The recipe I now ferment is an all-grain beer package (Kinn Vstkyst) and I shall dry-hop after five days. Do you recommend to use a hop bag or just spread the hop directly into the fermenter? If I use a hop bag how do I avoid it to sink to the bottom and potentially get stuck in the yeast dump valve or get stuck over the sample outlet? Can it be a good idea to attach the hop bag to a string to avoid the hop bag to sink to the bottom of the fermenter? Or do you have other advice?
Hi Espen, great to hear :) Yes, I would suggest you dump. I would suggest you do this firstly after the main storm of fermentation (After 5-7 days usually) and then a final one at the end. No need to open the valve for more than a couple of seconds each time.Yes, I use a tilt hydrometer so that I can see what is happening during the fermentation. I dry hop when there are 5 points remaining of final gravity. A hop bag is good or a tea stainer for dry hopping. I have a video that shows this. Marbles are great for weight. Ive never had any bag sticking issues in my GF conical but I guess it is possible. Hope this helps :)
David Heath Homebrew, yes this helps a lot, thanks for replying and even on Christmas evening 🎅🏼. Will find your video showing dry hopping.
great video David, very informative
+Craig Neuberger Thank you, I am glad you found it useful :)
Brilliant review as usual, but one question, how would you use it to ferment the occasional extract kit that I like to do. Make it up in a plastic bin then just dump it into GF?
Hi Chris, yes I think that would be the way forward.
Hi David. Great review. Is the GF capable of warming wort to 38 to 40 degrees Celsius for Kviek yeast? Also when you disconnect the cooling hoses do the fittings retain the glycol or does it need to be drained first?
Thanks Rob. Mine maxes at 35C but that works just fine for kveik and saison yeast.
Yes, the ports have fittings to avoid leakage. So the glycol remains after use which is no issue.
@@DavidHeathHomebrew thanks for your speedy reply 😘 yeah the connector that screws into the fermenter just looks like an open male fitting. Grainfather have other connectors on their website that seem to be dedicated to sealed disconnects. About 30 Aud
🍻🍻🍻
I finally have a GF Conical V2. But i newer did a yeast dump. After how many days should i dump my dead yeast.
At the moment i'm using M44 West Coast yeast for a IPA between 21-22 degrees Celsius.
I would suggest after the most aggressive fermentation part is over that you do the first dump. Then one more before transfer.
@@DavidHeathHomebrew Thanks. I will take your advice .
🍻🍻🍻
Hi David, very informative, helps my research no end. You mention your brew room is 14 degrees. My brewing is restricted to the garage, so the ambient in there can be 3-6 degrees in the UK winter. In your opinion would the double wall / insulation along with the in built 30w heater be sufficient to keep a brew stable at 20 - 23 degrees in ambient temperatures such as this? Thanks
Thanks. I would suggest using heating direct to the fermenter. Room heating is not a good solution unless you are using pressure fermentation.
Hi David, Just picked up a GF Fermenter with the dual valve and the non-wifi upgraded controller. Unbeatable price. My only issue is I cannot afford a chiller at this point. Is there a recommended way to clear the beer as it does not fit into my fermentation fridge as my SS Brewtech does? Is there a better option on the market? Thanks
I suggest looking at this:- ua-cam.com/video/nFK1yw2rvuw/v-deo.html
So i decided since i got this beauty as well to brew a lager .. how often should i dump yeast though ? I can see bubbles from day 2 . Great video one more time Thanks for allthe help m8
Great :) I hope you enjoy it. I would suggest 1 dump after high fermentation and 1 before transfer.
@@DavidHeathHomebrew Much obliged !! cheers
Anytime :)
Great vid and great info👍🏻
+Even Skaaren-Fystro Thank you, glad you enjoyed it :)
Have you ever dry hopped in it? I have done lots of brews with it but never dry hopped now i have a pale in it and want to do so in 5 days. I would just put the airlock away, throw it in and put the air lock back on. You think this is going to give a Problem with oxidized beer?
