Seeing fermentation

[LostHopper]

How important is watching fermentation activity for you?

When I first started brewing I used one gallon glass jugs then moved to some gifted 3 and 5 gallon glass carboys. I got used to seeing the development of the yeast tsunami and krausen development. My wife harasses me that I check on my beer more than I checked on our sleeping kids 30 years ago.

I've wanted a larger fermenter (6.5 gallon) but one that was safer and easier to handle than glass even with the carboy.net carriers I've been using (they are nice). So with a gift card burning a hole in my pocket I've been considering a stainless steel fermenting bucket. Now I realize I won't get to "see" the fermentation. So I've been trying out some batches in a plastic brew bucket to see if I can handle "blind fermentation". It's going well (love the bucket handles) and I may just stick with the plastic buckets for a while before going with stainless. I realize this is stupid but wondered if anyone else is reassured by watching the fermentation in a clear carboy.

 

[vgmohag]

I recently switched to a fermonster for fermenting. This comes after over 30 batches in plastic buckets. I really like being able to see what is going on. I will still use buckets when my fermonsters are full but would like to replace all my buckets with see through plastic eventually.

 

[DonGavlar]

I've switched from glass big mouths to all SS brewtech buckets. Although I do love them (easy to clean, great seal, really easy pressure transfer to kegs, light and thermowell for my inkbird) I cant lie and say I don't miss checking up on them fermenting away every few hours. Although the bubbles coming off my blow off are enough for me to know fermentation's kicked off, I do miss watching the krausen grow and the yeast flying about.

 

[GPP33]

For me seeing fermentation, while fun, is less important than being able to see the last bits of beer when racking to my kegs. I like to get every last drop of beer and no yeast cake, it’s a fine line that seems difficult to nail without visual aid.

 

[DonGavlar]

For me seeing fermentation, while fun, is less important than being able to see the last bits of beer when racking to my kegs. I like to get every last drop of beer and no yeast cake, it’s a fine line that seems difficult to nail without visual aid.

This is very true. Luckily the SS brew buckets have rotating racking arms on the spigot. I just give it a twist whilst emptying into my keg until I feel a bit of resistance from the trub. Usually manage to get pretty much all the beer I can with minimal transfer of trub. Of course though, It was easier when using glass.