Garbage can as fermenting vessel

1965 wite · Post by **1965 wite** » Sat Mar 22, 2014 12:30 pm

What are your thought on using a garbage can for fermenting? Bad idea? I was wondering if the plastic could leach into the mash or something. I have a Rubbermaid brute can that is grey in color. I would be adding boiling water to my grain feed in the can. As far as I know the can is not food grade. Has anybody done this before?

Post by **S-Cackalacky** » Sat Mar 22, 2014 12:36 pm

I think a lot of people here use Brute trash cans for fermenters. Look at the recycle code on the bottom. If it says, HDPE with a number 2 in the little triangle, it's OK. Others I don't really know - LDPE may be OK and maybe PET or PP. Maybe someone else can confirm (or not) those.

Doogie · Post by **Doogie** » Sat Mar 22, 2014 12:37 pm

The grey brutes are rated food safe - look at the lid, look for the "NSF" - I use a 2 x 20 gallons and 1 x 44 gallon - works fine

Of course, wash out the unit prior to it's first use due to any production chemicals - I used soap/water (a lot) twice, then washed it out again with heads/fores. The grey brute is a well known/used fermentation vessel

Post by **FullySilenced** » Sat Mar 22, 2014 3:12 pm

Works a champ... i use the blow molded hdpe ones... they are usually black and have no penetration holes or wheels... and are 33 gallon size about 12 bucks each...

Cheap enough that if you ever have an infection they become real trash cans...

FS

Post by **Truckinbutch** » Sat Mar 22, 2014 8:04 pm

I use 44 gallon Brute . Punched a hole in the center of the lid to suspend a weighted aquarium heater midway into the wash . Wrapped outside with insulation and pile insulation over the top . Works great .

Ajax99 · Post by **Ajax99** » Mon Mar 24, 2014 2:20 pm

I was also wondering about the compatibility of the Brute trash cans. All HDPE Type 2 containers are not food grade and I’m not sure all food grade containers are suitable for exposure to high levels of alcohol. Found the below info on the NSF site. The reference is for a smaller Brute container but I’m assuming the rating also applies to larger versions.

It appears the Brutes are rated for alcohol contact up to 15% for "Food Equipment Containers". The reference to "Round Brute Refuse Containers" on the same page for the below link do not mention any reference to alcohol contact. Think the material is the same for both catagories?

http://info.nsf.org/Certified/Food/List ... rch=SEARCH

NSF/ANSI 2 Food Equipment
Rubbermaid Commercial Products, LLC
3124 Valley Avenue
Winchester, VA 22601
United States
540-542-8360
Facility : # 1 USA

ROUND BRUTE® CONTAINERS, LIDS & DOLLY[5] [6]

Container
2610 10 Gal./37.85 L
2610-81[7]
[7] Includes base, lid, and dolly.
[5] Containers and lids available in anthracite gray, black, blue, burgundy, dark blue, dark green, dark navy, fuschia, gold, gray, green, light beige, light blue, light gray,natural, navy, orange, pink, purple, red, silver, teal green, white, or yellow. Fuschia, navy, and purple are only acceptable for usage with the following food contact types: alcohol less than 15%, aqueous, bakery products with no free fats or oils on surface,dairy - oil in water emulsions, and dry solids.
[6] The production date is shown on each model. Models produced after January 1, 1999 are NSF Certified.

Doogie · Post by **Doogie** » Mon Mar 24, 2014 2:25 pm

My understanding from other forums is the grey brutes with the NSF stamp on the lid is acceptable ... for fermentation ... sounds like your info that anything after '99 is NSF certified ...

Good to know "not more than 15%" ... so just another reason not to use turbo crap. The yellow must be new - I thought it was not NSF ... check the lids folks before you buy - just because it is "rubbermaid" does not mean that particular model is NSF certified

Diesel410 · Post by **Diesel410** » Sat Apr 05, 2014 11:17 am

I'm new but wouldn't you need a air locker ?

BoisBlancBoy · Post by **BoisBlancBoy** » Sat Apr 05, 2014 11:27 am

A lot of people don't even use and air lock. Just a loose fitting lid or in some cases a cloth over the top of the vessel.

An airlocked vessel is nice because you can leave it for a longer period of time once fermentation is done and not have to worry about infections as much.

Post by **T-Pee** » Sat Apr 05, 2014 11:28 am

Diesel410 wrote:I'm new but wouldn't you need a air locker ?