I have used it a lot for dry hopping. You will be fine of you do not splash the hops in. Lowering in by hand works well. Make sure all is clean and sanitary.
@@DavidHeathHomebrew Thank you so much for answering. I really like your content and appreciate the work you put in.
@@DavidHeathHomebrew Do you take the lid off or just the airlock? Im just able to lower by hand, if i take the lid off. If i take away the airlock i can put the hops through that hole on top without taking away the lid, but the hop will splash than. Thanks for replying - i really like your content and appreciate the work you put in.
@warismoney thank you, my pleasure 🍻🍻🍻
@warismoney I suggest taking the whole lid off. No splashing is essential 🍻🍻🍻
Great video David! I always wondered whether it was worth the price!
Best thing GF have made to date for sure!
A lot of all grain recipes say to change fermentation vessels after 7 days. Do you still have to do this with this conical fermentor, when you are able to do yeast dumps?
That is a very old process and something most home brewers do not do these days. No need to do it. I would suggest a trub dump after storm fermentation (the initial busy time) and then after fermentation finish.
@@DavidHeathHomebrew Thank you for getting back to me. That makes more sense cheers
David, Great videos as always. Question...the Yeast Dump valve, what size tube did you use to extend. Thank you.
Sorry..I found it online 19mm
Ok great :)
Hi David before bottling extra sugar can added by making a priming sugar solution and add this solution directly in the fermenter. Before adding this solution what is your advice for the yeast dump ? flush out this dump ?And is it necessary to add extra fresh yeast togehter with the sugar solution before starting the bottling ?
The trub dumping is certainly a good idea with the GF conical. No need to add more yeast :)
@@DavidHeathHomebrew Hi thank you for the quick response. I have the intention to buy the Grainfather conical fermenter.
No problem. It is certainly a great choice. To my mind their best product to date.
@@DavidHeathHomebrew Finally I've ordered the conical fermenter Pro and is delivered today. Do you have already tips to setup the fermentation in the grainfather app. What is your advice for a temperature controlled fermentation profile ?
Thx
Congrats. I no longer use the GF app, so it is hard to advise here. Fermentation profiles will vary according to the yeast used. I can help if you can tell me what you next fermentation yeast is?
Hi David after how many days a first trub dumping is required during the fermentation in the conical fermenter ? How many times you repeat this action ?
Hi :) I wait for the busy fermentation stage to be done and then do a quick dump. Then another quick one before transfer.
Damn I could really use my brew fridge for lagering. Trouble is I'd need 2 of these and the chiller as well. It's 43 degrees celsius outside today and my lager is fermenting at 12 degrees in the brew fridge.
That sure is hot!
I’m surprised nobody has done a video yet on linking a fermentation device to this unit. Or maybe I missed it?
Ive covered the devices themselves
@@DavidHeathHomebrew ok, but nothing yet on linking them? I’ve got the Rapt pill but doesn’t look like it will connect. I really don’t like the fact you have to log into a website… Rapt should have it’s own app like Grainfather
Actually there are talks between GF and Kegland about offering this but its not fully done yet.
How did you transfer from the grainfather to the grainfather fermenter? Any splash? How did you aerate the wort... during transfer or prior/after ? Thanks, very informative, I like the review. Thinking about getting a GF and 3 of those fermenters to get some production line going. Too many thristy friends I guess....
Hi, I have a hook up and extension from my gf into the fermenter to splash it in from a height and I then use an aeration paddle on a drill. You can see this in this video starting at 14 munutes ua-cam.com/video/lfuIz0cZ6c0/v-deo.html
Hi David
Great video. Your Grainfather conical fermenter videos have convinced med to buy one, as soon as it is available in my town again.
I have a question about the fermenter and yeast harvesting. When you harvest yeast from the Grainfather conical fermenter do you primarily harvest yeast when you do a yeast dump right after high fermentation? And if that is the case do you need to go through the same process of washing and decanting as you do in your Easy beer yeast bottom harvesting video?
