I'm 62yrs old....just retired and never did this. I want to learn and watching your videos to do so. I want the firmzilla for my Christmas present. I have a CO'2 tank with gauges/safety valves etc., and 4 Soda kegs. I need to get alot of things before I start....but you are my learning tool for what to do.
If you have something like a massage pistol you can use it to make the yeast drop. Also works for removing bubbles out of pastries/desserts and stuff like that.
I find the balanced transfer method is perfect for carbonated beers - especially hoppy carbonated beers. Using a spunding valve or cracking the pressure relief valve creates a big pressure differential which makes it transfer faster but also allows gas (aromas) to escape and foams the beers up meaning you lose carbonation too. I've messed up a NEIPA on a 'closed' transfer this way! Sticking a set of weighing scales under the keg is an easy way to know when you have your 18L too! Cheers for the videos. Keep up the good work!
For carbonated I like to use the spunding, because I can keep pressure in the keg to stop foaming, but not enough pressure then yes you may get foaming. I go slow for the first 5 litres or so than can speed it up. Thanks for your info! Cheers mate!
I've drilled a hole through the pick up tube so when it sucks itself to the side it draws through the holes in the side of the pick up. Seems to work well. Great video mate. Cheers
When doing a brew and getting the fermenter and keg ready sanitize them, seal up the keg, add a spunding valve to the gas in post on the keg and another line from the gas out on the fermzilla to the liquid out post on the keg.You now let the beer ferment, you will fill the keg and purge all air from it also using the fermeter as the co2 source. Once the beer has finished and you want to transfer you can then follow this method in the video OR you can leave the line from gas out on fermzilla to gas in on keg and come off the bottom of the fermzilla via one of the posts on the collection cup to the liquid out post on the keg. You need the gas to gas connection to equalize the pressure over the beer in both vessels, and you let gravity transfer the beer with the keg being lower than the fermenter. This method does not need the float in the fermzilla BUT does need the collection cup to be near empty and clear beer to at least occupy the top of the cup. You can purge the air from the cup if you clean it by coming off the gas post on the fermzilla, thru the cup on the post adapters and into the keg or just use the keg as a gas source (make sure to spund at 15psi or higher so you have plenty of pressure to do this) This could allow full co2 transfers with no need for a co2 tank, if naturally carbing the sugar solution could already be in the keg from brew day and you just transfer on top of it. You will probably still need serving gas there after but it would massively cut down on initial gas use so your co2 fills go further.
Instead of tapping to release yeast from side simply bend over unit, grab stand handles and give it a couple quick twists of maybe 10 degrees. No shaking, just twisting. Doesn’t disturb yeast, just loosens it from the sides and lets it drop.
Thanks Gash... just bought one of these, is there any reason not to remove the trub & yeast in the collection glass before transferring thus minimising any pick up? Main reason I ask is that initially I plan to age and serve from the fermzilla before I invest in a kegging system... not seen many people try this, but seems like a key feature to me
I've just done my first brew for many years - first time dry hopping too. Watching your videos is really helpful and this one reminded me of a question I had, if you harvest the yeast from one brew to use in another, how much do you need? I've seen lots of calculators online about cell count and innoculation ratios, but I'm not a lab-equipped microbiologist so I wouldn't know where to start!
different yeasts are different of course, and depends on how thick the slurry is, but 1/4 to 1/2 a cup is probably plenty for an ale, Lager I'd use the whole lot. Cheers!
@@HomeBrewNetwork Thanks. I just wonder under what pressure do you ferment ? For 2.5vol and 20c it's needed 29PSI. Sounds pretty much but I believe Fermzilla should be able to handle that ? I did a leak test at 30 PSI and no problem, but it was just for 5 mins. What do you think ?
@@HomeBrewNetwork Thank you. I did not think about yeast and pressure. I was thinking to completely get rid of external CO2 source. I would use fermentation to purge starsan filled keg, then carbonate the beer itself and finally transfer the beer fully carbonized into the purged keg with the CO2 collected in the system. What about to start fermenting at 10 PSI and towards the end increase PSI to 25 - 28 PSI ? Do you think it can bring some off flavors because of high pressure ?
hey Gash did you drop some trub out before first or just leave it all in with whatever yeast was in there? wondering if i should trub dump towards the end of ferment just to clean up a little more before reusing yeast?
