Dave17

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First off, just saying hi, im new here.

2nd, I was wondering if anyone had any experience with the "beer machine". If you don't know what it is, just check out beermachine.com . I just bought one brand new for $60, along with the canadian red mix. Has anyone had any luck brewing with it? Any tips or tricks that I should know? Any input would be greatly appreciated. thanks

Genghis77

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It works. Only real complaint is that it makes 3 gallon batches rather than the standard 5 gallon kits.

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Wolf

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Looks pretty much like a fancy Mr. Beer. The good news is you have a response that it works.
The bad news is that you can get a (very) basic 5 gallon brewing setup for around $60. But if a self contained 3 gallon setup works better for you, then you're set!

Yooper

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I actually started with a beer machine 2000. Unfortunately, I didn't have good luck with it. I didn't get any drinkable beer out of it. I still have it in the basement, along with a couple of mixes.

Good luck with it! You may have better luck than I did.

Lorena

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Broken Leg Brewery
Giving beer a leg to stand on since 2006

lgtg

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I knew coming into beginner brewing that I would need something to see if I wanted to commit to it as a hobby, the pilot brewing systems (fancy name for Beer Machine & Mr Beer) would make an excellent way to get fundamental experience.

From what I've researched, Mr. Beer is a little more true to the process most others are doing with their 5 gallon systems but the Beer Machine is not much different.

I've brewed with it and found the beer, well, drinkable. Now, maybe it's just that my taste is not as eloquent as others but I did not spit it out and trash the batch. On the other hand, it was my first time brewing beer so maybe because it was mine, it tasted pretty good. It lacked "depth" and charecter but the truth be told, I could have bought beer as "good" and probably could have bought beer worse than it.

Many experienced brewers are critical of the closed systems but I think it's a "gateway" that most novice brewers are finding less intimidating and not everyone wants to brew 5 gallons. As I used my Beer Machine, I researched online for my future upgrade to intermediate systems. You can experiement with yours. Make a batch exactly as the directions indicate. Bottle some, drink some, then try altering the fermentation time to seven days rather than five. When that's finished, cold condition it in the fridge for two weeks or better before you drink or bottle, rather then the five days indicated.

Rehydrate your yeast instead of pitching dry. Buy a $10 Mr. Beer fermenter and use is as a secondary fermenter. There are beer kits sold from Mr. Beer that are a little more authentic to home brewing than the dry packs from Beer Machine.

Bottom line, it has potential if you use time honored theory and practice. It's a neat way to see the process at a low risk vantage. Let me know how it turns out.

SteveM

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I tend to be just a bit suspicious of hype - as in:

"The Beer Machine is the single biggest leap forward ever made in the brewing process. It took 5000 years before anyone had this type of experience brewin' beer, but who's countin'?"

But it seems like a reasonable and simple starter set. The process can be a bit intimidating for people who are new to it. It is what kept me from brewing my own for many years after I realized that I wanted to try it. Good luck with it and enjoy the hobby!

BrewFrick

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The Beer Machine is also how I got into the home brewing hobby. Got it for Christmas and have now brewed four batches in the Beer Machine and bottled two five gallon batches made with the Normal Homebrew Method.

I do like the normal homebrew much better but I still think that the Beer Machine is useful for making small batches and experimenting with. It is easy to take apart and clean, at least I think so, and it is pressurized with a guage to tell just what PSI you have going on in it. Ferment in it for 7 days stick it in the fridge for another 7 to 10 and you end up with about 2 drinkable gallons of beer total, carbed to your taste and on tap.

I am going to try splitting up a Munton's Gold pack and using one of the cans just on the Beer Machine and the other can along with a few pounds more DME and some grain for a 5 lb batch this next weekend. I really hope the "wet" ingredients make a difference in the taste, because there is still a noticeable off flavor common to all the beer I have made in the Beer Machine.

That is my experience with the Beer Machine so far, hope it helps.

I will update as soon as I have the next batch ready to drink.

Joopster

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I just purchased a beer machine off of eBay for 38.00 new. I had to order a new seal and have some premix ready to go. I have never brewed beer before and am excited about trying it.

Any tips or suggestions for me? Is it going to be gross? It seems as though some others have said it doesn't even make "drinkable" beer?

Should I not even bother?

Chris_Dog

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I think you should go for it. Heck you have already spent the cash. Hopefully it will turn out great!
Cheers!!!

jjmadden08

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Me and my brother bought a beermachine years ago. the first batch we made turned out great, but after that first batch we could not get the thing to seal up properly again and the 2nd batch turned out horrible. im not sure if you need to replace the rubber seal after each use, but if you check procudt reviews, you will see this is a common experience, it is just poorly designed. But it is better than nothing and if you have fun with the beermachine, you'll be itching to move to full 5G batches soon enough.