The general rule is that if you are going to use the yeast within a week then washing is not needed, just use the entire slurry. The problem with the initial dumps is that it could mostly be trub. They only way of knowing is to add water and let it settle in a jar in a fridge overnight. Top cropping is more desirable in the early stages to harvest the better healthy yeast.
Will my Tilt2 Hydrometer work in the Grainfather Conical Fermentor?
Yes, mine does 🍻🍻🍻
Hi David,
When you dump yeast, what do you do with the airlock / blow-off tube? Disconnect it and admit some air?
Cheers,
Tony
+Anthony Marks I find there is no need on a short yeast dump. I only do that when transferring.
What would be the smallest batch I could brew to have the cooling sleeve make contact with the beer? From what I can tell the top of the cooling sleeve is at about the 19l mark. But say I wanted to do a 15l batch at higher gravity would I still be able to make use of the cooling functionality?
+Landon Boe To get the full benefit of cooling a batch size of 19L plus is suggested. High gravity batches really benefit from secondary conditioning also of course. Ive never found carboys in 15L size they go 10-11L, 19-21, 25L.
How long will Starsan be usable in the spray like container? Can it last for a month for example?
Or do you just put in what is needed for cleaning and make a new solution every time you need it?
Thanks
Hey. As long as its stored sealed usually it will last at least 3 months and is multiuse. Be sure to clean first before using it.
Hi David. Thank you for the very clear and professionally presented videos. I was very happy to subscribe and 'like' the videos I have watched.
I like to brew smaller (20 pint) batches of beer and I note that the cooling sleeve is halfway up the fermenter, so depending on the batch size the wort may not reach up to the cooling sleeve or perhaps only partially. Would the cooling function (when hooked up to the chiller or cooling pump) still work on these smaller batch sizes?
Hi Tim, Really great to hear that you are enjoying my videos. Many thanks for your kind comments :) . Yes, I also prefer small batch sizes for more than a-few reasons. The cooling sleeve offers the limitation of being able to a cool a minimum of 19L. It really depends on the ambient temp of room you intend to ferment in as to how this will effect you on a regular brew, unless you intend to cold crash or lager. I guess this was done on the basis that most worldwide will go with a min 19L batch size.
In the stainless steel versus plastic fermenter debate, are plasticisers an issue? Do the lower temperatures reduce this risk for fermenting (and bottling) compared to say nylon hop/grain bags during the mash/boil?
I've made enquires on these topics and apparently not on both of these.
@@DavidHeathHomebrew Thanks. Yes, a further search shows nylon for example safe up to 120 degrees C beer! www.coleparmer.com/Chemical-Resistance
@@DavidHeathHomebrew make that 72 degrees C for nylon
I'll get it right eventually: 72 degrees F, 22 degrees C...so perhaps not compatible at all
Yes, all good :)
Hi David, great videos. Really helping me with upgrading my set up!
With the time of year and brewing in a shed outside in the west of Ireland, how do you think the temperature control will stand up against some bitterly cold nights? I'm new to the conical fermenters and so far they seem to be the way to go, and the temperature controlled option is really singing to me but I'm worried about my battles with the weather! Thanks in advance and keep up the great work! Harry
Thanks Harry. The heating in these units is powered by quite a small element. I would feel concerned about outside use in a shed during the winter past perhaps fermenting low temp lagers.
@@DavidHeathHomebrew Thank you David! I must actually see how much warmer inside the shed it is, if at all! I may have to get insulating it as it’s my only real viable option. Especially if I’m going to be having to keep an ale for X amount of days. I would want it around the hight teens I guess?
Yes, at least 14-15 really.
@@DavidHeathHomebrew amazing, thank you so much David! I’ll wrap it up well! Ha!
Great :)
Hi david! Thank you for your videos!
