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Sanke Keg fermenter
March 24, 2009 - 2:15pm
Does anyone in the club use a Sanke keg as a fermenter? I have found a lot of really cool setups online and would love to make one. I have another unmolested keg I can use as a fermenter sitting around.
I was thinking about doing one of the following"
- cutting the top and making a plexi cover with a port for blow-off to cover the hole during fermentation.
- Flipping the keg so the Sanke fitting is on the bottom and cutting the bottom. The large hole would get a plexi cover with a port for blow off. This would give me a large output on the bottom for either collecting yeast or beer.
I don't think the second option would work real well for collecting yeast as the bottom would not be steep enough, but if the top were set up such that I could apply CO2 and the port on the bottom had a tube that opened up just above the typical level of the yeast cake I could push beer out the bottom with CO2.
I know that a clover fitting will fit the Sanke port.
I have seen people use Cornie lids for the top, and that looks like a really good solution as well.
Either way cutting a large hole would address cleaning issues with using a Sanke.
Anyone do this?
March 24, 2009 - 2:45pm
#2
I am currently using a un-modified Sankey as a fermentor. I just removed the tube from it. A universal stopper fits perfectly into the hole.
I am working on adding a 4" Tri-Clamp to a Sankey to be used as a fermentor. This will allow me to reach in and scrub the tank. This is a lot like the Sabco Fermentor that sells for about $500
When I use these, I will put some water in the tank and bring it to a boil. This should take care of any bugs that may be in there.
March 24, 2009 - 3:22pm
#3
Yeah, I know a lot of people who worry about not being able to clean inside. Andy and I have talked about this. Bottom line is even with the small Sanke opening you can boil some water(or PBW) inside the keg and get it really clean.
March 24, 2009 - 3:23pm
#4
How do you remove the tube???
March 24, 2009 - 3:44pm
#5
I removed the clip. Then removed the spring clip. Then I reinstall the part that holds the tube.
March 27, 2009 - 9:49am
#6
Sankes are all that I am using currently. Unmodifed they work great.
March 27, 2009 - 9:54am
#7
You keep them cool in your shed right? How do you move them around Orion?
March 27, 2009 - 10:12am
#8
and in my chest frezer. They go into the freezer empty, and get moved into the sehd with a dolly. I get the beer out by using CO2. a 5-6 gal carboy hood and a stainless racking cane with a ball lock out fitting lets me push the finished beer into my corny's.
March 27, 2009 - 11:05am
#9
That sounds like what I am planning.
I am pretty sure that Bob uses them in wine making. You may want to call him up and talk to him about all the specifics on how he does it.
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