The fermzilla and the fermentasaurus are different products from two different companies. And after 2-years you don't need to replace the whole fermzilla, you just need to replace tank ! If you don't need the collection jar for yeast collection, go for the fermzilla all-rounder. The top is exactly the same on the all-rounder.
They are different companies today, but when the Gen2 was initially developed, it was one company. They have since split into two competing companies.The FermZilla as it's known today was promoted on Keg King's website and UA-cam channel by the same ex-employee now in charge at the new Kegland competitor. Now, all of those old "Gen2" videos were pulled off UA-cam, but you can still find references on the website that hadn't been scrubbed. I have both the FermZilla All-Arounder and the Fermenter King Snub Nose fermenters. I must prefer this style over those with dump valves for home brewing.
@@BEERNBBQBYLARRY thanks for the information, I've been using the fermzilla for over a year now and although I've not had any leaks! I too will probably go for an all-rounder as I've not been collecting yeast and I'm happy to dry hop in the top. Keep up the good work ! 👍
The collection jar is not only a collection jar you can dry hop and add stuff to your beer. In a clean sanitaria way. Theres more uses than justvyeast and trub collection
The company has a replacement tank that sells for around $25-30 over seas, more beer has told me they will be carrying it which will take care of your concern about buying a whole new unit ever couple years. You can also pressure test it at home.
I have done 3 batches on my fermzilla, and the IPAs I’ve done blow anything away using my SS brew tech conical. This thing is the best thing in a long time to come out in Home brewing
I have one, I also noticed after cleaning the bit around the valve.. I solved this by just loosening the valve - just the left handed thread bit, This allowed the valve unit to just lift a bit allowing all the cleaner through. worked perfect, takes 2 seconds
I just purchased one of these and nothing was assembled even though the listing states it comes partially assembled. I didn’t mind but getting that rubber part in without pinching it was kind of a pain. I think they may have stopped pre assembling these due to the crushed o ring issue. I also dismantled the lever on the butterfly and swapped it around so that it rotates down and not up. One more tip, buy some quarter inch rubber vacuum hose at autozone, slice one side and use it to wrap the steel base and supports. It stops the tank from sliding around in the bracket during moving and grips the floor when you put it down.
Thanks Larry for such a balanced review. Those improvements look solid but that gunk stuck down there at the bottom is a bit concerning. Looking forward to trying this myself.
It appears that there will always be a market trying to reinvent the keg. Everything we would do with our beer, after brewing and before consumption, can be done with a keg. The only limitations to fermenting in kegs is volume and vision. Great vidya as always Larry. We appreciate all you do.
Larry I love you channel. Im looking to purchase a Fermentasaurus 55 Liter. Do you think I can brew 50 liters in the 55 liter Fermentasaurus.. im thinking there will be too little room for Blow out at the top especially if i get a very active fermintation. I keg my beers into 50 liter kegs. Thanks Tony
That's a10% head space similar to my own past experience of using 6+ gallon fermenters for 5.5 gal batches in them, so it should be fine especially if pressure fermenting which keeps the foam suppressed more.
@@BEERNBBQBYLARRY Thanks For the reply Larry, cant wait to get one, we have 50L Stainless kegs in Ireland. As Ireland is a nation of alcoholics it should work out great...
I started in glass carboys but then moved backwards to plastic buckets because of the ease of cleaning and moving. I do cider mostly and so prefer a secondary fermentation which was my reasoning for going conical with a trub jar. I was about to pull the trigger on the FermZilla but now, however, after watching this bit I guess I need to continue my research (albeit frustratingly).
Just purchased a fermentersaurs snub nose from keg king here in Aus, comes with the pressure kit and stand, delivered interstate for $92 AUD. Does not have the harvesting bottle/valve as it has no opening on the bottom. Keen to give it a go as everyone always complains about the butterfly valve on all models.
Hey Larry, you might want to try hooking up a jet spray nozzle to a hose and getting down there and seeing if you can spray that trub mess out of the bottom of the fermenter. You might be able to just blast it clean. Then I would probably mix up some starsan, about a gallon or so, and let it set down there to just eat up anything that might be left over.
If you notice when under pressure the ring that tightens to pull the cone down gets loose I always loosen a little bit more as it won't leak and it's easy to clean when finished and pressure is lost. Just nip up when finished, it doesn't need to be too tight. Start again. I would mention that I had a few pressure leaks in the early days. Not much but pinhole leaks in pressure and apparently it was a batch of oring the lid. Replaced and lots of sanitiser as oring lube and never leaked since. 30-40 brews later.
the secont issue you had with the yeast getting stuck in the seal was the reason i got the fermzilla allrounder as you can still harvest yeast, dry hop, etc, you don't have to worry about those seals on the bottom and its super easy to clean
@@BEERNBBQBYLARRY also watching your videos inspired me to have a go at all grain brewing and now i cant get enough of it, its so much fun and really rewarding at the end of the fermentation and kegging drinking your own brew
Another great video Larry! I have a Fermentasaurus and had the same issues as you. I still use it but was able to send away for a couple of "All Rounders" from Kegland. They're not yet available in the U.S. but I'm hoping that'll change soon. It's the same pressure rated vessel but with no bottom valve or jar. I haven't gotten them yet but I'm looking forward to trying them. I think that they're going to be the best option for entry level pressure fermentation.
Nice video mate couple things. The seal where the gap is that gets yeast and trub stuck behind it I just spray out with a garden hose works a treat. Also in saying you need to replace the whole thing every 2 years isn't true you only need to replace the tank which is $30 australian. I've threaded my lid and cracked a collection container but that's all my error. Still one of the best pieces of kit I've got. Also for people who don't want a conical fermenter and just want the pressure ferment the fermzilla all rounder is perfect. Cheers
My Fermentasaurus version 1 is > 2 years old and working just fine. I bought a snub nose this year that I like even better. The collection system is the biggest issue with these things skip it altogether and get a snub nose and pressure ferment kit.
The fermentasaurus need not be complicated to clean properly. No need to get your hands inside either. Simply toss a micro-fibre cloth into it along with ~1/2 gal of water mixed with PBW and swish the contents around inside by moving the Fermnetasaurus around in a (back to front) circular manner. Cleans it all up lickity split and with nary a problem.
