Brew-Boss Opinions

[KIDD69]

Ahhh. I hadn’t actually seen that before but just watched the video on the BrewBoss site. It looks like a great option to get homebrewers indoors. I know Darin will help you figure that out.

Cheers,

 

[Conodor]

I brewed a batch yesterday. no lid at all. i was teaching someone how to brew kit beers outside. so i was back and forth and just left it off with no condenser boss. it had no issues. maybe get it up to boil. then add the lid/boss. that's what i'll try tomorrow.

 

[brewswithshoes]

Thank you for referencing that condenser boss. I've had my BB for awhile and didn't realize that was a new (to me) option. Read about it on the site, and watched the video.... may have to pick one up now. Please do post if/when you get it going on how it performs.

One other question on the condenser piece, does it come with the lid seal, or just the "T" pipe contraption?

 

[Conodor]

I've used mine only once. It comes with the same silicone hose that the system came with. but a slit in it. It goes on the rim of the brew kettle. I forgot to put weights on it like the video. there was still some steam coming out, but i feel after the weight it would stop that.

The T that comes off the side, connects to the cam lock that your hose goes to. The T is i guess what you could explain as the mixing chamber. the water goes in and sucks the steam out of the pot. When i get my permanent stand set up, i will make a tube go right to a drain. I just had a 9 gallon ferment bucket under. it wans't a big deal to pour out.

Over all i like it and feel it's worth the cost.

 

[TennBrewer]

Has anyone brewed a 5 gallon batch in a 20 gallon setup and have the beer come out with an awful off-flavor (oxidation, i believe). I have had several batches ruined and I think it's in the mashing where some of the wort is sprayed above the grain bed. Maybe flow rate too high and level in the kettle dropped too low? Anyway, I've replaced the recirculation connection hose to the center stem with a Locline (https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/mashrecirculation.htm) tube recirculating below the surface and no problems so far. Also, watch the flow rate carefully!

 

[brewswithshoes]

Has anyone brewed a 5 gallon batch in a 20 gallon setup and have the beer come out with an awful off-flavor (oxidation, i believe). I have had several batches ruined and I think it's in the mashing where some of the wort is sprayed above the grain bed. Maybe flow rate too high and level in the kettle dropped too low? Anyway, I've replaced the recirculation connection hose to the center stem with a Locline (https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/mashrecirculation.htm) tube recirculating below the surface and no problems so far. Also, watch the flow rate carefully!

Are you using the COFI basket? If so, I think all mashes spray some recirculated wort over the grain bed unless you are maxing out the grain space in the basket.

 

[cnash]

Soon to start building my stand.
I have ordered some of the parts already (Winch, Pulleys, Casters). Here is my latest drawing of it. (Have a more detailed one in Revit, but this one is further along)
The hoist drops down to save space and also act as a sort of cart handle.

 

[Conodor]

Nice looking stand. Whats your solution to turn and lift/lower that pivot arm? Seems brew boss uses a square tube on the bottom. A round tube mounted in the center of it, then the top out over top of it. I guess you could do that and pin it in the upper position. pull the pin when you wanted to lower it.

 

[cnash]

Nice looking stand. Whats your solution to turn and lift/lower that pivot arm? Seems brew boss uses a square tube on the bottom. A round tube mounted in the center of it, then the top out over top of it. I guess you could do that and pin it in the upper position. pull the pin when you wanted to lower it.

My design is a Square tube welded to a round tube that will slide into the square tube on the bottom. There will be two pins, one to lock it in a position and one just to hold the height. Top pin can be removed and arm can swivel.

Attached is a rough sketch. (Not dimensionally accurate)

 

[Lax coach]

First beer (Resilience IPA) is in the keg and carbing. Definitely did not hit my numbers, but hopefully it'll be a sessionable variant. SG was 1.046 and FG 1.012, so right around 4.6% ABV, whereas it's supposed to be 6.8%.

Pressure transfer from the SSB BrewBucket worked awesome, definitely glad I went with that setup. Still a pretty good hop/trub cake in the bottom despite using a spider in the kettle, but I didn't draw any in even with the tube turned all the way down.