No I didnt, I know my wort is pretty clean going in, but of course you could, not sure exactly when would be the best time, guess its what you're trying to rid, probably high ferment, but then it might be stirring up the trub anyway, leave it too late and you might get rid of too much.. Cheers!
Cool technique how you don't remove the yeast collection cannister. I always thought you have to decant the yeast off afterward, but you are just using the collection vessel to hold the yeast between ferments and opening the valve to let the yeast in when it's time to ferment. I've been trying to get the collection vessel off my fermzilla and it's one tight mofo. Is it standard thread? Anticlockwise to undo it?
Yeah I wouldn’t leave it attached with valve closed for more then a few minutes, pressure could build up and explode. Collection jar has a normal thread, should only be done up hand tight and some lube on the thread will help, this week I’ll upload a video where I add grip tape to the jar and a direction arrow for a reminder. You can try putting it in a bucket of warm water
@@HomeBrewNetwork ended up getting it off, I think some heat helped it. What did you mean don't leave the valve closed otherwise pressure can build up and make it pop? First FWK I did I had the bottom butterfly valve closed until after I transferred the beer to a keg, but it wasn't fermented under pressure as I don't have a spunding valve yet. If you ferment under pressure can it pop the butterfly valve? I couldn't really find any videos about the right process for the collection canister for the fermzilla. Your videos have been most helpful.
Thanks god tips. I got one while watching. I had a leaking lid in my latest brew, so it did not build pressure as I wanted. Next time I will add sanitiser to the tank, close the lid, pressurice the tank and turn it upside down to check that the lid is airtight. Then I will remove the pressure and the carbonationcaps and fill my worth through that hole. I also have a aeration stone, that will fit through the other hole. Hopefully the tank will keep pressure after that.
That's how I do it all the time, pressurise with the starsan, I do usually turn it upside down but in this video I hadn't loosened anything in the lid, and I 've never had an issue with the lid leaking, I have over tightened the posts before though causing it to leak there, cheers and thanks for watching! I guess I should put that in the next one!
very good video and great tips thanks. I recently started to brew and I got the fermzilla with the pressure kit, I did 2 brew with the pressure on , one Belgian saison ( yeast stall , didn't really liked the pressure) and a IPA which was perfect around 12psi . Do you recommend to brew all the time with pressure , if yes what pressure do you recommend ? or only use pressure for some type of beer? Thanks Cheers Johan
Sorry mate, I've been meaning to reply. Its odd that the saison yeast stalled. I have not seen a list of pressures. I recommend anywhere from 5-15psi. Mostly I'll use about 10psi. Cheers!
Was that little whisk all you used for wort aeration? Geez! At least I use a filtered airstone on my junk brews and save the Oxygen for my special ones. I really must try your siphon closed transfer method, it looks like a nice method. Good tips and a nice video as always. Cheers.
Gday Gerry, I have the fish pond pump oxy thing, and a oxy tank, filter and reg., but to be honest I wasnt going to aerate at all... I did it for the video to stop people saying I should aerate lol I know its good practice but I had plenty yeast there, more than enough already. Also my usual pouring methods will aerate it too, plus I normally use dry yeast so the aeration stuff hasnt been out for near 2 years or more.. Thinking on my feet I just grabbed what I used to use before I had all the other stuff :) hahaha Cheers mate! Thanks for watching!
Nice video. How much pressure do you actually have on fermzilla when fermenting? As I understand you are not carbonating in the fermzilla? You still prefer carbonating in the keg?
@@timwood8733 I usually do yes, I whack some pressure in so I can accurately set the spunding valve, then I just leave it as is. For me usually 5-10 psi. Cheers
I'm really liking it, its been a small few that have had issues that weren't their own making. The empty tin makes the most noise, as well as gets people youtube hits. Its not perfect, but it does its job. Cheers mate!
