You may be starting to contemplate jumping into fermenting in a 304SS Fermenter… Great Choice!
The use of a 304SS fermenter is by far the superior choice when it come to the overall quality and consistency of your beer. The use of a plastic fermenters can lead to a host of potential issues such as the ease of scratching to harbour nasty bacteria and spoil your beer, access for light to enter your fermenter to produce a “skunked” character & oxygen to penetrate the walls of your fermenter to cause oxidation issues. Efficiently cleaning with hot water also becomes an issue with many of the thin walled plastic fermenters not being capable of handling the hot temperatures necessary for proper cleaning post fermentation.
On the counter, fermenting in 304SS allows you to easily clean your fermenter (with hot water) to maintain the sanitary state over years of brewing. Maintaining this sanitary state means you can produce quality beer without the potential risk of spoiling your beer from nasty bacteria. The solid stainless walls means you eliminate the risk of light entering your fermenter PLUS eliminate oxygen entry though the walls of your fermenter. With the solid build quality of stainless steel fermenters, you can be assured that with the appropriate care you will have a fermenter to last you a lifetime and beyond!
Ensuring you have a fermenter for a lifetime is extremely important from an environmental standpoint also. With the need to be more environmentally conscious with your purchasing decisions, be aware that when you purchase plastic fermenters its highly likely that this fermenter will end up in landfill at some point in its lifetime.
NANO-X 304SS Fermenter Range
Recently Cheeky Peak Brewery designed & developed a brand new 304SS fermenter range to add to the NANO-X Brewery Equipment lineup.
When going through the design process, we had some strong goals in mind…
- Design a fermenter that allows the flexibility to begin at a budget level but also the capability to build onto and advance over time
- Design a versatile fermenter that meets the needs of a range of brewers no matter what level of brewing they are at
- Design a high quality 304SS fermenter that will last you a lifetime & beyond so you never have to purchase a fermenter again!
Cheeky Peak has always made a conscious effort to design brewing equipment that allows brewers to access on a budget but build into overtime when their budget or brewing processes allow.
It’s no different with the NANO-X Fermenter Range. We wanted to ensure the range included a budget friendly option with the ability to then customise in the future so it will always meet your fermentation needs
We can safely say that that we achieved these goals + MORE!
At the end of the design & development process we finished with 3 core FLEXI Fermenter Models
If you are new to the use of 304SS conical fermenters, it may be a bit intimidating and overwhelming to know which NANO-X FLEXI Fermenter is right for you…
Each of the models are differing in features… essentially the step up through the models allows for further control and uses throughout the fermentation process.
Below you will find a break down of the design & operational features of each fermenter to help you decide which is the right choice for you based on your brewing needs and budget.
CONTENTS:
1. Model: NANO-X FLEXI Bucket
– Design Overview
– Operational Features
– Upgradable Options
– Who is the FLEXI Bucket Suited For?
2. Model: NANO-X FLEXI UniBucket
– Design Overview
– Operational Features
– Upgradable Options
– Who is the FLEXI UniBucket Suited For?
3. Model: NANO-X FLEXI Conical
– Design Overview
– Operational Features
– Upgradable Options
– Who is the FLEXI Conical Suited For?
4. NANO-X FLEXI Fermenter Comparison Charts
– NANO-X FLEXI Bucket vs NANO-X FLEXI UniBucket
– NANO-X FLEXI Uni Bucket vs NANO-X FLEXI Conical
5. NANO-X FLEXI Fermenter Overview Video: The Homebrew Network
We hope you find some valuable insight into the NANO-X FLEXI Fermenter Range. If you have any specific questions, jump into our Facebook Brewing Group (Cheeky Peaks Homebrew Ambassadors). We have thousands of experienced brewers willing to jump in and share their knowledge!
