Conical fermenters can be an effective way to cut down on the time and effort involved in brewing. A conically-fermented beer is often more flavorful than one that has been kettle soured, with less active yeast at work. Plus you save yourself from cleaning multiple buckets or carboys by using just one unit for both primaries and secondary fermentation. It’s like having two breweries right there together inside of your refrigerator (or cabinet).
The conical fermenter is a type of vessel that holds liquid and has an outlet at the bottom. The yeast settling in the cone will eventually create foam, which can be collected by pouring off into another container for filtering out anything unwanted before bottling your refreshing beer.
Are you in the market for a conical fermenter? If so, you’re likely feeling overwhelmed by all of the options out there. In this comprehensive review, we’ll help you narrow down your choices and find the perfect conical fermenter for your home brewery. We’ve selected 12 of the best models available, and we’ll reveal our top pick at the end of this article. So read on to learn more about these versatile brewing vessels.
What’s a Conical Fermentor?
A conical fermenter is a vessel that has a cone-shaped bottom. This design allows yeast and sediment to settle towards the bottom of the cone while keeping the beer in contact with the yeast at all times. This results in a clearer and more consistent beer.
Conical fermenters are often made of stainless steel or glass, and they come in a variety of sizes. The most important thing to consider when purchasing a conical fermenter is the size that will be best suited for your needs.
Advantages of a Conical Beer Fermentor
A conical fermenter offers a number of advantages over other types of fermentation vessels. These include:
- Fewer transfers: A conical fermenter allows you to ferment and age your beer in one vessel, which reduces the amount of time and effort required.
- Easier to clean: The cone-shaped design makes it easy to clean all of the nooks and crannies, which reduces the likelihood of contamination.
- More efficient: The conical design allows yeast and sediment to settle at the bottom of the cone, which reduces the amount of yeast that is introduced into your beer. This leads to a more consistent and flavorful beer.
List of 12 Best Conical Fermenters Reviews
1. BrewDemon Conical Fermenter by Demon Brewing Company
- The USA-made conical fermenter is the world’s first Small Batch Fermentor. It includes everything you need, quality and long-lasting durability. Plus, it has a patented small-batch design that reduces contact between your finished beer and trub-making surface. This makes for cleaner, clearer, better-tasting beer that leaves your taste buds feeling satisfied.
- This food-grade, durable plastic is made from BPA-free professional grade materials. It has a barbed spout to ensure that it can attach easily to a hose and bottle filler, and its adjustable flow allows for precise control of the water flow. The result is perfect dilution without any unwanted flavors.
- The Brew Demon 2.5 gallon small batch fermenter is designed specifically for these 2-gallon recipes, but can also ferment any larger recipe. It has a venting system that allows CO2 to escape while keeping harmful contaminants out and an easily upgraded airlock or blow-off tube.
2. Fermentation tank for home brewing Conical Fermenter
- The first and second steps of fermentation are made easy with this SUS304 stainless steel material. The cover is made from durable, strong stainless steel that will protect your beer and wine from being ruined. The tank has a capacity of 30 liters, which will be perfect for storing your beers or wines. This product is also very convenient- you can easily pour your beer or wine into the tank in just a few minutes.
- This fermenter is equipped with a mini valve with a rotary arm and 5 locks to secure the lid. It’s also made out of 99 percent stainless steel, which helps it be durable. This fermenter can be used for the fermentation of wine/beer/fruit enzymes.
3. BrewDemon Hard Cider Kit Extra Conical Fermenter
- These patented 2 gallon recipes are easy to use and produce a wicked- good result every time. Unlike those expensive 1-gallon grain kits, this recipe takes just minutes to prepare and the results are scary-good! You won’t be disappointed with this pro-style conical fermenter or easy-to-use recipe.
- BrewDemon’s Forbidden Fruit Hard Cider recipe kit is a dry, crisp refreshing hard cider. This package contains this Forbidden Fruit Hard Cider recipe kit and all the materials you need to make your own delicious drink.