I'm a stay at home Dad. Looking after my two girls. I have Crohn's disease which makes it very hard to find work these days. I was a Orthotics Technical Officer / Fitter Machnist years ago.. then did some electronics, played semi professional in bands for about 15 years.. a few other things.. but basically stuck at home, making peanuts on TH-cam. Cheers and thanks for watching.
I love it when smart people discover these Type methods, thank you for giving me a lesson in this subject my friend, greetings from Turkey.
Glad you enjoyed it! Cheers mate
I love it when smart people discover these Turkish methods, thank you for teaching me a lesson on this subject, my friend, greetings from Turkey.
I'm 62yrs old....just retired and never did this. I want to learn and watching your videos to do so. I want the firmzilla for my Christmas present. I have a CO'2 tank with gauges/safety valves etc., and 4 Soda kegs. I need to get alot of things before I start....but you are my learning tool for what to do.
Just purchased a 55l and fermentation fridge. looking forward to using it. Your videos are really helpful thanks a lot for posting mate. Cheers
If you have something like a massage pistol you can use it to make the yeast drop. Also works for removing bubbles out of pastries/desserts and stuff like that.
I find the balanced transfer method is perfect for carbonated beers - especially hoppy carbonated beers. Using a spunding valve or cracking the pressure relief valve creates a big pressure differential which makes it transfer faster but also allows gas (aromas) to escape and foams the beers up meaning you lose carbonation too. I've messed up a NEIPA on a 'closed' transfer this way! Sticking a set of weighing scales under the keg is an easy way to know when you have your 18L too! Cheers for the videos. Keep up the good work!
For carbonated I like to use the spunding, because I can keep pressure in the keg to stop foaming, but not enough pressure then yes you may get foaming. I go slow for the first 5 litres or so than can speed it up. Thanks for your info! Cheers mate!
I've drilled a hole through the pick up tube so when it sucks itself to the side it draws through the holes in the side of the pick up. Seems to work well. Great video mate. Cheers
hmmm Nice idea! Cheers mate!
I have done the same with my modified fermonsters, works great and also helps prevent clogging
When doing a brew and getting the fermenter and keg ready sanitize them, seal up the keg, add a spunding valve to the gas in post on the keg and another line from the gas out on the fermzilla to the liquid out post on the keg.You now let the beer ferment, you will fill the keg and purge all air from it also using the fermeter as the co2 source. Once the beer has finished and you want to transfer you can then follow this method in the video OR you can leave the line from gas out on fermzilla to gas in on keg and come off the bottom of the fermzilla via one of the posts on the collection cup to the liquid out post on the keg. You need the gas to gas connection to equalize the pressure over the beer in both vessels, and you let gravity transfer the beer with the keg being lower than the fermenter. This method does not need the float in the fermzilla BUT does need the collection cup to be near empty and clear beer to at least occupy the top of the cup. You can purge the air from the cup if you clean it by coming off the gas post on the fermzilla, thru the cup on the post adapters and into the keg or just use the keg as a gas source (make sure to spund at 15psi or higher so you have plenty of pressure to do this) This could allow full co2 transfers with no need for a co2 tank, if naturally carbing the sugar solution could already be in the keg from brew day and you just transfer on top of it. You will probably still need serving gas there after but it would massively cut down on initial gas use so your co2 fills go further.
Thanks very much for the tips! And thanks for watching mate!
Cheers Gash - just learnt about the balanced transfer method this week. Would love to purge keg with co2 from ferment.
I've only done it that once a few months ago, while it saves some gas its very slow. Cheers Stass!
Have you used a carbonation stone before?
Yes. I have, mainly for aerating, not for carbing. Cheers!
Instead of tapping to release yeast from side simply bend over unit, grab stand handles and give it a couple quick twists of maybe 10 degrees. No shaking, just twisting. Doesn’t disturb yeast, just loosens it from the sides and lets it drop.
Cheers Ray thanks for the advice!