Thanks for the input Larry... I definitely think if I were to get one it would be the all rounder one where it doesn’t have the bottom valve setup. One less thing to have to worry about Keeping it simple. I would like to get the spike setup you have but not wanting to spend that money right now.
Hey Larry just a heads up, you don’t have to buy a whole new setup when the expiration date comes up. You can just buy the tub itself for $30, then attach the top and bottom valves.
Great vid laz, I must admit I was not sure that I wanted the extra complications of the Ferzilla's collection container & was tossing up between it & the "All Rounder" for a while. Ultimately, I went with the FZ as I feel the ability to remove trub, wash & recycle the yeast as well as purge my dry hops with CO2 were all advantages that were worth any of the possible downsides. Two brews in and I have to say I'm happy. Tip; I have been using a high pressure hose head to clean around the lower seal & this seems to work a treat! On balance the "All Rounder" would have served me well but I like saving money on reusing my washed yeast & the ability to dry hop oxygen free. I have no doubt that the "AR" would be the better purchase for most home brewers though. Has any one ever had to replace their "Fermentasaurus" vessel due to failure? I have to wonder if this is to cover KL insurance wise? Merry Christmas to you and yours & Keep up the great work.
Hey Larry, great videos. I am new to homebrewing and I am on batch number 7. I have the fermzilla also and have found if there is an issue with being a little to tight and it spins in the tank, add some Co2 to pressurize to set the seal and allow you to snug the left handed nut up a little and won't spin when trying to losen the valve assembly. Cheers P.S. release the pressure before continuing to dis assemble.
@@BEERNBBQBYLARRY Yeah it is pretty finicky, The collection jar will leak if I bottom it out all the way, so I have to actually loosen it just a crack so it seals. My second time using it I lost half the batch when the pressure built up it started to leak from the collection jar while pressure fermenting using a spunding valve. Luckily I always set it in a 17.5 gallon pail that I got from Tractor Supply and it saved me from a catastrophe! Now I always pressure test with C02 before transfering. My first Beer in it was your Zombie Dust Recipe and it turned out awesome using the Omega tropical IPA yeast and I harvested that from the collection jar for future re-pitches. Thanks for the Videos, and keep up the great work!
Had all the same issues except the o ring trap but have done 5 lager batches and have had great success. When I first noticed the trub at the bottom i took it apart as you did then re-assembled hand tight. when you pressurize again it self seals and i hand tightened again. I don't bother cleaning it now but just soak in good cleaner and sanitizer. I may clean every couple of months just to be safe. In the instructions it says: "If you use the fermenter under pressure hydro test the fermenter every 24 months to ensure it is safe to use."The sticker on mine says" test container OR do not use after xxxxxxx" so I think its telling you to test bi-annually or do not use after 24 months. have you cut the tube on yours I have set so it drains upto the neck. I don't care about whirlpool or cold break just throw it in as the collector at the bottom collects all for you.
It was more the pressure test and not having to throw away after 24 months I was getting at as most people took that to be the deal breaker and its not the case!
@@BEERNBBQBYLARRY Yes its not as robust as a SS unitank etc but at this price point I have had great results. I like being able to see whats going on also. You do have to be more careful and I'm sure that there is a point where I will probably break it. I sleeved the metal bars where the tank sits on the frame with pieces of split 3/8 tubing to try and be a bit friendlier to the body. Keep the vids coming, enjoy and learn every time.
Thanks for the video, Larry. I'm a little curious, do you see a downside in keeping beer in the fermenter and serving it right from there as opposed to transferring to a keg?
Hey Larry, what are your thoughts on propane vs electric heating systems? I use propane but it is very inconvenient in colder months. Look forward to your reply! Maybe a video?
If you had to choose between the keg king snub nose fermenter or the keg land all rounder, what would be your opinion on those? I've heard enough horror stories about collection jars leaking or emptying the whole fv overnight that I don't want to be another statistic ahaha
Stainless and plastic conicals seem to be more trouble than they are worth. A whole lot of work to clean, more moving pieces, more room for error. Those stainless buckets seem cool, other than that, I'll stick with glass/plastic carboys
Great videos my friend! Just wanted to see if you had a trick for getting the middle funnel and the valve separated. So what I have going on is that I assembled the fermzilla and now I am unable to get them apart. The middle black funnel and the valve spin and not able to separate the two. Unable to hold the middle inside the fermenter section and try to screw the bottom off. I went ahead and screwed the locking ring on to the bottom of the cone. As tight as I could by hand. Put pressure to it and it seems to hold pressure and doesn’t leak. I wanted to completely disassemble and redo the whole setup again to insure I have it together correctly. As well as get it cleaned up. Only issue is now is do I dare try to remove the area I am having issues with. I do t want to ruin a new fermenter. Hope I was able to get what is going on down so you understand what issue I have. Thanks again for the videos.
That valve assembly sucks and is the reason why I no longer use the FermZilla. I would use the strap tool they provide along with a rubber mallet to smack it loose, and I had to do this every time I brewed due to the crud that would accumulate under it that had to cleaned out.
@@BEERNBBQBYLARRY So true. Feel like it could be awesome if a little more thought into things. IMO they should make the top section and valve assembly a all in one unit that would never need undone. Just have the collection jar and lid be the removable parts. Really wanted a better way to transfer beer under no oxygen setting. I had looked at the spike and someday will upgrade to this much better system. But, for now I’m with the fermzilla as well as their all rounder. Also wanted my glass carboys to go away. Had a accident with one and now want them gone. LOL. I did manage to get apart. Lubed it up some and reassembled. Currently sitting with 10psi and held pressure last few days so seems like I’ll be good to go on my first brew with it. Just finding time now to brew is the issue. Thanks so much for the reply. Great content BTW. Cheers!
How would you say the FermZilla compares to the The Catalyst Fermentation System? I know that the Catalyst does not permit pressure fermentation, so that aside which would be your preference?
Fermenting, yes. Bulk aging, not so much. Plastics are gas permeable. PET is less permeable than others but still permeable making it less useful if you plan to bulk age.
