Brewer's Edge Mash & Boil

[vrodbrad]

Good video scotti. I have been wanting to get the grainfather but this looks like it might do. I live in Oregon so winter temp would be a problem but can brew in garage. Question, is what was the batch size you did. How were your numbers for your preboil gravith, starting gravity did where they close to what you needed or off some. Also you said in the video I heard you say beersmith. What equipment profile did you use or did you input yourself. I really can't see spending the almost 900 bucks if this will do almost the same. I know it says it has a smaller grain bill capacity so would have to adjust for that on a couple beers I make.

 

[drifter001]

Good video scotti. I have been wanting to get the grainfather but this looks like it might do. I live in Oregon so winter temp would be a problem but can brew in garage. Question, is what was the batch size you did. How were your numbers for your preboil gravith, starting gravity did where they close to what you needed or off some. Also you said in the video I heard you say beersmith. What equipment profile did you use or did you input yourself. I really can't see spending the almost 900 bucks if this will do almost the same. I know it says it has a smaller grain bill capacity so would have to adjust for that on a couple beers I make.

Im on the same boat! I want to go all grain but don't have the room for it. Was considering GF but eventually want a three pot system so this seems like a nice alternative to use in the meantime

 

[skraeling]

Good video scotti. I have been wanting to get the grainfather but this looks like it might do. I live in Oregon so winter temp would be a problem but can brew in garage. Question, is what was the batch size you did. How were your numbers for your preboil gravith, starting gravity did where they close to what you needed or off some. Also you said in the video I heard you say beersmith. What equipment profile did you use or did you input yourself. I really can't see spending the almost 900 bucks if this will do almost the same. I know it says it has a smaller grain bill capacity so would have to adjust for that on a couple beers I make.

my question is how much did the rest of the stuff he bought cost? If you are 3/4 of the way to a grianfather why not just get something a little neater?

 

[scottibones]

Thanks for the video. Two comments:
1. Your mash record probably could not regain temp because of all the splashing through that strainer. That exchange with the air will dump a lot of heat. Recirc to the top of the grain bed without splashing and your temp should be able to stabilize. It will also reduce the oxygenation of your wort which is not desireable.

2. I saw you mentioned a tap water pre-chiller. I also love in FL and have done a fair amount of testing and will tell you pre-chillers don't really work. The better way to chill would be to re-purpose that pre-chiller to be a secondary chiller. So your wort will go through the plate chiller, then through the coil (in the ice bath) then into your fermenter. This way your ice bath is only cooling the liquid you want, not the high volume of flush water you are dumping.

Have fun!

2 very good points that's why I love this community! Yes this was a very preliminary run with some fine tuning needed. The first will be this addition

adjusted to rest directly over the grain bed. As far as the chiller I am very happy with the chill time and that is one nasty coil that I re purposed and would never run wort through it. Plus the pool always needs topped up and that's where the waste water is going. Thank you for your comments!

 

[scottibones]

Good video scotti. I have been wanting to get the grainfather but this looks like it might do. I live in Oregon so winter temp would be a problem but can brew in garage. Question, is what was the batch size you did. How were your numbers for your preboil gravith, starting gravity did where they close to what you needed or off some. Also you said in the video I heard you say beersmith. What equipment profile did you use or did you input yourself. I really can't see spending the almost 900 bucks if this will do almost the same. I know it says it has a smaller grain bill capacity so would have to adjust for that on a couple beers I make.

My batch size into bottles was 2.2 gallons. I started the mash with 3.8 gallons and it was a full volume mash. I lost 1/2 gallon to absorption and 1/2 gallon to the boil. The gravity was perfect both pre and post boil. I did use Beersmith and set up a profile for the Brewer's Edge. The pot has a large dead space but I added a piece of 3/8 silicone hose and was able to lower the dead space volume to 1 quart. I shot video but it got inadvertently left out. Stay tuned I will upload a tips and tricks video hopefully later today. I used a BIAB mash profile in Beersmith as well. Thanks for the comments!

 

[scottibones]

my question is how much did the rest of the stuff he bought cost? If you are 3/4 of the way to a grianfather why not just get something a little neater?

