Brewer's Edge Mash & Boil

[jlinz]

No problems with the Mash & Boil. Check out the Facebook group I mentioned in the previous message

Too funny. The cheaper one has no real defects, while the more expensive ones do.

 

[plano_harry]

I think I read in here that the minimum batch size they recommend is 2.5 gallons. Has anyone tried a smaller batch size? Or can I just do 2.5 gallons and boil that down to the size I want using this system?

Several people do full volume 3 gallon batches. You could use BIAB for smaller batches. For smaller batches I would just use a stove. Not sure the Mash & Boil would be a big advantage, but you could use it without the grain pipe

 

[TwistedGray]

Several people do full volume 3 gallon batches. You could use BIAB for smaller batches. For smaller batches I would just use a stove. Not sure the Mash & Boil would be a big advantage, but you could use it without the grain pipe

I am figuring it would provide a better source of maintaining temperature, and with the fermentation lid I can mash, boil, and ferment in a single vessel. Furthermore because it can hold temps I could also do a kettle sour in the same vessel which is a bonus, too.

Most everything I do is 1-2/2.5 gallons...this is my main concern.

 

[bleme]

Too funny. The cheaper one has no real defects, while the more expensive ones do.

I think it is a case of the more simple you make something, the less there is to go wrong...

 

[OceanBob5]

1/2" tube Brewer's Edge mash & boil user group is very active on Facebook

I ordered some good silicon 3/8" tubing before I got the M&B. It came in the other day, and yes, it has a 1/2" nipple on the valve but the 3/8" tubing fits with a little stretch giving a very tight fit so probably don't need a hose clamp - I'm only using it to lauter into the fermenter so no pressure involved. I have some 1/2" on order as well - don't know what will be on the fermenter that's coming either. Lots of specs but they don't like to give that one out for some reason. My supplier didn't know but said it was one or the other so now I have both.
I did join the FB group and it is a good source for how this things works.

 

[jakturner]

I’ve heard there may be a new version coming out soon, anyone have insight on that?

 

[deadwolfbones]

I think I read in here that the minimum batch size they recommend is 2.5 gallons. Has anyone tried a smaller batch size? Or can I just do 2.5 gallons and boil that down to the size I want using this system?

I bought a Wilser bag and do full vol/no sparge BIAB in my Robobrew w/o the grain pipe. Works great, and I can do any batch size I like.

 

[jakturner]

Got a reply from source if anyone is interested

 

[jlinz]

Got a reply from source if anyone is interested

Well, I’ve had a robobrew crap out after making maybe ten beers, a Grainfather after 8, maybe if Grainfather doesn’t give me a replacement unit, I will get one of these. Funny thing is I got one of these before I bought the other two machines but cancelled and went for the robobrew because I thought it wouldn’t be durable, haha.

 

[Jag75]

Well, I’ve had a robobrew crap out after making maybe ten beers, a Grainfather after 8, maybe if Grainfather doesn’t give me a replacement unit, I will get one of these. Funny thing is I got one of these before I bought the other two machines but cancelled and went for the robobrew because I thought it wouldn’t be durable, haha.

Man you've had some seriously bad luck.

 

[jlinz]

Man you've had some seriously bad luck.

Yeah, I have. I got reimbursed for the robobrew though and I’m hoping I will with the Grainfather. But man, I want one of these electric units without having things go wrong!

 

[Jag75]

Yeah, I have. I got reimbursed for the robobrew though and I’m hoping I will with the Grainfather. But man, I want one of these electric units without having things go wrong!

I've read about people online and you tube that have done 100 brews on the Gf. My aunt has had hers for years and has done countless brews without a single problem. I'm crossing my fingers on my Gf . Imo those things are too pricey to have issues

 

[makisupapolice14]

I try hard to keep things simple. I set the heat to 154. when it reaches temp I pour my grains into a wilserbrewer bag and stir to remove clumps. then I wrap a sleeping bag over the whole thing and leave it for an hour. It drops a bit and the heater kicks in once or twice over the hour, I'm not worried about it. Then I lift the bag with the collander and set it above the m&b to drain into the kettle while the temp is coming up to boiling. Its designed with little bolts sticking out to rest on the rim. Since I lose a little water with the adsorption of the grains, I add a bit of semi hot water through the bag to rinse the grains. After the 60 minute boil I use an immersion chiller to get the temp down. I use a recirc pump in my old 10 gal pot to push ice water through the chiller. since i'm in florida that will get me down to 70 degrees in about 30 minutes. I pitch the yeast pop the lock on it and set it in a walmart bucket half filled with water and I float 3-4 frozen water bottles to keep the temp down in high 60's. (i gotta get another fridge). Primary for 3 weeks, cold crash and rack to keg. 3 days at 25 psi and it's good to go.

