Grainfather!!

[Eichler]

GetBrewingUK has them up for pre-order. Not sure when BrewcraftUSA (the US supplier for Grainfather) will have them in stock.

http://getbrewing.uk/equipment/301-updated-digital-grainfather-controller.html

 

[WesM63]

If that UK price is any indication of the US price, it seems worth it to me. I was kind of expecting it to me twice that.

 

[SHbrewing]

where did you get it and how much?

150$

 

[TBC]

GetBrewingUK has them up for pre-order. Not sure when BrewcraftUSA (the US supplier for Grainfather) will have them in stock.

http://getbrewing.uk/equipment/301-updated-digital-grainfather-controller.html

On the grainfather twitter page they said that the new controller would be available in the US in December.

 

[shortyz]

i slipped my digital thermometer between the grain coat and the stainless during mashing, it was WAY below my mash temp.. like the outside of the grain bed was 137-140f. Thoughts?

 

[mattrox]

i slipped my digital thermometer between the grain coat and the stainless during mashing, it was WAY below my mash temp.. like the outside of the grain bed was 137-140f. Thoughts?

You need the temperature of the wort during mash. Everything is dissolved in the water and that is where the biochemistry is happening.

 

[pocketmon]

i slipped my digital thermometer between the grain coat and the stainless during mashing, it was WAY below my mash temp.. like the outside of the grain bed was 137-140f. Thoughts?

That is interesting. I've thought of that but didn't expect such big difference.

I bricked my controller after the second brew. Although the Grainfather company sent me a replacement, I have been using the controller developed by my own. My controller now supports multiple sensors, but I haven't used it in real brew. It seems that I should put a sensor inside the grain basket and see how it goes.

 

[shortyz]

That is interesting. I've thought of that but didn't expect such big difference.

I bricked my controller after the second brew. Although the Grainfather company sent me a replacement, I have been using the controller developed by my own. My controller now supports multiple sensors, but I haven't used it in real brew. It seems that I should put a sensor inside the grain basket and see how it goes.

ya, thats a great idea. be interesting to see what exactly the grain bed temp is in different areas. i mean this all depends on how quickly the wort is flowing through the bed...

 

[mhot55]

Finally got to brew my first batchwith the grainfather. Very happy. Even not being used to the process, it simplified the day, and lessened the time and cleaning
I have a few questions. Don't want to call them "cons" yet.- I used GF website to calculate water (5.85 g strike/ 3.1 g sparge) with 6.08 g batch and 60 min boil. I made an Imp stout with 17.75 lbs of grain and used beersmiths GF equipment for 6.08 g batch size and 75% eff ; using tweaks based on other peoples info (like trebake (sic) ) .
1- dough in was a pain in the ass. Lotta grain. Narrow open to the kettle. Yes I had alto of grain but it seems to take a lot of time to soak into the grain
2- my temps fluctuated the first 15 or so min of the mash by 5-6 degrees. I was mashing at 154 yet it fluctuated 152-157. Yes. I changed the hysterisis to 1. (Was my dough in maybe not integrated well enough?) even after the first 15 minthere was a 3-4 degree fluctuation.
3- anticipatead OG was supposed to be1.080. I finished with 5.5 gallons in the fermenter and an OG of 1.072 (67% eff) .

I was shocked that I ended with 5.5 g. Plus I boiled 30 min longer (90 total) than anticipated. I am not sure if it was a boil off mifermenter ended up with too much in fermenter. What is everyone else getting batch size? Any other tweaks in beersmiths? And yes- boil was actually pretty vigorous

Also- i know what normal and boil setting does. I know what mash and mash setting does. But when would one need to use Normal (bottom) and mash (controller) settings AND when for the Mash (bottom) and boil (controller ) settings???

 

[jrcrilly]

Normal (bottom) combined with Mash (controller) would be to bring cold water up to mash temp (or mash temp to mashout temp). Then switch bottom to mash to maintain. You would need Mash (bottom) and boil (controller) only to reduce the vigor of the boil. I don't think that will ever be necessary with the 120VAC units we use here.