MODEL: NANO-X FLEXI Bucket
The NANO-X FLEXI Bucket is the entry level model into the NANO-X Fermenter range. It was designed to allow brewers to begin their journey into a 304SS fermenter at a budget friendly price point. You may find a range of other budget friendly 304SS Fermenters in the market, however the key feature that sets the NANO-X FLEXI Bucket apart is the versatility to completely customise the FLEXI Bucket & allow you to add on additional accessories to suit your brewing needs (eg. sample tap, dump valve kit). Overtime you have the ability to build onto your FLEXI Bucket to fully create the more advanced fermenters in the FLEXI Fermenter Range OR completely customise your fermenter to suit your specific needs.
Operational Features: NANO-X FLEXI Bucket
Non-Pressurised Fermentation
The NANO-X FLEXI Bucket is designed for basic fermentation operations. Included is a flat styled 304SS lid with a food grade silicon seal and 1.5″ Tri Clover Blow-Off Elbow Barb. The Blow-Off Elbow has a 13mm barb designed to a attach on a length of silicon hose to run into a container of sanitised water to capture the release of carbon dioxide during fermentation. The flat styled lid is clamped into place with the integrated lid hooks located on the body of the FLEXI Bucket Fermenter. When secured in place, an airtight seal is created in the fermenter. The FLEXI Bucket with the flat lid is NOT designed to hold pressure for operations such as closed pressure transfers, pressure fermentation or carbonation.
Temperature Control (with the use of a fridge & external temperature controller)
The included thermowell in the FLEXI Bucket fermenter allows you to control your fermentation with the use of a domestic fridge and external temperature controller. If using a temperature controller with dual cooling and heating, you then have the ability to integrate in a basic heating belt or pad for ultimate fermentation temperature control.
Transfer into Keg or Bottling Bucket
Designed with an internal rotating racking arm to ensure you transfer the maximum amount of volume into your bottling bucket or keg. With a careful loosing of the Tri Clover Clamp, you can also rotate the internal arm to ensure you avoid any solid trub material during your transfer.
The racking valve includes a 13mm barb to conveniently attach the desired length of silicon hose.
Upgradable Options: NANO-X FLEXI Bucket
This is where the NANO-X FLEXI Bucket is sets itself apart with the potential to upgrade overtime to create a more advanced fermenter and perform more advanced fermentation processes. There is no 304SS fermenter in the world that allows for the level of versatility and ability to upgrade overtime that is seen in the NANO-X FLEXI Bucket.
As your brewing and fermentation techniques naturally advance overtime, the NANO-X FLEXI Bucket will be able to grow with you, avoiding the need to completely purchase a whole new fermenter.
Dump Valve Assembly Kit
Attach a Dump Valve Assembly Kit to remove hops, yeast and trub. Perfect if you are looking to harvest yeast, control dry hop contact time or remove trub for cold storage lagering.
Sight Glass Ball Valve Racking Port
Upgrade to a sight glass ball valve for a full visual of your transferring process to avoid transfer of unwanted solid material. The 1.5″ TC Connection means a variety of fittings can be attached to suit your transfer line. A convenient Closed Transfer Kit can be easily attached to transfer directly to your keg.
Pressure Lid
The inclusion of a pressure lid will be the biggest upgrade to give you the most opportunity to advance your FLEXI Fermenter and fermentation processes. Pressure fermentation, carbonation, direct glycol chilling, oxygen-free beer transfer & oxygen-free dry hopping all becomes possible with the inclusion of a pressure lid and associated optional accessories.
NANO-X Fermenter Optional Accessories
On top of the major upgrade options, there is an ever growing list of optional extras to allow you to utilise your NANO-X Fermenter to best suit your fermentation needs!
Click Here to discover the full range of NANO-X Fermenter Accessories!
Who is the NANO-X FLEXI Bucket best suited for?
You want to Brew High Quality Beer
First and foremost the FLEXI Bucket is suited for brewers who want the advantage of brewing in a 304SS fermenter so they can produce the highest quality beer. Plastics fermenters run the high risk of harbouring nasty bacteria, introducing light to “skunk” your beer & also introduce oxygen through the walls of plastic fermenters. In contrast, 304SS fermenters are easier to maintain in a sanitary state, eliminate light introduction and eliminate the entry of oxygen through the walls of your fermenter.