I want to ferment my beer on 14 degrees in the conical fermenter outside on my balkony without any extra cooling. The temperatures are not getting higher than 15 degrees during day and not lower as 2 at night. I wonder if the cooling will be sufficient during daytime when it starts fermenting? Thanks you
Thanks Igor, great to hear :) Yes I should think so.
Hi David Heath, you didn't filter the beer in this video before bottling. Is that deliberate?
Yes, I see no reason to filter beer.
Great review David, I have a question. I did my second brew on my grainfather at the weekend and my connect box froze. It wouldn't register temps over 30degc and although the heating element was still heating I couldn't control it.
Have you ever had this problem ? I rectified this by unplugging everything shutting the app down and plugging it back together then starting again. Thankfully it was on a cleaning cycle and and not mashing or boiling.
+Warren Fegan Hi Warren. That does sound odd. I have never had any problem to be honest, nor have I heard of such an issue before either. Hopefully its just a one off hiccup.
David Heath I'm hoping that's the case too, especially as it's only my second time of using. Should it happen again I'll contact the guys I got it from
+Warren Fegan Fingers crossed for you but if it does happen again then it needs to be returned for sure.
Hi.
Nice and informative, as usual. I’ve found a used setup with the glycol chiller and the same fermenter as you’ve been testing - for 10kNOK. Used a couple of batches. Do you mind me asking what you think of price, and are there anything i should be aware of with used set?
Thanks a lot!
Great to hear :)
Thats probably not a bad price, all considered. Barely used is nice.
Hi David, do you have a good method for batch priming directly into the conical? just wondering if taking the lid off and dumping the sugar solution in is the best way forward or would this introduce to much oxygen
thanks for the great review!!
Yes, it is tricky. Sadly the best way is to not batch prime. Depends on how long you want the beer to last in the end.
@@DavidHeathHomebrew roger that thanks mate
Grate video. Can i use the grainfather conical fermenter for storing my beer after fermentation? I only have to kegs so i need to store the beer for a week or two :)
Thank you. Yes you can on average store for a month if you do not open the vessel after fermentation has finished. Use of a floating hydrometer can be very useful for this. I have a guide to 3 popular versions here:- ua-cam.com/video/E9x0t4plFHo/v-deo.html
@@DavidHeathHomebrew Ok grate so when my recipe say "Age for 10 days at 16.0 C" i can do that in my conical fermenter? And after 8 days i can add Mangrove Jack's Liquid Finings before keging?
Yes, no problems there :)
Hi David great videos. I just wanted to know how you dry hop using the grainfather conical fermenter. How do you dry hop whilst minimising oxygen entering the fermenter?
Its an art. Try to dry hop when your fermentation is almost but not quite finished.
David Heath thanks for the reply. Do you hop straight into the grainfather conical fermenter or do you drop in the tea infusers filled with hops?
I use tea infusers or hop socks.
Thanks for the review David.
Quick question: Does this fermenter only heat to a set temperature or does it cool it down as well? If it does not, will I need to invest in cooling equipment for summertime fermenting?
Cheers. It is capable of cooling and it supports two products to do this.
The cooling pump kit:- ua-cam.com/video/nFK1yw2rvuw/v-deo.html
Glycol chiller - ua-cam.com/video/5C1awkeJGdU/v-deo.html
They also recently released this new related product- ua-cam.com/video/KU2CaEnxPoU/v-deo.html
I hope this all helps 🍻🍻🍻
@@DavidHeathHomebrew Very helpful links...also your videos. Thanks!
Great, cheers 🍻🍻🍻
Hi David
Thanks for the review. I use the Grainfather and the WilliamsWarn brewmaster. Great combination. I also keg to free up my WilliamsWarn. I am looking to expand my output and I am considering this unit and the WilliamsWarn brewkeg 25. I want another brewmaster but I would need to hire a divorce attorney if I tried that:) based on the price, I can get a brewkeg 25, a temp controller and a brand new fridge to use as a ferm chamber. Plus the brewkeg 25 self carbonates and doesn’t need additional parts to pressure control transfer? Have you looked at that system? What are your thoughts? Thanks
Sadly these are not products available in Norway. I know little about them, sorry.
