FVs - too big to move

[chris2012]

I wouldn't pump fermented beer unless using a persistaltic pump which are probably too slow to use anyway.

When I get a conical I'll probably use CO2 to shift the beer.

Edit: I think i've probably misread what you mean, i thought you meant pumping after fermentation

[Jim]

25l is a pretty heavy lift for me. I can manage it, but I have to constantly be on my guard against doing my back in.

I wouldn't even consider trying to lift 50l (though I know some people do!).

[Andy]

Yup, 25L is the max for me.

[bigdave]

I'm quickly realising that 30l is more than enough... Especially when the fv is almost full to the brim.

[far9410]

I've just bought two 60l FV's from brew uk, they are a tight fit in my fermenting fridge, I think they will be too much to handle with 40 litres in, I'll have to work out a plan to move em. Not keen on pumping part fermented wort! May have to be a trolley of some sort.

[Jonnyconga]

I used to carry my boiler after the mash 30m up a slippery garden path to the shed to do the boil and then back again to cool. I never had much more than 20L (I think I had 30L in it once (after the boil...) in it but when it's quite hot and sloshing about I quickly thought of an alternative method....

[Patterd Ale]

50 litres ish for me. Was a real struggle till I worked in a brewery full time. Bought a pump now to be sensible, twas only a matter of time till it hurt!

[orlando]

I used to lift my boiler, post boil approx 28-29l, onto a waist high shelf to get gravity to do the job for me. No more!

[Dave S]

I do 23 l brews, quite enough manual lifting for me. If I ever go bigger, I'l have to think of an alternative means of lifting

[Kev888]

I'm quickly realising that 30l is more than enough... Especially when the fv is almost full to the brim.

Yeah, its having to control the sloshing about thats the deal-breaker for me.

I normally pump to the FV but originally I would lift 40L (in a 50L bin) up into a fermenting fridge, which it only just fitted into. The weight was already a bit too much IMO, but the additional strain of having to do it so slowly and carefully made it much worse; like I was in real danger of injuring myself. And more often than not I'd end up with wort all over my T-shirt anyway

So before getting the pump I adopted Boingy's suggestion. Though there isn't the headroom in my fridge to tip wort directly in from smaller buckets, so I improvised with a big funnel and tube.

Cheers
Kev

[MashTim]

I manually transfer 45l from boiler to FV in 10-15l batches in a no chill container, shaking it to aerate along the way. I then pump into kegs using a solar pump, not had any oxidation or infections in 10 brews this way and only rinse and sanitise the pump and lines and no chill container, not taken the pump apart yet.

It takes a few litres when pumping before all air bubbles to be expelled from the line, this did concern me at first, but it hasn't transpired into a problem. I'm not sure how oxidising works exactly but I believe if the beer is going straight into a keg and then put under CO2, then oxidisation doesn't really occur.

[Rick_UK]

I used to be a powerlifter (still train to a decent level) so the weight isn't an issue providing I can get a decent grip. I'd be more worried about the handles breaking with 50+l of beer in the FV.

Agree with Boingy re the low tech solution a few smaller buckets tipped in once th3 FV is in situ. Trolley would also work assuming there's no steps or big slopes. Why use mechanical energy when our good friend gravity can do it for us

Rick