- They know that time and energy are important, so they have designed these cider kits to make you focus on the brewing process. Not only do they let you spend your time Brewing delicious hard cider, but also you get to focus on the ingredients.
- The only 2-gallon kit includes 1-quart bottles and a bottle filling valve. No need to siphon from your fermenter to the bottles- just turn the valve and fill them. This is the perfect kit for those who want the best tasting hard cider from their kitchen, without having to worry about using an inefficient siphoning method or waiting for hours for it to come in stock.
4. BrewDemon Conical Fermenter Eliminates Sediment
- This patented pro-style conical fermenter produces stunning results in just a few minutes. Unlike those expensive 1-gallon grain kits, these 2-gallon recipes are simple to make and use a small jug or bucket. These recipes produce an amazing result every time – even better than those using a jug or bucket.
- BrewDemon’s beer is amazing and handcrafted in New Zealand. This package includes this American Prophecy Ale recipe kit, which is a well-balanced, refreshing beer.
- Brewing your beer on the stove is a great way to focus on the brewing process and not have to worry about anything else. You can leave all other worries behind and just focus on making great beer.
- With this 2-gallon kit, you can fill your bottles with water from your fermenter and enjoy the freshness that comes with it. Plus, there’s nothing to worry about when it comes to siphoning – just turn the valve and fill up your bottle.
5. Craft A Brew Conical Fermenter Cover
- Thanks to this thick 600D vinyl laminated canvas, this insulating jacket blocks out 100% UV light from hitting your beer. This will keep it safe from getting bathed in harmful sunlight.
- This cooling bag is easy to move – it includes integrated carrying straps with reinforced cross stitching, making it easier than ever to move your beer around the house.
- This cover is custom-designed for the Catalyst Fermentation system so you can brew like a pro from the comfort of your own home. The easy-to-use quick-view flap makes it easy to see your fermentation in action. The flip side also features a view of your brew, making it convenient for when you’re curious about what’s happening in there.
6. BrewDemon Conical Fermenter Eliminates Sediment – 2 gallon Pilsner
- These 2-gallon recipes use a patented pro-style conical fermenter and produce good results every time. Compared to those expensive 1-gallon grain kits, these 2-gallon recipes take just minutes to prepare and the results are scary-good. Don’t be fooled by competitors who use jug or bucket fermentation techniques. This patented pro-style conical fermenter produces high-quality beer every time.
- BrewDemon’s beer is amazing and handcrafted in New Zealand’s famous Speight’s brewery. This package includes this One Evil Pilsner recipe kit, which is a light, smooth, refreshing beer.
- In order to produce great beer, you need to focus on your recipe. These beer brewing kits make that easy for you. They can produce Goldilocks-quality beers in just 15 minutes on the stove. That leaves you time and energy to focus on other things.
- The BrewDemon 2-gallon kit comes with a quart bottle filling valve, 1 gallon of beer, and a set of fermenters. All you need is to turn the valve and fill your bottles. This is the best way to enjoy homemade beer from your kitchen – without having to siphon or converter.
7. FastFerment Conical Fermenter – Home-Brew Kit
- FastFerment was a Gold Medal Winner at the Largest Homebrew Competition – HomebrewCon 2016 in Baltimore, MD – Other Ales Category. This company produces high-quality beer, wine, or hard cider by fermenting its products with a cone-shaped design.
- The FastFerment Conical fermentation system has been delighting beer and wine brewers around the world with its high-quality results. Amateur brewers have won multiple medals at international home brewing and wine fermenting competitions using this conical fermenter.
- The entire line of FastFerment fermentation accessories is available for purchase at this website. This includes the Fermentation jacket, the FastRack bottle drying rack, and this whole range of fermentation products.
8. FermZilla Conical Fermenter – 7.1 gal. / 27 L – for Homebrewing KL06835
- The FermZilla Conical Fermenter – 7.1 gal. / 27 L – for Homebrewing KL06835 is the perfect option for brewers that want all the advantages of a conical fermenter without the price tag of a stainless steel unit. The new and improved FermZilla in 27L was brought to you by the critical minds and engineers behind the original Fermentasaurus Gen 1.
