SankePankey
Well-Known Member
I am writing this review for all those who are considering a turnkey brewhouse/brew sculpture like a Morebeer B3 Sculpture, a Sabco Brew-Magic, etc. who are interested in amazingly high level of automation and function. I will start by saying that my review is a bit preliminary since I don't own one yet and have not gone through the every nook and crannie, but I did visit the Brewmation shop a couple days ago and spent about 4 hrs going over this amazing system with it's builder. You could consider that I don't own one yet to be a plus, though, since most people think their system is the best as a way of justifying their purchase..... well, I haven't spent the money. I am not affiliated and will be purchasing this system at retail $. Also, sorry for being so long winded but I wanted to be thorough to give newbies in particular like me a head start on all of the research I've done over the past several months as a way of saving them time and as a 'thank you' to this great forum. You can go to www.brewmation.com to see videos of the semi-automatic system at work, but there really is nothing on his site about the full-auto functionality other than a paragraph, which is why I'm writing this review. It is simply "set-it-and-forget-it" brewing and should be distributed by Ronco. I do realize that I will sound like a salesman for this guy, but I just appreciate good engineering, especially when it comes from the 'underdog'. I am not a veteran brewer (yet) but have worked in quality commercial alcohol production and sales for several years, making wines, hard ciders, and running a flagship distillery in New York and I have several friends in the commercial brewing business and enjoy their advice. So, while you can consider me a newbie and dismiss my thoughts if you wish, I am not a total newbie and have a reasonable grasp of the fundamentals, enough to review this brewhouse.
I have not personally owned a B3 or a BM, but I have researched a bunch and feel I have a good idea of the plusses and minuses of both systems. This review is based on my months of research in contemplating spending money on those turnkey systems and also trying to take plans to a welder to build a stainless steel brutus clone, which was a dead end considering price and time to completion. I looked at brew-magic and decided that it was of course an incredibly nice system but just too much coin for me, so I never really considered it, but still researched as much as I could to make an informed decision. Also, I thought it interesting that sooo many people (newbs like me) think that it's the only game in town (as evidence of all the posts you see on this forum) for 'reference quality' mini-brewhouse not in the least because of the well-played and well-circulated marketing effort of the Sam Calagione and DogFish Head story- it has been very effective for them. Then you look at the B3 sculptures and the fantastic list of breweries who use that brewhouse for a pilot. Equally impressive (Stone, Rogue, etc.). Personally, my hat tips ever slightly to the B3's design which I was going to purchase until I found the Brewmation. I love the sturdy B3 kettles and the fact that you can use the same structure with double size kettles down the road if you wish. I also think that the soft (B3) vs. hard welded piping (on the BM) is a good debate, and one that for me would tip in the favor of soft tubing so you can see thru the lines and remove them to clean easily but - 'too each their own'. For the money, you can go with a B3 and upgrade to the digital automation later, eventually spending somewhere around the same money as a BM which requires you to lay that down up front. Both would offer equal repeatability and consistency, again..IMHO.. One is HERMS (B3), one is RIMS (BM). Both use gas and should be operated outdoors. There are those who would say that electric breweries are 'dangerous' and who brew in a basement with propane and an open window (and no pilot lights) and they are kidding themselves. You'll die from carbon monoxide poisoning or blowing up your house the same as electrocution (and might take someone else with you). Also, propane doesn't float up and away into the air, so I personally would never feel that a commercial kitchen hood setup for using a propane rig indoors is my cup of tea, for safety reasons, and probably not up to code. Some guys brew in a garage with the door open, and I can see doing that, but I'd have a blower in there as a backup, not to mention carbon monoxide detectors. That's just my personal opinion, not that these don't work for others. If you haven't researched electric brewing, the debate about low density water heater elements scorching your wort has been settled- they don't. And, electric breweries are far quieter, much cheaper to operate per brew, don't require refilling propane tanks, do require you to have a 220V plug to use, and offer you the ability to brew indoors in frigid northern winters and not have to fight the elements for heat loss (which was a huge consideration for me... it's frickin freezing Mr. Bigelsworth).
