thehaze
Well-Known Member
Hi,
I have been using a Grainfather ( 220V version - european ) for alomost 4 years now and it's been a treat: a little over 100 batches, never issues with pump, recirculation, heating element, temperatures, controller, etc. So from that point of view, this particular Grainfather unit I own, it's a great and reliable piece of quipment. I try push the limits of it, every batch - I've been able to package 24.5 ( 6.5 gallons ) liters of beer. I use Speidel HDPE fermenters - the 30 liters/8 gallons version.
Now, I wish to be able to brew a 10-12% Imperial... anything really, and 20-25 liters of it. Kind of hard with a Grainfather, due to its size. I've been doing som double mash batches, and they turned out great, but mashing twice or more, is a pain. So I'm thinking of getting a 55 liters/15 gallons stainless steel pot with a BIAB bag and do a big mash in there, for an Imperial Stout. The boiling will be undertaken in the Grainfather still, but seeing that I can fit 34 liters in it ( 9 gallons ), I hope to transfer around 7 gallons to the fermenter.
I can find a 15 gallons pot for the equivalent of 40 US dollars ( single wall - no reinforced bottom, but I will not be boiling the wort in it ) and a bag to fit it for 9-10 US dollars. Would this work? After the mash is done, I transfer the wort to my kettle and boil.
Any input is welcome. Thank you.
I have been using a Grainfather ( 220V version - european ) for alomost 4 years now and it's been a treat: a little over 100 batches, never issues with pump, recirculation, heating element, temperatures, controller, etc. So from that point of view, this particular Grainfather unit I own, it's a great and reliable piece of quipment. I try push the limits of it, every batch - I've been able to package 24.5 ( 6.5 gallons ) liters of beer. I use Speidel HDPE fermenters - the 30 liters/8 gallons version.
Now, I wish to be able to brew a 10-12% Imperial... anything really, and 20-25 liters of it. Kind of hard with a Grainfather, due to its size. I've been doing som double mash batches, and they turned out great, but mashing twice or more, is a pain. So I'm thinking of getting a 55 liters/15 gallons stainless steel pot with a BIAB bag and do a big mash in there, for an Imperial Stout. The boiling will be undertaken in the Grainfather still, but seeing that I can fit 34 liters in it ( 9 gallons ), I hope to transfer around 7 gallons to the fermenter.
I can find a 15 gallons pot for the equivalent of 40 US dollars ( single wall - no reinforced bottom, but I will not be boiling the wort in it ) and a bag to fit it for 9-10 US dollars. Would this work? After the mash is done, I transfer the wort to my kettle and boil.
Any input is welcome. Thank you.