You are Environmentally Conscious
If being environmentally conscious is important to you then a NANO-X FLEXI Fermenter is a great choice. By purchasing a 304SS Fermenter, with proper care you can be assured you will have have a fermenter for a lifetime & beyond. Unlike plastic fermenters, there will be no need to take your fermenter to landfill and purchase again.
You are Budget Conscious
If your budget is a priority then the FLEXI Bucket is a great option. This model allows you the purchase at the most affordable price point, however it still allows for future upgrade options to advance your FLEXI Bucket when your budget allows.
You only Require Basic Fermentation Practises
The NANO-X FLEXI Bucket is perfect you’re not fussed by all the fancy processes such as pressure fermentation, closed pressure transfer, yeast harvesting etc.
You want the Option to Upgrade your FLEXI Bucket in the Future
Right now you’re just doing basic fermentations without the need for pressure. But as you progress with your experience, you wouldn’t mind the option to upgrade and add on accessories. If this sounds like you then the FLEXI Bucket would suit best.
MODEL: NANO-X FLEXI UniBucket
The NANO-X FLEXI UniBucket is the next step up from the NANO-X FLEXI Bucket. This Model was designed to be capable of advanced fermentation processes such as pressure fermentation, carbonation, oxygen-free beer transfers, oxygen-free dry hopping + much more. The main upgrade feature to allow for these advanced fermentation processes is the addition of the NANO-X FLEXI Fermenter Pressure Lid.
As with all NANO-X FLEXI Fermenters, the NANO-X FLEXI UniBucket also allows for the ability to customise and accessorise to best suit your brewing & fermentation needs.
Operational Features: NANO-X FLEXI UniBucket
Pressurised Operation Capability
The NANO-X FLEXI UniBucket is designed to give brewers the capability of pressure related fermentation processes. The addition of a NANO-X Pressure Lid is what makes the FLEXI UniBucket capable of this feature.
By pairing your pressure lid with the associated optional accessories, the NANO-X FLEXI UniBucket will be able to perform advanced fermentation processes such as Pressure Fermentation, Carbonation, Oxygen-Free Beer Transfers, Oxygen-Free Dry Hopping + Much More.
Glycol Chilling Capability
With the NANO-X FLEXI UniBucket, your options for fermentation temperature control are increased in comparison to the NANO-X FLEXI Bucket. The addition of the NANO-X Pressure Lid includes a dedicated 3″ Tri Clover Port which enable you to install a cooling coil for direct glycol chilling.
The ability to direct glycol chill improves the precision of your fermentation temperature control, allows you to efficiently cold crash for conditioning + avoids the need to utilise a big bulky fridge for fermentation temperature control.
Full Visual Beer Transferring
When stepping up from the NANO-X FLEXI Bucket to the FLEXI UniBucket, the racking port is upgraded from a basic barbed port into a sight glass ball valve racking port.
With the sight glass ball valve addition you now have the ability for a full visual of your transferring process to avoid transfer of unwanted solid material. The 1.5″ TC Connection means a variety of fittings can be attached to suit your transfer line. A convenient Closed Pressure Transfer Kit can also be easily attached to transfer directly to your keg in an oxygen-free manner.
Multiple Accessory Ports
A key feature when moving from the FLEXI Bucket into the FLEXI UniBucket is the increased options for versatility with the multiple tri clover ports located on the NANO-X Pressure Lid. These multiple ports allows you to further accessorise your NANO-X FLEXI Fermenter to best suit your brewing needs. For example, you may want to pressure transfer from your NANO-X UniBucket. In that case you attach a TC Liquid Post with Ball Float, TC Gas Post and TC PRV (for safety purposes).
The versatility is truly never ending which allows your to grow and adapt your NANO-X FLEXI Fermenter when your budget or fermentation processes advance.
Discover the full list of NANO-X Fermenter Accessories Here
Upgradable Options: NANO-X FLEXI UniBucket
As with the NANO-X FLEXI Bucket, the NANO-X FLEXI UniBucket also has potential to upgrade components overtime to create a more advanced fermenter and perform more advanced fermentation processes. There is no 304SS fermenter in the world that allows for the level of versatility and ability to upgrade overtime that is seen in the NANO-X FLEXI Fermenter Models.
