Fermenter / Batch Fermentation

Question: How do you make a fermenter?

(Posted by: frances_holman99 on 2008-01-16 10:08:27)

I have a biology assignment which is 'make your own fermenter' and im not sure how!!

Posted by: Mitchell Winery on 2008-01-16, 12:02:47

The most common fermenter used in homebrewing is a 5 gallon food grade bucket. Then get a lid with a rubber seal to ensure it is airtight. To this, drill a small hole in the lid, and affix an airlock. To get an idea, check out midwestsupplies.com/ products/ ProdBySubCat.aspx?SubCat= 610 for fermenters and carboys (glass bottles also used as fermenters) and midwestsupplies.com/ products/ ProdBySubCat.aspx?SubCat= 680 for airlocks.

Posted by: colin ---why? on 2008-01-16, 10:12:13

Get some yeast, and some sugar. Add water and ferment it

Posted by: Steven G on 2008-01-16, 10:15:27

A bucket, yeast, sugar and water kept warm will generally ferment

Posted by: skipper on 2008-01-16, 10:18:06

There's a bit more to it than colin says. You need a container preferably with a air stop on it. you do not want air to contaminate the fermentation. Its much easier to draw than to describe but basically a way to seal the jar so co2 can escape but no air comes back in. some people just use a balloon which isn't the greatest but it will work PhD Food Chemistry and Nutrition

Posted by: Effendi R on 2008-01-16, 10:26:51

A fermenter is basically any airtight container which an airlock as Skipper mentions... go to any brewery site on the net (google for 'homemade beer', for instance) and you will get some ideas how they look and how you can make one in a very simple way with a plastic container, a mineral water bottle and some thin hose...

Posted by: AdelleStevens on 2008-01-16, 10:29:59

Possably for an assignment they would like you to describe a "bubble-trap " to keep things sterile. A fermenter for homebrewed wine is usually a sterilised 10Litre carboy bottle filled with grape juice with a yeast added. The bottle is sealed with an airlock with water in a U bend to prevent outside bacteria entering the juice and spoling it. The gasses (co.2) produced by the fermenting juice bubble up through the airlock but air cannot return down into the bottle. The 1st link describes the fermentation process and describes the chemical fomulae involved. The second link takes you to a site with a picture of the airlock.

Posted by: mitchell s on 2008-01-16, 10:31:01

If you have a home brew store in your area you can go look at one and copy it for your project. If not get a 5 gallon plastic pale with a lid. All you need to do is drill a hole in the top and make an air lock. If you can buy an air lock will be easier, if not look up airlock on the Internet and see if you can make one out of some rubber tubing.

Posted by: Rick H on 2008-01-18, 08:21:02

Get a 1-5 gallon bucket from any local bakery, an s-shaped airlock from a hobby shop or brew shop...you may need to make one yourself using plastic tubing if you can't find an airlock. you can get plastic tubing from any hardware store, while there you need to get a rubber grommet that fits the size of your airlock or the plastic tubing. the grommet needs to be placed, so it fits inside the hole you will be drilling into the top of the bucket. the rubber grommet completes the airtight seal that the airlock will need to keep contaminates out of your fermenter...with this advice you should be able to make a good fermenter for under 3 dollars. you can search the internet to find pictures of a fermenter that will help with the visuals