sgreene820
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Last couple of brew sessions, I've run it with several inches of sparge gasket popped off the edge. The weight of the grain seems to seal it sufficiently.
I run my cooling water through an immersion cooler (sitting in an ice bath) and then through the Grainfather cooler. The immersion cooler knocks my wort temp down about 10 more degrees than just going through the GF cooler. By throttling the GF pump outlet, I can cool my wort down into the low 60's and still get it into the fermenter in 30 minutes or so.
Your sink water must be way colder than mine cuz that's exactly how I set mine up too. My immersion cooler isn't that big tho. I throttle my GF pump outlet to the point where it finished in 45 mins so that tells me it's slower than your flow. How fast are you running the sink water?
Hi Bob,
Here's some other thoughts for you, I generally brew for 5.5g in the fermenter. I tend to not brew as large of a grain bill, but have hit 14.5+ so pretty much in your same range compare to a 6.08g brew. My calc on a 14.4# bill was about a 2.25:1 ratio on mash /sparge ~ 22L v 9.6L. I came in with about a 74% brewhouse efficiency (this is subject of course to hop/trub losses as well as how well you drain your fermenter, I think some folks here quote mash eff, I care about brewhouse myself). So in my view, it works ok on these larger bills.
Two things you may consider: 1) when you're done sparging, put the basket in a large pot and add back what still drains off about mid-way into your boil. I measure this and find I'm adding in another .5 L, no small amount! 2) if you really want to stretch, increase your sparge water by 1/2 of your boil off amount (This will address your concerns that it is not rinsing thoroughly) and then increase your boil time by 50% (e.g. 60 min to 90 min). Yes you may darken the wort a bit more, idk if noticeable, but you may also pick up some OG points.
No matter what enjoy testing !
btw- I like the MGB name, great car, brother had one many, many years ago. I have a 2000 Boxster as a sunshine care, but keep looking at the old MGBs to add to the garage some day, love their simplicity!
Generally, I'm only able to cool down to about 80-85 during the summer using my Grainfather cooler. I might get it down to 75 degrees if I let it run full blast and recirculated the wort for an extra half an hour (wasting lots of water). I stick it in my spare refrigerator overnight to get to pitching temp.
You're welcome, hope it helps. DD wow what year is it? I thought it might be relegated to spot duty, but it's going strong?I am running a MGB as my daily driver. Simple to maintain and a blast to drive. Boxster is a great car as well!
Thanks for the recommendations. I have started following item #1, but not waiting as long as mid boil. I'll increase my "wait time" on that one. Item #2: Increasing sparge water and then boil off time deserves some serious consideration.
Are you suggesting that prior to 60c you recirc back to boiler? If so, why? I go straight to fermenter after about 30sec of recirc. Currently tap temp is 72 or so and I transfer wide open, in 15 min I was down to 80. From there chamber takes over.Once I get below 60c/140f where there shouldn't be any isomerisation occuring I restrict the flow so the output from the counterflow is cooler and go straight into the fermenter. Usually it's the same temp as the tap water which for me is 27-32c.
Are you suggesting that prior to 60c you recirc back to boiler? If so, why? I go straight to fermenter after about 30sec of recirc. Currently tap temp is 72 or so and I transfer wide open, in 15 min I was down to 80. From there chamber takes over.
I use only the CFC and last time with 72 tap temp was 80 into FV with full open 5.5g transfer in 15min.I'm not sure what you mean, above 70c is still sub-isomerization range so I just get below all of that to 60 asap before transferring.
What temp do you get in the FV without the immersion chiller?
iMake/Grainfater are releasing an in-line connector you can move the temp sensor into, basically to do what a thrumometer does using the GF temp controller.. that will be cool.
You're welcome, hope it helps. DD wow what year is it? I thought it might be relegated to spot duty, but it's going strong?
Ha, I thought the 80 in your screen name was the year you were born!😜 My '01 Sport Trac (202k mi) has held up well but just needed a new rear axle. Things wear, so keeping the MGB running is really great to hear.It's an '80 - last year of production. The B power train is surprisingly robust - easy to keep them running strong.
I brewed the robust porter again that I talked about in post 3262. The first one came out 10 points low. Ouch! That one was a 16 lb grain bill with a 60 minute mash and 60 minute boil. Changed the latest brew to a 90 minute mash with all else remaining the same. OG ended up 1 point high and I'm a happy camper for the evening! BH efficiency still in the low 70's for this larger grain bill, but I'm getting closer to milling my own grain and I'm hoping to see a substantial increase.
Ha, I thought the 80 in your screen name was the year you were born!😜 My '01 Sport Trac (202k mi) has held up well but just needed a new rear axle. Things wear, so keeping the MGB running is really great to hear.
