FastFerment
Conical Ferementer
7.9 - Gallon
Review
The FastFerment Conical Fermenter is a Simple and Easy Way For a DIY homebrewer to Consistently Make Great Beer, Wine, Mead, & Cider Each and Every Time.
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The FastFerment Conical Fermenter is all about making your beer brewing process run much smoother than traditional brewing methods. This fermenter will save you time and effort, while replacing your standard primary fermentation bucket and secondary glass carboy.
Because it has a single-stage fermenting design, it is intended to do all of your fermenting without transferring or racking the beer to multiple vessels.
The conical design limits the exposure of oxygen, which can cause nasty off-flavors, while allowing the removal and harvesting of yeast and trub which can help produce a clearer beer, consistent brewing results every time you brew, and saving you money by reusing the yeast.
Table of Contents
Things To Consider Before Buying The FastFerment Conical Fermenter
Upgrading to a conical fermenter from a standard plastic brewing bucket or glass carboy most certainly has its advantages when it comes to making a great looking and tasty beer.
Eliminating unnecessary steps, while saving time can make all the difference in the world on brewing day. But you should always take a good look at all your options. then decide which one will work best for your brewing needs.
If you only brew one or two times a year and already have your standard brewing and fermenting equipment, spending more money on a conical fermenter might not be the right thing to do. But if you brew more frequently or want something that can help produce a better beer, a conical fermenter might be what you need.
How Many Gallons Do You Plan To Brew
This size fermenter is perfect for brewing a 5-gallon batch of beer. If you plan on fermenting a volume size of 5.5 or 6-gallons, a blow-off tube should be used instead of the included airlock.
However, if you are more interested in making 1 to 3-gallons of beer or wine, smaller fermenters are available and would probably be better suited for the smaller batches.
The Material Of The Fermenter
As you have probably already seen, fermenting vessels can be made from food-grade plastic, stainless-steel, or glass. Each one of these materials have their advantages and disadvantages when comparing to each other.
This particular fermenting tank and parts are made of a food-grade durable plastic that can scratch, but should last many years if properly taken care of.
Although a stainless-steel fermenter might be more rugged, and more sleek-looking, they are much more costly than ones made of plastic.
Your Spending Budget
This fermenter is perfect for a new or the experienced homebrewer and it’s an affordable option. But if you are looking to spend less money, there are less expensive options to choose from, but many of these items are designed for small batch brewing.
But on the flip side, if you plan on brewing more frequently and have a larger spending budget, you might want to a look at a stainless-steel system that has a few bells and whistles that are already included.
Your Brewing Space
One advantage that a plastic brew bucket or glass carboy has over a conical style fermenter is the size and the amount of space that it takes up.
A brew bucket or carboy can be placed practically anywhere while it is doing its thing and then be easily stored when you are finished brewing. Many conical fermenters are larger and heavier, and will take up more space in your kitchen, basement, or garage. Just make sure you have enough space available for whatever model you are looking to buy.
Main Features & Benefits Of This FastFerment Conical Fermenter
There are quite a few features and benefits with this fermenter to make your home beer brewing or wine making much easier.
Removable 6" Top and Wide Mouth Opening
It has a 6″ removalable screw-on top with a large 6″ opening. The wide-mouth opening makes it easy to transfer the wort from the brew kettle, easy to clean, sanitize, and simple to add fruit or other adjuncts to your beer.
Yeast Collection Ball
The yeast collection ball allows you to remove trub from the vessel without disturbing or mixing up the wort. If you choose, you can also save money by harvesting the yeast and use it for your next brew.
Wall Mountable
For many homebrewers, having the space to brew beer and store the equipment is sometimes limited. The FastFerment comes with the mounting brackets and hardware to hang on any wall.
Although you can buy the optional stand, the wall-mount can be a space-saver and can make kegging or bottle filling much simpler than using the stand.
Light-Weight Construction
Another great feature is the use of a light-weight but heavy-duty plastic that weighs much less than a glass carboy, and much safer too. Any vessel that is filled with 5 or 6-gallons of beer, wine, or any liquid is heavy, but a glass carboy can shatter if dropped and cause serious injury.
What's Included In The Box
- 7.9-Gallon Conical Style Fermenting Tank
- Yeast Collection Ball
- Stainless-Steel Thermowell
- 3-Piece Airlock
- 6″ Screw Top
- 6″ Gasket
- Wall Mount Brackets & Hardware
- Bottle Filling Attachment
- Hose Barb
- Hose Clamp
- Union Valve Fitting
- Teflon Tape
FastFerment Fermenter Pros
- More efficient than plastic buckets and traditional carboys
- Beginner friendly
- Save money by collecting and harvesting yeast
- Easy to clean and sanitize
FastFerment Fermenter Cons
- Plastic tank can scratch which can harbor bacteria
- Butterfly valve can leak
- Transferring beer to bottles or keg is not easy when using the stand
Optional Accessories
There are some additional accessories available that are not required with the purchase of the FastFerment, but can make things a little more convenient if you choose to buy.
- Mounting Stand – Can Be Used as a Stand-Alone Instead Of Wall Mounting
- Nylon Carrying Strap – Used To Safely Move The Fermenter
- Insulated Jacket – Used For Temperature Control & UV Blocking
- Extra Collection Ball – Used For Harvesting Yeast
- Thermometer – Keep Track Of Temperature For Optimal Fermentation
- Sample Port – Used For Taking Samples During Fermentation
Are There Any Deal-Breakers?
No product is ever perfect. There are always things that you wish were better. In this case, since the ball-valve and all the threads are made of plastic, they can be a little more difficult to keep clean and can wear out. These plastic threads has the potential for leaks if they are too tight or not tightened enough.
Other than that, there really isn’t too much to complain about.
Other Conical Fermenters Worth Looking At
If a conical fermenter is on your list of brewing equipment to upgrade, but looking for something different than this particular model, you do have other options. One good thing about beer brewing equipment is there are always other choices to look at.
Here are a few other styles worth checking out.
FastFerment 3-Gallon
Final Say
Overall for the price and what you get, this 7.9-gallon FastFerment Fermenter (say that 3 times fast) is a quality piece of homebrewing equipment.
For any homebrewer looking to move away from a standard brewing bucket and/or carboy, this one-stage fermenter is a great choice for those 5-gallon batches of homemade beer.
Happy Brewing!
