I BOUGHT A SPIKE CF5 CONICAL FERMENTER | Complete Review | WHY I UPGRADED | Spike vs SS Brewtech

This is a complete and unbiased review on the Spike Brewing CF5 Conical Fermenter. For reasons I discuss in the video, I decided to stop using and recommending the Fermzilla (not the all-rounder, I have no complaints with the all-rounder). I bought this Spike fermenter with my own money, Spike never reached out to me, so this completely unbiased. In this video I assembled the fermenter, completed a fermentation in it, did my best to break down all the pros and cons, and compared it to the specs of the SS Brewtech 7 Gallon Unitank. All in all, this is a fantastic piece of equipment that I am very excited to be using, but has its drawbacks. That being said, better equipment does not make better beer-Better brewers make better beer. This type of equipment just makes the fermentation process a lot easier and more controllable, leading to better consistency. As always if you're in the market for this type of thing, do your own research, weigh the pros and cons and decide if its right for you.
-------------------------------------------------------
Spike CF5 Conical Fermenter (Non-Affiliate Links):
-------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------
0:00 Intro
1:10 Why I'm Done Using the Fermzilla
2:55 What Comes in the Base Kit
4:23 Additional Accessories I Got
6:10 Assembly Timelapse
7:21 Fermenting in the Spike
8:53 Pros
18:23 Cons
24:10 Spike CF5 vs SS Brewtech Unitanks
28:24 TL;DR
-------------------------------------------------------
Full disclosure, most of the links on this page are affiliate links. This means if you buy through them I make a small percentage from the sale at no additional cost to you. All money earned through the channel goes back into the videos and brews you see on my channel. As always, don't just take my word for it, do your research before you decide to buy.

#Spike #Brewing #Conical #beer #brewing #homebrew #fermenter #CF5 #CF10 #CF15 #review

[TheApartmentBrewer]

If you want to skip the assembly and fermentation and go straight to the review, skip ahead to 8:53

[ShortCircuitedBrewers]

The only thing I would add is to emphasize the need to have a PRV in place for pressure (Anything) I know it's shown in the video. People need to know it is MUST BE IN PLACE. Thorough overview and comparison. Cheers! 👍🍻

[Edwardi]

3:48 I use to be a tig welding making exhaust headers and turbo kits for race cars, a lot of us went into the brewing industry, that's why the welding is so good, lots of experience with stainless steel welding.

[mikeolivier]

I really appreciate the fact that you bought it yourself and can give an unbiased review.

[timwood]

great review -thanks---re fermzilla tri conical yeast container -i have just removed yeast container & added a 3inch to 1.5inch reducer with 1.5ich tri clover butterfly valve. This means no leaks, broken yeast containers. Also can add a hose to butterfly valve & dump yeast and hops easily.---just a thought for trial

[iliffavenuebrewhouse]

Wow!!! You bought it yourself? I really appreciate that.

[haydenhollenbaugh]

Congrats on the new fermenter. 2 tips

-spike has a 2" tc to 1/2 barb. Use that to dump trub/yeast with their tubing. You'll never go back. (Learned this from a pro brewer)

-If you have keg lube on hand, put that on the main lid gasket. Like a descent amount. It won't fall out. (Learned this from my father in law that does HVAC stuff)

Enjoy

[TwoandaHalfPintsHomebrew]

Great review! As a Spike Flex owner and pro brewer here's some tips! The Do Not Lift Handles are a warning so you don't blow your back out carrying 80 lbs of liquid. The handles can take it, its just so people don't injure themselves. You might want to invest in extra valves too. I put one on the blow-off port so I can easily close it off and swap between blow off and gas post. Very useful for oxygen sensitive situations when you want to adjust pressure/relieve pressure. Also you never know when you'll need to do some valve to valve connections (they happen a lot on the pro side of things at least). I've found that the lid gasket slips out when I sanitize it with Isopropyl but letting it dry it fits in snug. Extra clamps, gaskets, and coins (aka the TC caps) are always useful. If there's something you wish there was a TC fitting for, chances are you can find it on the market and since they're universal they don't have to be from Spike.

[oldgoat]

Someone who gave a true !!!! most are all biased and giddy after getting it, with few negatives after paying for it.

[ElementaryBrewingCo]

I thought I saw something shiny and new in your Irish Red vid! Have fun with it and great review video!

[MRW]

That is a nice piece of Kit you have got yourself, and the definition of an independent thorough review.

[kmind]

Great review. Congrats on your bonus and enjoy the new toy!

[charleswalters]

Nice video, Just wanted to add I am able to cool down the fermenter with the TC-100 temp control system with a cooler, water and a couple bags of ice. was able to bring temp down to 39 degrees

[TheBruSho]

Nice indepth review! But saying its your last fermenter might be the famous last words... lol!

[jedhiggins]

Another great video. How do you sanitize the fermenter? Do you use the CIP ball?

[michaelpaolini]

hey, do you have a video on the chiller you use? I'm debating on the spike cf10, but don't want to spend an additional 1k on a glycol chiller. please let me know! thanks

[thebackyardbrewer]

It has a real "war of the worlds" vibe happening with those extended legs on! 😄

[gerardnatale]

Being fairly new to brewing, I am still enamored with watching the snow globe effect of fermentation in my clear Fermonster. I guess when I'm over that I will move on to SS. I enjoyed your review just the same. Congrats on the new equipment purchase!

[mikequebedeaux]

Great review. I have the CF10. How did you use the second sight glass?

[kingquesoIV]

The one thing about nice equipment like this is it makes fermentation so much easier. The idea that better equipment doesn't make better beer is slightly misleading. Now that I have a conical with a glycol chiller I can control fermentation temperature ramps, dump yeast before dry hopping, dry-hop oxygen-free, cold crash, pressure transfer, and clean in place. I am only have a couple batches on my conical so far but it has allowed me to implement so many techniques I couldn't before.