So not where I want it to be, but so far I'd say it's "good enough" for my first ever brew. Hopefully the results are drinkable.

 

[cnash]

First beer (Resilience IPA) is in the keg and carbing. Definitely did not hit my numbers, but hopefully it'll be a sessionable variant. SG was 1.046 and FG 1.012, so right around 4.6% ABV, whereas it's supposed to be 6.8%.

Pressure transfer from the SSB BrewBucket worked awesome, definitely glad I went with that setup. Still a pretty good hop/trub cake in the bottom despite using a spider in the kettle, but I didn't draw any in even with the tube turned all the way down.

So not where I want it to be, but so far I'd say it's "good enough" for my first ever brew. Hopefully the results are drinkable.

That will probably be my first beer on my Brew-Boss setup. Will also be my first kegging experience. I plan to do a pressurized transfer from my anvil bucket as well. So we shall see how mine turns out.​

 

[cnash]

I think this is my final rendering of the stand I plan to build.
I will be ordering the material today. Already have ordered a received the wheels, winch and pulleys.

 

[Mike Howard]

Here is my temp setup:

 

[cnash]

Looks good for temporary. Pretty clean overall

 

[TennBrewer]

Are you using the COFI basket? If so, I think all mashes spray some recirculated wort over the grain bed unless you are maxing out the grain space in the basket.

Yes, I have the COFI basket. Far from maxing out the grain space, there's only about 12 pounds of grain in the basket. I've been brewing without the top of the basket so I can see the water/wort level. I've kept the recirculated wort below the surface and the beer so far is terrific. I think earlier batches weren't monitored so closely and the top of the grain bed was left exposed to the air (maybe).

 

[TennBrewer]

I've used mine only once. It comes with the same silicone hose that the system came with. but a slit in it. It goes on the rim of the brew kettle. I forgot to put weights on it like the video. there was still some steam coming out, but i feel after the weight it would stop that.

The T that comes off the side, connects to the cam lock that your hose goes to. The T is i guess what you could explain as the mixing chamber. the water goes in and sucks the steam out of the pot. When i get my permanent stand set up, i will make a tube go right to a drain. I just had a 9 gallon ferment bucket under. it wans't a big deal to pour out.

Over all i like it and feel it's worth the cost.

Word of warning from personal experience: I connected a water hose to let the water run outside to drain so I wouldn't have to keep emptying buckets. Turns out a little restriction in the drain hose forced the incoming water into the kettle. Added 3 extra gallons of water to the boil before I noticed not much water coming out the end maybe due to a kink in the hose. Had to add extra DME and hops to go from a 6 gallon batch to a 9 gallon batch. So, make sure your drain tube is not restricted in any way. Good luck.

 

[TennBrewer]

What kind of brewhouse efficiency are you all getting? I get about 68 percent for the overall brewhouse efficiency and mash efficiency is about 73.5 (ala Beersmith 3). I've tried changing the grain crush (.035, .025), double crushing, and extending the mash time. I'd like to get a little better efficiency so I can make more with less grain. This is important if I'm doing 5-6 gallon batches in a 20 gallon kettle. Too much grain and then there's not enough water to cover it.

 

[brewswithshoes]

What kind of brewhouse efficiency are you all getting? I get about 68 percent for the overall brewhouse efficiency and mash efficiency is about 73.5 (ala Beersmith 3). I've tried changing the grain crush (.035, .025), double crushing, and extending the mash time. I'd like to get a little better efficiency so I can make more with less grain. This is important if I'm doing 5-6 gallon batches in a 20 gallon kettle. Too much grain and then there's not enough water to cover it.

Probably over 20 batches on mine and BH efficiency is at 69, mash efficiency is usually 77-79%.

I'm on a 15G system with COFI and I usually brew with the mash basket lid off and stir a few times to keep the wort level between basket and kettle.

