Clawhammer Supply eBIAB Review

[smbdyshero]

I have compared it to my Spike Kettle and even though its thinner, it definitely does not feel like it is. Also, I had one of the original mesh baskets and the mesh starting coming off the metal frame, I emailed Emmet and he said they were not happy with the V1 so they created a newer version. It was in the mail the next day after reaching out to them. I even offered to pay for it and he said its on the house! Great customer service and a great system!

 

[smbdyshero]

I am not a fan of the plate chiller. I think I have been getting a weird off flavor in various styles and after sanitizing and cleaning the hell out of everything I am blaming the chiller. I will be brewing this weekend and using my immersion chiller to see if I can get rid of that off flavor. The only other thing I have done differently lately is yeast starters, but I boil in the ehrlenmeyer flask so I don't think sanitation is an issue there. Any suggestions?

 

[timnagle]

They are offering things up at a great price on kickstarter right now for those that are considering the Clawhammer system.

 

[vwluv10338]

As far as regular BIAB and double milling goes, I was getting 65-70% efficiency but the other day I had the local shop double mill my grains and I was able to hit 84%. Super happy about that

 

[smbdyshero]

As far as regular BIAB and double milling goes, I was getting 65-70% efficiency but the other day I had the local shop double mill my grains and I was able to hit 84%. Super happy about that

I just brewed an IPA yesterday and I made that grain dang near flour. I got 85% efficiency. We will see if it adds any unwanted flavors to the final product.

 

[mux11]

@smbdyshero are you running the 120V or the 240V version??

 

[smbdyshero]

@smbdyshero are you running the 120V or the 240V version??

I've got the original V1. It's 120V. Still no issues with the system, still takes a bit longer than a 240V to heat up and get to boil, but I don't mind the wait

 

[CJnCincy]

I can echo smbdyshero's comments on Clawhammer's customer service....top notch.

I've had questions ref. other piece of equipment purchased there, and Emmet always responded the same day, or the next morning (depending on when I emailed him). Great advice, and he always helped find a solution for me.

They are taking pre-orders now (I understand they are short kettles now but expect them in early MAR). I ordered the BIAB system, sans controller and heating element (I already have them from another system).

Can't wait to give this system a go.

 

[Keith Neiswender]

I just got it from ups and I was impressed from just the packaging of the equipment. I unpacked it all and watched the YouTube video. The only thing I would have liked was a basics diagram on assembly. It would have made assembling a lot easier. It took about 1 hr to assemble . Now to go get some grains

 

[Keith Neiswender]

I just brewed an IPA yesterday and I made that grain dang near flour. I got 85% efficiency. We will see if it adds any unwanted flavors to the final product.

How was it

 

[Andrew Hodgson]

I also just try to get it as close to flour as possible, cranking by hand got good efficiency and now I am going to bite the bullet and get a drill. Even 10-13lbs of grind by hand is a huge PITA when you are running as fine as possible.

 

[Andrew Hodgson]

I just got it from ups and I was impressed from just the packaging of the equipment. I unpacked it all and watched the YouTube video. The only thing I would have liked was a basics diagram on assembly. It would have made assembling a lot easier. It took about 1 hr to assemble . Now to go get some grains

I hope you enjoy it, I have had mine for 9 months now and it is performing like a champ.

 

[5SonsBrewing]

Any more updates? I'm looking hard at the Clawhammer, Grainfather or Unibrau.

 

[GeorgiaTiger]

I’m looking at this bad boy too. I’m so close to just pulling the trigger on one.

 

[Keith Neiswender]

Brewed 2nd beer love the system. I had a issue with PID and shipped a replacement the same day . Great customer service

 

[CJnCincy]

Since getting this back in the Spring, I have 15 batches through the system....not one regret....and as mentioned before, the customer service is outstanding. Great people to deal with.

 

[KillerBrew]

Brewed my first batch in the 120v system yesterday and hit the gravity levels dead on (~70% estimate). I used a generic recipe out of the Beer Smith 3 trial version and used the equipment profile from the Clawhammer website. Grain was milled once by my LHBS with whatever settings they have as default. I did have a couple foamy boilover instances with the start of the boil at 7 gallons but not horrible. I need to figure out why I had so much trub transferred to the carboy. I did whirlpool with the valves fully open, so I'm guessing that's part of it.

 

[GeorgiaTiger]

Ordered mine! Arrives on Thursday! Can’t wait!!!

 

[FredRedd]

Any more updates? I'm looking hard at the Clawhammer, Grainfather or Unibrau.

I was going back and forth between Clawhammer and Unibraü. Unibrau having a black Friday sale that's hard to beat. I love being able to switch between 120v and 240v