Brewtools MiniUni+ Glycol Jacketed Goodness & Overview

In this one we are looking at the Brewtools MiniUni+. This may be one of the most compelling unitanks on the homebrew market. We'll talk all about pressure fermentation it's key features. As well as what I think of it.
I also show you how to initially set it up to run glycol.
I was sent the miniuni and all accessories for testing.
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Home Brewing Is Good

[@user-sq4tr6vm5d]

I have two spike flex pulse fermenters. They have been a huge upgrade, especially since I started experimenting with No Chill. But they are a pain to clean. I have been eye balling fermenters with a bottom drain, and I am very excited to see the miniuni line grow. The jacketed middle might be the perfect combination of feature / quality / price for me.

[@PortlyGentleman]

I've not played with a flex seems like it might be all right. I definitely like having the option to drain out the bottom. I guarantee they are not built as heavy as the minunis . 🍻

[@goodolarchie]

Interesting because my flex is the easiest to clean fermenter I own. Every port is rounded so scrubbing is easy. Every fitting is tri clamp so no "shadow spots". Just wish it had a dump port like this.

[@user-sq4tr6vm5d]

@@goodolarchie I mean, to be honest I a privilege and complaining about something that is not really a problem. That said, to clean mine, I have to take it to the kitchen sink, rinse it, and then either soak it or take out the middle rack from the dish washer and put it in their. If the flex had the ability to drain out the bottom, I could CIP. That would be my goal, a CIP that can be done in the brewery space. Bottom drain gives me the added benefit of dropping tribe and yeast. That said, I have been experimenting CIPing the Flex using my SS Brewtech keg washer. I need to find a bucket the right size, or make some holder to make it work better. It still won’t be perfect, because it does not solve cleaning the coil, but it gets me closer.

[@CrazyAboutVinylRecords]

The price for the Miniuni+ 30 looks great on paper...until you realize that to do anything really useful with it will set you back about another $600 or so in accessories. This is sort of the Brewtools way, and I say that as a happy owner of a B40 Pro. After adding everything needed to use this as a real unitank the total price tag comes to about $1,200. A Brewbuilt X2 Jacketed Conical Unitank would be a much less expensive option. One can always argue over quality but it seems fair to me to say that Brewtools is not giving you flagship quality on the Miniuni like they do on their other products.

[@PortlyGentleman]

It all definitely adds up 🍻

[@blackwoodbrews]

Looks like another item on a wish list. Being in California glycol might be in my future. Since I lost my fermentation chamber/chest freezer back to wife needing more freezer space.

[@PortlyGentleman]

Fermentation chambers are definitely good. Glycol will also get the job done. Condensation is a thing 🍻

[@GentleGiantFan]

That silicone diptube is pretty snazzy. Keeps you from having the valve way out in front of the fermenter. Blichmann has a similar stainless diptube/gasket that allows me the same thing with their linear valve for my boil kettle. Freaking love that thing.

[@PortlyGentleman]

Yes it's is Blichmann definitely has a few interesting things that's for sure 🍻

[@kevin_bodi]

This combo of glycol and "cheapish" steel chamber is perfect. Especially for apartment brewers. This makes me really think I should have just went with glycol chilling from the beginning. I eventually ended up with the regular MiniUni (not plus) as a "perfect" compromise of a low priced conical steel fermentation device and because I don't have a permanent location with a power supply to store a temperature chamber, I ended up with a Ferminator (a portable fermination chamber) to regulate temperature. That device makes (a lot of!) noise and I place it in my apartment's entrance where there's also power during the time it ferments to keep any noise away from the rest of the space where I spend time living. At that point I could probably just have went for a jacketed steel fermenter just like this plus a glycol chiller and it would both make less noice than the ferminator that runs on pure air-to-air cooling, be even more reliable when it comes to temperature, in total take a litte less space where it's located when it runs and be just as easy to stove away to the shed when I don't use it as anything else. I wish I could deposit used products at this point. It's not viable to buy these things when I already have expensive enough products that do this, although with more hassle and limitations.

