I have several questions about fermenting.

1. can you use a steel container to ferment in? How about a used keg?

2. how much does temperature matter during fermenting. The room I'm
planning to use is probably 73 or 74 degrees most of the time.

3. what is secondary fermenting?

Thanks,

Dave

1. Yes you can ferment in steel but you need a way to close it off and have
some sort of air lock.
2. temp makes a lot of difference. most ales should be done around 68-72
degrees some even cooler, lagers need to be done around 48-50. also keep in
mind fermenting generates its own heat.
3. secondary fermenting is tranferring the wort to another vessel after
primary is done to let it clear and get it off the dead yeast and other
unfermentable material.

If you have not already done so read [url]www.howtobrew.com[/url] it will give you lots
of info from beginning to advanced brewing techniques.
"Dave Calhoun" <dave@colquhoun.org> wrote in message
news:dave-34E6F7.23195514112003@corp.supernews.com...[color=blue]
> I have several questions about fermenting.
>
> 1. can you use a steel container to ferment in? How about a used keg?
>
> 2. how much does temperature matter during fermenting. The room I'm
> planning to use is probably 73 or 74 degrees most of the time.
>
> 3. what is secondary fermenting?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Dave[/color]

So, could I frement in fermenting buckets and then use the keg as the
secondary fermenter? When you say "close it off..air lock" do you mean
that it must be airtight or just keep stuff out?

Also, is there any downside to fermenting in plastic buckets as opposed
to glass carboys?

Thanks,

Dave


[color=blue]
> 1. Yes you can ferment in steel but you need a way to close it off and have
> some sort of air lock.[/color]

Sure, a majority of homebrewers use plastic buckets to ferment in, I
personally use a glass carboy. as far as your kegs I would say they are more
valuable as a mash tun and boiling kettle for doing all-grain batches and
full volume boils. If you do want to ferment in them they need to be closed
off well enough to keep nasties out and the airlock is to vent the co2 while
keeping o2 out.
Of course I am assuming you are referring to standard beer kegs not soda or
"corny" kegs which most use as serving kegs for their brew.
"Dave Calhoun" <dave@colquhoun.com> wrote in message
news:dave-E9DD47.11062717112003@news-central.ash.giganews.com...[color=blue]
> So, could I frement in fermenting buckets and then use the keg as the
> secondary fermenter? When you say "close it off..air lock" do you mean
> that it must be airtight or just keep stuff out?
>
> Also, is there any downside to fermenting in plastic buckets as opposed
> to glass carboys?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Dave
>
>
>[color=green]
> > 1. Yes you can ferment in steel but you need a way to close it off and[/color][/color]
have[color=blue][color=green]
> > some sort of air lock.[/color][/color]

Dave Calhoun <dave@colquhoun.com> wrote in message
news:dave-E9DD47.11062717112003@news-central.ash.giganews.com...[color=blue]
> So, could I frement in fermenting buckets and then use the keg as the
> secondary fermenter? When you say "close it off..air lock" do you mean
> that it must be airtight or just keep stuff out?[/color]

I do all of my primary ferments in plastic buckets, and secondary in corny
kegs. You can get a gas-in quick disconnect and affix a piece of hose to
allow for venting. I wouldn't do your primary ferment in a corny keg, as
you are likely to loose a great deal of you beer to blow-off.
[color=blue]
>
> Also, is there any downside to fermenting in plastic buckets as opposed
> to glass carboys?[/color]

IMO, only one - you can't watch the fermentation (very cool). But, you
don't have to worry about breaking a carboy and losing your brew.

Beer here,

Mike

--
sarge0503 at sbabootcamp dot commercial
[url]www.schwedhelm.net/brew/[/url]

How easy is it to break a carboy? Mine will be siting up on a shelf and
I'd hate to see my stuff get soaked.
Dave

[color=blue]
> IMO, only one - you can't watch the fermentation (very cool). But, you
> don't have to worry about breaking a carboy and losing your brew.[/color]

Dave Calhoun wrote:[color=blue]
>
> How easy is it to break a carboy? Mine will be siting up on a shelf and
> I'd hate to see my stuff get soaked.
> Dave[/color]

I've only broken one...they break fairly easily unless you're very
careful. The real problem is that they toally shatter and send shards
of glass flying everywhere. I've read too many horror stories of trips
to the emergency room for stitches. If you can find a better place tha
a shelf for it, I'd recommend it.

------------->Denny

--
Life begins at 60 - 1.060, that is.

Reply to denny_at_projectoneaudio_dot_com

Dave Calhoun <dave@colquhoun.com> wrote in message
news:dave-F15A7E.09131418112003@news-central.ash.giganews.com...[color=blue]
> How easy is it to break a carboy? Mine will be siting up on a shelf and
> I'd hate to see my stuff get soaked.[/color]

As Denny noted, it's pretty easy, especially when compared to a plastic
bucket or a corny keg.

You can now get PET carboys (I've seen them a [url]www.williamsbrewing.com[/url]) for
the price of a glass carboy. As long as you don't leave your brew in them
for months on end, you shouldn't have any problems with oxidation.

Best place for kegs is [url]www.rcbequip.com[/url] Tough to beat at $12.50 (I
recommend getting new gaskets, too for an addl $2.25). I've purchase more
that 20 kegs from them - great folks.

Beer here,

Mike

--
sarge0503 at sbabootcamp dot commercial
[url]www.schwedhelm.net/brew/[/url]