A first look at the Brewzilla 65L 240v USA version

[highland_brewer]

Got my hands on one of the new 65L brewzilla brewing systems. Did a video on the new features and a boil test.

 

[Scarabrew]

Great video.

Hope to see a brewing day video on this bad boy soon!

 

[highland_brewer]

Brewing/filming this weekend!!

 

[Tagobolts]

very nice video.

 

[Carolina_Matt]

Looks like you had a good boil going. I'm thinking about the Digiboil since it's more affordable and this gives me confidence that 3500 watts will do the job.

 

[highland_brewer]

Looks like you had a good boil going. I'm thinking about the Digiboil since it's more affordable and this gives me confidence that 3500 watts will do the job.

Yeah it surprised me for sure. The digiboil is a pretty much stripped down version of it. No pump or malt pipe but easy enough to use as a BIAB kettle.

 

[highland_brewer]

very nice video.

Thanks!

 

[brewman !]

Yeah it surprised me for sure. The digiboil is a pretty much stripped down version of it. No pump or malt pipe but easy enough to use as a BIAB kettle.

Is the Digiboil 65L like the Brewzilla ?

 

[highland_brewer]

Is the Digiboil 65L like the Brewzilla ?

I don't think it has the step mash program capabilities, but I believe it will hold temps. One of the members of the homebrew club just bought one. So I will know more once I talk to him about his experience.

 

[highland_brewer]

1st Brewday on the new system!

 

[NewJersey]

3500w seems to get it dont just fine, but for the sake of speed and already being 240v I can't understand why they didnt go the normal 5500w route

 

[brewman !]

3500w seems to get it dont just fine, but for the sake of speed and already being 240v I can't understand why they didnt go the normal 5500w route

Scorching. And the heat that it would generate in the electronics in the base of the unit.

BTW, one could run this thing off 2 x 120VAC 15A circuits by building a converter cable and then finding 2 plugs that are on opposite legs in the panel.

 

[HarkinBanks]

Great video man, well done, and the perfect length to highlight everything.

I'm sure you wanted to keep it vanilla, but next time fermcap might be a nice tip to avoid a boil over.

 

[highland_brewer]

Great video man, well done, and the perfect length to highlight everything.

I'm sure you wanted to keep it vanilla, but next time fermcap might be a nice tip to avoid a boil over.

Yeah that's true I even have some lol. Never even thought about it really. Thanks for the comments, I try to keep my videos pretty "tight" With not much rambling. Cheers!

 

[Dhm8484]

Man I really thinking one of these, was thinking of a single kettle like a clawhammer or high gravity, but this looks nice

 

[highland_brewer]

3500w seems to get it dont just fine, but for the sake of speed and already being 240v I can't understand why they didnt go the normal 5500w route

I can imagine that the kept it the same as the units sold in Australia.

 

[highland_brewer]

Man I really thinking one of these, was thinking of a single kettle like a clawhammer or high gravity, but this looks nice[/QUOTE
Claw Hammer system is nice for sure. and well priced for the 120V system. It does take a while to heat up IMO.

 

[Dhm8484]

Yea I was going to make the jump to 240 volt and Clawwhammer wants I think 1400 for theres

 

[highland_brewer]

Yea I was going to make the jump to 240 volt and Clawwhammer wants I think 1400 for theres

I have a system i built similar to the claw hammer supply. Baseball on the Bayou classic. If you use the e brew supply diy bias controller you can put one together for under a grand. (240v 5500w)

 

[Dhm8484]

I have a system i built similar to the claw hammer supply. Baseball on the Bayou classic. If you use the e brew supply diy bias controller you can put one together for under a grand. (240v 5500w)

Alright I will look into the e brew DIY kit and see what it looks like

 

[brewman !]

Man I really thinking one of these, was thinking of a single kettle like a clawhammer or high gravity, but this looks nice

I'd go all in one before I'd even think about a BIAB system.

 

[Carolina_Matt]

Can't wait to see the video - it's blocked at work, so I'll watch it when I get home. I keep going back and forth between the Digiboil, a 3500 Watt Induction Burner, and a 5500 Watt element with a controller. I'm interested to see how the Brewzilla works out in the video, and I'll assume the Digiboil is similar for BIAB.

I'm definitely interested to hear what your Brewclub member thinks about the Digiboil once you chat with him.

 

[Anyhowe]

Damn with those dents this thing must be tin can thin.

 

[brewman !]

It would be very easy to convert the the Brewzilla immersion coil into a counterflow chiller by slipping a piece of garden hose over it...

 

[brewman !]

"Note: The Digiboil is primarily designed for boiling, distilling, and heating sparge water. It is not designed for Brew In Bag or mashing directly in the unit. If you suspend a large grain bag in the unit or add mash directly to the unit, it will throw a thermal protection error, because the grain or the grain bag will cover the thermostat, which will then shut off the heating element"

https://www.williamsbrewing.com/KegLand-Digiboil-P4663.aspx

 

[brewman !]

"Note: The Digiboil is primarily designed for boiling, distilling, and heating sparge water. It is not designed for Brew In Bag or mashing directly in the unit. If you suspend a large grain bag in the unit or add mash directly to the unit, it will throw a thermal protection error, because the grain or the grain bag will cover the thermostat, which will then shut off the heating element"

https://www.williamsbrewing.com/KegLand-Digiboil-P4663.aspx

Circulating while heating and keeping tge grain bag/basket off the bottom would probably prevent the tripping of the thermostat.

There is a 65L Digiboil.
https://www.kegland.com.au/65l-digiboil-digital-turbo-boiler-3500watt.html

Being a DIY kinda guy, I'd buy it and add my own pump, grain basket and controller.

 

[Carolina_Matt]

"Note: The Digiboil is primarily designed for boiling, distilling, and heating sparge water. It is not designed for Brew In Bag or mashing directly in the unit. If you suspend a large grain bag in the unit or add mash directly to the unit, it will throw a thermal protection error, because the grain or the grain bag will cover the thermostat, which will then shut off the heating element"

https://www.williamsbrewing.com/KegLand-Digiboil-P4663.aspx

"The DigiBoil is a versatile electric kettle that can be used as a standalone unit or integrated into your current brew system to serve a variety of functions. Easily brew 10-gallon extract or all-grain brew-in-a-bag batches."

https://www.morebeer.com/products/digiboil-electric-kettle-65l171g-220v.html

Either way, if I buy the Digiboil I wouldn't plan on keeping the element on during the mash. I'd just cover it and let it ride, like I do with my current propane setup.

 

[highland_brewer]

Damn with those dents this thing must be tin can thin.

It actually is thick. The legs on the malt pipe are really sturdy, not to mention it got shipped all over the place because if winter storms! Not that fed-ex folks aren't gentle with a 59lb awkward shaped box.. Lol

 

[Scarabrew]

Thinking about some hacks one could do to the Brewzilla:
1 - Install a hop stopper (those from The Electric Brewery or the Lauterhexe) connected to the tap; or
2 - Use the tap as the inlet for whirlpooling, using something like the Brewhardware spincycle

 

[highland_brewer]

Thinking about some hacks one could do to the Brewzilla:
1 - Install a hop stopper (those from The Electric Brewery or the Lauterhexe) connected to the tap; or
2 - Use the tap as the inlet for whirlpooling, using something like the Brewhardware spincycle

The Spincycle is definitely a possibility, Bobby actually has a whirlpool arm for the smaller version that connects to the camlock return. The brewzilla has a screen in the bottom. My fear with a hop stopper is that if too much hop debris collects on the bottom it will throw and error code by the sensor being covered. They make it that way to prevent scorching if too much debris gets on the bottom.