I'm on day 3 of fermentation, gone from 1.055 to 1.041. I've kept the spunding valve completely closed to far so that I can determine the pressure to set, but so far there's still no pressure indicated on the gauge... and the aroma is quite strong - do you think this indicates a leak or is it normal?
@@BEERNBBQBYLARRY just put some soap foam around the connectors and there was indeed a leak. I tightened them both with a wrench and now it seems to be holding pressure because I get a sound when releasing the PRV, however I'm also still not reading anything on the spunding valve gauge and I can hear a high-pitch squeaking noise so there's probably still a tiny leak. So disappointed... I bought this as part of an equipment upgrade so that every brew didn't have to always be a DIY project.
Sorry you had o-ring and cleaning issues. I've not experienced any of that with mine I throw it on my keg washer 10 minutes later it's good to go. I would hope it would last longer than 2 years... I'm pretty sure they just want you to pressure tested every two years. I don't think that means it's going to go bad. I would assume it's mostly just to cover their own ass, however only time will tell. Thanks for sharing your opinion.
@@brewing8094 It's not an expiry date. These are classed as a pressure vessel and therefore to be sold and used as a pressure vessel Law states that they need to be tested every 2 years. It's irrelevant of the material. This comparison to 750ml pet bottles is not relevant because they are not sold nor advertised as a pressure vessel. And if the tank does fail the test its like $29.95AUD for a replacement tank.
It'd be the same as filling them from a keg using a counter pressure bottling device, but you should really fully carbonate the beer in a keg first unless you also plan to add a reduced amount of priming sugar to the bottles.
Specifically because it is PET. PET is non reactive to all sorts of acidic chemicals including sodas packaged in it like Coke which is way more acidic than beer ever is. You ever watch Breaking Bad? The episode where Walter tells Jesse to buy PET barrels to dissolve the dead body in with hydrochloric acid?
Larry, thanks for the info. I was contemplating to get this one as a replacement for my old Fermentasaurus, but your review put me off. You didn't mention the lower volume the new one holds (27L vs 35L). Did that bother you?
I really like my Fermzilla, sure it's not perfect but for the price is great for value for someone getting into the hobby. There are some down side's of stainless steel as are so many different grade's and Nickel is getting hard to get so there is alot of grade 201 out there. My 5 gallon keg's are high quality Italian 304 stainless. The 3" butterfly valve is the biggest valve you can buy on a cronical fermenter. Another advantage is dry hopping from the bottom is said to infuse , intensify hop flavor. Apparently there's a harder plastic tank upgrade that can take boiling hot wort? The Fermzilla is a better hight over the fermentisoris as it fits perfectly in my temperature controlled fridge.
Many people have been using plastic PET 750mL brewing bottles for years over and over, I never take any notice of the expiry date because they so cheap. The Fermzilla is 5 time's cheaper than stainless and if looked after correctly will last. Many people are still using the first generation, Fermentisuris and that was 4 year's ago🍺🍺🍺 if people are worried just keep out of the sun when not in use will prolong it's life.🍺🍺🍺
The all rounder seems a good idea but unless the trub is quite compact you will waste loads of beer. The hose hangs from the float about 50mm from the surface so hits the trub with about 4 litres of beer in it. You can tip the vessel easy enough gently to get more hoping the trub stays solid. I have modified the float so my tube is only 10mm from the surface. Its great for hard cider.
That’s a good point especially if you add lots of pellet dry hops. With my other fermenters, I’m able to rack off the top of the trub most of the way down to the trub via a rotating arm or siphon tool. The problem I have with shortening the chain on the floating tube is that I get floating material occasionally jamming up the intake tube as it is now.
Larry, theses items are made by competing companies. Fermzilla is made by Keg Land and Fermentasaurus is made by Keg King, both Aussie companies! It's not an upgraded version, they are completely different.
That is true TODAY but not when it started. When the Gen2 was initially developed, it was one company. They have since split into two competing companies.The renamed FermZilla as it's known today was promoted on Keg King's website and UA-cam channel by the same ex-employee now in charge at the new Kegland competitor. Now, all of those old "Gen2" videos were pulled off UA-cam, but you can still find references on the website that hadn't been scrubbed. It is an interesting back story.
Great video and really helped me decide on buying it or not. Question ...do you think that pressure kit with the floating ball would work on a corny keg that I’d like to use for pressure fermentation?
personally I think that these things are too bulky and take up a lot of space and I have heard the same story here in Australia, these things leak, one bloke i know said his cracked, I'm not a fan of them myself, they seem to be over rated, I have mentioned this before, after watching your video on a quick lager I am a fan of pressure fermenting Lager and I do it in a 19 litre / 5 gallon keg with a blowtie spunding valve, people are now pressure fermenting in larger stainless steel kegs too, there is a stainless steel pressure fermenting keg from a New Zealand company called Williamswarn it is a conical stainless steel brewkeg and you can unscrew the yeast jar at the bottom, to me they seem to be a much better choice an they look better too, but I have just ordered a few more 19 litre / 5 gallon kegs and spunding valves and will do a closed transfer into other kegs
I'm no fan of FermZilla or the original Fermentasaurus any longer an do most of my pressure fermentation in the Spike Flex+. I have heard of the Williamswarn, but it not available where I live.
You could perform a pressure test by yourself do you don't need to by a new vessel. If you buy a new vessel, it only costs about $40. Also, the Fermzilla is from KegLand, the Fermantasaurus is from KegKing, different companies, so not version 2, but another brand. Just to make things clear 😉 Keep up the good work with inspirational content!
@@BEERNBBQBYLARRY Here is the replacement valve for Fermenatasurus AKA generation 2, www.keg-king.com.au/fermentasaurus-butterfly-dump-valve-gen2.html and here is the new Fermentasaurus Generation 3 which they now call Fermenter King, www.keg-king.com.au/g3-fermenter-king-pressure-fermenting-kit.html I think there was some conflict within the original company and one of them (or more) started another company creating the Fermzilla.... or vise versa
@@BEERNBBQBYLARRY You can check out how to pressure test the FermZilla here ua-cam.com/video/5cDTn4ePwpQ/v-deo.html After that you are god for another 2 years :-)
All the drawbacks were user error though!! You said you screwed it on too tight. Also it litteraly came with a spare oring, and you still made a comment about how now "now you don't have a spare" lol. Also the harvester is not only used to trub dump or harvest yeast. You can use it to dry hop or as i used it, to add burbon to a stout in a clean sanitary way. Not advicating for the company here but just calling it like it is.