If, however, you want the same level of automation B3 and BM and want to spend less money than either of those 2 great systems and run an all electric rig with slightly bigger kettles, you might do yourself a favor and check out the Brewmation semi-auto system. Great value. If you want to spend the same money for a full digital SMART B3 sculpture, and enjoy even more automation than either the B3 or BM provides, the full-auto is sweeet. As of right now, the hierarchy of cost goes Brewmation semi-auto @ $3650 (delivery included), the Brewmation full-auto rig @ $4200 (delivery included), the B3 1100 full dig. rig @ $4200 (delivery not included) and the BM @ $5590 (delivery not included). All are very nice systems and will make great bear. One belongs on the USS Enterprise. Of course, you have to not have some hang ups about a few things with the Brewmation. Namely, if you have a problem with all electric brewing, a ridiculous level of automation because you think it takes the fun/zen out of it, and brewing in drawn stainless vessels that can otherwise be described as 'sinks' (they are) because that's not what the cool kids brew with, then this system isn't for you. I have heard the same arguments about using synthesizers in Jazz being a blaspheme and, well, all I can say is that Herbie Hancock rocks every bit as much as Sydney Bechet.
I have not personally owned a B3 or a BM, but I have researched a bunch and feel I have a good idea of the plusses and minuses of both systems. This review is based on my months of research in contemplating spending money on those turnkey systems and also trying to take plans to a welder to build a stainless steel brutus clone, which was a dead end considering price and time to completion. I looked at brew-magic and decided that it was of course an incredibly nice system but just too much coin for me, so I never really considered it, but still researched as much as I could to make an informed decision. Also, I thought it interesting that sooo many people (newbs like me) think that it's the only game in town (as evidence of all the posts you see on this forum) for 'reference quality' mini-brewhouse not in the least because of the well-played and well-circulated marketing effort of the Sam Calagione and DogFish Head story- it has been very effective for them. Then you look at the B3 sculptures and the fantastic list of breweries who use that brewhouse for a pilot. Equally impressive (Stone, Rogue, etc.). Personally, my hat tips ever slightly to the B3's design which I was going to purchase until I found the Brewmation. I love the sturdy B3 kettles and the fact that you can use the same structure with double size kettles down the road if you wish. I also think that the soft (B3) vs. hard welded piping (on the BM) is a good debate, and one that for me would tip in the favor of soft tubing so you can see thru the lines and remove them to clean easily but - 'too each their own'. For the money, you can go with a B3 and upgrade to the digital automation later, eventually spending somewhere around the same money as a BM which requires you to lay that down up front. Both would offer equal repeatability and consistency, again..IMHO.. One is HERMS (B3), one is RIMS (BM). Both use gas and should be operated outdoors. There are those who would say that electric breweries are 'dangerous' and who brew in a basement with propane and an open window (and no pilot lights) and they are kidding themselves. You'll die from carbon monoxide poisoning or blowing up your house the same as electrocution (and might take someone else with you). Also, propane doesn't float up and away into the air, so I personally would never feel that a commercial kitchen hood setup for using a propane rig indoors is my cup of tea, for safety reasons, and probably not up to code. Some guys brew in a garage with the door open, and I can see doing that, but I'd have a blower in there as a backup, not to mention carbon monoxide detectors. That's just my personal opinion, not that these don't work for others. If you haven't researched electric brewing, the debate about low density water heater elements scorching your wort has been settled- they don't. And, electric breweries are far quieter, much cheaper to operate per brew, don't require refilling propane tanks, do require you to have a 220V plug to use, and offer you the ability to brew indoors in frigid northern winters and not have to fight the elements for heat loss (which was a huge consideration for me... it's frickin freezing Mr. Bigelsworth).
If, however, you want the same level of automation B3 and BM and want to spend less money than either of those 2 great systems and run an all electric rig with slightly bigger kettles, you might do yourself a favor and check out the Brewmation semi-auto system. Great value. If you want to spend the same money for a full digital SMART B3 sculpture, and enjoy even more automation than either the B3 or BM provides, the full-auto is sweeet. As of right now, the hierarchy of cost goes Brewmation semi-auto @ $3650 (delivery included), the Brewmation full-auto rig @ $4200 (delivery included), the B3 1100 full dig. rig @ $4200 (delivery not included) and the BM @ $5590 (delivery not included). All are very nice systems and will make great bear. One belongs on the USS Enterprise. Of course, you have to not have some hang ups about a few things with the Brewmation. Namely, if you have a problem with all electric brewing, a ridiculous level of automation because you think it takes the fun/zen out of it, and brewing in drawn stainless vessels that can otherwise be described as 'sinks' (they are) because that's not what the cool kids brew with, then this system isn't for you. I have heard the same arguments about using synthesizers in Jazz being a blaspheme and, well, all I can say is that Herbie Hancock rocks every bit as much as Sydney Bechet.