Craft A Brew
Catalyst Fermenter Review
The “Award Winning” Design Of This 6.5-Gallon Craft A Brew Catalyst Fermentation System Makes Home Beer Brewing and Wine Making Simple.
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If you are checking out this page, that probably means you are looking to ditch your plastic fermentation buckets and carboys and upgrade to a conical fermenter.
If you want a conical fermenter, but don’t have the funds for a more expensive stainless steel model, this fermenter could be what you are looking for.If you are looking,
Keep reading below for our Craft A Brew Catalyst Fermenter Review.
Related: Best Conical Fermenter Reviews
Table of Contents
Craft A Brew Catalyst Fermenter Review
This handy piece of homebrewing equipment makes your home brewing and wine making much simpler. It utilizes the features seen in professional brewing equipment in a compact system perfect for home brewers. It is also elegant and well designed, so it doesn’t have to be hidden away like other gaudy gadgets.
The 6.5-gallon fermentation tank is made from a BPA-free and food-safe polymer called Tritan™, and lets you see the fermentation action taking place.
This home brewing conical fermenter is like a stainless-steel fermenter in that it is resistant to shattering, but is more durable than other types of plastic while retaining the smoothness and clarity of glass. The removable silicone lid gasket can be easily cleaned in your dishwasher.
Things To Consider Before Buying
While the steps to making beer are straightforward there are obstacles. A batch can be ruined with improper sterilization, poor ingredients, or the wrong fermentation tank for your needs.
One of the more difficult steps in the brewing process is the transferring of your batch. Every time you shift your home brew from a primary fermenter to a secondary fermenter, to a bottling bucket, and finally to bottles, you risk contamination and mess.
Having this Catalyst fermentation system will make those steps easier and safer for your final product. Of course, there are other elements to consider.
These elements should be considered before choosing your conical fermenter.
- How Often Do You Brew? Will you brew frequently enough to make the cost of the home brew conical fermenter worth it?
- Do You Have The Room? These types of fermenters are usually bigger and take up more space than a plastic bucket or glass carboy. Make sure you have the space in your brewing area for a conical fermenter?
- What Is Your Budget? Of course you can buy a plastic bucket or even a glass carboy much cheaper than a conical fermenter. If you are brewing on a limited budget, maybe upgrading to a conical isn’t necessary right now, but if you are ready to splurge a bit, it could be a worthwhile investment.
What Comes In The Box?
Everything you need to get started using your new Craft-A-Brew fermenting is here when you open the box. The fermenter can be easily assembled in just minutes.
- 6.5 Gallon Fermenting Tank with Lid
- Fermenter Stand (Base, Legs, Support Beams, Screws)
- 3” Butterfly Valve
- Beer Bottling Attachment
- Transfer Tubing
- Transfer Tubing Clamp
- Rubber Stopper
- Wide Mouth Mason Jar – 16oz.
- Allen Wrench
Pros
- Durable and built to last
- Collect yeast and dump trub during fermentation
- Larger 3″ dump valve helps prevent clogs
- Easy to clean and dishwasher safe
- Simple to use
Cons
- Some “optional” items should be already be included
- Cannot do pressure fermentation and pressure transfers
Features Of The Craft A Brew Catalyst Fermenter Brewing System
The Catalyst Fermentation system has a number of features which can make your brewing process easier and better.
Medical-Grade, BPA-Free, Polymer Tank
The conical fermenting tank has a 6.5-gallon capacity that is great for 5-gallon batches. Plus, the Tritan™ material is durable, dishwasher safe, and a great option for those who want to upgrade to a conical fermenter, but can’t afford a stainless-steel fermenter.
Large 3" Proprietary Butterfly Valve
The three-inch trub trap is the largest of any of the home-grade beer fermenters and helps prevent clogging when it comes time to do a trub or yeast dump.
The dump valve can accommodate multiple mason jar sizes, which is a feature that other models don’t offer.
Multi-Surface Contact Lid
Once fermentation starts taking place, you want to keep oxygen out. The silicone gasket lid maintains contact on multiple surfaces which ensures the airtight seal keeps your wort safe from harmful bacteria and contaminants.
Sturdy Stand
Because a tank filled with 6.5-gallons of liquid is quite heavy, you need a sturdy stand. The stand is durable and made with an I-beam and honeycomb construction.
Not only is the fermentation system good looking, it is also compact which means it will fit nearly anywhere and it won’t be an eyesore you have to hide. And since the stand is a separate, removing it makes it easy to clean the tank.
Other Conical Fermenter Alternatives Worth Looking At
Are you looking for something smaller, bigger, made of stainless-steel or glass? Depending on your brewing preferences, there are many different sizes and styles of conical fermenters to choose from.
If you looking for a less expensive option, one that can brew a larger batch, or one that is made from stainless-steel, check out our reviews of other top conical fermenters.
Final Say
The Catalyst Fermentation System from Craft A Brew is a durable, reliable fermenter that will make your job easier and more efficient on brewing day.
No, it doesn’t have a lot of the fancy features that you might see on a stainless steel conical, but it’s perfect for someone looking for a less expensive option.
Saving money, time, and improving the overall quality of the finished beer are the best reasons to purchase this conical fermenter. But if you do, don’t forget to keep your fermenter in a cool dark place, or get this cover to protect your beer from any UV light.
Happy Brewing!
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