@@BEERNBBQBYLARRY I have watched that one, was a very helpful video. I think I would like to get one of those SS conical fermenters one day though. I'm not to worried about harvesting yeast though. Thanks for the great vids, from WA, Australia!
You mention multiple times that there’s no real need for a conical shape or a collection tank. And sure, there’s no “need”, but it’s a huge practicality boost depending on what you’re doing. When fermenting sake, there’s a huge amount of fine rice particulate sediment that’s extremely easty to disturb. This makes it easy to remove from the main batch, and avoids disturbing it because the entire volume of sediment is being pushed down on by the clear liquid and CO2 pressure above. The conical shape also makes the separation between layers more precise the lower it gets, so it’s easty to cut off while wasting very little of your actual brew. Also useful for other fermentations like ciders for much the same reson, just less sediment. Normally, you’d siphon rack after primary, add sugar, then bottle. This lets you do everything (including carbonation) in the same vessel, saving lots of time and extra gear (bottles+caps+capper or keg). TL;DR - Don’t “need” either feature, but the main point of both and why you’d get this is the practicality you get if you need to separate sediment, collect yeast, or do single-vessel fermentation and carbonation.
I wanted to love this thing. Nowhere does it say not dishwasher safe. I wash my catalyst in the dishwasher. I got one use from it. I contacted Kegland with a simple inquiry on how to get a replacement vessel and possibly a discount on a new unit of a replacement vessel wasn’t available. It’s been 6 weeks, they have no responded. I don’t recommend this fermenter.
why do people not read the manual? "Only wash the fermenter with cold water. Do not clean, wash or sanitise the fermenter with water that is above 50C (122F). Only use chemical cleaners and sanitizers that are approved by Kegland. These include: a) Super Kill Ethyl Sanitiser Spray (KL05371) b) StellarSan (mixed to the correct specification) (KL05357) c) StellarClean (KL05494) … Or contact www.kegland.com.au for more information regarding other compatible chemical cleaning products." Dishwashers are hot and liquid id very caustic.
I’m going to be doing my first brew ever of a amber wheat ale, I just have the 5 gallon started bucket kit. Will be Kegging it to put in my kegarator Kind of nervous. Any pointers?
BEER-N-BBQ by Larry First thank you for your service and second thank you for the good advice. 🙏🏻 I love your videos they are great to learn from. I also have a vision grill like the kamodo BBQ so looking forward to some homemade beer and BBQ foods.
I think several weeks ago you posted a picture of the yeast and the trub on and around the edges of the Fermzilla on Instagram. That put the brakes on for me Larry, as I was just getting ready to purchase one. Thanks for the unbiase review! I'm hoping that can be addressed. Your unbiase reviews me a lot to all Home brewers out here! Thanks
You don't need to take the lower valve apart to clean under the seal. All that is required is to use your garden hose on a thin stream and point at the seal which lifts it up and all the gunk comes straight out. I've done about four brews in mine and I have never taken the lower valve apart. Also, the lower jar is also the best for oxygen free dry hopping as you can purge the air before you open the valve as you mention. I would say the 2 year pressure thing would be manufacturer covering themselves.. I really doubt you will need to replace the tank every 2 years
The video is fine however the honest truth is that the negative out weights any positive with this equipment, that being said the bottom assembly section is a basic "cobble-job" design so that tearing this thing down for cleaning is a nightmare IMHO
I have a stainless steel Kegmentor so much better. www.thehomebrewery.co.uk/kegmenter-unitank-29l-fermenter-keg Larry get Kegland to send you one of these they are fantastic...
The fermzilla and the fermentasaurus are different products from two different companies. And after 2-years you don't need to replace the whole fermzilla, you just need to replace tank !
If you don't need the collection jar for yeast collection, go for the fermzilla all-rounder.
The top is exactly the same on the all-rounder.
They are different companies today, but when the Gen2 was initially developed, it was one company. They have since split into two competing companies.The FermZilla as it's known today was promoted on Keg King's website and UA-cam channel by the same ex-employee now in charge at the new Kegland competitor. Now, all of those old "Gen2" videos were pulled off UA-cam, but you can still find references on the website that hadn't been scrubbed.
I have both the FermZilla All-Arounder and the Fermenter King Snub Nose fermenters. I must prefer this style over those with dump valves for home brewing.
@@BEERNBBQBYLARRY thanks for the information, I've been using the fermzilla for over a year now and although I've not had any leaks! I too will probably go for an all-rounder as I've not been collecting yeast and I'm happy to dry hop in the top.
Keep up the good work ! 👍
The collection jar is not only a collection jar you can dry hop and add stuff to your beer. In a clean sanitaria way. Theres more uses than justvyeast and trub collection
Larry, I was SO much looking for this video. Nice to see it on your channel. Thank you so much! All the best from Germany.
The company has a replacement tank that sells for around $25-30 over seas, more beer has told me they will be carrying it which will take care of your concern about buying a whole new unit ever couple years. You can also pressure test it at home.
I have done 3 batches on my fermzilla, and the IPAs I’ve done blow anything away using my SS brew tech conical. This thing is the best thing in a long time to come out in Home brewing
It says Pressure test ((OR)) do not use for pressure after Date. The "or" means you can keep right on using it after that date IF you pressure test.
I have one, I also noticed after cleaning the bit around the valve.. I solved this by just loosening the valve - just the left handed thread bit, This allowed the valve unit to just lift a bit allowing all the cleaner through. worked perfect, takes 2 seconds
Excellent ... thanks will try this.
I just purchased one of these and nothing was assembled even though the listing states it comes partially assembled. I didn’t mind but getting that rubber part in without pinching it was kind of a pain. I think they may have stopped pre assembling these due to the crushed o ring issue. I also dismantled the lever on the butterfly and swapped it around so that it rotates down and not up. One more tip, buy some quarter inch rubber vacuum hose at autozone, slice one side and use it to wrap the steel base and supports. It stops the tank from sliding around in the bracket during moving and grips the floor when you put it down.