Hello looking to do a setup similar to yours. Do you know what measurements you gave wilser for your bag? I don’t have the unit yet. Also, ever any issues with the bag scorching when the mash and boil kicks back on to heat during the mash? Thanks!

 

[wilserbrewer]

Found it...
13” OD 21.25 depth

 

[shazbort]

Anyone have any reviews on the new version of this with the pump? I am wondering if they made any other improvements.

 

[dozer5454]

The new version with a pump sounds great. I want to do some small batch kettle sours anyway.

 

[Abilor]

Overjoyed to have found this thread! I love my Brewer's Edge, and have been using it since I moved into an apartment a year ago. I'm using mine very differently though... I had an All-Grain setup using a 10G Igloo Mash Tun, and a 10G HLT. I didn't have to give those up moving into the apartment, so I use the BE in conjunction with those too. I use the BE to hit my strike water temp, fill the mash-tun, and seal it. Heat the sparge water in the unit, and pull off any water for boiling on the stove for my mash-out. This gives me control in the standard 3-tier all-grain method of fly sparging from HLT into the tun, which is filling the Brewer's Edge, which I start to boil as soon as I have a few gallons of wort collected. A bit of a bastard's approach, but I find it gives me total control of the whole process, start to finish, the the built-in mash tun has been great for 10 pounds or less of grain for sure.

Glad to have found this!

 

[Tyler Hurst]

Does anyone know if the inside end of the valve is a threaded female end (and what size it is)? I can’t tell just by feeling and want to attach bazooka screw filter. Has anyone attached any type of ball valve end filtration. Does it get in the way of the grain basket when submerged? Any recommendations on filtration.

 

[Immocles]

Just opened one of these as a gift last night. It really seems like it will be a pretty solid upgrade to my stovetop biab set up. I think my wife's motive was to get me out of the kitchen during her workdays (she works from home, I try to brew when she's working so we can spend our rare joint free time together) and banish me to the basement/garage/deck. Looks like I finally have a solid reason to purchase a wort chiller as well.
I see the thread is a year old, but hopefully there's a few users still active that can answer my inevitable string of questions.

The rabbit hole gets deeper....

 

[TwistedGray]

Just opened one of these as a gift last night. It really seems like it will be a pretty solid upgrade to my stovetop biab set up. I think my wife's motive was to get me out of the kitchen during her workdays (she works from home, I try to brew when she's working so we can spend our rare joint free time together) and banish me to the basement/garage/deck. Looks like I finally have a solid reason to purchase a wort chiller as well.
I see the thread is a year old, but hopefully there's a few users still active that can answer my inevitable string of questions.

The rabbit hole gets deeper....

That's the reason I got my wife to buy me one two (?) years ago or maybe it was just last year (re: step up from stove top). It will be a very welcomed upgrade; I assure you that.

I use my all the time : )

Edit - I take it you got the one without the re circulation pump?

1st upgrade recommended - swap out the basket for one of W's BIABs. I feel that if you don't have a pump the water doesn't do a good job penetrating the grain because the holes are only on the bottom and not up the sides a bit. Anyways, I feel the BIAB also makes cleaning up easier.

ps: You can get a fermentation lid for it should you wish to mail, boil, and ferment inside of it. I find it useful for temp maintaining when it's critical to a certain beer I'm making.

pps: You can distill in the device, too...not sure entirely what you have to buy, but some people have bought it.

ppps: There's an active Facebook user's group, too.

 

[Immocles]

That's the reason I got my wife to buy me one two (?) years ago or maybe it was just last year (re: step up from stove top). It will be a very welcomed upgrade; I assure you that.

I use my all the time : )

Edit - I take it you got the one without the re circulation pump?

1st upgrade recommended - swap out the basket for one of W's BIABs. I feel that if you don't have a pump the water doesn't do a good job penetrating the grain because the holes are only on the bottom and not up the sides a bit. Anyways, I feel the BIAB also makes cleaning up easier.

ps: You can get a fermentation lid for it should you wish to mail, boil, and ferment inside of it. I find it useful for temp maintaining when it's critical to a certain beer I'm making.

pps: You can distill in the device, too...not sure entirely what you have to buy, but some people have bought it.

ppps: There's an active Facebook user's group, too.

Yep, no pump. I planned on ordering a wilser bag sometime before the new year. A new bag and a wort chiller immediately popped into my head upon unwrapping haha. I was considering keeping the bag inside of the pipe to making draining more convenient, though. I'm sure I could be talked out of that since I hadn't really considered the sides of the pipe were solid walls.

How is the steam output? I'm slightly worried about that causing havoc. Also may need to find a heavy duty extension cord.