Hi David, I just tried my first yeast dump after 2 days and... stuck. I ultimately used a sterilized stainless steel rod to break up the trub at the bottom of the cone, which resulted in discharge that was a combination of hops residue and yeast. Am wondering if you have any pro tips for preventing clogs in the conical and how to unclog when/if it happens. Thanks!
Hi Nicholas. Yes this can happen. Personally I have found a few quick blasts of co2 up the dump pipe works well. You will need one person on the dump valve and one person controlling the co2. Adding silicone tubing makes this easier but fast reactions are needed really. Naturally you do not want beer flow hitting the regulator if connected. Ive used an unregulated trigger mostly pushed upto the hose.
Thank you, David.
:)
Hi David, I am doing my first Lager using the conical fermentor with M84. There has been a lag in the fermentation starting should I still start to dump yeast after 3 days or leave it a bit longer? Thanks in advance
I would just wait until the «storm period» has finished, when ever this comes :)
Nice video again cheers for sharing
+Beanham Home Brew Glad you enjoyed it :)
i know someone that uses plastic bucket fermenter without an air lock by just placing the lid loose on fermenting bucket is there any reason i can do the same with grainfather conical fermenter or can't do this
As long as no insects can get in then sure. Quite an old school method that one.
@DavidHeath. Are the handles strong enough to lift and carry it while it's full with 5 or 6 gallons?
Sure, no problems there :)
Hi David, I was inspired to make the jump and purchase one of these from your videos... so far I’m glad I did. I love it!
Question though: I will be bottling from my GF Fermenter for the first time in a few days. I was planning on bulk priming from the fermenter as well, after one final yeast dump. Just wondering if you have done this and if you found it left more beer behind than you might have liked?
When doing the fizz drops do you not need to be concerned with a final yeast drop?
Thanks again for your videos and keep up the great work!!
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Thanks for the great video, David. I've got a quick question on dealing with the heat generated during fermentation. Given that this fermenter is well insulated, how do you keep the temperature down without using the glycol chiller once the fermentation kicks in and the temp starts to rise? Is your low ambient heat sufficient to overcome this increase? My ambient temperature is quite a bit higher than yours and I'm worried that I will end up with a too-high fermentation temperature. Thanks!
+David Park Its really best to allow the yeast that extra space temperature wise in the storm period of fermentation. So instead of trying to work against it, work with it. It will stabilise out. For hotter ambient temperature (a different thing ofc ) you will really need glycol or a brew fridge. Getting your beer into the fermenter at the right temperature is key.
Thanks!
Thanks for this David(s!) - Just received one of these for my birthday, and had exactly the same question around rising and ambient temps. Looks like I can manage without the glycol...for a while ;-)
Its just round the corner now thankfully :)
Because it is insulated I can't just put in my fermenting fridge and I'd need the addons like glycol up front, maybe better if you lived in NZ or Norway.
+Duncan Lindley You can Duncan, it will just take longer to cool that way but because the unit has this insulation it won't be as effected by temps anyway. That will be furthered by having it in a fridge. Win - win
A fridge w/ ss brew bucket and brew-pi controller struggles to keep up with the ferocity of heat generated by windsor yeast as it is :) It's the only yeast I've used that's pushed it to the limits now, I think the insulation would make it impossible to control in this scenario without glycol.
+Duncan Lindley The glycol chiller will be available very soon :)
Does disconnecting the glycol lines from the fermenter after use, allow the remaining glycol to leak out of the cooling sleeve ??? I picturing having to buy more ball valves to close off the cooling sleeve to lock in the glycol, especially if your using more then 1 fermenter, so the total volume of glycol is more than what the chiller can hold ??? (Is this a true statement?)
No, the connectors are self sealing, so you get no leaks at all. When you hook up an additional conical you will add more glycol into the tank to compensate. The glycol chiller comes with enough glycol to set up the full four conicals to it.
