- Pick the best conical fermenter by batch size first: 2–3.5 gal for countertop batches, 7–8.5 gal for standard 5-gallon batches, 14 gal for 10-gallon batches.
- Stainless conicals (Spike, Ss Brewtech, Northern Brewer, HOOLOO) are not pressure vessels unless the maker lists a rating; the FermZilla Tri-Conical is the only pick here rated for pressure (up to 2.4 bar per KegLand).
- A conical still needs temperature control. Plan the fridge, chamber or glycol loop before you buy the tank.
- Measure your fridge or chamber: the Spike CF-125 is listed at 18 in. across and 31 in. tall.
The best conical fermenter is the one that fits your batch size, your cold space and the way you like to move beer. A cone lets yeast and trub settle into one spot, so you can dump or harvest them through a bottom valve and rack clear beer off the top through a racking arm. That beats siphoning from a flat bucket, but only if you can keep the cone at fermentation temperature and clean every valve after each batch.
This list covers eight conical and cone-bottom fermenters from six brands: four stainless tanks, two clear PET tri-conicals from KegLand, a small stainless cone-bottom bucket and a 2-gallon starter conical. Every number below comes from the maker listing; where a spec is missing, we say so instead of guessing.
Our picks
Spike Brewing CF-125 Stainless Conical Fermenter
Spike Brewing
- Volume
- 5 and 10 gal batch capability
- Material
- 304 stainless, 2 mm thick, made in USA
- Outputs
- 18 in. diameter × 31 in. tall
Spike lists the CF-125 in 304 stainless with a 2 mm wall, made in the USA, sized for both 5- and 10-gallon batches. It is the heaviest-built tank on this list per the listed wall thickness, which matters if you plan to keep it for years and add fittings later.
Best for: All-grain brewers who want one tank for 5 and 10 gallon batches
Skip if: Your fermentation fridge is shorter than about 31 in. inside
- 2 mm 304 stainless wall (listed)
- Made in USA
- Covers 5 and 10 gal batches
- 18 × 31 in. footprint needs a large chamber
- Pressure rating not listed: treat it as an unpressurized fermenter
- Valves and accessories vary by package; check what ships
Ss Brewtech Chronical Conical FE814, 14 Gal
Ss Brewtech
- Volume
- 14 gal (without lid)
- Material
- 304 stainless steel
- Type
- Stainless conical fermenter
The Ss Brewtech Chronical FE814 holds 14 gallons without the lid, in 304 stainless, with six spring-loaded lid clamps. That headroom suits a 10-gallon batch with space for krausen.
Best for: 10-gallon batches in a walk-in or large chest freezer
Skip if: You brew 5 gallons at a time; a 14 gal cone wastes headspace
- 14 gal capacity (without lid)
- Six lid clamps
- 304 stainless
- Valves, legs and cooling options are not detailed on this listing
- Pressure rating not listed
Northern Brewer Reactor Stainless Conical Fermentor, 8.5 Gal
Northern Brewer
- Volume
- 8.5 gal max; marks 4–8 gal (15–30 L)
- Material
- 304 stainless steel
- Outputs
- 1/2 in. NPT bottom-drain ball valve, racking arm
Northern Brewer’s Reactor is listed at 8.5 gal maximum with embossed marks from 4 to 8 gal (15–30 L), a 1/2 in. NPT bottom-drain ball valve and an adjustable racking arm. That is the classic conical layout at a size that fits a standard 5-gallon batch with headroom.
Best for: Moving from buckets to stainless at 5 gallons
Skip if: You need a coil or jacket built in
- Embossed 4–8 gal graduations
- Bottom drain plus racking arm
- 304 stainless
- No cooling coil listed
- Pressure rating not listed
KegLand FermZilla Tri-Conical 27L Gen3
KegLand
- Volume
- 27 L
- Material
- Clear PET
- Pressure
- Up to 2.4 bar
- Outputs
- 3 in. TC butterfly dump valve, 600 mL collection jar
KegLand’s FermZilla Tri-Conical 27L Gen3 is clear PET with a 3 in. tri-clamp butterfly dump valve and a 600 mL collection jar, and KegLand designs it to ferment at up to 2.4 bar (about 35 psi). You can see the yeast drop, cap the jar, and harvest or dump without opening the lid.
