Review: Brewing kombucha in the Fermzilla

By Sebastien Bureau, head honcho at Mannanova
Unit reviewed was the 55L Fermzilla with plastic carbonation kit, ordered in 2020

We've been curious about the Fermzilla for a while. It seems to be a nice and low-cost alternative to Corny kegs: it is a bit more expensive than one corny keg, but it's three times the volume. Seems like a nice way of transitioning to larger volumes, right? The short answer is “yes” for fermenting, but “no” for carbing.

Few things are as practical as a corny keg: it can be easily transported, its all-metal build means it won't break if you drop it off of your truck, and you can shake it to carb if you're in a rush. All of these points are non-existent in the Fermzilla. 

The Fermzilla is plastic, so it's more likely to break. It's realistically too large to move around, and the plastic connections are prone to leaking. I'm also not quite sure what kind of cold space you would put it in for carbing because of its size and weight. So, as a carbing tank, I would give the Fermzilla a big NO.

Now, Corny kegs aren't great as fermenters, because it's difficult to separate the sediment in the Corny keg. This is where the Fermzilla has a leg up. It's clear, so you can see where the sediment is .You can purge and even keep your yeast in the receptacle at the bottom. Globally, as a fermenter the Fermzilla does a decent job once you get the hang of the connections.

For kombucha, you might be better off with something with a wider mouth, like a 55-gallon barrel with a valve 1-2 inches from the bottom. If you’re brewing something with a higher yeast count, like a cider or a hard kombucha, this could be a good option.

Verdict

I'd say globally, as a budget, multi-use tool, the Fermzilla does a decent job. But for bootstrapping kombucha, you’re better served with barrels and Corny kegs, until you can upgrade to a proper unitank.

- Seb

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