Recent content by Grandmaster

I hoist the basket up and let drain as much as possible. Last brew I withheld a couple gallons of water to do a sparge. Did help my numbers a lot. I actually lost the work sheets so I don't know how much but it was much better. I then hold the basket with one hand and the rope with the other...

Been really thinking about one of these. Or making one. Glad to hear it's worth the money!

I also brew alone. It's kinda awkward lowering it but yes it can be done. The pulley system is really the only thing I would change on the system. Seeing the ones he builds for his larger systems I would ask to upgrade to an electric hoist and track mounted version. Would just make it that much...

Interesting topic. I always bring beer to friends houses when I go over and leave what isn't drank. A lot of times when friends come over to my house they don't bring beer because they know I will have plenty. If they have money to donate towards future batches then great. If not no biggie.

I just measured mine and it is just under 7' tall. Not really adjustable as far as I can tell.

It has two pump plugs with switches and also three plugs for elements with switches.

Well for a 5 gallon batch this system appears to be able to take just about anything you could throw at it. Only time you would have to change the process would be for a 10g. I have gone back and forth from 3v to BIAB and now back from 3v to this setup. They all make great beer. I just...

The pot is plenty big enough for a 10g high gravity beer. Would just have to incorporate a sparge or top up water of some sort. Which a sparge isn't a bad idea anyway.

Oh, grain and water? The recipe was a pale ale, 23 pounds of grain and 15 gallons of water to start. That did just about push the water/grain level over the top of the basket so I will have to mess with that also. When I pulled the basket it wasn't even half full.

Well although the brew went great the numbers are not the best. I calculate a 64% efficiency. I had 9.5 gallons make it in the fermenter. I did hit my gravity of 1.055 but the amount lost to boil off and hoses/chiller must have been much more than I anticipated. No doubt once I learn the system...

So I was able to get a brew in yesterday. Went just about as flawlessly as I think it could. Even the pulley setup that I was concerned about worked great. I was able to pull the basket to the side while I slowly let the rope out of my other hand. The ZChiller was awesome too. I lowered the...

Ya the difference between the two now isn't much. The more expensive one gets a more fully loaded kettle, site glass extra port etc I believe. Both of which you really don't need. A better control panel with pump control, the cheaper one does not have pump control. And yes a very expensive but...

Well been a busy week. No new photos yet but I did manage to get the ferm fridges moved into place. I also fired the system up for the first time to see how it runs and give it a good cleaning. This thing is sweet! Works great... so far. As far as the pulley goes, I'm with ya on that. I will...

Ya the photos of the whole system show the same panel but if you look through the photo gallery of the nano you will see a different panel. Mine actually. Guess I'm the lucky first of the new version. Got my last shipment today. Have a wedding to go to this weekend so I won't be able to get it...

@huntb. You are right. I don't really know the difference. The one on the left is to control the boil. I received my last package today. So once I get my 30 amp breaker swapped for a gfi one I will be good to go.