Fermenting in Spacekraft Bagged Boxes

[ronan...@hotmail.com]

Hello.

The local juice supplier are now offering Spacekraft Bagged Boxes as an alternative to IBCs.

https://spacekraft.com/Open/index.html

Does anyone have any experience fermenting cider (275 gallons) in the Bagged Boxes? Am I better to stick with the IBCs?

Thanks.

R.

[nick....@gmail.com]

I've not used them, but did look into them couple of years ago.

The supplier (Fenton Packaging) said they are great in a dry environment, but that any moisture that got into the outside box soon caused the structure of the box to degrade.As our IBCs drip with condensation at certain times of year I decided to stick with them

I did also consider just putting a 1000l bag inside an IBC to emliminate the need for washing and also help keep air away from the cider. But again I didn't follow this up as at the time the bags were as expensive as an IBC and it would take a bit of though as to how the bag/tap would be accessed

Hope this helps somewhat.

If you do go ahead and run a trial I would be interested in hearing how it works out.

Nick

Circle Cider

[ronan...@hotmail.com]

Cheers, Nick.

I'll probably go with the IBC, and your points made up my mind more so.

But if I do get info on this or do an experiment, I'll let you know.

R.

[ronan...@hotmail.com]

I'm back at this again.

The boxes seem to be really sturdy now and good value for the buck.

My only worry is that the inlet seems to really flop around when the bag is full. How would one attach and keep a airlock in place?

If anyone has used these, please let me know.

R.

[Shawn Larson]

I make organic cider and do not sulphite.  I tried to use spacecraft as a secondary storage container and even put airlocks on the bags.  I found that the off gas co2 from the cider leaked through the bags from one ply to the next creating giant balloons. Needless to say I found them useless and do not use them.  On the other hand we have great success storing pasteurized fresh juice in them.  I wouldn't think they would be great to ferment in, but maybe someone else has a success story?? 

Cheers  

Shawn Larson

Head Cider Maker Big B's Hard Cider 

sh...@bigbs.com

970-872-3065

[ronan...@hotmail.com]

Thanks, Shawn.

That's good to know. I haven't heard anyone successfully use them for primary (Rev Nat's in Portland did try it but never heard the results) but I did hear of another guy using them for secondary but didn't hear about any leakage.

Shawn, they stored for about a month in secondary. How long did you leave it? Could that be the issue?

R.