 

[shortyz]

Finally got to brew my first batchwith the grainfather. Very happy. Even not being used to the process, it simplified the day, and lessened the time and cleaning
I have a few questions. Don't want to call them "cons" yet.- I used GF website to calculate water (5.85 g strike/ 3.1 g sparge) with 6.08 g batch and 60 min boil. I made an Imp stout with 17.75 lbs of grain and used beersmiths GF equipment for 6.08 g batch size and 75% eff ; using tweaks based on other peoples info (like trebake (sic) ) .
1- dough in was a pain in the ass. Lotta grain. Narrow open to the kettle. Yes I had alto of grain but it seems to take a lot of time to soak into the grain
2- my temps fluctuated the first 15 or so min of the mash by 5-6 degrees. I was mashing at 154 yet it fluctuated 152-157. Yes. I changed the hysterisis to 1. (Was my dough in maybe not integrated well enough?) even after the first 15 minthere was a 3-4 degree fluctuation.
3- anticipatead OG was supposed to be1.080. I finished with 5.5 gallons in the fermenter and an OG of 1.072 (67% eff) .

I was shocked that I ended with 5.5 g. Plus I boiled 30 min longer (90 total) than anticipated. I am not sure if it was a boil off mifermenter ended up with too much in fermenter. What is everyone else getting batch size? Any other tweaks in beersmiths? And yes- boil was actually pretty vigorous

Also- i know what normal and boil setting does. I know what mash and mash setting does. But when would one need to use Normal (bottom) and mash (controller) settings AND when for the Mash (bottom) and boil (controller ) settings???

are you using the custom grainfather settings in your beersmith?

theres a page on here with the links to the proper adjustments to beersmith but i have no idea where it is.

 

[blaster_54738]

Email from Grainfather this morning

Grainfather Connect Control Box Almost Here!
These are due to land in the US and Canada distributors and US warehouse in December and then will be released to stockists and sold online (US only) following that in January, provided there are no delays in shipments out of our control.

Unfortunately this has taken longer than anticipated as there have been some logistical complications.
Many of you have been asking about the price too and they are as follows:

US $149 USD
Canada $199.99 CAD

Features
If you have missed out on seeing what the main features of this new unit are please see below:
Automation without removing the fun of brewing, be as involved as you want to be
More automation means you can multitask or simply relax while brewing and then be alerted when to return for your next step
Bluetooth connection to your mobile device so it can be controlled remotely
PID algorithm works in conjunction with a triac for more stable heating and so you can control power output
Programmable step mashing
Delayed heating - fill your Grainfather with water the night before and wake up to your water at strike temperature ready for brewing straight away
Change between celsius and fahrenheit easily
App Features
Grainkid recipes provided in app
Import Beer XML files
Set your own boil temperature (for different altitudes)
Change between celsius and fahrenheit easily
Grainfather calculators

Coming Soon
Online recipe creator - create, share, rate and review brews through this central hub. Then when ready, sync with your app.
In the meantime, check out our brand new website!

 

[treacheroustexan]

Email from Grainfather this morning

Grainfather Connect Control Box Almost Here!
These are due to land in the US and Canada distributors and US warehouse in December and then will be released to stockists and sold online (US only) following that in January, provided there are no delays in shipments out of our control.

Unfortunately this has taken longer than anticipated as there have been some logistical complications.
Many of you have been asking about the price too and they are as follows:

US $149 USD
Canada $199.99 CAD

Features
If you have missed out on seeing what the main features of this new unit are please see below:
Automation without removing the fun of brewing, be as involved as you want to be
More automation means you can multitask or simply relax while brewing and then be alerted when to return for your next step
Bluetooth connection to your mobile device so it can be controlled remotely
PID algorithm works in conjunction with a triac for more stable heating and so you can control power output
Programmable step mashing
Delayed heating - fill your Grainfather with water the night before and wake up to your water at strike temperature ready for brewing straight away
Change between celsius and fahrenheit easily
App Features
Grainkid recipes provided in app
Import Beer XML files
Set your own boil temperature (for different altitudes)
Change between celsius and fahrenheit easily
Grainfather calculators

Coming Soon
Online recipe creator - create, share, rate and review brews through this central hub. Then when ready, sync with your app.
In the meantime, check out our brand new website!

i'm kind of excited..

 

[Sparger]

Got my GF a month ago. Brewed twice now in the laundry room when it was raining outside! Third brew this weekend - also supposed to be raining. I got the grain coat and hop spider. The spider really keeps trub at the bottom to a minimum. I recirculate chilling wort through the spider - think I'm reducing coldbreak trub that way. Could not be happier. Cleaning is a snap also.