Thanks Larry for such a balanced review. Those improvements look solid but that gunk stuck down there at the bottom is a bit concerning. Looking forward to trying this myself.
It appears that there will always be a market trying to reinvent the keg. Everything we would do with our beer, after brewing and before consumption, can be done with a keg. The only limitations to fermenting in kegs is volume and vision. Great vidya as always Larry. We appreciate all you do.
As always I appreciate the honesty. The value long term is a no go for me. Thanks Larry.
Larry I love you channel. Im looking to purchase a Fermentasaurus 55 Liter. Do you think I can brew 50 liters in the 55 liter Fermentasaurus.. im thinking there will be too little room for Blow out at the top especially if i get a very active fermintation.
I keg my beers into 50 liter kegs. Thanks Tony
That's a10% head space similar to my own past experience of using 6+ gallon fermenters for 5.5 gal batches in them, so it should be fine especially if pressure fermenting which keeps the foam suppressed more.
@@BEERNBBQBYLARRY Thanks For the reply Larry, cant wait to get one, we have 50L Stainless kegs in Ireland. As Ireland is a nation of alcoholics it should work out great...
I started in glass carboys but then moved backwards to plastic buckets because of the ease of cleaning and moving. I do cider mostly and so prefer a secondary fermentation which was my reasoning for going conical with a trub jar. I was about to pull the trigger on the FermZilla but now, however, after watching this bit I guess I need to continue my research (albeit frustratingly).
A very fair assessment. I guess there are still some teething pain. Thanks for taking the time.
Just purchased a fermentersaurs snub nose from keg king here in Aus, comes with the pressure kit and stand, delivered interstate for $92 AUD. Does not have the harvesting bottle/valve as it has no opening on the bottom. Keen to give it a go as everyone always complains about the butterfly valve on all models.
After 2 years you can still use it but they recommend pressure test before you use it. However you can buy the new tank for just $30.
Hey Larry, you might want to try hooking up a jet spray nozzle to a hose and getting down there and seeing if you can spray that trub mess out of the bottom of the fermenter. You might be able to just blast it clean. Then I would probably mix up some starsan, about a gallon or so, and let it set down there to just eat up anything that might be left over.
If you notice when under pressure the ring that tightens to pull the cone down gets loose I always loosen a little bit more as it won't leak and it's easy to clean when finished and pressure is lost. Just nip up when finished, it doesn't need to be too tight. Start again. I would mention that I had a few pressure leaks in the early days. Not much but pinhole leaks in pressure and apparently it was a batch of oring the lid. Replaced and lots of sanitiser as oring lube and never leaked since. 30-40 brews later.
the secont issue you had with the yeast getting stuck in the seal was the reason i got the fermzilla allrounder as you can still harvest yeast, dry hop, etc, you don't have to worry about those seals on the bottom and its super easy to clean
@@BEERNBBQBYLARRY also watching your videos inspired me to have a go at all grain brewing and now i cant get enough of it, its so much fun and really rewarding at the end of the fermentation and kegging drinking your own brew
How can you harvest yeast using an all rounder? Do you just have to wait until the beer is all gone? 😁
I transferred all the brew into a keg and then you have access to your yeast
Another great video Larry! I have a Fermentasaurus and had the same issues as you. I still use it but was able to send away for a couple of "All Rounders" from Kegland. They're not yet available in the U.S. but I'm hoping that'll change soon. It's the same pressure rated vessel but with no bottom valve or jar. I haven't gotten them yet but I'm looking forward to trying them. I think that they're going to be the best option for entry level pressure fermentation.
Nice video mate couple things. The seal where the gap is that gets yeast and trub stuck behind it I just spray out with a garden hose works a treat. Also in saying you need to replace the whole thing every 2 years isn't true you only need to replace the tank which is $30 australian. I've threaded my lid and cracked a collection container but that's all my error. Still one of the best pieces of kit I've got. Also for people who don't want a conical fermenter and just want the pressure ferment the fermzilla all rounder is perfect. Cheers
You don't need to replace the tank either is it passes a hydro test which is an easy thing to do every two years.
Honest review. Nice
My Fermentasaurus version 1 is > 2 years old and working just fine. I bought a snub nose this year that I like even better. The collection system is the biggest issue with these things skip it altogether and get a snub nose and pressure ferment kit.
The fermentasaurus need not be complicated to clean properly. No need to get your hands inside either. Simply toss a micro-fibre cloth into it along with ~1/2 gal of water mixed with PBW and swish the contents around inside by moving the Fermnetasaurus around in a (back to front) circular manner. Cleans it all up lickity split and with nary a problem.
Thanks for the input Larry...
I definitely think if I were to get one it would be the all rounder one where it doesn’t have the bottom valve setup. One less thing to have to worry about Keeping it simple. I would like to get the spike setup you have but not wanting to spend that money right now.
Hey Larry just a heads up, you don’t have to buy a whole new setup when the expiration date comes up. You can just buy the tub itself for $30, then attach the top and bottom valves.
Great vid laz, I must admit I was not sure that I wanted the extra complications of the Ferzilla's collection container & was tossing up between it & the "All Rounder" for a while. Ultimately, I went with the FZ as I feel the ability to remove trub, wash & recycle the yeast as well as purge my dry hops with CO2 were all advantages that were worth any of the possible downsides. Two brews in and I have to say I'm happy. Tip; I have been using a high pressure hose head to clean around the lower seal & this seems to work a treat!
On balance the "All Rounder" would have served me well but I like saving money on reusing my washed yeast & the ability to dry hop oxygen free. I have no doubt that the "AR" would be the better purchase for most home brewers though.
Has any one ever had to replace their "Fermentasaurus" vessel due to failure? I have to wonder if this is to cover KL insurance wise?
Merry Christmas to you and yours & Keep up the great work.
@@BEERNBBQBYLARRY Ahh, something we don't have to many issues with here as winters are quite mild in AUS.
