Dark Star Burner 2.0

[readingbeerman]

Does anyone have any experience with the Dark Star Burner 2.0?

I can find tons of reference to the original Dark Star, and how it compares to the BC SP-10 and SQ-14. I can not find any reviews of the Dark Star 2.0.

http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/brewing/brewing-equipment/dark-star-burner-2-0

There aren't even any reviews on NB's website.

It looks like the advantage over the original is the banjo style burner.

 

[day_trippr]

Looks like they replaced the SP10 style burner with an SQ14 burner.
If nothing else it should be a lot quieter - and it might not be so prone to blackening kettles...

Cheers!

 

[d3track]

Upgraded burner, I have an sq14 after starting out with one of the cup burners. I like the sq14 better, for me it beats quicker, more evenly, is quieter, and doesn't blacken the kettle.

 

[FVillatoro]

I'm going to buy one today - I'll report back. :rockin:

 

[vahunter1819]

Been looking to upgrade my burner. Im very interested to hear the reviews now that people are starting to receive their orders.

 

[FVillatoro]

I got mine today, and I gotta say that i am amazed by how low to the ground it is! That is a plus since I won't have to lift as high and it'll be easier to stir.

I haven't seen the original but this one is pretty simple yet looks sturdy. It was given a sample run and it looks like the air mixture wheels works well and I was getting a blue flame - but it's so damn windy that it was hard to actually see it. A 5 psi regulator was included I think (the knob says 5psi or something).
Never the less I will probably take it for a spin this Saturday.

I did like the fact that the burner is secured to the stand via a bolt on the bottom to keep it from falling.

Updates incoming and some pics below:

 

[FVillatoro]

I brewed with it this Sunday morning and I have to say that I am impressed!
Compared to my previous generic burner (can't find the brand) that my mom used to cook outside with, this one blows it out of the water in heating power.

When turned all the way to max, and after adjusting the air/fuel wheel, the flames even shot out of the sides of the pot and it sounded like a jet engine on max.
Heating time of the water is much faster than my previous, and my strike water was ready in like 10 minutes.
Once I got a 7.5 gallon wort collection I set it to max power and it got the boil up in about 15-17 minutes and then I rolled the power back to get a nice rolling boil.

I am impressed with the unit and for the price it's just an amazing value.

As pictures below will show, THERE IS NO SOOT on the bottom of the pots and it burns clean - what little you may see there is from the previous burner that I had to scrub off in previous times.

The bad: There is a weird smell at first due to the paint burning off, and I can see that the black coating will not last much longer and visually it will look ugly in a few more batches... but this will not hinder performance.

That's it... I am happy with this unit and I recommend it to anyone.

Below are some pics:

 

[readingbeerman]

Thanks for the response. It looks like a solid unit with an improved burner over the original.

I just got a Bayou Classic SQ14 for my birthday, so it looks like I won't be needing the DS2.0!

Cheers.

 

[ballsy]

I have the Bayou Classic SQ10 (very old one), and saw NB is giving away a "free" darkstar 2.0 with $125 purchase. I considered getting it thinking maybe I could get more batches out of a tank (I do need to re-order a bunch of ingredients). Well, after I saw the $50 shipping fee they added at checkout for the burner (of course, it's exempt from their flat rate shipping)...I said wth would I pay $50 shipping for a $50 product?!? I think I'll stick to my 5-6 batches per tank Bayou Classic haha.

 

[NothingRhymesWithCurtiss]

I have the Bayou Classic SQ10 (very old one), and saw NB is giving away a "free" darkstar 2.0 with $125 purchase. I considered getting it thinking maybe I could get more batches out of a tank (I do need to re-order a bunch of ingredients). Well, after I saw the $50 shipping fee they added at checkout for the burner (of course, it's exempt from their flat rate shipping)...I said wth would I pay $50 shipping for a $50 product?!? I think I'll stick to my 5-6 batches per tank Bayou Classic haha.

I just took advantage of the "Free" Darkstar 2.0 deal.

I ended up ordering a 8 Gal Tall Boy Kettle and a recipe kit as well, but my shipping was under $20.

 

[ballsy]

I just took advantage of the "Free" Darkstar 2.0 deal.

I ended up ordering a 8 Gal Tall Boy Kettle and a recipe kit as well, but my shipping was under $20.

I guess it could have been increased also from the bulk grain I ordered then. Either way, it appears I should just go to my local HBS as not to deal with shipping to begin with.