FermZilla - All Rounder (30L) - Review

Introduction

As part of our continuous journey in the pursuit of brewing better beer at home, we recently purchased the Kegland Fermzilla - All Rounder (30L) fermenter. Our first 12 brews were done using the basic Coopers PET fermenter, which served us well. However, we're now exploring pressure fermentation and closed pressure transfers to move our beers from the fermenter to a keg, which isn't possible with a basic Coopers fermenter. Oxidation has been impacting our beers, so we're looking for ways to eliminate it.

Enter the Fermzilla All Rounder

Available from KegLand, the Fermzilla All Rounder is an affordable and dynamic piece of equipment. There's another model called the "conical," which includes a removable collection jar and butterfly valve. These features add complexity and cost, which we don't need at this stage. More components also mean more cleaning and potential air leaks, especially problematic with pressure fermentation.

Key Features and Components

• 30L tank
• Top lid assembly with removable air lock and pressure release valve
• Stainless steel stand
• Stainless handle assembly
• Stick-on thermometer and volume markings

We also opted for the pressure brewing kit, which includes:

• Nylon web strapping to attach the Fermzilla tank to the stand
• Red and yellow carbonation caps for connecting liquid and gas lines
• Stainless steel float and silicone dip tube
• Mesh filter attachment for the float
• Integrated blow tie spunding valve

First Fermentation Experience

Our first fermentation in the Fermzilla All Rounder was a simple Aussie Pale Ale using US-05 yeast. We tested the Fermzilla for leaks by filling the vessel with some water, then filling with some CO2 to add some pressure. Pleasingly no leaks were discovered - it held pressure well, even when turned upside down.

Putting the Fermzilla together was easy enough. One criticism is that there aren't any instructions included with it, but with a bit of thought and common sense it's easy enough to figure out. I've gone straight for the pressure fermentation option, so didn't need the included airlock - and the included carbonation caps screwed onto the lid without any issues at all. I love that they use the same simple thread as soft drink bottles - this means with a bit of ingenuity you can create customised contraptions for cleaning beer lines and carbonation caps using a good old coke bottle.

Lid on - ready to go!

The included dip tube needs to be cut to length as the included length of line is far too long -  so I measured the length to a half inch or so above touching the bottom of the vessel (to avoid trub getting sucked up via the dip tube). I suspect the longer length is required for the larger 60L version - and they keep it the same to streamline the manufacturing process. Cutting it and having a spare length of tube never hurts anyway.

Design and Functionality

You can tell a fair amount of thought and engineering has gone into the Fermzilla design. Something as simple as the size of the opening is important - too big and it will be hard to maintain pressure, and if it's too small then accessing the inside of the vessel (eg. for cleaning) would be difficult. Thankfully KegLand have done an excellent job at allowing a generous size opening - large enough to comfortably fit your entire hand and arm in to make cleaning a breeze. Filling it was easy too using the pump and recirculation arm from my Brewzilla.

The stainless float and mesh filter were a bit fiddly to attach, and the floating ball can be attached at different points on the filter. Testing is key to see how it affects the dip tube's depth.

Spunding Valve Calibration

To calibrate the spunding valve, we closed it all the way, attached it to a keg filled with 10psi of CO2, and slowly opened the valve until gas escaped. We then removed the valve from the keg and attached it to the gas post of the FermZilla.

Fermentation underway with spunding valve attached

This worked well during fermentation, but the built-in gauge readings should be taken with a grain of salt, as there was a 2-3 psi discrepancy compared to our CO2 gas regulator.

Dealing with Leaks

One of the biggest problems with pressure fermenting is the susceptibility to leaks - which at least according to Fermzilla and Kegland Facebook user groups, seems somewhat prevalent with the Fermzilla's. There's definitely a mixture of user error and equipment failure that causes this - and I wasn't exempt from any problems myself which I will get to shortly.

Pressure fermenting can be prone to leaks, and we experienced this ourselves. After much fiddling, we fixed the leak by tightening one of the carbonation caps a bit more. This also explains why we couldn't locate the leak initially.

Closed Pressure Transfers

One of the biggest benefits of a pressurizable fermenter is the ability to perform closed pressure transfers, moving the beer to another vessel without exposing it to oxygen. This went well, and we believe it has helped eliminate oxidation in our brews.

First pressure transfer from Fermzilla to Keg

The FermZilla can also act as a keg. We transferred 19 liters to a keg and drank the remaining beer directly from the FermZilla. However, KegLand advises that beer should only be stored in the All Rounder for a few months before it may start to leak, as it is made of plastic.

Useful Tips

A couple of useful tips for trouble free FermZilla usage;

• Put some food grade lubricant around the seal to help improve seal quality and minimise the likelihood of leaks
• Don't overtighten the collar. If done up too tight, it can be very difficult to undo.
• Use the straps and handle. This makes it much easier to carry around, particularly when full
• If using a temperature probe, stick it to the side of the fermenter and cover it with a sponge or something else so that is reads the fermenter temperature, not the ambient air temperature outside the fermenter

FermZilla in the ferment fridge with Inkbird probe attached

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Lightweight, durable, and easy to assemble
• Affordable
• Well-engineered with a good-sized opening and sturdy stand
• Pressure kit simplifies the setup
• Simple design with limited leak points
• True uni-tank for fermenting and dispensing
• Clear plastic allows for monitoring fermentation

Cons

• Pressure kit costs extra
• Susceptible to leaks
• No instructions included
• Spunding valve gauge may be inaccurate
• Dip tube needs to be cut to size
• Nylon straps are too long for the 30L unit
• Plastic construction is less durable than stainless steel
• Stick-on measuring tape is not very accurate

Conclusion

Overall, our first experience with the FermZilla All Rounder was hugely positive. Despite dealing with an air leak, the design's simplicity means there are only a few places for leaks to occur. Lubricating and sufficiently tightening everything is key. The FermZilla's price point is attractive, especially with the pressure kit, and its plastic construction makes it lightweight and affordable compared to stainless steel alternatives. We highly recommend it to anyone looking to advance into pressurized fermentations.

Related Articles