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2/24/2013 -- I'm wondering if the loose fitting lid will allow fruit flies to enter during the primary stage?
Thanks for your time!
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Hi Clay
We haven't seen that, no.
During primary fermentation, much CO2 is produced and creates a positive pressure, even with a loose fitting lid. I personally use this product in an area where fruit flies are common (orchards nearby). I would try to transfer to a secondary fermenter (carboy, demijohn etc) as the primary fermentation . . .
5/17/2010 -- what is your phone number?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: We can be reached at (425) 355-8865
Our toll free order is (800) 850-2739
3/25/2010 -- If the lid fits so loose that an airlock isn't needed, then can't air get in as well as out??
I always believed i needed an airlock to prevent my brew from being exposed to outside air. Now it seems you are saying an airlock is not needed, only a loose fitting lid will do in place of an airlock. Why are an airlocks on any fermenter???
Response From Homebrew Heaven: A loose fitting lid is alright IF you have an active primary fermentation, where lots of CO2 is escaping. This actually creates a positive pressure, preventing (much) air from getting into the fermenter. Many winemakers belive this is the best approach to a primary fermentation. Often the wine is kept in the primary fermenter for only a few . . .
11/17/2009 -- I have been looking at a lot of different home brewery kits on the internet. What is the difference in the performance between plastic and glass (carboy) fermenters?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: The selection of fermenters is entirely a personal choice. Some like to make larger batches, some smaller. Usually a home brewer or winemaker ends up owning several carboys, fermenters etc in order to properly age his brew.
Plastic has the advantage of being rugged and light weight. It CAN become scratched, however, and doesn't seem to . . .
8/7/2009 -- I was interested in the 10 or 20 gallon fermenters but was wondering if you might be able to install spigot and lid hole with bubbler and stopper?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: We can install the plastic primary spigot without a problem.
Due to the loose fitting lid on both of these ferementers however, there is no need to use an airlock. It allows enough CO2 to escape on it's own. If you prefer, we can install an airlock and stopper, but as I say, you may not get much bubbling through it.
7/17/2009 -- Is a 5 gallon carboy big enough to secondary ferment a 5 gallon batch of beer?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: As a secondary fermenter, yes. This assume that the bubbling has slowed down considerably by the time you transfer into the carboy.
I would not use it as a PRIMARY fermenter, however if you hope to yield 5 gallons.
1/26/2008 -- I live about an hour (if traffic is good) from the address on your website. Do you have an actual store or is everything here based solely online?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Yes, we have an actual brick-and-mortar store in Everett, WA. People actually walk in and buy stuff!
Our address is:
Homebrew Heaven
9109 Evergreen Way
Everett, WA 98204
Here is a video of our shop:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1a5fKvv8XI
Heck, you can actually call us on the phone, too! It's 425-355-8865. A person will . . .
10/3/2007 -- Can you ferment your wine in the original container with the lid and a air valve on it?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Sorry, but I don't have any idea what wine or container you are referring to...but usually not. You need room for expansion due to foaming during fermentation.
6/19/2006 -- I am planning on using the same brewpot for both mashing and boiling the wort. I was wondering if this fermenter could be used for temporary storage of wort between mashing and wort boiling stages while I re-wash and sanitize my brewpot.
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Yes, it should work fine for that.
I am wondering why you sanitize at that step, however. The boiling of your wort will sanitize both the wort and the pot.
6/19/2006 -- I was just looking at your 10 Gallon Primary Plastic Fermenter and noticed there was no airlock on it but after reading it says that enough air passes through anyways? Does that mean you put the lid on loosely for airflow or do you lock it down?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Yes, the fit on the lid is loose, even if it is locked down. It works well as a primary fermenter, when the active fermentation of your beer or wine is producing a lot of CO2. The flow is outward anyway, so no airlock is needed with it. We don't recommend it for long term secondary fermentation. For that, it is better to use a sealed vessel . . .
