Conical fermenters compared

We compared ten conical fermenters sold to homebrewers in North America. Our Unitank is the only stainless tank on the list with a 30 psi working pressure: the other stainless tanks with a published rating are rated 15 psi (Brewtools lists 30 psi as its maximum), and two aren’t pressure vessels. KegLand’s plastic FermZilla is rated 34.8 psi and is the cheapest way to ferment under pressure. Among jacketed tanks, the BrewBuilt X3 costs less and Brewtools gives a five-year warranty. Spike and Blichmann cost less again but cool with a coil in the beer instead of a jacket. We make one of these tanks, so every competitor number below comes from the maker’s or a retailer’s listing on October 12, 2026, with sources at the bottom.

A conical fermenter has a cone-shaped bottom so yeast and trub collect at one valve you can dump. A unitank is a conical that also holds pressure, so you can ferment, carbonate and serve or keg from the same tank.

Jacketed stainless unitanks

A cooling jacket is a sleeve welded around the tank. Glycol runs through it, so nothing goes into the beer and no lid port is used up.

Cooling, temperature control and warranty

Competitor prices in US dollars, October 12, 2026. Bräu Supply prices show in your currency.

Coil-cooled, plastic and lower-cost conicals

These cost less up front. Temperature control is a coil that sits in the beer through a lid port, sold as an add-on, or nothing at all.

Competitor prices in US dollars unless marked CA$, October 12, 2026.

What actually differs

• Pressure rating. 15 psi covers spunding most ales and keeping a crash positive. You need more for high-carbonation styles cold, or carbonating while the beer is still warm: 3.0 volumes at 38°F takes about 16 psi, and 2.5 volumes at 60°F about 23 psi. The Unitank is rated 30 psi working; it ships with a 15 psi relief valve, which can be set higher, below the tank’s rating. Our pressure fermentation guide has the full chart.
• Jacket or coil. A jacket cools through the wall and stays out of the beer. A coil sits in the beer, uses a lid port and has to be cleaned and sanitized every batch. Both work; a jacket is the commercial way.
• What temperature control costs. No stainless tank here includes a chiller. Price the tank, the controller kit and the chiller together. Our glycol chiller sizing guide helps with the last one.
• Fittings. Every Unitank port is a standard 1.5" or 2" tri-clamp. Brewtools uses 34 mm tri-clamp ports on many fittings, and FermZilla uses its own lid and carbonation-cap fittings.
• Getting one. Ss Brewtech’s parent, Middleby, announced on September 9, 2026 that the brand will wind down by the end of 2026, and the Unitank 2.0 is sold out. Blichmann and Anvil are now sold by MoreBeer, and several sizes are out of stock. We found no Canadian-dollar price for Spike, Ss, Blichmann, BrewBuilt or Anvil. Unitanks ship from Vancouver, in Canadian dollars to Canada and with US tariffs and duties paid to the US.

Which should you buy?

On a tight budget, a FermZilla ferments under pressure for a fraction of the price of stainless. Mind its limits: nothing above 95°F under pressure, and MoreBeer’s listing says to replace the tank every two years.

For stainless without a jacket, Spike’s CF series and the Blichmann G4 are 15 psi tanks with coil cooling as an add-on.

For a jacketed tank at the lowest price, the BrewBuilt X3 has a jacket on the straight wall and a 15 psi rating, with a separate kit for pressure fermenting.

For a five-year warranty and an app-connected system, look at Brewtools. Our Brewtools comparison has the detail.

Choose a Bräu Supply Unitank if you want a jacketed stainless tank rated to 30 psi working pressure, with standard tri-clamp ports throughout, a glycol kit that includes the controller, and delivery from Vancouver.

FAQ

What is the difference between a conical fermenter and a unitank?

A unitank is a conical fermenter rated to hold pressure, so it can also carbonate and push beer to kegs. A conical that isn’t pressure-rated, like the Anvil Crucible or Ss Chronical, ferments and dumps yeast but can’t carbonate.

Do I need a jacketed fermenter?

You need some way to hold temperature. A jacket or a coil both do it with a glycol chiller. A jacket keeps the cooling out of the beer and frees the lid ports; a coil is cheaper to add later. A fermentation fridge works for small plastic or stainless tanks.

Is a plastic pressure fermenter safe?

Used within its limits, yes. The FermZilla is rated 2.4 bar (34.8 psi). KegLand and MoreBeer say not to pressurize it above 95°F, and MoreBeer’s listing says to replace the tank every two years.

What happened to Ss Brewtech?

Middleby, Ss Brewtech’s parent company, announced on September 9, 2026 that it is discontinuing its brewing group, with the wind-down expected to be done by the end of 2026. On October 12, 2026 the Unitank 2.0 was sold out in every size. See our Ss Brewtech Unitank alternative page.

How does the Unitank compare with Spike?

Spike’s CF series is rated 15 psi and cools with a coil through the lid; the Unitank is rated 30 psi with a welded jacket. The Spike comparison covers both brands’ brewing systems too.

Which size Unitank do I need?

8 gal for 3–6 gal batches, 13 gal for 5–10 gal, 26 gal for 10–20 gal, and the 1 BBL for 31 gal. Each leaves headspace for the krausen. More in our guide to conical fermenters.

Sources, checked October 12, 2026: BrewBuilt X3; X3 at MoreBeer; X3 manual; Brewtools at MoreBeer; Brewtools unitank docs; Grainfather GF30; Ss Unitank 2.0; Ss Chronical 2.0; Middleby announcement, Sep 9, 2026; Spike CF series; Spike warranty; Blichmann G4; G4 manual; Anvil Crucible; FermZilla 27 L; FermZilla at Grain to Glass. All trademarks belong to their owners. Bräu Supply is not affiliated with any brand named here.