This is a very good point. If you are going to buy a pump $140 and a chiller $100 and probably another $150 in fittings and hoses you are approaching Grainfather prices. You will still need a chiller of some sort for the Grainfather but if you go immersion chiller route you will spend much less overall with this unit. Then the only variable would be the pump for recirculating which you could live without by just using a pitcher and recirculating by hand. The only drawback with an all in one unit is replacement parts I don't know anything about the Grainfather but I would hope if the pump fails it is replaceable and won't break the bank. Just my 2 cents.

 

[augiedoggy]

This is a very good point. If you are going to buy a pump $140 and a chiller $100 and probably another $150 in fittings and hoses you are approaching Grainfather prices. You will still need a chiller of some sort for the Grainfather but if you go immersion chiller route you will spend much less overall with this unit. Then the only variable would be the pump for recirculating which you could live without by just using a pitcher and recirculating by hand. The only drawback with an all in one unit is replacement parts I don't know anything about the Grainfather but I would hope if the pump fails it is replaceable and won't break the bank. Just my 2 cents.

In that case would make more sense just to buy this with a built in pump and chiller right? Its like $570 with shipping but still a lot more reasonable than the grainfather.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-35L-Rob...729408?hash=item25cc6176c0:g:qBoAAOSwopRYah59

It more powerful but the drawback here is this requires at least a 15A 220v plug... which is easier to do with existing wiring by changing the breaker and outlet and rewiring the connections at each end if one has a dedicated circuit in their home already...

 

[TexasWine]

This is a very good point. If you are going to buy a pump $140 and a chiller $100 and probably another $150 in fittings and hoses you are approaching Grainfather prices. You will still need a chiller of some sort for the Grainfather but if you go immersion chiller route you will spend much less overall with this unit. Then the only variable would be the pump for recirculating which you could live without by just using a pitcher and recirculating by hand. The only drawback with an all in one unit is replacement parts I don't know anything about the Grainfather but I would hope if the pump fails it is replaceable and won't break the bank. Just my 2 cents.

Those are some expensive pumps and chillers you're buying! You can get a MK-II pump for $70, or a cheap 24v pump for less than $30. Stainless immersion chillers can be bought for $50. Fittings can be as simple as barbed connections and a valve, so maybe $30-40 in fittings.

So you would be all in at $300 + $160

 

[skraeling]

Those are some expensive pumps and chillers you're buying! You can get a MK-II pump for $70, or a cheap 24v pump for less than $30. Stainless immersion chillers can be bought for $50. Fittings can be as simple as barbed connections and a valve, so maybe $30-40 in fittings.

So you would be all in at $300 + $160

I was basing it off the parts out of his video. Thats not a mkII pump and not a stainless immersion chiller he is using... now is it.

 

[TexasWine]

I was basing it off the parts out of his video. Thats not a mkII pump and not a stainless immersion chiller he is using... now is it.

Ah got ya. Wasn't immediately obvious, but looking back at the context it is more apparent now.

 

[Weezy]

I was basing it off the parts out of his video. Thats not a mkII pump and not a stainless immersion chiller he is using... now is it.

I think the point was that if you're going for a budget solution, you typically look for budget parts.

Scott, in the video, did you turn it back to 1600W when you wanted to start to boil?

On my induction, I get healthy boil down to 1500W. I get a very gentle roll at 1200W, with 3.7 gallons. The trick is time to get to the next temp! If this thing is working out pretty slow, you could just use less water in the boil and top off post boil or in the fermenter with an extra gallon.

 

[mhochman]

Can someone explain me the wattage settings? I see the post above this one, but I'm hoping for just a simple summary of each setting's purpose in terms of steps in the brew day.
Thanks

 

[Weezy]

Use the lower setting when you're just trying to maintain a temp.

 

[mhochman]

Use the lower setting when you're just trying to maintain a temp.

That's what I figured. Makes sense.

 

[mhochman]

Any questions just ask.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pR3xMRvpbeI&feature=youtu.be

I understand what you were trying to do with recirculating the mash, but what is the goal of running the pump during the boil (that led to you losing the boil)?

Thanks.

 

[garrettbuckeye]

I understand what you were trying to do with recirculating the mash, but what is the goal of running the pump during the boil (that led to you losing the boil)?



Thanks.

My guess is to sanitize via heat. That's what I do the last 5 or so minutes of my boil.

 

[mhochman]

My guess is to sanitize via heat. That's what I do the last 5 or so minutes of my boil.