Thanks Gash... just bought one of these, is there any reason not to remove the trub & yeast in the collection glass before transferring thus minimising any pick up? Main reason I ask is that initially I plan to age and serve from the fermzilla before I invest in a kegging system... not seen many people try this, but seems like a key feature to me
I've just done my first brew for many years - first time dry hopping too. Watching your videos is really helpful and this one reminded me of a question I had, if you harvest the yeast from one brew to use in another, how much do you need? I've seen lots of calculators online about cell count and innoculation ratios, but I'm not a lab-equipped microbiologist so I wouldn't know where to start!
different yeasts are different of course, and depends on how thick the slurry is, but 1/4 to 1/2 a cup is probably plenty for an ale, Lager I'd use the whole lot. Cheers!
@@HomeBrewNetwork Brilliant! Thank you!
use a massage gun to settle the yeast maybe? the vibrations in a good spot will agitate it off the sides perfectly
Nice video. What pressure do you have in the purged keg and in the fermenter before you start the transfer?
5-10psi is usually plenty, if the beer is carbonated its best to be on the higher end to stop foaming. Cheers!
@@HomeBrewNetwork Thanks. I just wonder under what pressure do you ferment ? For 2.5vol and 20c it's needed 29PSI. Sounds pretty much but I believe Fermzilla should be able to handle that ? I did a leak test at 30 PSI and no problem, but it was just for 5 mins. What do you think ?
@@janaselmeciova9241 It will handle that, but a lot of yeasts wont like those pressures, its good ferment at 1 bar or less (
@@HomeBrewNetwork Thank you. I did not think about yeast and pressure. I was thinking to completely get rid of external CO2 source. I would use fermentation to purge starsan filled keg, then carbonate the beer itself and finally transfer the beer fully carbonized into the purged keg with the CO2 collected in the system. What about to start fermenting at 10 PSI and towards the end increase PSI to 25 - 28 PSI ? Do you think it can bring some off flavors because of high pressure ?
@@misenko856 Ok cool, yep I reckon that would be a good idea! Cheers!
Great idea with the jiggler to get the wort into the Fv rather than the usual tipping it up and trying to pour into it..
hey Gash did you drop some trub out before first or just leave it all in with whatever yeast was in there? wondering if i should trub dump towards the end of ferment just to clean up a little more before reusing yeast?
No I didnt, I know my wort is pretty clean going in, but of course you could, not sure exactly when would be the best time, guess its what you're trying to rid, probably high ferment, but then it might be stirring up the trub anyway, leave it too late and you might get rid of too much.. Cheers!
@@HomeBrewNetwork thanks mate
Just got me a fermzilla so will be trying these tricks - Awesome!
Awesome tips Gash! My fermzilla turned up this week 😎. Cheers.
Cheers Parko!
That worked so well reusing the yeast like that. Nice one.
Thanks for watching mate, cheers!
@@HomeBrewNetwork is the Cellar Dweller site down. Ive cleared all my cookies but still cant get on cheers.
Cool technique how you don't remove the yeast collection cannister. I always thought you have to decant the yeast off afterward, but you are just using the collection vessel to hold the yeast between ferments and opening the valve to let the yeast in when it's time to ferment.
I've been trying to get the collection vessel off my fermzilla and it's one tight mofo. Is it standard thread? Anticlockwise to undo it?
Yeah I wouldn’t leave it attached with valve closed for more then a few minutes, pressure could build up and explode.
Collection jar has a normal thread, should only be done up hand tight and some lube on the thread will help, this week I’ll upload a video where I add grip tape to the jar and a direction arrow for a reminder. You can try putting it in a bucket of warm water
@@HomeBrewNetwork ended up getting it off, I think some heat helped it. What did you mean don't leave the valve closed otherwise pressure can build up and make it pop? First FWK I did I had the bottom butterfly valve closed until after I transferred the beer to a keg, but it wasn't fermented under pressure as I don't have a spunding valve yet. If you ferment under pressure can it pop the butterfly valve?
I couldn't really find any videos about the right process for the collection canister for the fermzilla. Your videos have been most helpful.
@@cabji i meant dont leave valve closed with collection jar attached and full of yeast.
Cheers Gash are you only doing boil and whirlpool hops instead of dry or are you using hop tea into the fermenter?
Just boil and whirlpool hops, dont like hop teas personally. Cheers mate!