A jump of 11pts w/ mash increase from 60-90 seems high. I've read the mash gains are minimal even beyond 45 min. I bet crush was different. Getting a grain mill will help w/consistency. Not to mention you recoup costs w/sack purchases after about 2-3 sacks of grain are used (~$1/# savings I est)
I think the GF tool is giving you the option to use the default value or enter one for yourself. For instance, I know my boil off rate is 2qts/hr on my 120v (US) system, so if I want my boil off plus trub allowance of 1 qt to give me 5.5 gallons into the fermenter, I'll enter 6.25 gals. Hope this helps. EdNew Grainfather Connect owner here. Im looking forward to brewing with this, but had a quick question regarding water calculations.
When building a recipe using Grainfathers tool, there is a boil size field. Im assuming that this is the pre boil size. The confusing thing is that the water calculations appear to take loss into consideration. The recipe editor appears to produce the same mash and sparge water calculations as the calculator on the website which takes into account the grain bill weight and boil time. So, what is the boil size field for exactly? Do I need to adjust it for any reason? What am I missing? Thanks!
So, GF owners, i've read many many threads pertaining to this unit and other similar electric all in one systems. I'm trying to down size for a smaller footprint and indoor winter brewing while living in a townhouse in the northeast. I'm close to pulling the trigger on a GF.
Current owners, any regrets? Improvements? Concerns?
I have found some decent deals running now, but what are the chances this thing drops below 850 shipped for black friday/cyber monday?
Any opinions welcomed.
So, GF owners, i've read many many threads pertaining to this unit and other similar electric all in one systems. I'm trying to down size for a smaller footprint and indoor winter brewing while living in a townhouse in the northeast. I'm close to pulling the trigger on a GF.
Current owners, any regrets? Improvements? Concerns?
I have found some decent deals running now, but what are the chances this thing drops below 850 shipped for black friday/cyber monday?
Any opinions welcomed.
So, GF owners, i've read many many threads pertaining to this unit and other similar electric all in one systems. I'm trying to down size for a smaller footprint and indoor winter brewing while living in a townhouse in the northeast. I'm close to pulling the trigger on a GF.
Current owners, any regrets? Improvements? Concerns?
I have found some decent deals running now, but what are the chances this thing drops below 850 shipped for black friday/cyber monday?
Any opinions welcomed.
Regrets, not really. Do wonder if I went to BIAB (was cooler MLT) if I'd be similarly satisfied -e.g. small footprint, which I wanted to maintain, but the GF is one nice complete setup.So, GF owners, i've read many many threads pertaining to this unit and other similar electric all in one systems. I'm trying to down size for a smaller footprint and indoor winter brewing while living in a townhouse in the northeast. I'm close to pulling the trigger on a GF.
Current owners, any regrets? Improvements? Concerns?
I have found some decent deals running now, but what are the chances this thing drops below 850 shipped for black friday/cyber monday?
Any opinions welcomed.
The last couple years they have had a Black Friday sale. It was 10% off everything. Go to their website and signup for emails. In the past theyve sent an email on Black Friday about the sale. Good luck I really enjoy mine. Just wish it would heat up a little quicker. Hoping Mrs. Claus gets a hot rod heat stick to ramp temps up quicker.
So, GF owners, i've read many many threads pertaining to this unit and other similar electric all in one systems. I'm trying to down size for a smaller footprint and indoor winter brewing while living in a townhouse in the northeast. I'm close to pulling the trigger on a GF.
Current owners, any regrets? Improvements? Concerns?
I have found some decent deals running now, but what are the chances this thing drops below 850 shipped for black friday/cyber monday?
Any opinions welcomed.
Just got my Grainfather in the mail, controller screen seems to be damaged and not fully readable.
Question, when should the switch on the bottom (black portion) of the unit be on? Only when I'm heating or whenever I'm using the unit?
Thanks.
Anyone do a killer Pilsner on their Grainfather here? I know there's a few on the connect cloud but just looking to narrow things down...
This thing may have just put the spark back in my home brewing.
So i picked up a grainfather a few weeks back. I wanted to simplify my process and have a smaller footprint due to lack of extra space. Man, this thing was a breeze to use. Zero problems from mash to chill. No problem with the boil. If i work on my clean up process i bet i can fit a brew day in under 4 1/2 hours. This thing may have just put the spark back in my home brewing.
Pilsner are easy, they are basically SMASH. You don't need a recipe.
100% Pilsner Malt
Noble hops at 60min. and 15 min.
1.050 OG
30-35 IBU's
Lager yeast (W-34/70 is cheap and easy)
This thing may have just put the spark back in my home brewing.
It sure worked for me!
So i picked up a grainfather a few weeks back. I wanted to simplify my process and have a smaller footprint due to lack of extra space. Man, this thing was a breeze to use. Zero problems from mash to chill. No problem with the boil. If i work on my clean up process i bet i can fit a brew day in under 4 1/2 hours. This thing may have just put the spark back in my home brewing.
· As soon as you wake up/get home turn on Sparge hot plate and Grainfather, start recipe and let water come to temp. (50 mins)
Good call. I don’t get home at a normal time though. But I will definitely start using for weekend brews.
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