Fermentation can’t be done in any container you found in a garage because certain materials just don’t go along with the yeast, alcohol, acids, and heat. It’s simply not worth destroying precious homebrew by using the wrong equipment.
Fermenting in the wrong type of container can lead to terrible off-taste and potentially release dangerous chemicals in the process.
I usually ferment in plastic or glass containers and my friends use metal containers, but it’s important that you know that not every plastic, glass, or metal is equal. I have also dedicated an article where I explain the differences between plastic, metal, and glass fermenters you can buy in most stores.
So, let’s see what material is fine for fermentation purposes and what you should know about this topic.
What are the best container types for fermentation?
Ideally, when you kickstart your homebrewing career you’ll buy a fermenter from a shop and use a certified one.
The best fermenters for beginners are plastic or glass ones because the stainless steel fermenters are pretty expensive and often come with fancy stuff you don’t need if you are on a budget.
In case you’ve found a container in a garage or on a local farmer’s market or backyard sale make sure the plastic is food grade certified because other plastics are dangerous for food and beverage. Also make sure the plastics are not scratched even one bit, because the tiniest micro scratch can make a room for nasty germs which will hide from sanitization solution and later infect your homebrew.
Any type of glass should be fine for as long as you respect its temperature tolerance (don’t pour hot wort in it if it can’t endure it). Regarding metal containers, I prefer stainless steel, but let’s see what else you can use.
Stainless steel containers
Stainless steel is the best material for fermenters in the opinion of many including mine. High-end fermenters are made of stainless steel and this type of fermenter is a great long-term option for anyone who wants to get serious with homebrewing.
I don’t recommend stainless steel fermenters to beginners solely for budget reasons because they can be quite expensive compared to plastic and glass fermenters.
However, stainless steel fermenters are the best type of fermenters on the market, and if you can afford one go for it.
They are sturdy, resistant, easy to clean and maintain and come with in-built useful features like thermometers, sediment filters, and chillers.
Now if you have a stainless steel container at home that is not actually a fermenter, you can use it for fermentation as long as you can create a strong seal so no oxygen enters and you’ll need a hole with an airlock (or improvised DIY airlock made of a pipe and a bottle).
Moreover, stainless steel is easier to cool down than most other materials including plastic or glass containers.
Aluminum containers
You shouldn’t use aluminum containers for fermentation because over the time necessary for fermentation of homebrew to be complete, certain chemical reactions (PH values) may occur and contaminate the brew.
Now, this is my opinion based on the studies I’ve read and what I heard from other brewers. Aluminum is connected with diseases such as Alzheimer and I would personally avoid it for cooking food or brewing.
Second thing, You shouldn’t use oxygen-based, alkaline cleaners on aluminum because they can oxide and dissolve it. Therefore, avoid any alkaline cleaner or household bleach if you want to use aluminum for purposes of brewing. This is not an issue with stainless steel containers though.
I do know that aluminum is cheaper than stainless steel, but if you don’t have money for stainless steel fermenters use a plastic or glass one. For purposes of preparing the wort, you should really invest in a 6-gallon stainless steel bowl if you want to make bigger batches, it’s worth it.
Plastic containers
Plastic containers are good for fermentation as long as they are food-safe-grade kinds of plastic. You really need to pay attention to this, so never use a plastic container that is not made for the purposes of cooking and storing food.
Not food-grade safe plastics can release toxic chemicals when you store food or beverage in them. Moreover, if you pour hot wort into a plastic container it will release toxins sooner and make such beverages not safe for consumption.
You can check what type of plastic you have and see its temperature tolerance. I use food-safe-grade licensed plastic that can heat up to 212°F (100°C) safely.
Be careful that the plastic container is not scratched as it can prevent effectiveness of sanitizer solution because the germs can hide in the scratches.
Do not use any suspicious plastic which may have changed color or has been long in the sun or any serious heat.
In the end, when you have a good plastic container, secure its seal (test it if you have to see whether any liquid gets through it) and install an airlock on it.
Glass containers
There are glass fermenters and they are among the most affordable and effective fermenters for beginners. The glass is easy to clean and you can see what’s going on inside while the fermentation kicks in which is a cool feature.
If you want to use heat beds or similar devices to heat up the container during fermentation make sure your glass container has thick layers around which you can apply the heat or else it could shatter.
Mason jars are great containers for fermentation
You can use glass jars like mason jars for fermenting any kind of homebrew or any kind of fermented food.
Mason jars are amazing when you need to brew small quantities of homebrew. I like to use mason jars for kombucha homebrew or sometimes for purposes of experimenting with homebrew beer recipes.
Once again, ensure the seal is strong on your mason jar and if you are brewing beers, ciders and similar homebrew include an airlock at the top. Good thing is that many mason jars have a hole at the top of a lid, so I can fit in an airlock.
Can you ferment in a growler?
Growlers are an excellent choice for brewing small batches of homebrew beers, meads, ciders, and similar brews.
I would personally first ferment in a bigger container and then use growlers to experiment with different secondary fermentations in which I would add different ingredients to see how my recipes end up.
This is a good way to try multiple recipes at once because after the primary fermentation is done, the party begins! For instance, it really takes a long time for a mead to ferment in a primary, but splitting the mead and adding different fruit into a secondary fermentation is ideal for homebrewers.
In short, bear in mind two things when fermenting in a growler, whether it’s primary or secondary fermentation.
- Find a stopper with an airlock that fits the neck perfectly for the seal
- Be sure the glass is thick as you don’t want the pressure to shatter the glass
Can you ferment in a corny keg?
Corny kegs are great containers for the fermentation of a beer because they offer fermentation under pressure feature.
Fermenting under pressure differs from traditional fermenting because there is no airlock that allows the Co2 to escape the container and instead a great amount of pressure gets built inside.
The benefits of fermenting under pressure are:
- Greater temperature tolerance (faster fermentation)
- No way for oxygen to interfere
- An easier process as you ferment both primary and secondary in the same keg
- You fill glasses straight from the keg
- You can expect better taste with some beer styles and recipes
If you want to fill the bottles, you’ll need a counterpressure bottle filler as otherwise you won’t be able to control the pressure, and will ruin the beer.
Also bear in mind that the yeast is under greater pressure in a corny keg which can put a toll on it. Therefore, you should make further research on this topic and use the right type of yeast.
Can you ferment beer in a brite tank?
It’s possible to ferment in a brite tank, but I suspect anyone does it because it’s not its primary function. Brite tanks are used for storing the beer after fermentation for conditioning and as the last stage before the beer is sold.
You as a homebrewer probably won’t ever think about buying professional Brite tanks as they are really expensive, but I had a need to mention them anyways.
Can you ferment beer in an instant pot or pressure cooker?
I have never thought to ferment beer in an instant pot or pressure cooker, but it’s actually possible. The real question is why would you do it.
Although I have never done this, I found an article that describes the entire process of homebrewing beer in a pressure cooker. These guys successfully made a sour beer in a pressure cooker, so perhaps you’ll enjoy this and have some fun!