6/4/2006 -- I want to brew through the summer, but the temp in my "brewery"-read my side of the closet- will get too warm I am afraid. If i bought the 10 gallon fermenter and filled with a little new ice water daily to keep primary coolUusinfg fermometer to monitor temp), will it fit (what are dimensions) and is that a good idea. Thanks
Response From Homebrew Heaven: The 10 gallon primary fermenter measures 21" deep and 12" in diameter. Yes, that stragegy should work pretty well, altho you may want to use those blue frozen "gel packs" instead of ice. That way your volume doesn't change, requiring you to remove water from the primary.
5/16/2005 -- i am new to this, and i have seen and heard of people using plastic buckets for final fermentation, their purpose for doing this is so they can attach a spigot to the bucket for bottling, is this ok to do or is glass the better choice? thanx again and i find that you question and answer part of the site to be very helpful
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Yes, that can be done, but we prefer to use the plastic "bucket" type fermenter for the primary fermenter, and using glass for the secondary. We like the bucket for ease of cleaning, and besides, your beer is only in there for a few days to a week or so. We find glass to be better for clarifing your beer, however. This is not to say you CAN'T . . .
3/13/2005 -- I'm just getting started brewing and I had a question. As a primary fermenter which is better, plastic bucket, plastic carboy or glass carboy. Then for secondary fermentation, plastic carboy or glass carboy?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: You will find that brewers have different preferences. Personally, I like the plastic bucket for a primary. It's inexpensive, and easy to clean. For the secondary, I like glass carboys. Glass seems to cause the beer/wine to clear better. If I had a lot of money, I'd probably get a stainless steel Fermenator.
2/3/2005 -- I make a liqeur using a bourbon mixture that must sit for between four and six months. Currently, I use wide-mouth glass jars for this purpose, but I wish to make larger batches. My question is, while I know that food-grade plastic is fine for lower-alcohol drinks like wine or beer, will the higher-alcohol bourbon eat away at the plastic . . .
Response From Homebrew Heaven: I doubt it. It would have to be VERY strong bourbon, say 120 proof or more.
10/13/2004 -- How tall is the 12 gallon fermenter? Will a 30" racking cane work for it or should I use a 24"?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: They measure 21" high (22" with lid) and 15" in diameter. A 24" racking cane will work just fine.
8/25/2004 -- Do you think this would work OK for primary fermentations in white wine? I've always been told (or maybe read) to air lock whites during primary fermentation because of oxidation. Any thoughts?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Yes, this will work just fine as a primary.
During the primary fermentation, there is lots of CO2 leaving the container, so oxidation is minimized.
6/4/2004 -- How thick are the walls of this bucket? My thoughts are to possibly use it as an electric wort boiler. Is it thicker, thinner or about the same as a regular 6gal fermentation bucket?
Thanks!
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Probably not a good idea. It is pretty thin, and more flexible that the bucket.
12/19/2003 -- I am having trouble keeping the temp in the room I am making wine between 70 and 75 degrees as specified in the wine kit I have. I live in Colorado and often the temp at night dips way down, and in the day it can get quite warm. I am not around at all times to adjust the thermastat. Could I solve this problem by wrapping the carboy with . . .
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Sure. We have a Brew Heat Pad that works very nicely. It's basically a hard plastic heating pad for carboys. If it's too warm during the day, just get a cheap lamp timer, and have it turn on only at night.
Here is a link:
http://www.nexternal.com/hombre/?Target=products.asp&ProductID=1129
11/20/2003 -- Can your Brew Heater Pad be used on a plastic carboy?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Yes! It works well with them. I have one on the floor of my unheated garage right now, and it's COLD in there. By throwing a t-shirt on my carboy, it maintains about 68 deg F. Works will with plastic "bucket" type fermenters too.
10/23/2003 -- I noticed most of the malt extract brew kits are 5 gallon batches. Will a 5 gallon carboy be sufficient for fermentation, or will I need a 6 gallon carboy to allow for foaming? Thanks, I'm new to this.
Response From Homebrew Heaven: We recommend going larger for the primary. That's why we put 6.5 gallon plastic fermenters in our equipment kits. You can use a larger carboy of course, but the 6.5 gallon "bucket" type fermenter allows for the foaming, doesn't break, cleans up easier, and is less weight for shipping. Hey...we were all new to this at one time. No shame in . . .
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