What is your favorite pressure fermenter then for standard 5 gallon batches, regardless of price? One that would only ever need gaskets replaced.
Hey Larry, great videos. I am new to homebrewing and I am on batch number 7. I have the fermzilla also and have found if there is an issue with being a little to tight and it spins in the tank, add some Co2 to pressurize to set the seal and allow you to snug the left handed nut up a little and won't spin when trying to losen the valve assembly. Cheers P.S. release the pressure before continuing to dis assemble.
@@BEERNBBQBYLARRY Yeah it is pretty finicky, The collection jar will leak if I bottom it out all the way, so I have to actually loosen it just a crack so it seals. My second time using it I lost half the batch when the pressure built up it started to leak from the collection jar while pressure fermenting using a spunding valve. Luckily I always set it in a 17.5 gallon pail that I got from Tractor Supply and it saved me from a catastrophe! Now I always pressure test with C02 before transfering. My first Beer in it was your Zombie Dust Recipe and it turned out awesome using the Omega tropical IPA yeast and I harvested that from the collection jar for future re-pitches.
Thanks for the Videos, and keep up the great work!
Very very informative 👍🏻👍🏻
Great video, good to know.
Hi Larry, Fermzilla manufactured by Kegland; Fermenasaurus manufactured by Oxebar (Sorry maybe somebody pointed this out already)
@@BEERNBBQBYLARRY Ah OK I thank you! I was unaware (learn something new everyday)
Does the firmzilla also have a airlock attachment like the fermentasoures? Or only pressurized cap?
Had all the same issues except the o ring trap but have done 5 lager batches and have had great success. When I first noticed the trub at the bottom i took it apart as you did then re-assembled hand tight. when you pressurize again it self seals and i hand tightened again. I don't bother cleaning it now but just soak in good cleaner and sanitizer. I may clean every couple of months just to be safe. In the instructions it says:
"If you use the fermenter under pressure hydro test the fermenter every 24 months to ensure
it is safe to use."The sticker on mine says" test container OR do not use after xxxxxxx" so I think its telling you to test bi-annually or do not use after 24 months. have you cut the tube on yours I have set so it drains upto the neck. I don't care about whirlpool or cold break just throw it in as the collector at the bottom collects all for you.
It was more the pressure test and not having to throw away after 24 months I was getting at as most people took that to be the deal breaker and its not the case!
@@BEERNBBQBYLARRY Yes its not as robust as a SS unitank etc but at this price point I have had great results. I like being able to see whats going on also. You do have to be more careful and I'm sure that there is a point where I will probably break it. I sleeved the metal bars where the tank sits on the frame with pieces of split 3/8 tubing to try and be a bit friendlier to the body. Keep the vids coming, enjoy and learn every time.
Thanks for the video, Larry. I'm a little curious, do you see a downside in keeping beer in the fermenter and serving it right from there as opposed to transferring to a keg?
Hey Larry, what are your thoughts on propane vs electric heating systems? I use propane but it is very inconvenient in colder months. Look forward to your reply! Maybe a video?
If you had to choose between the keg king snub nose fermenter or the keg land all rounder, what would be your opinion on those?
I've heard enough horror stories about collection jars leaking or emptying the whole fv overnight that I don't want to be another statistic ahaha
Stainless and plastic conicals seem to be more trouble than they are worth. A whole lot of work to clean, more moving pieces, more room for error. Those stainless buckets seem cool, other than that, I'll stick with glass/plastic carboys
Great videos my friend! Just wanted to see if you had a trick for getting the middle funnel and the valve separated. So what I have going on is that I assembled the fermzilla and now I am unable to get them apart. The middle black funnel and the valve spin and not able to separate the two. Unable to hold the middle inside the fermenter section and try to screw the bottom off. I went ahead and screwed the locking ring on to the bottom of the cone. As tight as I could by hand. Put pressure to it and it seems to hold pressure and doesn’t leak. I wanted to completely disassemble and redo the whole setup again to insure I have it together correctly. As well as get it cleaned up. Only issue is now is do I dare try to remove the area I am having issues with. I do t want to ruin a new fermenter. Hope I was able to get what is going on down so you understand what issue I have. Thanks again for the videos.
That valve assembly sucks and is the reason why I no longer use the FermZilla. I would use the strap tool they provide along with a rubber mallet to smack it loose, and I had to do this every time I brewed due to the crud that would accumulate under it that had to cleaned out.
@@BEERNBBQBYLARRY So true. Feel like it could be awesome if a little more thought into things. IMO they should make the top section and valve assembly a all in one unit that would never need undone. Just have the collection jar and lid be the removable parts. Really wanted a better way to transfer beer under no oxygen setting. I had looked at the spike and someday will upgrade to this much better system. But, for now I’m with the fermzilla as well as their all rounder. Also wanted my glass carboys to go away. Had a accident with one and now want them gone. LOL. I did manage to get apart. Lubed it up some and reassembled. Currently sitting with 10psi and held pressure last few days so seems like I’ll be good to go on my first brew with it. Just finding time now to brew is the issue. Thanks so much for the reply. Great content BTW. Cheers!
Thanks for the info Larry, I was looking at these a year ago. They weren’t available then or that might have been an impulse buy.
How would you say the FermZilla compares to the The Catalyst Fermentation System? I know that the Catalyst does not permit pressure fermentation, so that aside which would be your preference?
would these be a good fermenter for wine ? im getting into winemaking not beer but these look promising
Fermenting, yes. Bulk aging, not so much. Plastics are gas permeable. PET is less permeable than others but still permeable making it less useful if you plan to bulk age.
I'm on day 3 of fermentation, gone from 1.055 to 1.041. I've kept the spunding valve completely closed to far so that I can determine the pressure to set, but so far there's still no pressure indicated on the gauge... and the aroma is quite strong - do you think this indicates a leak or is it normal?
I assume you have a leak.
@@BEERNBBQBYLARRY just put some soap foam around the connectors and there was indeed a leak. I tightened them both with a wrench and now it seems to be holding pressure because I get a sound when releasing the PRV, however I'm also still not reading anything on the spunding valve gauge and I can hear a high-pitch squeaking noise so there's probably still a tiny leak. So disappointed... I bought this as part of an equipment upgrade so that every brew didn't have to always be a DIY project.