 

[Kampenken]

Finally got to brew my first batchwith the grainfather. Very happy. Even not being used to the process, it simplified the day, and lessened the time and cleaning
I have a few questions. Don't want to call them "cons" yet.- I used GF website to calculate water (5.85 g strike/ 3.1 g sparge) with 6.08 g batch and 60 min boil. I made an Imp stout with 17.75 lbs of grain and used beersmiths GF equipment for 6.08 g batch size and 75% eff ; using tweaks based on other peoples info (like trebake (sic) ) .
1- dough in was a pain in the ass. Lotta grain. Narrow open to the kettle. Yes I had alto of grain but it seems to take a lot of time to soak into the grain
2- my temps fluctuated the first 15 or so min of the mash by 5-6 degrees. I was mashing at 154 yet it fluctuated 152-157. Yes. I changed the hysterisis to 1. (Was my dough in maybe not integrated well enough?) even after the first 15 minthere was a 3-4 degree fluctuation.
3- anticipatead OG was supposed to be1.080. I finished with 5.5 gallons in the fermenter and an OG of 1.072 (67% eff) .

I was shocked that I ended with 5.5 g. Plus I boiled 30 min longer (90 total) than anticipated. I am not sure if it was a boil off mifermenter ended up with too much in fermenter. What is everyone else getting batch size? Any other tweaks in beersmiths? And yes- boil was actually pretty vigorous

Also- i know what normal and boil setting does. I know what mash and mash setting does. But when would one need to use Normal (bottom) and mash (controller) settings AND when for the Mash (bottom) and boil (controller ) settings???

Welcome to the GF family, I'm sure as you work out your process you will find it even better!

1) My Mash water calc would call for 6.94g, so considerably more and that alone will answer your dough in issue. I do not think I've altered the GF calc for Mash - I do on the sparge- based on a few factors (time, expected loss due to amount of hops, my boil off rate, lauter ability).
I came up with sprage, for a 90 min boil, of 2.44g, so my total water is still higher than yours (due to my adjustments) at 9.4g v 8.9g. Ha, there is that "missing" .5 gal!

2) Temp fluctuation, that's a bit odd, especially since you lowered your hysteresis to 1F. Did you have the lower button on mash (this will run the heater at 600w not 1500w and better control).

3) Lots of reasons there, but most common is grain crush. Was this from your mill, or store? We tend to crush finer than store, so this could be likely culprit.

4) Normal & Mash setting- ramping up to mash temp. Will use 1500w and stop when reaches your mash temp (btw, I use a +10-12F degree strike temp, just like the old cooler MLT days).
4a) Mash (bottom) & Boil (on controller)- not used. Boil on controller will override the mash setting on bottom and use the 1500w element.

Note, I am now hitting all my volumes and within a point or so of my OG. I just have it dialed in now, now your turn to dial yours in! Cheers!

 

[mhot55]

Welcome to the GF family, I'm sure as you work out your process you will find it even better!

1) My Mash water calc would call for 6.94g, so considerably more and that alone will answer your dough in issue. I do not think I've altered the GF calc for Mash - I do on the sparge- based on a few factors (time, expected loss due to amount of hops, my boil off rate, lauter ability).
I came up with sprage, for a 90 min boil, of 2.44g, so my total water is still higher than yours (due to my adjustments) at 9.4g v 8.9g. Ha, there is that "missing" .5 gal!

2) Temp fluctuation, that's a bit odd, especially since you lowered your hysteresis to 1F. Did you have the lower button on mash (this will run the heater at 600w not 1500w and better control).

3) Lots of reasons there, but most common is grain crush. Was this from your mill, or store? We tend to crush finer than store, so this could be likely culprit.

4) Normal & Mash setting- ramping up to mash temp. Will use 1500w and stop when reaches your mash temp (btw, I use a +10-12F degree strike temp, just like the old cooler MLT days).
4a) Mash (bottom) & Boil (on controller)- not used. Boil on controller will override the mash setting on bottom and use the 1500w element.

Note, I am now hitting all my volumes and within a point or so of my OG. I just have it dialed in now, now your turn to dial yours in! Cheers!

1-I used the water calc on GF site and used the GF app too. Both were similar. Even the beersmiths GF settings (customized) were close. What water calc do u use?
2- And I am pretty sure I had mash and mash settings during mash...99.9% sure
3- crush my own. Havebeen for many years

 

[damdiver]

I love my Grainfather and brew with it using the app. I am extremely happy with brewing on it as is and had no no desire to get the new controller.......until I saw delayed heating. That would be be awesome. Ready to mash right after work on on Friday....im in!!!

