Benefits and Disadvantages of Single Vessel Brewing Systems

[RealToast]

My pump system clogged with my first attempt with the Grainfather at the most inopportune time - when initializing the counter-flow cooling process. I was able to fix the issue by turning the pump off and disassembling ball valve, near the top of the tube from the pump. Inside the ball valve is a spring where hops had log-jammed and formed a tight plug. I poked the hop plug out of the spring and reassembled the ball valve and was back in business; all in about 3 mins. I've heard that others have just removed the ball valve guts all together as a quick remedy. The clog was a first-timer issue. It's not happened since.

 

[shawnbou]

Good advice, RealToast. Thanks. I have been using a hop spider with the Grainfather for every batch since the first couple, and it's been working great. But there was one time that I had so much hops in the spider that the bag came loose from the collar and all that hop matter got in the wort anyway ... and it was a lot. I'll check the ball valve if I ever get a clog again. Cheers!
- Shawn

 

[shawnbou]

Thanks, rbell. Since posting this article, I've been hearing a lot about the systems from Brau Supply, and I'm actually considering one myself for my next major purchase. Cheers! - Shawn

 

[shawnbou]

DU99 - Thanks for the feedback. The intent of the article was just to highlight some of the general advantages and disadvantages of the concept while referencing those options I've looked into or used, rather than attempting to comprehensively analyze all of the options that are out there. Sorry if that wasn't clear.
But yes, there are a lot of other options out there and Braumeister is one of the most popular. I'll let others weigh in with specific experiences about it. Cheers!
- Shawn

 

[2Kegger]

I bought one of these a few years ago, and I love it! http://www.highgravitybrew.com/store/pc/BIAB-Electric-Brewing-System-240V-269p3987.htm It's a boil in a bag system, but I actually sparge with it. I use the basket and the bag for the mash, but only a portion of the water like a regular all grain batch. I heat up the sparge water ahead of time and put that in a 5 gallon cooler an set it aside. Once the mash is done, I hook up a hose from my cooler to the lid and let the water flow in as I drain it from the bottom of the pot. The sprinkler head on the lid works great for distributing the sparge water. It easily gets to a boil, but it does run off a 240 outlet. I did install an exhaust in my basement for the moisture during the boil, but it's great to be able to brew indoors in the winter here in WI. I love electric brewing.

 

[WarmGas]

I have a GF and brew indoors as we have no garage and it rains a lot here in New Zealand. (Yes, I have the 240 V AC version and it boils like mad). I think most people who have experienced clogging on the Grainfather may be forgetting this crucial step: you MUST turn the valve down on the recirculation pipe to reduce flow when using the wort chiller and transferring to your fermentation vessel. This not only allows the wort to cool down to a lower temperature but it really helps in PREVENTING CLOGGING. I have made some really hoppy beers where the bottom of the GF and the pump inlet screen thing is completely invisible due to massive amounts of gloppy trub. No clogging, ever.
I have just bought a hop spider though and am playing around with that just to make cleanup less messy.
I also dissasmble and clean the ball valve on the recirc pipe every time during clean up. There is always some trub or stuff caught in the spring. Takes all of 65 seconds to take apart, rinse and reassemble. This might also help explain why I have had no clogging issue.
On my 18th brew now with the GF and am continually impressed with it. (I don't work for the company even though I live in NZ. I don't even know these guys). Highly recommended!