Not particularly. The CO2 cap that forms during active fermentation is usually enough to keep most nasties at bay.

tp

Post by **Truckinbutch** » Sat Apr 05, 2014 2:58 pm

+1 on T-Pee . The trick is to keep your nose and fingers out of the ferment until it is done so as not to disturb the co2 blanket . That critical detail gets easier when you get a few runs behind you and start getting over novice jitters . Trust me

Diesel410 · Post by **Diesel410** » Sat Apr 05, 2014 3:25 pm

Alright I think I'm going to start a sweet feed ferment soon

Post by **Truckinbutch** » Sat Apr 05, 2014 3:50 pm

Diesel410 wrote:Alright I think I'm going to start a sweet feed ferment soon

Ima tink you gonna like it

JerryDan · Post by **JerryDan** » Sun Aug 30, 2015 7:44 pm

I had seen somewhere that somebody used a brute inside a 55 gal plastic drum. I'm considering this option, and filling drum with water and maintaining that temperature with an aquarium heater. Am I going about this the wrong way, or overcomplicating it? I want to make a 30 gallon wash so that I can run 3 10 gal low wine runs.

smokineod · Post by **smokineod** » Sun Aug 30, 2015 9:09 pm

I just use a brute wrapped with a thick blanket and a 350watt aquarium heater to keep it warm in my unheated garage! Works like a champ. I just gently wash n sanitize the heater in between ferments.

I'd just keep the brute n 55 gal barrel seperate, use two fermenters or one for a recirculated cooling tank for the condenser.

Post by **raketemensch** » Sun Aug 30, 2015 9:12 pm

Huh, anyone else using an aquarium heater right in their mash? Can you set a specific temperature, or just figure out which setting is best?

It gets down into the low 60s in my basement in the Winter, and I'm starting to understand that it's all about keeping the yeast happy...

Post by **Truckinbutch** » Sun Aug 30, 2015 9:18 pm

raketemensch wrote:Huh, anyone else using an aquarium heater right in their mash? Can you set a specific temperature, or just figure out which setting is best?

It gets down into the low 60s in me basement in the Winter, and I'm starting to understand that it's all about keeping the yeast happy...

Running two in two 44 gallon Brutes . Wrapped in insulation during cold weather . Been working well for me .

Post by **FreeMountainHermit** » Sun Aug 30, 2015 9:27 pm

I'm using this one in my mash.

Click,click dial setting to 94*

Insulate your ferment er if there's much of a differential between ambient temp and desired ferment temp.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hydor-400-Watt- ... 43e09846a8" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

smokineod · Post by **smokineod** » Sun Aug 30, 2015 9:32 pm

That's the same thing I use, just different brand name and only 350 watts. Set it at 80 degrees and drop it in! Keeps the baker yeasties nice and warm! Got mine at one of the big pets stores, petco I think. Only draw back I have is gotta figure out a way to weight it down a bit so it doesn't float near the surface.

Post by **FreeMountainHermit** » Sun Aug 30, 2015 9:40 pm

Piece of string tied to a coffee cup handle

smokineod · Post by **smokineod** » Sun Aug 30, 2015 9:54 pm

FreeMountainHermit wrote:Piece of string tied to a coffee cup handle

Noted!

JerryDan · Post by **JerryDan** » Mon Aug 31, 2015 6:02 am

Awesome idea! I like the simplicity of the brute, guess I'll build a copper manifold for the bottom of it to drain the wash through the grain bed. I saw somewhere too that somebody had wrapped their fermentor with thick "floral" foam and great stuff expanding foam, then carved it so that he could put 1x3 wood slates around it. It looked really cool! Not too sure how much added insulation the foam helped, but I'm sure it was enough to keep it consistent temperature.

Post by **raketemensch** » Mon Aug 31, 2015 7:37 am

JerryDan wrote:Awesome idea! I like the simplicity of the brute, guess I'll build a copper manifold for the bottom of it to drain the wash through the grain bed. I saw somewhere too that somebody had wrapped their fermentor with thick "floral" foam and great stuff expanding foam, then carved it so that he could put 1x3 wood slates around it. It looked really cool! Not too sure how much added insulation the foam helped, but I'm sure it was enough to keep it consistent temperature.

Huh, interesting, if you find the link, please post it. I'm running UJSSM, and since I have to keep the fermenter up off the floor, I plan to build a bench that would put it just above keg height for charging, but I've been trying to figure out how deep the lees will get to decide where to install the spigot. I'd imagine that there's also some sweeping up of liquid below the spigot as well, so I'll have to adjust for that too.

A manifold to keep it clear would be awesome.

JerryDan · Post by **JerryDan** » Mon Aug 31, 2015 2:55 pm

This one is similar to what I am considering. Using a 44gal Brute instead of the pot, plus adding floral foam around it and then rounding it off with wood. I think a copper manifold would make it a lot easier to strain the wash through the grains instead of trying to syphon it through the top. Thinking of adding a larger valve on the bottom to aid in cleaning out the spent grains.

http://www.mountainpointbrewing.com/?p=334

Post by **raketemensch** » Mon Aug 31, 2015 7:20 pm

Damn, that dude has some time on his hands.

The screen at the bottom seems like it might allow you to drain out all your yeast if it's a bottom feeder, killing a sour mash.

PacificNorthWest · Post by **PacificNorthWest** » Thu Oct 01, 2015 9:15 pm

I use a brute 20 gallon grey, insulated with corning and wrapped with saran wrap for vapor barrier. I have a hole in the top I drop an aquarium heater in the winter. highly recommend. I have not noticed any off flavors and I bring all my washes above 20 percent.

most bang for your buck for sure and easy as pie to clean.

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