I was given the wrong connectors so I was a bit "what the?" and "what are others doing?" . But have sorted the correct self sealing connectors which should of came with the kit. Thanks for the reply, Happy brewing
Great :)
Great video Dave! I'd love one of these but for now will have to settle for my Ss Brewbucket with chiller coil. Not completely related question but, whenever you sparge, you always emphasize how critical it is to not rush this step. For a typical 6 gallon (22L) batch, how long does your sparge last? Much thanks!
+Kevin Dillon Thanks, Kevin. Sparge times will vary but at least 30 mins.
Hi David what size is the tubing needed for additional on yeast dump please also the beer release part too thanks
You need silicone hosing with an inner diameter of 14 mm (0.55") for the bottom tap. As for the dump ,I am not totally sure, I picked up an off cut and tried it before buying. The tap is small enough to take along with you to a store for sizing luckily. Sorry that I could only half help here.
Thats great thank you its just as i seem to have misplaced both of mine :/ i have on from my old plastic conical fingers crossed that will fit.
Thanks for a great video. Very unbiased review. Can you chill it with a cold water source instead of glycol?
+Floyd South Great to hear. There are other methods being looked at other than just the GF glycol unit. Full details should be available soon.
They have a "basic cooling" kit that includes a pump and you can use plain water
I just bought the PRO version. Does it come with a stopper for the airlock or do I have to buy that extra? If so do you know what size?
Hi Jack, I believe it does worldwide :)
David. Great, informative video as usual. Did you dry hop directly to the conical, or use a hop bag etc? Also, I've never used priming tabs before but they'd seem to suit this set up for simplicity. For an IPA style, do you find one tab is enough for correct carbonation, and would you double up for a 500ml bottle?? Do you have a preference for brand? Many thanks!!
Thank you! I am very glad that you found it to be useful. I used a hop bag, it worked really well. The day one beer was very drinkable :) For sure you want to use two tabs for a 500ml bottle but this was me being lazy. I will dump the yeast and use priming sugar in future. Much cheaper and more control.As for brands I used Muntons this time but any will do the job I feel.
David Heath Thanks David. I guess it's easy enough to dump the yeast with the dual valve tap until you're getting clear beer and add a priming solution. Can't wait to see the chiller in action. I fear the savings will be taking another hit!
+Antony Parker Yes that would work with no issues. It was just faster to show the drops on camera but mention bulk priming.
David, thanks for another great video. I had a question regarding the bottom valve. I like how it has the extended tube inside the fermenter and draws beer from above the sediment, but do you know how much volume is actually below that inlet? I guess my concern is if I'm dumping yeast along the way there probably won't be too much sediment left before transfer and I don't want to lose a bunch of beer below that inlet... Another question is how do you feel about fermenting a small batch in this? Between the large headspace and lost volume below the bottom valve inlet, I'm guessing it's probably not suited for anything under 5 gallons, right? Thanks in advance for your insight.
+JR F The volume at the bottom cone is very small and full of things you really do not want in your finished beer. :) The dump valve only needs a gentle touch and thus it is easy to control. Easier than what ive used commercially for sure. My first beer in this was a small batch that had no issues. The system is fine for 10L batches up to 25L. So it's suitable for anything really.
David Heath awesome, thanks for getting back to me on that so quickly! keep up the great work with the videos, they really help us new guys figure things out.
+JR F No problem, happy to help :)
Great video as always David, I always view your videos many times over, always learning from you. I will buy a Fermenter early next year. I have bought a GF, due to arrive today, originally ordered a Speidel 20L Plus but cancelled due to ongoing delivery delays. Do you do any reusing/washing yeast, I do this from time to time but never know how much to pitch for the next brew so just put all of it in!
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Hi David, if you are fermenting in a room circa 22 degrees, can the temperature controller cool and maintain a temperature of 18 degrees, without any additional glycol chiller?
