primary fermenter?

[bobby]

what is a primary fermenter. reading the making wine from canned fruit post and it says put the mashed up fruit and juice into the primary fermenter then rack and transfer to a demijohn. is it just a big plastic bucket with a lid

[NorthernWiner]

what is a primary fermenter. ... is it just a big plastic bucket with a lid

That it is. Usually a 5-gallon or larger bucket made of food safe material.

[fatbloke]

That it is. Usually a 5-gallon or larger bucket made of food safe material.

Or given that we often make slightly smaller batches than our colleagues in the US do i.e. 1 gallon batches, then it's also a 2 gallon bucket (and no, there's no problem with the extra ullage space, that will fill with CO2 anyway......... if the bucket has a lid/grommet and airlock.

It's also worth noting that if the must that you make isn't likely to foam all over the place, then you can make directly in a DJ, leaving a couple of inches of airspace, and then once the ferment is underway, you can top it up with whatever (water, juice, etc). You'll find that if you're using whole fruit/pulp etc then it's often better to use a bucket.

regards

jtfb

[Richard S]

That it is. Usually a 5-gallon or larger bucket made of food safe material.

Maybe it is in your house Steve.

A primary fermenting vessel is a bucket made of food safe material that is of a suitable size for the batch of wine that you are making. I use 1 gallon, 3 gallon and 5 gallon buckets depending on what I am making.

[rjb222]

It's gotta be a across the pond thing Steve.I see no sense in making anything smaller than 5 gallon batch same amount of work.

[spritzer]

Some one once told me, that size was not everything

[rjb222]

Some one once told me, that size was not everything

So is it the truth?

[spritzer]

So is it the truth?

I do believe....
That there are many, many myths....

I do not believe that I know the answer to your question Robert


Actually.... Does anyone have the answer ?

[Tuco]

that size was not everything

It is in winemaking lol more wine

[NorthernWiner]

Maybe it is in your house Steve.

A primary fermenting vessel is a bucket made of food safe material that is of a suitable size for the batch of wine that you are making. I use 1 gallon, 3 gallon and 5 gallon buckets depending on what I am making.

Well, I do have a 1 gallon bucket...

That's what I use for transferring stuff from the 45 gallon primary fermenter into the press.

[Her Lushness]

Well, I do have a 1 gallon bucket...

That's what I use for transferring stuff from the 45 gallon primary fermenter into the press.

No one likes a show off you know...

[NorthernWiner]

No one likes a show off you know...

Not showing off.. like RJB said, it takes the same amount of effort to make 5 gallons as it does 1. The problem with small batches is that by the time you decide whether it's any good or not, it's gone.

Mostly what I make is 10 or 15 gallon batches. Making larger amounts gives you the ability to drink some now and prolong the enjoyment by stashing some away for several years to age properly.

[Richard S]

Not showing off.. like RJB said, it takes the same amount of effort to make 5 gallons as it does 1. The problem with small batches is that by the time you decide whether it's any good or not, it's gone.

Very true Steve, sometimes 5 gallons isn't enough to base a decision either.

[spritzer]

Very true Steve, sometimes 5 gallons isn't enough to base a decision either.

Also true
Sadly, I dont have the room for larger DJ's

[grandmawoods]

Fatbloke, what happened to your avatar? I like the old one better.