@@HomeBrewNetwork thanks
Thanks god tips. I got one while watching. I had a leaking lid in my latest brew, so it did not build pressure as I wanted. Next time I will add sanitiser to the tank, close the lid, pressurice the tank and turn it upside down to check that the lid is airtight. Then I will remove the pressure and the carbonationcaps and fill my worth through that hole. I also have a aeration stone, that will fit through the other hole. Hopefully the tank will keep pressure after that.
That's how I do it all the time, pressurise with the starsan, I do usually turn it upside down but in this video I hadn't loosened anything in the lid, and I 've never had an issue with the lid leaking, I have over tightened the posts before though causing it to leak there, cheers and thanks for watching! I guess I should put that in the next one!
Thanks mate...
Very informative and helpful..🥰😎
Cheers Gash, good idea with the yeast in the bottom of the fermzilla saves alot of mucking about 😎🍻🍻 cheers Mate, Mike.
Cheers Mike, thanks for watching
very good video and great tips thanks.
I recently started to brew and I got the fermzilla with the pressure kit, I did 2 brew with the pressure on , one Belgian saison ( yeast stall , didn't really liked the pressure) and a IPA which was perfect around 12psi .
Do you recommend to brew all the time with pressure , if yes what pressure do you recommend ? or only use pressure for some type of beer?
Thanks
Cheers
Johan
Sorry mate, I've been meaning to reply. Its odd that the saison yeast stalled. I have not seen a list of pressures. I recommend anywhere from 5-15psi. Mostly I'll use about 10psi. Cheers!
Awesome stuff as always mate cheers for the tips will definitely be using both of these!
Cheers mate!
Was that little whisk all you used for wort aeration?
Geez! At least I use a filtered airstone on my junk brews and save the Oxygen for my special ones.
I really must try your siphon closed transfer method, it looks like a nice method.
Good tips and a nice video as always.
Cheers.
Gday Gerry, I have the fish pond pump oxy thing, and a oxy tank, filter and reg., but to be honest I wasnt going to aerate at all... I did it for the video to stop people saying I should aerate lol I know its good practice but I had plenty yeast there, more than enough already. Also my usual pouring methods will aerate it too, plus I normally use dry yeast so the aeration stuff hasnt been out for near 2 years or more.. Thinking on my feet I just grabbed what I used to use before I had all the other stuff :) hahaha Cheers mate! Thanks for watching!
@@HomeBrewNetwork Well, I must admit that when I'm short of time the aeration sometimes consists of a rapid pour from the cube to the fermenter 😊
Exactly hahaha Cheers mate!
Nice video. How much pressure do you actually have on fermzilla when fermenting? As I understand you are not carbonating in the fermzilla? You still prefer carbonating in the keg?
I usually ferment at around 10-15psi, I dont carbonate totally in it most of the time because i want to use the fermenter again. Cheers!
@@HomeBrewNetwork do you put fermenter under pressure immediately or do u wait a day or 2 for oxygen to be used up? -many thanks for the videos
@@timwood8733 I usually do yes, I whack some pressure in so I can accurately set the spunding valve, then I just leave it as is. For me usually 5-10 psi. Cheers
Great video thanks for the tips gash
Thanks for watching mate!
Great tips as usual Gash.
Thanks mate!🍻
Cheers Birdy Broooo!
I’m curios how you like your fermzilla, seems so many people have “leak” problems
I'm really liking it, its been a small few that have had issues that weren't their own making. The empty tin makes the most noise, as well as gets people youtube hits. Its not perfect, but it does its job. Cheers mate!
Great video, very informative! Cheers
Cheers Andrew and thanks for watching
Your videos inspired me to buy one =)
Good luck mate! Enjoy!
Nice!!!
Cheers Kacer!
Just wondering what your day job is? I'm not joking just curious.
I'm a stay at home Dad. Looking after my two girls. I have Crohn's disease which makes it very hard to find work these days. I was a Orthotics Technical Officer / Fitter Machnist years ago.. then did some electronics, played semi professional in bands for about 15 years.. a few other things.. but basically stuck at home, making peanuts on TH-cam. Cheers and thanks for watching.