As your brewing and fermentation techniques naturally advance overtime, the NANO-X FLEXI UniBucket will be able to grow with you, avoiding the need to completely purchase a whole new fermenter.
Dump Valve Assembly Kit
Attach a Dump Valve Assembly Kit to remove hops, yeast and trub. Perfect if you are looking to harvest yeast, control dry hop contact time or remove trub for cold storage lagering.
304SS Sample Tap
Adding on a 304SS Sample tap is a great upgrade option to enable convenient quality control samples during your fermentation and conditioning phase. Using the racking port as your sample tap can be a awkward and messy, especially if the fermenter is under pressure.
NANO-X Fermenter Optional Accessories
On top of the major upgrade options, there is an ever growing list of optional extras to allow you to utilise your NANO-X Fermenter to best suit your fermentation needs!
Click Here to discover the full range of NANO-X Fermenter Accessories!
Who is the NANO-X FLEXI UniBucket best suited for?
You want to Brew High Quality Beer
First and foremost the FLEXI UniBucket is suited for brewers who want the advantage of brewing in a 304SS fermenter so they can produce the highest quality beer. Plastics fermenters run the high risk of harbouring nasty bacteria, introducing light to “skunk” your beer & also introduce oxygen through the walls of plastic fermenters. In contrast, 304SS fermenters are easier to maintain in a sanitary state, eliminate light introduction and eliminate the entry of oxygen through the walls of your fermenter.
You are Environmentally Conscious
If being environmentally conscious is important to you then a NANO-X FLEXI Fermenter is a great choice. By purchasing a 304SS Fermenter, with proper care you can be assured you will have have a fermenter for a lifetime & beyond. Unlike plastic fermenters, there will be no need to take your fermenter to landfill and purchase again.
You Want to Perform Advanced Fermentation and Conditioning Techniques
You want utilise your NANO-X FLEXI Fermenter for pressure related techniques such as pressure fermentation, carbonation and closed pressure beer transfers.
You are not wanting to Harvest Yeast or Remove Yeast & Hops Prior to Transferring your Beer for Packaging into Bottle or Keg
Due to no Dump Valve Kit on the bottom of the NANO-X FLEXI UniBucket you won’t have access to yeast/trub/hop removal prior to transferring and packaging your beer
You want the Option to Upgrade your FLEXI UniBucket in the Future
Although you don’t remove yeast and hops currently, you still want the option in the future to upgrade to this feature.
MODEL: NANO-X FLEXI Conical
The NANO-X FLEXI Conical is the top of the range NANO-X FLEXI Fermenter. This Model was designed to give even further control of your fermentation & conditioning process. As with the NANO-X FLEXI UniBucket, the FLEXI Conical will be capable of advanced fermentation processes such as pressure fermentation, carbonation, oxygen-free beer transfers, oxygen-free dry hopping + much more. The main feature to allow for these advanced fermentation processes is the use of the NANO-X FLEXI Fermenter Pressure Lid.
In comparison to the FLEXI UniBucket, the biggest upgrade into the FLEXI Conical is the addition of the Butterfly Valve Dump Kit which will allow you to harvest & remove yeast/trub/hops prior to your conditioning & packaging phase.
Operational Features: NANO-X FLEXI Conical
Pressurised Operation Capability
As with the NANO-X FLEXI Unibucket, the NANO-X FLEXI Conical is designed to give brewers the capability of pressure related fermentation processes. The NANO-X Pressure Lid is what makes the FLEXI Conical capable of this feature.
By pairing your pressure lid with the associated optional accessories, the NANO-X FLEXI Conical will be able to perform advanced fermentation processes such as Pressure Fermentation, Carbonation, Oxygen-Free Beer Transfers, Oxygen-Free Dry Hopping + Much More.