Ah, that makes sense. I don't use a plate chiller so I've never had to do that. I do put my immersion chiller in for the last 5 minutes or so.

 

[mhochman]

I know I keep throwing questions out there, but I am looking seriously at this for myself. The space at the bottom of the pot, while creating headspace during the mash I think it would be great for hops and other material to settle at the bottom of the boil. Surely that's the intended purpose, right?

 

[garrettbuckeye]

Perk of not having dip tube I guess. My hunch is that a diptube won't fit with Mash tube in place, but I have no idea.

I am very interested in this as well. I'd have bought it already if it was a PID controller.

 

[scottibones]

I think the point was that if you're going for a budget solution, you typically look for budget parts.

Scott, in the video, did you turn it back to 1600W when you wanted to start to boil?

On my induction, I get healthy boil down to 1500W. I get a very gentle roll at 1200W, with 3.7 gallons. The trick is time to get to the next temp! If this thing is working out pretty slow, you could just use less water in the boil and top off post boil or in the fermenter with an extra gallon.

Yes I did switch back to the 1600 watt setting to start the boil. I believe part of my problem was needing to use an extension cord and not having a heavy duty cord handy. The pump was also on the same circuit therefore lowering my available power even more. Next brew day will be better!

 

[scottibones]

I know I keep throwing questions out there, but I am looking seriously at this for myself. The space at the bottom of the pot, while creating headspace during the mash I think it would be great for hops and other material to settle at the bottom of the boil. Surely that's the intended purpose, right?

Perk of not having dip tube I guess. My hunch is that a diptube won't fit with Mash tube in place, but I have no idea.

I am very interested in this as well. I'd have bought it already if it was a PID controller.

I did address the dead space issue in a video I posted last night. Yes dead space gives a place for things to settle out in but a gallon or so is overkill in my opinion. I whirlpool so generally the stuff piles up in the middle. Anybody still on the fence about this I am posting an under the hood video tonight so you can see the inner workings of this unit.

 

[highland_brewer]

Seems about the right price point... for what it includes.

 

[augiedoggy]

I was basing it off the parts out of his video. Thats not a mkII pump and not a stainless immersion chiller he is using... now is it.

True but its also not at all the type of pump or you would normally use with such a small compact setup like the grainfather... The grainfather uses a tiny built in plastic 12v pump and an immersion chiller and thats really the comparable item that everyone including yourself keeps bringing up to judge this by.
Just my opinion but if you going to make a comment comparing the neatness and price of a grainfather to this it should be done with comparable and components that make more sense not just what the OP already had right? I believe that was the way Texas wine saw it too.

 

[mhochman]

I did address the dead space issue in a video I posted last night. Yes dead space gives a place for things to settle out in but a gallon or so is overkill in my opinion. I whirlpool so generally the stuff piles up in the middle. Anybody still on the fence about this I am posting an under the hood video tonight so you can see the inner workings of this unit.

I found the new video. Looks interesting. I look forward to following your progress as I make my decision.

 

[redarmy990]

i just bought the same system when it arrives i will post finidings.
This will be my first venture into all grain and i live in a condo so seemed perfect for me.

 

[Mobius570]

I got this over a month ago and finally got to use it tonight. Overall it's works pretty damn well for a 1600 watt system. I'm brewing inside since there is 24" of snow outside right now and I was able to bring 6 gallons of wort to a boil in about 30 minutes. It did however seem like an eternity to sparge since it's tall and narrow but it wasn't too bad. This will definitely be my main brew system from now on.

 

[skraeling]

I'm brewing inside since there is 24" of snow outside right now and I was able to bring 6 gallons of wort to a boil in about 30 minutes.

aint it great lol. im probably never brewing outside again haha.

 

[Mobius570]

aint it great lol. im probably never brewing outside again haha.

For sure! Wish I went electric years ago!

 

[fermentinginpa]

Excellent, mine is coming this Saturday but I won't be able to actually brew on it till Thursday after work.

 

[Mobius570]

I should also add, I hit just over 79 percent efficiency as well with this set up. I batch sparged and then used the wort from the kettle to rinse a few times over. I used 13.5 pounds of grain and hit 1.068 on my hydrometer. Over all I'm happy with those numbers for how simple this setup is to use.