Prepared Most Fashionably: A Showcase of Elegance and Style
In the world of homebrewing, conical fermenters have become a popular choice for enthusiasts seeking a more efficient and effective brewing process. One such advocate for conical fermenters is Ryan Oxton, the Brew Dude, known for his insightful YouTube channel.
Ryan frequently shares practical advice on improving the homebrewing process, often recommending various accessories to enhance the benefits of conical fermenters. While his recommendations may vary depending on the specific model and brewing goals, here are nine essential accessories he endorses:
- Stainless Steel Conical Fermenter with Built-in Valves: Ryan prefers high-quality conical fermenters equipped with racking, dumping, and sample valves. These valves make yeast removal, trub dumping, and sampling a breeze, all while minimising oxygen exposure.
- Temperature Control System: A reliable temperature controller or jacket is crucial for maintaining precise fermentation temperature, which is vital for yeast health and beer quality.
- Pressure Release Valve (PRV) and Blow-off Tubes: These accessories ensure a safe release of excess pressure during fermentation, thus preventing contamination.
- Yeast Harvesting Tools: Accessories like a yeast collection vessel or sanitised tubing help in harvesting and repitching yeast efficiently, taking full advantage of the conical design to collect sediment at the bottom.
- Cleaning and Sanitizing Equipment: Spray balls or clean-in-place (CIP) systems compatible with the conical fermenter are essential for thorough sanitation, as the fermenter’s shape can make manual cleaning tricky.
- Sampling Port or Valve: This feature allows for easy gravity readings and tasting without exposing the batch to oxygen.
- The Carb Stone Bundle: This bundle is used for oxygenating before pitching yeast and for carbonating before moving to keg.
- The Closed Pressure Transfer Kit: This kit, used in conjunction with the gas manifold bundle, helps keep oxygen out of finished beer during kegging.
- The 2" Sight Glass: This accessory is recommended for monitoring the release of yeast, trub, and hops during dumping.
- The 2" TC QC: This accessory is recommended for moving wort from a wort chiller into a fermenter.
- The Racking Arm: This accessory is used to extract the last few beers from the fermenter.
- Shorty Leg Extensions and an Extended Bracing Shelf: These accessories provide height and stability to the fermenter.
- The All-In-One PRV: This pressure relief valve is used to add or remove pressure in the fermenter.
- The Carb Stone Bundle (with All-In-One PRV): This combination is used to keep oxygen out of the fermenter.
- Glycol Chiller: This accessory is used in conjunction with the TC100 Bundle for cold crashing beer and stabilising temperatures during Wisconsin's hot summers.
- Silicone Tubing: This tubing is used from the 90-degree barb on the lid to let carbon dioxide push off of the beer during fermentation.
Ryan's expertise and recommendations have been instrumental in helping homebrewers find the perfect setup for their brewing space, turning their passion into a profession. His channel, "Brew Dude," is a treasure trove of knowledge for homebrewers looking to elevate their brewing game.
- In addition to conical fermenters, Ryan Oxton, the Brew Dude, often advocates for stainless steel conical fermenters with built-in valves, as they simplify yeast removal, trub dumping, and sampling, while minimizing oxygen exposure.
- For homebrewers seeking the best possible beer quality, investing in a temperature control system or jacket is an essential accessory, as it enables precise temperature maintenance during fermentation.
- Fashion-and-beauty might not seem related to homebrewing, but silicone tubing, used from the 90-degree barb on the lid to let carbon dioxide push off of the beer during fermentation, is an integral part of Ryan's recommended setup for an optimal brewing process.