Glycol Chilling Capability
With the NANO-X FLEXI Conical, your options for fermentation temperature control are increased in comparison to the NANO-X FLEXI Bucket. The addition of the NANO-X Pressure Lid includes a dedicated 3″ Tri Clover Port which enable you to install a cooling coil for direct glycol chilling.
The ability to direct glycol chill improves the precision of your fermentation temperature control, allows you to efficiently cold crash for conditioning + avoids the need to utilise a big bulky fridge for fermentation temperature control.
Full Visual Beer Transferring
As with the NANO-X FLEXI UniBucket, the NANO-X FLEXI Conical includes a sight glass ball valve in comparison to the basic barbed racking port of the NANO-X FLEXI Bucket.
With the sight glass ball valve addition you now have the ability for a full visual of your transferring process to avoid transfer of unwanted solid material. The 1.5″ TC Connection means a variety of fittings can be attached to suit your transfer line. A convenient Closed Pressure Transfer Kit can also be easily attached to transfer directly to your keg in an oxygen-free manner.
Multiple Accessory Ports
A key feature when moving from the FLEXI Bucket into the FLEXI UniBucket is the increased options for versatility with the multiple tri clover ports located on the NANO-X Pressure Lid. These multiple ports allows you to further accessorise your NANO-X FLEXI Fermenter to best suit your brewing needs. For example, you may want to pressure transfer from your NANO-X UniBucket. In that case you attach a TC Liquid Post with Ball Float, TC Gas Post and TC PRV (for safety purposes).
The versatility is truly never ending which allows your to grow and adapt your NANO-X FLEXI Fermenter when your budget or fermentation processes advance.
Discover the full list of NANO-X Fermenter Accessories Here
Yeast Harvesting & Trub/Hop Removal
With addition of the Butterfly Valve Dump Port, you can further advance your fermentation and conditioning processes. With the ability to remove hops, you can now better control the time your hops remain in contact with your beer. You are now also capable to harvest your yeast for re-use in future batches of beer. The ability to remove yeast and hops prior to conditioning means that you significantly reduce the risk of “yeast autolysis” which will impact the quality of your beer.
Convenient Quality Control Sampling
The addition of a 304SS Sample Tap enables convenient quality control samples during your fermentation and conditioning phase. Using the racking port as your sample tap can be a awkward and messy, especially if the fermenter is under pressure.
Upgradable Options: NANO-X FLEXI Conical
NANO-X Fermenter Optional Accessories
On top of the major upgrade options, there is an ever growing list of optional extras to allow you to utilise your NANO-X Fermenter to best suit your fermentation needs!
Click Here to discover the full range of NANO-X Fermenter Accessories!
Who is the NANO-X FLEXI Conical Best Suited For?
You want to Brew High Quality Beer
First and foremost the FLEXI Conical is suited for brewers who want the advantage of brewing in a 304SS fermenter so they can produce the highest quality beer. Plastics fermenters run the high risk of harbouring nasty bacteria, introducing light to “skunk” your beer & also introduce oxygen through the walls of plastic fermenters. In contrast, 304SS fermenters are easier to maintain in a sanitary state, eliminate light introduction and eliminate the entry of oxygen through the walls of your fermenter.
You are Environmentally Conscious
If being environmentally conscious is important to you then a NANO-X FLEXI Fermenter is a great choice. By purchasing a 304SS Fermenter, with proper care you can be assured you will have have a fermenter for a lifetime & beyond. Unlike plastic fermenters, there will be no need to take your fermenter to landfill and purchase again.
You Want to Perform Advanced Fermentation and Conditioning Techniques
You want utilise your NANO-X FLEXI Fermenter for pressure related techniques such as pressure fermentation, carbonation and closed pressure beer transfers.
You want to Harvest Yeast or Remove Yeast & Hops Prior to Transferring your Beer for Packaging into Bottle or Keg
The inclusion of the butterfly valve dump kit means you have the full ability to remove/harvest yeast. You can also remove dry hops for precise control on beer contact time. If lagering is something you are interested in, then then addition of the dump valve kit is essential.
NANO-X Fermenter Comparison Overview Charts