[@PortlyGentleman]

I'm not familiar with the ferminator product unfortunately. Might be cool to check one out at some point. chillers are definitely noisy. Don't get me wrong. Probably louder than it.

[@biggirlollie]

Looks like great quality as I'd expect from Brewtools!

[@PortlyGentleman]

That seems to be what they do 🍻

[@bigernbladesmith]

I just got a glycol chiller. I'm really interested in picking one of these up. The price is hard to beat.

[@PortlyGentleman]

Yes it is

[@stestrupholm-dyrkjorden]

Still waiting for mine, but I'm excited. I passed on the miniuni for lack of good cooling solution, but this will be awesome I think! I look forward to making some smaller batches than on the F150.

[@PortlyGentleman]

I hope you enjoy it 🍻

[@stestrupholm-dyrkjorden]

@@PortlyGentleman I like it! I brewed three times in it so far. So much easier to clean than plastic that you risk warping when handling. I have it on feet when fermeting, but I installed the bracket on the wall so I can CIP easier (imo).

[@twolittletanks]

Great review as always sir! Been waiting for this one to see what the miniuni+ actually offers. Thanks

[@PortlyGentleman]

Thank you the plus definitely takes it up the next level. If you don't have a fermentation chamber, this is probably the way to go. 🍻🍻

[@goodolarchie]

I like that they appear to be selling the unit fairly barebones to keep the cost down. I already have tons of TC fittings including several dip tubes. Thinking this could be cool sideways as a lager tank, with some custom mount blocks. The dimensions are right for natural yeast sedimentation. The 2" bottom port is hilarious. You'd see that on a 10BBL unitank. When's the last time a Homebrewer had stuck trub through a 1.5TC butterfly when racking into their yeast brink?

[@PortlyGentleman]

🍻

[@brewman467]

Thanks for the Video! I want to buy the Same fermenter. Is there any further Information on the silicone racking gasket? Could not find much on the Internet.

[@PortlyGentleman]

It works

[@FermentationAdventures]

Nice video... brewtools seem dedicated to this platform. SS Brewtech has been including a "Keyed Racking Arm Gasket" which is an all Silicon dip tube/gasket with at least some of their fermenters for awhile. Theirs is rotatable since they use a special keyed butterfly with it. I never saw much on it since it's like buried in their user guides.

[@PortlyGentleman]

Is that so they're definitely off my radar 😅

[@jesuspaniaguadominguez3953]

Thanks for the video and review, I was wondering if you can use this miniuni+ as a HLT tank by adding a heating element in one of the 1.5" tc ports a temp sensor in the other port and a tap to hose adapter on the bottom. I have seen that in the brewtools site they sell these heating elements but in the 2" version. But maybe it is possible to put another heater from a different vendor. Thanks for your help.

[@ElementaryBrewingCo]

That’s a nice looking tank!!!

[@PortlyGentleman]

It's definitely got good looks and quality construction same as me 😜🍻

[@scottcarr9985]

Thank you for a great video/review. I am truly intrigued by this unit. And as for swearing my wife can do it better than you and me combined. I f.n. really like this uni!

[@PortlyGentleman]

Thank you very much! Yeah, this one definitely makes a lot more sense if you don't have a fermentation chamber.

[@patrickglaser1560]

They're gonna make a stand for it probably, as an optional accessory, of course

[@PortlyGentleman]

It comes with a stand right out of the box. The legs are optional. I believe they're 30 US dollars

[@patrickglaser1560]

@PortlyGentleman ok not a gouge. Maybe they're gonna make a glycol chiller like the thermentor from keg king.

[@PortlyGentleman]

Lol definitely not offended I surely could have called out in the video that a base is included. One of my other videos linked within the video goes over the accessories. Would be crazy if they made a chiller. Sadly I don't think that's on the radar .

[@davidfoxton7905]

I was waiting for the suggestive comments many times during that 😂 but it never came. Then I was like oh it’s going to be in the outtakes…. But it never happened 😢😢😢

[@PortlyGentleman]

My apologies, sometimes things get left on the cutting room floor 😕

[@davidlujan8226]

Great video! Can u send me the link for the diaphragm valve please?

