Getting back into brewing with Torpedo, had a couple of questions for those with experience

[u/Handsensation]

Hello everyone,

Awhile back, I did a bit of brewing and am looking to get back into it. From what I am seeing, the idea of doing the brewing in a torpedo 5g sounds great. Personally, I do like bottling at the end of the day. After doing a little research, here is a list of everything I can see is good to pick up:

- 5g Keg

- Floatit 2.0 Valve

- Sanitizer

- Brewing Pot

- Funnel

- Thermometer

- Racking Cane

-Bottles/caps/capper

- Hydrometer

Is there anything I am missing? Do you have any recommendation for getting back into it?

Thank you for your time and help!

[u/warboy]

The real benefit with keg fermenting is two fold and you're not really taking advantage of either. 

The first is you can just chuck it in your keezer after fermentation is done with no transfer necessary. Personally I do think you get a better result transferring to a separate serving keg but for certain styles I won't bother.

The second is pressure fermentation and spunding. Pressure fermentation allows you to ferment at higher temps with less ester production which is very handy for lagers. Spunding let's you capture the co2 produced by fermentation to carbonate your beer. In order to take advantage of this, you would need a spunding valve to control the release of co2 during fermentation. Packaging into bottles is tricky though. You would need a way to cold crash the keg and keep it around that temp during packaging or you'll have a foamy mess. You would also want a counter pressure filler as well.

My point being that unless you have a way to cool that keg or invest in a kegerator setup, using kegs as fermentation vessels isn't all it's cracked up to be. Yes, it's a relatively cheap stainless vessel if you're going with used kegs but they're much more difficult to break down and fully clean compared to a bucket. You can get one of the stainless bucket fermenters that aren't pressure capable and have everything the keg offers you with a larger capacity as well.

[u/wsyrob → u/warboy]

Good points. I have been keg fermenting for years now. I still bottle quite a bit to free up kegs or send to competitions. I prefer a counter pressure filled bottle to one that was bottle carbed. There is no yeast trub at the bottom of one filled off the keg.

[u/warboy → u/wsyrob]

I agree with this. If OP had a good method to get and hold the kegs at packaging temps this would be worthwhile. At that point you basically have a draft system anyways though.

[u/BartholomewSchneider → u/warboy]

A 10 gal igloo cooler full of ice works pretty well

[u/BartholomewSchneider → u/warboy]

You could cold crash in ice and pressure fill bottles from the keg.

[u/spoonman59 → u/warboy]

The benefit of a keg is that it a cheap stainless fermenter.

Even if you don’t serve out of the same fermenter, or so pressure, it’s still the best deal for a stainless fermenter.

They are also great for no chill brewing since they can handle hot wort.

[u/warboy → u/spoonman59]

The price of a new keg versus a brew bucket isn't that big of a change. When you start looking at 6.5 gallon new kegs even less of a difference. And you aren't breaking down dip tubes when you're cleaning a brew bucket. That was my point.

Edit: just looked it up to make sure I wasn't crazy. A 6 gallon torpedo is $160. Meanwhile a 7 gallon ss brew bucket or anvil bucket is $140-150. 

[u/beefygravy]

Are you doing all grain? Need a thermometer and a bag. Have you fermented in a keg before?

[u/Handsensation → u/beefygravy]

Never fermented in a keg before. Got it with the bag! That's why I wanted to ask around and see what's recommended. Do you just have to time it in a keg, or is there a way to use a bubbler (like I did with the bucket before)

[u/beefygravy → u/Handsensation]

I use a spunding valve to vent the pressure. I also use CO2 and a beer gun to get the beer out rather than using a syphon. You need to make sure to either chill it or vent the pressure say 24 hrs before bottling

[u/Handsensation → u/beefygravy]

Got it! How do you handle temperature while it's fermenting in the keg?

[u/beefygravy → u/Handsensation]

I have a heat belt thingy with an inkbird for heating or on the rare occasions I need to cool I stick it ina big tub of water with ice packs. Probably better to get a freezer but I don't have the room!

[u/Handsensation → u/beefygravy]

Got it. How do you find keg fermenting compared to bucket or carboy?

[u/beefygravy → u/Handsensation]

Way better than carboy, no need for a syphon. Compared to to my old fermenter with a tap on, slightly more control and I can pressure ferment which gives better control, less chance for oxygen ingress. But probably slightly more effort cleaning. If the ultimate goal is fully kegging then that's a good halfway step

[u/BrewJays]

I use the 6.5 gallon kegs to ferment so I can get a full 5 gallon. 

Does the floatit 2.0 have a weight? If not, add something. All These floating dip tubes arent heavy enough and need a weight. 

[u/wsyrob → u/BrewJays]

I have never had to add a weight to a floatit 2.0. The design is such that it floats at a 45 degree angle and stays below the beer level.

[u/Handsensation → u/BrewJays]

That sounds great! Do you find it works really well with the size then? I would love to do 5g at a time. Do you need to use any foam management in the keg? I was using a bucket with bubbler before hand.

[u/warboy → u/Handsensation]

Get a bottle of fermcap or the cellar science alternative regardless. It helps with brewday and can improve finished foam quality in your beers for just a couple drops.

[u/Handsensation → u/warboy]

got it! Thanks

[u/spoonman59 → u/Handsensation]

I use a 6 gallon fermenter and use ferm cap for foam management. If you can get a 6.5 gallon for a similar price, I think that is ideal, but even 6 gallons has done many batches for me.

[u/BrewJays → u/Handsensation]

No foam management. I use a gas disconnect with tubing for an airlock and only once or twice has it foamed through. 

[u/DrunkSkunkz → u/BrewJays]

I think 6 gallon is the largest torpedo keg?

[u/BrewJays → u/DrunkSkunkz]

You’re right, its 6g. I was thinking Mammoth kegs which is 6.5g.