At American Bars, we’ve detailed beer and hard liquor across the spectrum, from big, corporate makers to craft brewers, from ancient distilleries to pre-bottled whisky cocktails.
Well, to be fair, we think new items will drive the consumer to any and all of these businesses and their products. Those new items are continuing attempts to actually try and make this stuff at home.
Take a look at the web. There are no shortage of crowdfunding projects aimed at helping you homebrew. Yes, those are mostly laughers. However, in the photo attached to this article you will see the sleek and lovely Vessi Fermentor. What makes the Vessi Fermentor different is that it comes out of Whirlpool’s W Labs. Yes, appliance maker Whirlpool — washers, dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators and now, apparently, home brew machines.
They tout it as completely foolproof. Yet, we know that human nature being what it is, declaring something as fool proof means that humanity always produces newer and better fools. It’s a sealed, temperature- and pressure-controlled system that will walk you through to manage the complete fermentation process. Once you’ve created your wort and you put it in this unit, this unit will keep it sealed and it’s pressured and it’s temperature controlled, therefore creating the optimal environment to create great-tasting beer. …or so the sales brochure says…
The taste test though, will usually win out as the final arbiter. Most of the time these home machines make great promises but pack little in fulfillment. Vessi does have the potential to solve two of homebrewers’ biggest problems.
Serious homebrewers will have to dedicate some serious kitchen space to the unit. The Vessi is 24 inches by 24 inches and 36 inches tall. Granted, it is set on castors, but it has an 8-gallon tank, temperature and pressure controls, and an adjustable valve to release the off-gassing byproducts that come with fermentation. That takes up serious floor space in kitchen.
That should be enough to make a bottle of beer, but never count your bottles before they’re hatched. There’s also a sediment-removal system down below and a tap for pouring the beer into a pint container, keg, or bottles up top. Whirlpool thinks this system is pretty much a game-changer compared to the traditional homebrewing systems. Time will tell.
Homebrewers often do their fermenting in a bucket, then transfer the contents to a plastic carboy, and then bottle or keg the beer. By eliminating some of these steps, there’s less to clean and sanitize, as well as a reduced chance of contaminating your beer with bacteria or wild yeast. The temperature control is also a bonus, as variations can negatively affect how the brew turns out, leading to off-tasting beer. Because the beer is under pressure, it’s force carbonated and cuts down the fermentation time. Good or bad? You decide.
Being able to control the temperature also means brewers can ensure the yeast are always active. High fermentation temperatures can make beer taste unintentionally spicy, woody, or fruity, while incomplete fermentation leads to flavors that resemble apples, almonds or varnish, or pig swill.
Home brewing beer is a two-part procedure, the brew process and the fermentation process. The first part, the brew process, is where homebrewers pour in their artistry and passion. Whirlpool didn’t want to mess with the part brewers feel is their speciality and creating their art.
The temperature-controlled system lets you make a light, blonde-style beer in as little as seven days, though other types, like higher-percentage stouts, will take longer. If you’re a prolific producer, it’s also important to note that you’ll only be able to make one type of beer at a time, and each batch will yield five to six gallons. Read that again — Seven Days to make about six gallons. (and on the 7th day, he rested with a mug of beer.)
Vessi fermentors are available now for $1,199, the fact that this product is backed by Whirlpool may give a little more peace of mind.
Good Luck, and after you have had your adventure…welcome back.