 

[TennBrewer]

Since I got my 20 gallon system, I've brewed 5 gallon batches so if I screwed something up, it wouldn't hurt as bad to dump it. Well, today I brewed a 12 gallon batch of APA. My efficiency is about 68 percent so it took 25 pounds of grains in 17.5 gallons of water. I used the electric winch to lower the COFI filter basket in slowly, it all fit and the basket was covered at least an inch or two below the surface. This required the top to be locked on which I was leaving off so I could stir the mash once in awhile like brewswithshoes does. As it turned out, I got nearly 6 gallons in two fermenters, so I can leave a half gallon of trub in the primary and secondary fermenters and still fill a 5 gallon keg to the top (though I sometimes skip the secondary and go right to the keg). It just seemed to me that the basket should not be totally submerged. I dunno, maybe it'll turn out OK.

 

[Lax coach]

Well I did it...killed my first batch, a Kentucky Common. Had a stuck mash where the pump sucked all the wort out of the kettle and dry-fired the element. Not sure how long it was in that state, as I was in and out of the garage, doing other things. It smelled pretty bad, and had some nasty black buildup on the element. I was able to clean most of it off, but it still looks like it has a camo powdercoat job.

Seems to still work though, as I went back to the LHBS to get the same grain bill, with two differences: I made sure to NOT throw the flaked corn into the grinder (don't remember if I did the first time), and added 1 lb of rice hulls. Second time through went fine, though the post-boil wort was lower volume (4.9G vs. 5.5) AND lower gravity (1.041 vs. 1.044) than expected, which I'm still scratching my head about.

It's a learning process--this was my fourth brew ever--so I'll get there eventually.

 

[cnash]

I still have yet to brew on mine.
Finally got everything setup and did a water test. Had some issues with the pump, but resolved it. Darin was helpful and quick to respond and was about to swap out the pump before I got it fixed myself.
Still unsure of what the actual issue was, but nothing seems damaged and works perfect now.

Hopefully I'll be able to do my first batch this weekend. (after finishing my stand/table/cart which should be done Saturday)
In the meantime I have ordered a new wort chiller (Hydra) and built a filtration unit for the exterior hose-bib that will mount on the cart and attach to the accessory port with cam-lock fittings.

 

[Mike Howard]

I have found that with any BIAB style setup...Rice Hulls are your friend. I just add them out of habit now and don't even give it a second thought.

 

[brewswithshoes]

I'd like to get a little better efficiency so I can make more with less grain. This is important if I'm doing 5-6 gallon batches in a 20 gallon kettle. Too much grain and then there's not enough water to cover it.

Just brewed on my BB the other day and thought about this. I'm not sure how the new setups are being sold but do you have the kettle pickup tube/elbow? I bought mine after the fact as it didn't come with the "full" package, and it easily added about .5 to .75 gallons from kettle to ferementor without pulling in any more trub/hop material.

https://www.brew-boss.com/1-5-Tri-Clamp-Pickup-Tube-p/tc-pickuptube.htm

 

[Conodor]

Just brewed on my BB the other day and thought about this. I'm not sure how the new setups are being sold but do you have the kettle pickup tube/elbow? I bought mine after the fact as it didn't come with the "full" package, and it easily added about .5 to .75 gallons from kettle to ferementor without pulling in any more trub/hop material.

https://www.brew-boss.com/1-5-Tri-Clamp-Pickup-Tube-p/tc-pickuptube.htm

I ordered mine on black friday. I'm pretty sure i had to add it. it's worth it.

 

[cnash]

Mine came with the pickup tube standard and I bought it on Black Friday as well.

 

[Mike Howard]

Mine was there as well...

 

[Lax coach]

The pickup tube comes standard with the “deluxe” configuration, which is the one that has 6 options to choose from on the product page. If you do the “build your own”—which is the one with 15 options on the product page—you have to select it from the appropriate drop down, and it costs $37.

I ordered the deluxe, so mine came with it without me doing anything.

 

[cnash]

Cart/stand/table is getting closer to be used with my brew-boss!

 

[jturman35]

I need to get me a work table with wheels for my set up!

 

[cnash]

Stand isn’t ready yet, but I wanted to brew. So I did.
Turned out great. Ended up with more volume (and because of that lower OG, but not by much) so I can dial that in for the next brews.
I also had one issue with my brew programming, so I’ll have to figure out what happened there. But it was easy to make one step manual and then move on to the next.
Will be so much easier with my brew stand, but it was still a hell of a fun time.