+Richard Brown If your yeast adds temperature then no and many do. There are alternatives to glycol though that are alot cheaper that will work.
+Richard Brown If the room is 22 degrees then there the temperature inside the fermenter will be 22 degrees or above as the fermentation process creates an exothermic reaction generating more heat. You need some form of external coolant to bring the temperature down, ideally the glycol chiller. I fermented a beer last week when the temperature here in the UK went to 26 degrees at one point. I managed to control the temperature at around 18 - 19 degrees by plumbing in a temporary cold water feed from the cold water tap. A small trickle of water kept the temperature down nicely. I think there will be alternatives to the glycol chiller appearing soon for third party or even official sources.
+wrongway2001 There are other solutions that will work. Hold tight and stay tuned for more on this soon.
Hi David, Great video again. Do you know roughly when the Glycol Chiller will release? I ordered mine in May, and still can't seem to find a release date. I have my first brew in the conical fermenter now (as of this afternoon) and look forward to seeing the results :) You mentioned removing dead yeast cells every couple of days. Is that normal procedure and something I should be doing in every brew? Thanks for your great videos, they have really helped me in my setup, as I am very new to brewing, and thoroughly enjoying it :)
+Nevski Thank you, I am glad you enjoyed it :)
I suspect the glycol chiller is very close to release.
What is the size of that bottling wand? 3/8 is too small and 1/2 too big
Hi, You need one to suit 10mm / 0.4” hosing. If you heat up the hose then the tighter fit will work 🍻🍻
Sorry, I tried and it didn't work. Is it a wand for 1/2 inch hose you use?
Yes
Cool video, David! How does it clean up?
+Laust Christensen Nice and easy. I used pbw then water. Ran it all through the tap at both ends, then sterilised it with some starsan. No fuss stuff :)
Another spot on video David. On my wish list should them numbers ever come up.I think I'd give the glycol chiller a miss. Would it be an issue with putting the whole unit in a fridge to cold crash?
Or maybe rack to a carboy and then to the fridge?
Cheers mate.
+Cheshire Homebrew You certainly can use this in a fridge but it will react to outside temperature change much slower of course.
Hello David,
I have a issue the fermenter heating is very slow about 1° a hour is this normal in a room from 14 ° ?
Its my first brew after i have seen your video (always great btw) and i bought a set with chiller
Greeting Fons
Hello :) Yes this is working as intended for yeast health. Nothing to worry about.
Well, i'm jealous. So i'll be saving up again. :)
So plastic it is for now. But now for a excellent question; All remarks on usage in plastic fermenters, when would be a good time to replace a plastic fermenter? Besides a cracked one obviously.
+Sebastiaan Riga Great :) Plastic wise it is important to check it for scratches or dents inside. Anything like this makes it a throwaway.
Great review David.. Do you have any concerns that air could be drawn back into the fermenter while dumping the yeast and cause and contaminate causing infection to the beer?
Thank you :) The yeast dump is very quick and it had no effect on the airlock, so not there is no reason to be concerned on that count. I also left the lid on and closed during part of the bottling and noted that it took quite some bottles worth before the airlock sucked in air. So that was also very reassuring :)
I can't seem to find a tutorial on this bad boy.
I covered pretty much everything in the preview and review videos. It's very easy to use, no real learning curve.
Any experience with Tilt in the stainless steel fermenter? Does the signal go through?
Yes, I use the tilt on every brew. No problems at all in the GF SS conical.
David Heath Thank you! You are a very good source for information! Please keep going.
what size tube do you have on the conical trub dump
Hi Jerry, 19 mm (0.75”) (internal diameter) tubing.
Hopefully they let you keep the Glycol chiller!
+Jehannum haha :)
Well you could hope... I mean, paying for the shipping to you and back? Wouldn't it just be nicer for them to give it to you.....
+Jehannum sure it would but demo units do the rounds for others to evaluate also. :)
Hey David, if you just buy the conical fermenter without the glycol part, then what does it do ? you can only raise the temperature but not chill ?
