Craft A Brew Catalyst Fermenter: Product Review
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- Опубліковано 8 вер 2024
- Craft A Brew Catalyst Fermenter is a conical shaped fermentation system which allows you to secondary the beer and harvest yeast without the worry of changing vessels. In this video we give you our initial thoughts, and review the fermenter after an initial brewday.
The Catalyst Fermentation System (6.5 Gallons) is an innovative piece of homebrewing equipment that simplifies the fermentation process, making it easier than ever to make great beer at home.
Catalyst Fermenter: amzn.to/30YbVCK
Craft A Brew Starter Kit: amzn.to/2PSCXdM
Craft A Brew Deluxe Kit: amzn.to/313YOjA
I actually have two of these systems. I like them very much. had the first one a year before getting the 2nd. You are correct about the flaps on the lid. I recently had one of the latches crack at the plastic "hinge". They sell replacements for about $20. I have a buddy of mine that does metalwork looking into making me a stand out of aircraft aluminum.
A neighbor set one of these out by the curb. I asked them about it, they said it was because one of the flaps on the lid was broken- no infections or cracks. Rather than send them a lid, the company sent them a replacement for the entire thing. Even with the bad flap, I can still feel the lid snap firmly into place so it still holds air. Worst case I'll add a bungee cord. I got myself one of these for the cost of a stopper and a mason jar. Not a bad deal.
I don't have the bottling funnel-their site is sold out, but I have a racking cane. I can use that until the 5-dollar part is back in stock. The stand is also taped together in one place, but for free, I'm not complaining.
I’ve recently switch to the catalyst for all my fermentation. I have two now. I’m doing some very cool things with customizing the trub jar!
What cool things are you doing? Mine just arrived...
Way to leave us hanging
As someone who's worked in fermentation on 100bbl tanks, this is probably the only system I would buy for home fermentation that isn't stainless. The butterfly valve seems okay, not incredibly impressed with the ratcheting design, but it's a very cost-effective system. I'd like to see the valve at the bottom work with, or have an attachment for, a strainer gasket and tri-clamp that I could just attach a nipple to so I can filter particulates when bottling. I'll probably get one anyway.
This kind of looks like what I want for my first fermenter.
They make a light blocking cover for the tank that also attaches to the stand. This cover has handles that will allow you to lift and carry the entire setup. Also what pore size filter(s) would you recommend. I might have a solution to that suggestion.
They recently sent us the cover and are working on a quick review of it. The cover is really nice. As far as filters we have the bouncer filter and it seems to work pretty well. Different sized filters you can use also.
That's pretty cool!!!
Fair review
I think the "Tritan" plastic is the same stuff used to make Nalgene bottles. I think the tank will last practically forever.
I have been using 2 of these systems for the past 3 years. Why did you only dump it after 2 weeks? Primary after a week, secondary after another week and yeast collection on the third week. My beer comes out relatively clean
Im of the opinion of leave it and forget it. It could probably better with that method but we typically do neipas in this and don't want any more oxidation or movement than needed. Any other beer that would be fine to do though. 🍻🍻
My biggest complaint is the amount of yeast that sticks to the sides most of which doesn’t drop until the beer starts to wash it out. Have done three brews with it and still on the fence about continuing use.
Agree, not really a huge issue though as it will clarify in the keg bottle too. But def agree, it could be better.
get a brew hauler and use that to move it around
I'm just starting to research the Catalyst and some comments are negative regarding sediment on cone flowing to bottles during bottling process. Any thoughts on using cheesecloth as a filter? Being cloth would it be possible to place the cloth in between valve and bottling cone? Would cheesecloth even work and not contaminate beer???
You could try it but I personally think that's more of a risk then just bottling it. A better option would be the bouncer filter: amzn.to/3EYZKZy
Cant see that yoke fitting in my ferm fridge, I'll stick to my plastic bucket for now. What do you guys think about other fermentors? Anything actually worth upgrading to?
Currently we have:
- Spike Flex +
- Anvil 7 Gal SS Fermenter
- Catalyst
- Many Carboys
- Big Mouth Fermeters
To be honest, they all have a price and they all have certain features but not all. I think without going stainless the catalyst fermenter is one of the best non stainless fermenters we have used. If you think harvesting yeast is more important than having stainless then its a great choice.
The problem with the collection jar is that it burps a bunch of air from the empty jar every time you open the valve. Not ideal for minimizing O2 pickup.
Especially for the price, I don't see why I would buy one of these over a fermzilla that can hold pressure. The fermzilla has flaws too, but the new triclamp version thats out in Australia seems to address a lot of them.
Apparently the best thing to do is to sanitize and refill your mason jar with... Something. Water, beer, seltzer, secondary fermentation additions, etc. At 16oz, It's about a 3-5% loss of your initial brew, so Account for that in your recipe depending on how many times you expect to change the jar out
As someone who's planning to make mead with this thing, I feel like I could get creative and put in steeping bags in a larger jar or add a mesh filter to a jar for extra fruit and/or back sweetening additions during the brew process... Or even bonus nutrients throughout the brew (although I feel like the airlock hole is perfectly fine for that)
Looks like you still get a lot of yeast after attaching the bottling attachment. I wonder how compact the yeast would get if you cold crashed. . .
I would have like to cold crash it but the things to big for all my fridges ☹️
@@MoskiHomebrew I have steered clear of all conical fermentors because they are to big to fit in fridges/ferm chambers. One way around that is to go stainless and get a glycol system.
Worried about oxygen when opening the butterfly valve back up?
We had a concern about it, but while we used it we had no issues. You can always Purge the cannisters w co2 before attaching.
@@MoskiHomebrew I did see an anvil fermentator in a video of yours but didn't see a review for it. Is this something we can expect? I have had my eye on that for a bit