Keep up the good work
Luv your reviw
Sorry you had o-ring and cleaning issues. I've not experienced any of that with mine I throw it on my keg washer 10 minutes later it's good to go. I would hope it would last longer than 2 years... I'm pretty sure they just want you to pressure tested every two years. I don't think that means it's going to go bad. I would assume it's mostly just to cover their own ass, however only time will tell. Thanks for sharing your opinion.
@@BEERNBBQBYLARRY If plastic is such an issue, do you know why the company would opt for this material vice metal?
@@brewing8094 It's not an expiry date. These are classed as a pressure vessel and therefore to be sold and used as a pressure vessel Law states that they need to be tested every 2 years. It's irrelevant of the material. This comparison to 750ml pet bottles is not relevant because they are not sold nor advertised as a pressure vessel. And if the tank does fail the test its like $29.95AUD for a replacement tank.
Can you fill bottles after fermenting under pressure?
It'd be the same as filling them from a keg using a counter pressure bottling device, but you should really fully carbonate the beer in a keg first unless you also plan to add a reduced amount of priming sugar to the bottles.
how can you ferment in PET alcohols being acidic
Specifically because it is PET. PET is non reactive to all sorts of acidic chemicals including sodas packaged in it like Coke which is way more acidic than beer ever is. You ever watch Breaking Bad? The episode where Walter tells Jesse to buy PET barrels to dissolve the dead body in with hydrochloric acid?
how hot can the the water be for cleaning it? my Fermentasaurus got "inhaled"
The instructions for it specify the max water temperature. It was somewhere in the range of most home water heaters (~120 F).
Great vieo! Appreciate your comments. Enjoyed the secondary fermentor video. A non-beer question , are you an Illinois alum? Thanks for your videos.
Cool! - I - N - I
Larry, thanks for the info. I was contemplating to get this one as a replacement for my old Fermentasaurus, but your review put me off. You didn't mention the lower volume the new one holds (27L vs 35L). Did that bother you?
I really like my Fermzilla, sure it's not perfect but for the price is great for value for someone getting into the hobby. There are some down side's of stainless steel as are so many different grade's and Nickel is getting hard to get so there is alot of grade 201 out there. My 5 gallon keg's are high quality Italian 304 stainless. The 3" butterfly valve is the biggest valve you can buy on a cronical fermenter. Another advantage is dry hopping from the bottom is said to infuse , intensify hop flavor. Apparently there's a harder plastic tank upgrade that can take boiling hot wort? The Fermzilla is a better hight over the fermentisoris as it fits perfectly in my temperature controlled fridge.
They did not say to stop using under pressure after 2 years. They said to pressure TEST after 2 years.
Thanks Larry I have changed my mind about buying one. Expiration date....completely turned me off
Many people have been using plastic PET 750mL brewing bottles for years over and over, I never take any notice of the expiry date because they so cheap. The Fermzilla is 5 time's cheaper than stainless and if looked after correctly will last. Many people are still using the first generation, Fermentisuris and that was 4 year's ago🍺🍺🍺 if people are worried just keep out of the sun when not in use will prolong it's life.🍺🍺🍺
What do you think about the fermzilla all round? I don't plan on harvesting yeast, and i like less complicated.
The all rounder seems a good idea but unless the trub is quite compact you will waste loads of beer. The hose hangs from the float about 50mm from the surface so hits the trub with about 4 litres of beer in it. You can tip the vessel easy enough gently to get more hoping the trub stays solid. I have modified the float so my tube is only 10mm from the surface. Its great for hard cider.
That’s a good point especially if you add lots of pellet dry hops. With my other fermenters, I’m able to rack off the top of the trub most of the way down to the trub via a rotating arm or siphon tool. The problem I have with shortening the chain on the floating tube is that I get floating material occasionally jamming up the intake tube as it is now.
Larry, theses items are made by competing companies. Fermzilla is made by Keg Land and Fermentasaurus is made by Keg King, both Aussie companies! It's not an upgraded version, they are completely different.
That is true TODAY but not when it started. When the Gen2 was initially developed, it was one company. They have since split into two competing companies.The renamed FermZilla as it's known today was promoted on Keg King's website and UA-cam channel by the same ex-employee now in charge at the new Kegland competitor. Now, all of those old "Gen2" videos were pulled off UA-cam, but you can still find references on the website that hadn't been scrubbed. It is an interesting back story.
@@BEERNBBQBYLARRY cheers mate
The small one for 29.99 only keep 3psi, so no good for pressure
Beware. Some of their other models are not pressure rated.
Great video and really helped me decide on buying it or not. Question ...do you think that pressure kit with the floating ball would work on a corny keg that I’d like to use for pressure fermentation?
@@BEERNBBQBYLARRY Didnt think about that. Do you mean something like the Torpedo Keg Buoy ™ Floating Dip Tube?
personally I think that these things are too bulky and take up a lot of space and I have heard the same story here in Australia, these things leak, one bloke i know said his cracked, I'm not a fan of them myself, they seem to be over rated, I have mentioned this before, after watching your video on a quick lager I am a fan of pressure fermenting Lager and I do it in a 19 litre / 5 gallon keg with a blowtie spunding valve, people are now pressure fermenting in larger stainless steel kegs too, there is a stainless steel pressure fermenting keg from a New Zealand company called Williamswarn it is a conical stainless steel brewkeg and you can unscrew the yeast jar at the bottom, to me they seem to be a much better choice an they look better too, but I have just ordered a few more 19 litre / 5 gallon kegs and spunding valves and will do a closed transfer into other kegs
I'm no fan of FermZilla or the original Fermentasaurus any longer an do most of my pressure fermentation in the Spike Flex+. I have heard of the Williamswarn, but it not available where I live.
You could perform a pressure test by yourself do you don't need to by a new vessel. If you buy a new vessel, it only costs about $40.
Also, the Fermzilla is from KegLand, the Fermantasaurus is from KegKing, different companies, so not version 2, but another brand.
Just to make things clear 😉
Keep up the good work with inspirational content!