- Although the original Fermentasaurus was revolutionary at the time of its conception, there’s always room for improvement. This is partly due to the strong community of Fermentasaurus users who have helped push for an improved conical unitank. With its easy-to-use butterfly dump valve, this fermenter.
9. Craft A Brew – BE-CAT The Catalyst Fermentation System, Conical Fermenter
- The Conical Fermenter is future-oriented brewing equipment that simplifies the process of making beer and wine at home. It separates sediment, eliminates transfers, and lets you bottle straight from your fermenter – all without having to worry about fermentation inhibitors or cleaning expenses.
- Brewing beer at home is easy- just include supplies such as a giant 6. 5-gallon conical tank, bottling attachment, transfer tubing, rubber stopper, and 16 oz wide mouth glass mason jar in your kitchen.
- The Catalyst’s tank is made from Tritan, a food-safe, BPA-free polymer. It retains the same clarity and smoothness of glass but is resistant to shattering and scratching. The total height (does not include airlock) is 26 inches and the maximum width is 17 inches.
- The 3” Trub Trap butterfly valve is the largest of its kind in the industry. It is compatible with any large mouth mason jar, making it super simple to separate sediment and catch and store yeast.
10. FASTFERMENT – FFT FastFerment Conical Fermenter
- The FastFerment Gold Medal Winner at the Largest Homebrew Competition – HomebrewCon 2016 in Baltimore, MD – Other Ales Category is FastFerment. This beer has consistently high quality and eliminated sediment and exposure to oxygen while allowing for yeast harvesting.
- FastFerment is a one-step system that eliminates the need to rack and transfer between buckets or carboys. This saves 80% of time and effort compared to traditional methods.
- The FastFerment Conical fermentation system has been celebrated by over 60,000 customers as being a true winner in the world of home brewing and wine fermenting competitions. Amateur beer and winemakers have won multiple medals using this type of system.
11. FASTFERMENT – FF3G 3 Gallon Conical Fermenter
- Fast Ferment is a professional home brewing kit that offers high-quality beer, wine, cider, and kombucha. The 3-gallon size is perfect for those who are just starting out or making small batches of beer, wine, cider, or kombucha. It can also be used to split a larger batch into 2-, 3-, or 5-gallon sizes.
- The conical fermenter design eliminates sediment and exposure to oxygen while allowing for yeast harvesting. The end result is a consistent high-quality batch of beer, wine, hard cider, and kombucha with little or no difference in taste between different batches.
- Fast Ferment is a one-step system that eliminates the need to transfer between buckets and carboys. This saves 80% of time and effort compared to traditional methods.
- The Fast Ferment Conical fermentation system has been lauded by many beers and wine enthusiasts as being one of the most reliable and trustable fermenting systems on the market. Amateur brewers have won multiple medals using this system, demonstrating its reliability and value.
- The FastFermentation line of accessories is designed to upgrade your entire home brewing kit. From this Fermentation jacket to this FastTrack bottle drying rack, they have everything you need for a better and faster fermentation process.
12. Fastferment 7.9 gal Plastic Conical Fermenter With Floor Stand And Wall Mount
- This best-selling conical fermenter product is paired with all the fermentation accessories you need to mount your home brew kit anywhere. The Mounting Edition package includes the FastFerment 7.9 Gallon conical fermenter, the fermenter stand, and the wall mount.
- FastFerment is a one-stage system that eliminates racking and transferring between buckets and carboys. This makes it much faster and easier to make a batch of beer, wine, or cider than traditional methods.
- The FastFerment Conical fermentation system has delighted over 60,000 customers. Amateur beer and winemakers have won multiple medals at the world’s largest home brewing and wine fermenting competitions using the FastFerment conical fermenters.