 

[TwistedGray]

Yep, no pump. I planned on ordering a wilser bag sometime before the new year. A new bag and a wort chiller immediately popped into my head upon unwrapping haha. I was considering keeping the bag inside of the pipe to making draining more convenient, though. I'm sure I could be talked out of that since I hadn't really considered the sides of the pipe were solid walls.

How is the steam output? I'm slightly worried about that causing havoc. Also may need to find a heavy duty extension cord.

Steam - I run it in the garage, but yah it puts out some steam. I don't it's much different than the stove top though.

Cord - check out their FAQ; there are types you can't/shouldn't use.

I rigged up a J hook in the garage about the M&B to tie off the bag so that it's hoisted above. It works well

 

[Immocles]

I'd prefer to keep everything in the basement, so hopefully that works out. I have a place scouted out to put it down there where I could hang a bag to drain should I go that route. I know enough electricians that getting an outlet hooked up in that spot should be no problem. Need to find an appropriate table to set it on though. Otherwise yep, there's always the garage, but that puts me back to the stove top in the winters. Hopefully I'm just being overly cautious because my wife isn't worried about steam. And she worries about everything, haha. Thanks for the info.

Do you do full volume, no sparge? This is my preference, as my batch sizes are usually 2.5 on my stove. I might increase that slightly to 3-3.25G though. Debating running a test boil sometime this evening to start creating a Beersmith profile.

 

[TwistedGray]

I'd prefer to keep everything in the basement, so hopefully that works out. I have a place scouted out to put it down there where I could hang a bag to drain should I go that route. I know enough electricians that getting an outlet hooked up in that spot should be no problem. Need to find an appropriate table to set it on though. Otherwise yep, there's always the garage, but that puts me back to the stove top in the winters. Hopefully I'm just being overly cautious because my wife isn't worried about steam. And she worries about everything, haha. Thanks for the info.

Do you do full volume, no sparge? This is my preference, as my batch sizes are usually 2.5 on my stove. I might increase that slightly to 3-3.25G though. Debating running a test boil sometime this evening to start creating a Beersmith profile.

Just make sure you have easy access to the underside of it as you may have to flip the reset switch on the bottom.

Full volume; however I generally do small batches around the same volumes. I've done 5gal batches, too. Grain volume becomes an issue though.

 

[Immocles]

Doing a lot of reading and researching here.
I figure I will get a bag sized to the kettle itself, not the pipe. Seems to me I'd rather have it slightly oversized for the pipe, than undersized for the kettle.
Any issues with errors constantly tripping when not using the pipe? Without the pipe, doesn't the grain bed just sit right on top of the heat element and cause scorching if/when the element kicks in?

 

[TwistedGray]

Doing a lot of reading and researching here.
I figure I will get a bag sized to the kettle itself, not the pipe. Seems to me I'd rather have it slightly oversized for the pipe, than undersized for the kettle.
Any issues with errors constantly tripping when not using the pipe? Without the pipe, doesn't the grain bed just sit right on top of the heat element and cause scorching if/when the element kicks in?

I've had a few batches that constantly triggered the reset; however, I think I was running LARGE grain bills then. It only happened a few times for me, all during the same run.

But yah, try to keep the grain above the base.

 

[Immocles]

Assuming my new (first!) immersion chiller shows up on time tomorrow, I plan on breaking in the first brew on my unit. I have an idea in mind for the short term when it comes to a stand/table, but really looking for something more convenient. Everything I have come across seems to be just a few inches too short, or way too tall for my liking. I think something in the 16-18 inches high range is about perfect for me height wise, and still be able to drain into my tallest fermenter. Wheels are probably mandatory as my brewing area and chilling area will probably be across the basement for the foreseeable future. I saw a link to a wheeled printer stand on an earlier post in this thread, but the ones I've seen have seemed flimsy for something that going to be full of boiling liquid. Does anyone have any suggestions for something that isn't custom built? Although, I'd appreciate the custom builds as well. I always do have beer to buy labor...

 

[TwistedGray]

@wstbrewing - you might find this on-going thread useful.

 

[Coastalbrew]

I use an old chair with a flat wooden seat. It's super stable and a good height for draining straight into my fermenter. I do have to use a small step stool to get high enough to lift out the grain pipe. The other thing I'd suggest is a hole so you can easily access the reset switch. I can't do this with the chair and had my first E4 error last brew. Fortunately it happened in the last 2 minutes of the boil otherwise it would have been a huge pain.

Cheers!

 

[TwistedGray]

The other thing I'd suggest is a hole so you can easily access the reset switch. I can't do this with the chair and had my first E4 error last brew.

+1 - you'll likely have to reset it once or twice at some point in your use. I made it a half dozen brews until I got the E4 error.