@@BEERNBBQBYLARRY Here is the replacement valve for Fermenatasurus AKA generation 2, www.keg-king.com.au/fermentasaurus-butterfly-dump-valve-gen2.html and here is the new Fermentasaurus Generation 3 which they now call Fermenter King, www.keg-king.com.au/g3-fermenter-king-pressure-fermenting-kit.html
I think there was some conflict within the original company and one of them (or more) started another company creating the Fermzilla.... or vise versa
@@BEERNBBQBYLARRY You can check out how to pressure test the FermZilla here ua-cam.com/video/5cDTn4ePwpQ/v-deo.html After that you are god for another 2 years :-)
Wrong u smug bastard its all kegland.
Got the wolf man Jack thing going on there Larry 😎
@@BEERNBBQBYLARRY love your work, cheers from downunder 🇦🇺
All the drawbacks were user error though!! You said you screwed it on too tight. Also it litteraly came with a spare oring, and you still made a comment about how now "now you don't have a spare" lol. Also the harvester is not only used to trub dump or harvest yeast. You can use it to dry hop or as i used it, to add burbon to a stout in a clean sanitary way. Not advicating for the company here but just calling it like it is.
FYI
The Fermzilla is from KegLand
The Fermentasaurus is from KEG-KING
2 different Brands... try the FermenterKing Snub Nose ;)
So you have the 1st Gen Fermentasaurus? Then, pardon me ;)
I don't have any of these issues with my bucket!
@@BEERNBBQBYLARRY I have watched that one, was a very helpful video. I think I would like to get one of those SS conical fermenters one day though. I'm not to worried about harvesting yeast though. Thanks for the great vids, from WA, Australia!
Is the keg lube just regular vaseline?
I don't think so. Vaseline is basically petroleum jelly while different brands of keg lube are made of food grade oils, grease, or silicone.
You mention multiple times that there’s no real need for a conical shape or a collection tank. And sure, there’s no “need”, but it’s a huge practicality boost depending on what you’re doing.
When fermenting sake, there’s a huge amount of fine rice particulate sediment that’s extremely easty to disturb. This makes it easy to remove from the main batch, and avoids disturbing it because the entire volume of sediment is being pushed down on by the clear liquid and CO2 pressure above. The conical shape also makes the separation between layers more precise the lower it gets, so it’s easty to cut off while wasting very little of your actual brew.
Also useful for other fermentations like ciders for much the same reson, just less sediment. Normally, you’d siphon rack after primary, add sugar, then bottle. This lets you do everything (including carbonation) in the same vessel, saving lots of time and extra gear (bottles+caps+capper or keg).
TL;DR - Don’t “need” either feature, but the main point of both and why you’d get this is the practicality you get if you need to separate sediment, collect yeast, or do single-vessel fermentation and carbonation.
Cheers Larry ,just put me right off that stuff , ill stick with my old . most informative , merry christmas from AUS.
I wanted to love this thing. Nowhere does it say not dishwasher safe. I wash my catalyst in the dishwasher. I got one use from it. I contacted Kegland with a simple inquiry on how to get a replacement vessel and possibly a discount on a new unit of a replacement vessel wasn’t available. It’s been 6 weeks, they have no responded. I don’t recommend this fermenter.
why do people not read the manual?
"Only wash the fermenter with cold water. Do not clean, wash or sanitise the fermenter with
water that is above 50C (122F).
Only use chemical cleaners and sanitizers that are approved by Kegland. These include:
a) Super Kill Ethyl Sanitiser Spray (KL05371)
b) StellarSan (mixed to the correct specification) (KL05357)
c) StellarClean (KL05494)
… Or contact www.kegland.com.au for more information regarding other compatible
chemical cleaning products."
Dishwashers are hot and liquid id very caustic.
I love stainless. Why not buy a 15.5 gallon stainless keg & weld on a tri clover? It will outlast these plastic ones. Cheers
The all rounder and snub nose are better in my opinion
I concur. I have an all rounder now and have a number of snub nose arriving from Australia soon. I have no need for a dump valve anyway.
I want to see one blow up under pressure
I’m going to be doing my first brew ever of a amber wheat ale, I just have the 5 gallon started bucket kit. Will be Kegging it to put in my kegarator Kind of nervous. Any pointers?
BEER-N-BBQ by Larry
First thank you for your service and second thank you for the good advice. 🙏🏻 I love your videos they are great to learn from. I also have a vision grill like the kamodo BBQ so looking forward to some homemade beer and BBQ foods.
I think several weeks ago you posted a picture of the yeast and the trub on and around the edges of the Fermzilla on Instagram. That put the brakes on for me Larry, as I was just getting ready to purchase one. Thanks for the unbiase review! I'm hoping that can be addressed. Your unbiase reviews me a lot to all Home brewers out here! Thanks
You don't need to take the lower valve apart to clean under the seal. All that is required is to use your garden hose on a thin stream and point at the seal which lifts it up and all the gunk comes straight out. I've done about four brews in mine and I have never taken the lower valve apart. Also, the lower jar is also the best for oxygen free dry hopping as you can purge the air before you open the valve as you mention. I would say the 2 year pressure thing would be manufacturer covering themselves.. I really doubt you will need to replace the tank every 2 years
Have to agree, the simple (no dump jar) models are a far better design for pretty much everyone. The KISS rule exist for a reason.
The video is fine however the honest truth is that the negative out weights any positive with this equipment, that being said the bottom assembly section is a basic "cobble-job" design so that tearing this thing down for cleaning is a nightmare IMHO
Yep. I got rid of that fermentasaurus. ended up being more of a problem than a help.
fermentasurus is Keg King Fermzilla is Kegland......2 different companies
@@BEERNBBQBYLARRY where abouts in the U.S. are you?
@@BEERNBBQBYLARRY we are from Aust and in the U.S. at the end of 2020...love to catch up and have a beer or two!!
Just buy the Ss
If Hank Hill was a person and somehow more American, it would be Larry.
I have a stainless steel Kegmentor so much better. www.thehomebrewery.co.uk/kegmenter-unitank-29l-fermenter-keg
Larry get Kegland to send you one of these they are fantastic...
Blink dude... Blink! 🙂
Even two Years. 👎