- The FastFerment fermentation accessories line includes everything you need to home brew beer, wine, cider, or kombucha. They have a Fermentation jacket and FastRack bottle drying rack for easy delivery and storage.
Tips and guide to buying the best Conical Fermenter
When choosing a conical fermenter, there are a number of factors to consider, including:
Size
The most important thing to consider is the size that will be best suited for your needs. If you plan to brew small batches, you may want to choose a smaller fermenter. If you plan on making large batches, you’ll need a larger fermenter.
Material
Conical fermenters are often made of stainless steel or glass. Stainless steel is usually more expensive than glass but it’s also more durable. Glass conical fermenters tend to be heavy and they can break easily if not handled with care. These disadvantages can be resolved by using a carboy handle.
Construction
Conical fermenters are available in two configurations: welded or weldless. The main advantage of welded models is that they are easier to clean. On the other hand, the primary advantage of weldless models is that they can be disassembled for cleaning purposes. But it’s important to note that weldless models are more prone to leaks.
Pressure Rated
Some conical fermenters are pressure rated and can be used for carbonating beer. This is a feature that is not necessary but can be helpful if you want to carbonate your beer using a keg system.
Top or Bottom Collection
Conical fermenters can be equipped with either a top or bottom collection system. A top collection system is more convenient but it can also be more difficult to clean. A bottom collection system is less convenient but it’s easier to clean.
Flow Restrictor
Some conical fermenters come with a flow restrictor, which helps to reduce the amount of foam that is produced during fermentation. This can be helpful if you plan to carbonate your beer using a keg system.
Thermowell
A thermowell is a metal rod that is inserted into the beer and allows you to take accurate temperature readings. This is a feature that is not necessary but can be helpful if you want to closely monitor the fermentation process.
Accessories
Some conical fermenters come with a variety of accessories, such as a sediment trap, beer thief, and hydrometer. These accessories can be helpful but they are not necessary.
FAQs about a Conical Fermenter
What size conical fermenter do I need?
The size of the conical fermenter that you need will depend on the size of your brewing system and how much beer you plan to produce. If you are just starting out, a small fermenter may be adequate. But if you are planning to brew large batches, you’ll need a larger fermenter.
What type of conical fermenter should I buy?
The type of conical fermenter that you buy will depend on your budget as well as the material and construction. Weldless models tend to be less expensive than welded models but they can also be more prone to leaks. Glass is heavier than stainless steel but it’s also more durable.
What are the different configurations of a conical fermenter?
Conical fermenters are available in two configurations: welded or weldless. Welded models are more difficult to clean but they are also more durable. Weldless models can be disassembled for cleaning purposes but are more prone to leaks.
Are conical fermenters pressure rated?
Some conical fermenters are pressure rated and can be used for carbonating beer. However, this feature is not necessary as it only adds to the cost of the unit.
What accessories are included in the package?
The accessories that come with a conical fermenter will depend on the size and configuration of the unit. For example, some conical fermenters come with a sediment trap, beer thief, and hydrometer. These accessories can be helpful but they are not necessary.
Conclusion
A conical fermenter is a helpful tool for homebrewers. It allows you to ferment and carbonate your beer in a single container. There are a variety of different sizes and configurations available, so it’s important to do your research before making a purchase. The size of the fermenter, the type of material, and the construction will affect how durable and easy to clean the unit is. Finally, accessories such as a flow restrictor, thermowell, and sediment trap can be helpful but they are not necessary.
The 12 best conical fermenters we’ve shared offer a wide range of features and benefits, making it difficult to choose just one. Fortunately, our team has done the hard work for you by compiling this list of reviews so that you can find the right product at the right price point in no time! If you are interested in reviewing any other products or if there is anything else we could help you with, please contact us today. We would love to hear from you soon.
Brendan Roberts is a writer, photographer, and editor for Food 4 Kitchen. He is always eager to share useful knowledge with everyone. He graduated with a degree in journalism from Northwestern University in 2016 and now lives with his wife.