+Benjamin Colsenet There is also the cooling pump kit. Alot cheaper also.
Hello David, I have a question about the thread size Grainfather uses. I want to add quick connects to the Conicals IN OUT ports and do my own cooling. it seems to a universal thread they use on all there systems. I'm in the U.S. and having a tough time finding something that mates up. I asked GF costumer service and they didn't give me much.
any help on this would be great!
Thank you,
Chris
+Chris Genest Hi Chris, I really have no info on the size either. I am unsure how to measure it either. I am surprised that customer service couldn't help. I would suggest emailing the head office directly. Sorry I cannot help more here.
Thanks anyway! I did find some posts saying that the size was 3/8 NPT or 10mm. I did try the 3/8 and it's not 100% only goes halfway in.
maybe I'll wait and see if they will offer a tubing kit with fittings .
Cheers,
Chris
+Chris Genest A tubing kit will be sold 100%. You get one with the glycol chiller. I got a demo glycol unit yesterday, which has the full retail packaging.
Looking forward for your review!
+Chris Genest Thanks :)
what is the cause for the dark 🍺 to be dark? is the roast grains?
+Rad oris Yes, darker grains darken the wort :)
Question - so this allows me to do closed transfers to my keg out of the bottom valve, correct? Assuming I do not need to hook up any CO2 for pushing the liquid since gravity is on my side. The separate yeast valve allows me to isolate the clean, finished product when i transfer, correct?
+BrinJohnBum correct on both yes :)
how you will do a closed transfer with no co2? if the fermentor is closed, it needs air so the liquid can go off to the keg. When you do an open transfer this air is from the atmosphere, when you do closed transfer is co2. Gravity does not matter, pressure does!
+Vasilis Alexadratos Fair point. There will be a pressure transfer kit released that will allow this with Co2.
ssbrewtech sells a pressure transfer adapter that should fit the triclamp ferrule on the GF conical
Unfortunately your review only strengthened my resolve. I was hoping that this wasn't as amazing as I suspected...
RIP my wallet.
+Kenneth Sundby Haha yup same thing happened to me!
I was truly hoping he would say it was terrible. Well. I guess it is nearly christmas and I have been.... I have pretended to be a good boy.
Haha :)
Kenneth Sundby j
I could so easily lay down $3k Aussie on this system but its so hard to justify such an expenditure. Maybe down the track a little.
Do you leave the red cap on the airlock, that came with the fermentor?
Thank you so much!
Yes, best to leave that on in case insects get in.
First class review, you should have got the product free :-)
Many thanks Martin :)
This would only be practical for me if it were able to chill/lager/cold crash without the extra glycol chiller. Although that yeast dump option means you could keg 1st and THEN chill without worrying about clogging from yeast and hops.. meaning I can lager while freeing up my fermentation fridge. Oh geez goodbye money..
Yes, I can very much understand this and I really wish that money was not something that creates a barrier. The Fermzilla is a better option for most people, I have a video that previews this and a full review coming soon that explains the pros and cons.
@@DavidHeathHomebrew thanks David, yep I have watched your videos and am hoping to pick up a fermzilla this week!! Keep up the great content
Dry Hopping .. how did you manage that with out possible oxygenation happening?
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Forgive me for being too brain dead to understand, but does this unit actually keep the beer at any given temperature of your choosing? I'd like to keep it in my garage with my Grainfather, but let's say I'm trying to ferment at 70 degrees Fahrenheit... is that possible when it's in a 90 degree Fahrenheit garage in the middle of the Summer? If so, is this unit going to kill me on my electric bill? Thanks to any responders!
As long as you have a glycol chiller then it will be fit for the task.
Hello David, What size hose did you attach to the yeast dump tap?
+Joshua Campbell Hey, I am using an inner diameter hose of 24mm. Hope this helps :)
It sure does. Thank you very much.
+Joshua Campbell Great :)