[@PortlyGentleman]

Hey, I'm pretty sure this is one that more beer doesn't stalk Brewtools should have it on their site

[@goodolarchie]

Here's the specs in Freedumb units for all my Patriots out there: Imperial Packaging size (w): 13.39 inches Packaging size (d): 13.78 inches Packaging size (h): 30.31 inches Net weight: 31.31 pounds Gross weight: 34.83 pounds Tank diameter (inside): 11.02 inches Max volume: 7.93 gallons Volume, cone: 0.45 gallons

[@PortlyGentleman]

🤣🍻

[@timheffernan3577]

I wish these had one extra port for a sample valve.

[@craftcostanza6322]

7:01 That's what she said

[@PortlyGentleman]

Yes🍻🍻

[@FreshweddingCinematography]

Do these have internal volume markings?

[@PortlyGentleman]

No they definitely don't. The top opening is only 4 in it will be hard to see. I would recommend filling it later by leader or gallon by gallon. Then mark the outside if that's something you need.

[@poisonpotato1]

Do the smaller units have the jacket

[@Nefariousrouge]

How easy are they to clean?

[@Vootie]

You may want to wrap the tape around the thread in the correct direction before you state that this is the right way to do it. Remember that when you wind the thread in you want the tape to be wrapped in the opposite direction from the wind to stop it bunching up. You can actually see the tape bunching in your video.

[@PortlyGentleman]

For sure, I definitely did one of the sets of threads the wrong direction. Oddly enough it's a non issue. No leaks at all 🍻

[@northernhomebrewing5855]

Great video, cheers! :)

[@PortlyGentleman]

Thank you 🍻🍻

[@LagerThanLife]

It’s the purpose built, much sexier version of my ancient setup. I wish I had money to blow on art pieces.

[@PortlyGentleman]

🍻🍻

[@mikekeller5202]

Do you feel comfortable lifting it, using the handles in the top tc, when it’s somewhat full?

[@PortlyGentleman]

That's the wrong question to ask me. I live on the edge. I'm okay with taking riffs lol My friends in Concord may have a different opinion 🤣🍻

[@timheffernan3577]

Curious about how much the system costs with the pressure kit.

[@PortlyGentleman]

An arm and a leg jk lol definitely there's a link for more beer below 🍻

[@timheffernan3577]

@@PortlyGentleman didn't find it through the link or a quick mini uni search/. I'll find it but I was just curious how it compares with SS conicals of similar volume.

[@FinalGravityBrewing]

How do you dry hop in this thing? I like to do it after fermentation so want to prevent oxygen intake. I use the hop bong on my fermzilla at the moment. Would it be possible to utilise that on the mini uni+?

[@PortlyGentleman]

You absolutely could. You would have to get a top 4-in cap with the appropriate tri-clamp flange for the hopbong.

[@goodolarchie]

Honestly a 4-in tri-clamp butterfly valve will do it just fine. They are huge and fit several oz of hops. If you need to do more than 3 oz, just do it in a couple drops. Or get the sight glass in between.

[@januszkszczotek8587]

Bummer, I bought the original mini Uni and am still waiting for a cooling solution.

[@PortlyGentleman]

There are a few other companies that make a 4-inch port with a cooling coil. 🍻

[@januszkszczotek8587]

@@PortlyGentleman I was in contact with Brewtools recently. Their colling coil is coming soon, but it will not be cheap. An alternative in form of a cooling jacket is considered. I therefore decided to sell my original mini Uni (should be possible with a small loss) and switch to the plus version. This also has the advantage that a) I can use a standard thermo well via the 1.5" ports and b) the cooling coil does not interfere with the dip tube.

[@grahamhawes7089]

Dang. Now we’re talking. Curious about price.

[@PortlyGentleman]

Yes 🍻🍻

[@twolittletanks]

Prices are up on their website I believe.

[@CM-ef8fu]

First ;-)

[@PortlyGentleman]

Yes 🤣🍻🍻