Best for: Yeast harvesting and pressure fermenting on a budget
Skip if: You want a vessel that tolerates hot cleaning water or rough handling like steel
- Rated up to 2.4 bar (KegLand)
- Clear body shows fermentation
- Collection jar for yeast
- 27 L (about 7.1 gal) total volume
- PET needs care with heat and abrasive pads
- Pressure parts may be sold separately; check the kit contents
KegLand FermZilla Tri-Conical Easy-Grip Starter Kit, 27L
KegLand
- Volume
- 27 L
- Material
- Transparent body
- Type
- Pressure fermenter
The Easy-Grip starter kit packages the same 27-liter tri-conical idea as a starter set with a grip-friendly body. The listing calls it pressure-capable but does not print the rating; use the maker manual for the limit before you add CO2.
Best for: A first conical for 5-gallon batches
Skip if: You need the exact pressure rating on the listing before buying
- 27 L tri-conical
- Starter kit format
- Transparent body
- Rating not printed on this listing
- Kit contents are not itemized
HOOLOO ZX30S Stainless Conical Fermenter, 30L
HOOLOO
- Volume
- 30 L
- Material
- 304 stainless steel
- Outputs
- Draft tap, rotary sampling valve, cooling coil
The HOOLOO ZX30S lists a 30 L 304 stainless conical with a full-width lid, stainless cooling coil, thermometer, draft tap, rotary sampling valve, racking arm and a neoprene jacket. The coil connects to circulating water or glycol, so you can cool it without a fridge.
Best for: Brewers who will run an ice-bath pump or a glycol chiller
Skip if: You don’t plan to circulate coolant; the coil then adds nothing
- Built-in cooling coil
- Neoprene insulation jacket
- Sampling valve and racking arm
- Pressure rating not listed
- Coil needs a pump and controller (not included)
Ss Brewtech Mini Brew Bucket, 3.5 Gal
Ss Brewtech
- Volume
- 3.5 gal
- Material
- Stainless steel
- Outputs
- Rotatable racking arm, LCD thermometer
Ss Brewtech’s Mini Brew Bucket is a 3.5 gal stainless fermenter with a conical base to keep trub away from the beer, a rotatable racking arm and an LCD thermometer in a weldless thermowell. It has no bottom dump valve, but it fits a small fridge.
Best for: 2.5–3 gallon batches in an apartment fridge
Skip if: You want to dump yeast from the bottom
- Conical base
- Rotating racking arm
- Thermowell thermometer
- No bottom dump valve
- 3.5 gal limits batch size
BrewDemon Craft Beer Kit Pro, 2 Gal Conical
BrewDemon
- Batch size
- 2 gal
- Type
- Extract kit + equipment
- Fermenter
- 2 gal conical with vent plug
- Includes
- Prophecy Ale recipe
The BrewDemon Craft Beer Kit Pro is a 2-gallon conical fermenter kit with a vent plug instead of an airlock, an adjustable spigot, an extract recipe and eight 1-liter bottles. It teaches the cone idea on a countertop scale.
Best for: A small first batch or a gift for a brewer 21+
Skip if: You already brew 5-gallon batches
- Complete small kit
- Sediment trap in the cone
- Upgradable to an airlock
- Plastic, 2 gal only
- You still need a pot and stove for the brew
Which conical fermenter size do you need?
Size the cone to your batch plus headspace. Ales throw krausen, so most brewers leave at least 20% of the vessel empty. A 5-gallon batch fits comfortably in a 7–8.5 gallon cone; a 10-gallon batch wants about 14 gallons.
Listed capacity of each conical
Gallons; liters converted at 3.785 L per gal. The Spike CF-125 lists batch capability (5 and 10 gal), not total volume.
Conicals compared by listed specs
| Fermenter | Material | Capacity | Bottom valve | Pressure rating | Cooling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spike CF-125 | 304 stainless, 2 mm | 5 and 10 gal batches | Not listed on this listing | Not listed | Not listed |
| Ss Chronical FE814 | 304 stainless | 14 gal (without lid) | Not listed on this listing | Not listed | Not listed |
| Northern Brewer Reactor | 304 stainless | 8.5 gal max | ✓ 1/2 in. NPT ball valve | Not listed | ✗ |
| FermZilla Tri-Conical Gen3 | Clear PET | 27 L | ✓ 3 in. TC butterfly + 600 mL jar | Up to 2.4 bar | ✗ (use a chamber) |
| FermZilla Easy-Grip kit | Clear PET | 27 L | ~ Tri-conical cone | Not printed (pressure-capable) | ✗ |
| HOOLOO ZX30S | 304 stainless | 30 L | ~ Sampling valve, racking arm | Not listed | ✓ Stainless coil + jacket |
| Ss Mini Brew Bucket | Stainless | 3.5 gal | ✗ Racking arm only | Not listed | ✗ |
| BrewDemon Kit Pro | Plastic | 2 gal | ~ Spigot | ✗ | ✗ |
Source: Maker listings, November 2026
Stainless or PET: which is the best conical fermenter material?