 

[shortyz]

im not seeing any reason to buy this new controller... my mash temps stay right on target.

 

[elreplica]

im not seeing any reason to buy this new controller... my mash temps stay right on target.

Delayed heating?

 

[tjosborne]

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1477769551.064176.jpg
Here's what I use for delayed heating. Just make sure the pump is off, I woke up to 4 gallons on the floor.

 

[damdiver]

View attachment 375305
Here's what I use for delayed heating. Just make sure the pump is off, I woke up to 4 gallons on the floor.

I thought about that, but ive never seen one rated for 20 amps. Id like to come home to proper strike temps , not the fire department!!!

 

[seabrew8]

Automation without removing the fun of brewing.

If your like me you will like fresh beer. I use Nottingham dry yeast

http://brulosophy.com/methods/fermentation-schedules/

 

[Teesquar]

Finally got to brew my first batchwith the grainfather. Very happy. Even not being used to the process, it simplified the day, and lessened the time and cleaning

Welcome to the "club"!

The GF was my first foray into AG and as it was a new piece of equipment that I had never used or was familiar with, I read the instructions multiple times and to this day still have them open when I brew. I also viewed the GF site's videos, especially the brewing one, at least 4 or 5 times so as to get the process down, mentally, before I was going to attempt my first brew. Too many times I thought I was an expert only to screw things up.

My first batch was an easy 11# grain bill recipe I converted on BeerSmith using a 70% efficiency and a Barley Crusher mill setting at .035. I used the water calc from the instructions. Results? Volumes hit spot on, sparge was painfully slow and my gravities blew through their estimates with a final BHE @ 86%. Oh, darn. The ABV is high.

Changes made since have been going with a .038 mill setting, handful of rice hulls, Bruin'Water for the salts/pH and using the BeerSmith mod. I hit 80 - 85% almost every time in addition to getting my volumes and gravities. The only time I missed was on a micropipe small batch that neted a 70% efficiency.

I don't care how many times GF updates their online calculator or changes their app, my settings based on their formula found in the printed instructions (which the BS mod volumes match to a tee) work for me and I won't change.

 

[shortyz]

Ive been thinking about switching the bottom screen to a wedgewire to speed up sparging.

 

[elreplica]

View attachment 375305
Here's what I use for delayed heating. Just make sure the pump is off, I woke up to 4 gallons on the floor.

Lol. Thought about that route but just another convenience for me...I'd pay for the controller lol.

 

[pocketmon]

I wonder which specification of Bluetooth they are using.

I've implemented a version of Open ArdBir like Arduino sketch that supports Bluetooth BLE. The distance of connection was too short that I felt unusable. Just an "L" wall between the controller and my iPhone, the connection broke. It might because of the poor design of my setup(a HM-10 module), and the nature of BLE.
I then turned to WiFi and get satisfying result so far.

 

[KudzuHighlander]

Just brewed my first two batches with my GF, love it, it's a nice improvement over my single kettle propane set up. Temperature control so much easier now. As for the fit and finish; Dad always said that you get what you pay for. It's not a $2500 system. I feel that I certainly got what I paid for. Get a hops spider, it helps keep things clean and can double as a strainer when moving to the fermenter. Also, those nifty food safe silicone gloves, some parts get hot and my welding gloves are not clean. I found that it is easy to slide the bottom of the strainer in place with a little water or sanitizer sprayed on the sides. Took 40 minutes to boil, not far off from my propane burner. I also got the parts to distill, um, water. But that's another forum.

 

[Teesquar]

Ive been thinking about switching the bottom screen to a wedgewire to speed up sparging.

Is your sparge time overlapping when the boil starts? With my .038 mill setting my sparge is a bit slow, but I never worry as it never goes so long as to still be draining when the hot break occurs.

 

[EisBerg]

Just got my Grainfather in. Assembled and cleaning now. Time to figure out recipe calculation (a little overwhelmed as this will be first all-grain and researched BEFORE deciding to go with this system). Pretty excited!View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1477926797.914312.jpg

 

[EisBerg]

...Changes made since have been going with a .038 mill setting, handful of rice hulls, Bruin'Water for the salts/pH and using the BeerSmith mod. I hit 80 - 85% almost every time in addition to getting my volumes and gravities. The only time I missed was on a micropipe small batch that neted a 70% .

Beersmith mod? Do you have a profile that you wouldn't mind sharing with me?