Home Brew Fermenter

Setting up a Fermenter for Fermentation

It really helps to contain some information on the fermentation process and have a high quality fermenter that can retain a constant temperature at all times.

Fermentation is basically the making of alcohol which is done by mixing sugar, yeast and water. Yeast is a living organism and if the water is kept at the correct temperature the yeast cells will go to work on the sugar and react in a way that creates a combination of fifty /fifty alcohol and carbon dioxidedioxide (which normally gets shaken out of the solution during the fermentation process). Alcohol strength can be varied by the various types of yeast so you really do have complete control over the finished product. Anyone new to the hobby would probably be better off starting with a kit as you merely follow the instructions

Hygiene is very important for the equipment used, and sterilization has to be carried out on all containers previous to each fermentation process. If any bacteria are present in the liquid, it can make the fermenting process an unpleasant one. It is also important to note that cleaning and sanitizing are two different steps. Cleaning is the initial phase, sanitizing is another step

When brewing your own beer, the brew pot needs to be large, and it needs to be made out of stainless steel - aluminum will not work. The fermenter needs to be a superior quality, one made out of plastic that will not allow any bacteria or germs to enter in. The fermenter also needs to be air tight and have a reasonably large capacity. The primary fermenter is where all the action starts; and needs to hold at least 26 liters and must have an air tight seal.

Yeasts occur in a variety of styles, each developed for a certain style of alcoholic beverage. There are lager yeasts, yeasts used for pilsners, and several varieties of yeast for ale, and barley wine styles. Each yeast variety has unique qualities that impact on the final flavor and aroma of the beer. The main difference between yeasts used for lagers and ales is that ale yeast is a top-fermenting yeast which means the yeast floats to the top and hangs there during most of the fermentation process. Lager yeast is bottom-fermenting yeast which means it sits around the base of the fermenter. During both types of fermentation the active yeast does pass through the brew and eventually settles out on the bottom of the fermenter when it is done.