Stainless tanks survive hot cleaning water, scratches and decades of use, and they block light completely. They are also heavy, opaque and usually not rated for pressure. PET tri-conicals like the FermZilla are light and clear and can be pressure-rated, but they need gentle cleaning: no abrasive pads, and stay within KegLand’s temperature limits.
- Choose stainless if you want a tank for life, plan to add a coil or glycol later, or ferment 10-gallon batches.
- Choose PET if you want to ferment under pressure, watch the yeast settle and harvest it into a jar, or need to lift the vessel easily.
- Choose a small cone-bottom bucket if you brew 2–3 gallons in a kitchen fridge.
A full 10-gallon batch weighs well over 80 lb (water alone is about 8.3 lb per gallon), so put a stainless conical on its stand inside the chamber before you fill it, not after.
How to choose a conical fermenter in 6 steps
- Measure the cold space first
Write down the inside height, width and depth of your fridge, freezer or chamber. Then compare it with the tank height on its legs plus the airlock or blow-off tube. The Spike CF-125 is listed at 18 × 31 in.
- Match capacity to batch size
Pick 7–8.5 gal for 5-gallon batches and about 14 gal for 10 gallons. Tiny conicals suit 1–3 gallon batches.
- Decide whether you need pressure
If you want to ferment under pressure or do closed transfers, choose a vessel with a stated rating (FermZilla Tri-Conical: up to 2.4 bar) and add a spunding valve. See our pressure fermenter picks.
- Plan the cooling
A coil or jacket needs a pump and a controller. Without one, the cone goes inside a fridge or chamber. Our fermentation chamber guide covers both routes.
- Check every port and thread
Note valve sizes (1/2 in. NPT, 1.5 in. or 3 in. tri-clamp) before you buy spare gaskets, sample valves or spunding valves.
- Plan the cleaning
Every valve, gasket and racking arm comes apart after each batch. Clean first, then sanitize at label dilution.
Mistakes to avoid with a conical
- Pressurizing a tank that has no rating. Many stainless conicals list no pressure rating. Don’t push beer out with CO2 unless the maker says the tank can take it.
- Buying the tank before the cold space. A conical with no temperature control is still just a warm fermenter.
- Dumping yeast too early. Let fermentation finish and the gravity hold steady before you dump. Check with a hydrometer and the ABV calculator.
- Leaving valves uncleaned. A butterfly or ball valve holds beer in its seat. Take it apart and clean it every batch.
- Overfilling. Leave headspace for krausen or fit a blow-off tube.
Who should pick which conical?
| If you… | Pick |
|---|---|
| Brew 5 and sometimes 10 gallons and want one tank for years | Spike CF-125 |
| Brew 10 gallons routinely | Ss Brewtech Chronical FE814 |
| Want a classic stainless cone for 5 gallons | Northern Brewer Reactor |
| Want pressure fermenting and yeast harvesting | FermZilla Tri-Conical 27L Gen3 |
| Plan to cool with glycol or ice water | HOOLOO ZX30S |
| Brew small batches in an apartment fridge | Ss Mini Brew Bucket |
| Want to try the cone idea with a small kit | BrewDemon Kit Pro |
Log pitch dates, gravity and dump times in the brew-day log, and size your yeast with the pitch rate calculator. Browse the full fermenters and temperature control category or the going all-grain gear list for related picks.
For most 5-gallon brewers, the Northern Brewer Reactor is the straightforward stainless choice, and the FermZilla Tri-Conical is the pick if you want pressure and a yeast jar. Go to the Spike CF-125 or Ss Chronical for 10-gallon batches, and choose the HOOLOO ZX30S only if you will run a coolant loop.
Before you buy, read pressure fermenting and spunding and fermentation temperature guide. For a closer look, see KegLand FermZilla review and Plastic vs glass vs stainless fermenters.
We compared maker listings and manuals for capacity, material and wall thickness, valves, pressure ratings and cooling hardware, and checked fermentation advice against Palmer’s How to Brew and the AHA. We did not brew with these fermenters, and we list a pressure rating only where the maker states one. No scores, ratings or prices.