New Fermzilla gen. 3 and ‘hop bong’

[f00b4r]

A decent overview video showing the new version of the Fermzilla with triclamp fittings for bottom. Strangely they have gone with the old style lid but will be coming out with a tri clamp version that is also used for the new hop bong, to dry hop without oxidation.

[Rankin_leigh]

That looks like a massive improvement.
My fermzilla unfortunately got chucked. I was leaking pressure/beer at the bottom, so naturally tightened it. Then it got jammed. Pressurising made it worse (didn't realise it was stuck when carbonating) and had to use 2 strap ratchets to undo it - but buckled the moulding in the process.
I moved over to the fermenter king gen 3 and use tri-clamp fittings on the bottom (they have a similar 2 piece at the bottom, like the fermzilla, but it's smaller in diameter so easier to seal and has a tri-clamp fittings) . Seems to work much better for me.

But the fermzilla having the tri-clamp moulded into the actual unit seems like a no-brainer of an improvement, and would be very tempting if I was in the market again.

[f00b4r]

I agree with three tri clamp being moulded on, it seems a little crazy to only have it on the collection but when it’s the other bit that is likely to get jammed; I eventually went with the all rounder as I don’t really need the bottom collection jar.
There are also coming out with a SS version.
It will be interesting to see what people think of the hop bong in actual use and if it really makes a difference in very hop forward beers or not (it might just make it easier to dry hop though).

[MashBag]

I never felt the love for these, but then I don't pressure ferment. So not really relevant.

[f00b4r]

I think a lot of people using these don’t actually pressure ferment as such. However, they are good for closed transfers without the beer seeing oxygen at the end of the ferment (maybe important for only some hoppier styles), you can naturally carbonate via spunding (without having to transfer the beer), bottle bright carbonated beer and serve direct from the unitank (useful if you don’t have the space in your kegorator, are being lazy or have beer left over after filling a keg - it’s also drawn via a floating dip tube so is ready quickly; once again maybe only a benefit for some styles).

[MashBag]

I do feel a kinship to "lazy" brewing, but Lodo I have trouble separating it by taste from best practice, well managed brews of the same recipe.

I know there is always improvements to be had and discoveries to be made, but am also aware of a tremendous ammount of unnecessary consumerism... And I can't decide which this is.

[f00b4r]

And the official video on it just out:

https://youtu.be/dRA6fe3eEvA

[Chris Brooks]

Saw the video and noted the heavy emphasis on purging the "bong" with gas to prevent oxygen into the fermenter. Just a thought, but CO2 is a lot heavier than O2 and forms a dense blanket over the wort, so why not just drop the hops in.

[MashBag]

Modern teaching suggests purging with gaseous co2 is pointless anyhooo. Changes the mix, but does not purge

[f00b4r]

Saw the video and noted the heavy emphasis on purging the "bong" with gas to prevent oxygen into the fermenter. Just a thought, but CO2 is a lot heavier than O2 and forms a dense blanket over the wort, so why not just drop the hops in.

There are those that would say that is enough but it probably also depends on how hoppy the beer is and also how careful you are able to be when opening the opening. Another option, on the Fermzilla and similar is to also have the gas connected whilst opening the lid, so that CO2 is flowing into the space.

[f00b4r]

Modern teaching suggests purging with gaseous co2 is pointless anyhooo. Changes the mix, but does not purge

Really? Got a source for that?
Purging gently from the bottom instead of a high pressure from the top maybe does give different results. IMHO the most ‘modern method’ (well in reality the current trendy method) is to use the CO2 from fermentation to purge kegs as fermentation creates a lot of CO2.

[MashBag]

Let me elaborate.

Purging with CO2 is often interpreted as releasing some CO2 from a cylinder into the vessel. This does not achieve the required result and at best just effects the mix. Better is to use specialist low pressure CO2 equipment, to gently achieve a carbon dioxide fill. CO2 is indeed heavier than air but just the same it will blow away very easily and does not achieve a 100% "purge"

Source. I am a trained winemaker, sometimes the crossover does make me think very differently about home beer making.

[f00b4r]

Hence the fill from the bottom comment I made.
Someone ran the maths on using excess CO2 from fermentation (it’s in the hundreds of litres from a standard ferment) and it would appear to give better results than any other method (including filling with liquid and pushing it all out).
I’m not a LODO proponent but this is worth a read around purging oxygen from the keg:

https://www.themodernbrewhouse.com/kegg ... shed-beer/

[MashBag]

I have two 500 litre fermenters I run once a year, and they fill the room with co2. I allow a good few mins ventilation before I go in. For years I have been meaning to fit an extractor fan.

[guypettigrew]

I have two 500 litre fermenters I run once a year, and they fill the room with co2. I allow a good few mins ventilation before I go in. For years I have been meaning to fit an extractor fan.

Wow--1,000 litres of fermentation. You must run a commercial set up.

Any chance of photos, please?

Guy