Grainfather sales now live in U.S.! Woohhooo

[Bobby_M]

Not currently but wiring is not very difficult. Email me and I may be able to help.

 

[brew-in]

I got mine (east coast Kickstarter backer) yesterday. Today I unpacked it, put it together , cleaned it and am doing a test boil (just water) to see how long it takes to reach a boil with 7 gallons of (cold) water.

It was about 1:15 to get from 73° to 165°, and I'll report back how long to get from there to a boil.

Humm...this is my worry with the system....seems very slow....winter in a garage would be tuff...IMHO

 

[bobbytuck]

Humm...this is my worry with the system....seems very slow....winter in a garage would be tuff...IMHO

I don't have a grainfather -- I have a Picobrew -- but I just looked at yesterday's brew log, and it looks like I went from 70F tap to 150F mash in 34 minutes.

Then it went from mash out to boil (208F, in the case of the Pico) in 20 mins.

OTOH, the Pico is only dealing with 2.5 to 3 gallons at any given time, and I assume the Grainfather is doing the full 5-5.5 gallon batch.

So the times are pretty similar, I'm guessing, given the respective volumes.

 

[sdufford]

Bobby_m, if I built a drop in heat stick for this purpose (augmenting the existing boil), would I need a controller or would I just plug it directly into the wall and have it always on?

I am guessing I'd want the lowest wattage you offer, the 1375W @120V. To be used in combo with the Grainfather's 1600W.

Thanks.

 

[Andyoesq]

I have a hot rod heat stick. It is awesome. Just plug it in to the wall and you are good to go.

 

[Andyoesq]

for anyone looking to see what the hot rod does with a GF, check out the attached video. I had a decent boil before, with the hot rod it is explosive. next step get a smaller hop spider

 

[Bobby_M]

That is very vigorously boiling. Can you force the GF to the lower mash wattage?

 

[Andyoesq]

That is very vigorously boiling. Can you force the GF to the lower mash wattage?

yes, good point. you can kick it down to 600 watts, i will try that next time.

this is the boil with a hop sock instead of the massive hop spider.

the hot rod has worked great - bumps it up to boil temp in no time, and no doubt that the boil is vigorous now. I love it.

 

[Andyoesq]

for comparison, this is the boil of another user with a grainfather without a hot rod. my boil without hot rod is more vigorous than this. my unscientific study has shown that people at higher level altitude have no issue with boil. those at sea level struggle a little.
but much better with hot rod. no doubt.
i have requested a 4x16 300 micron hop spider be built by the folks at utah diesel, which i think will be the ultimate happy medium for everything but super hop heavy brews.

 

[gwapogorilla]

I have a hot rod heat stick. It is awesome. Just plug it in to the wall and you are good to go.

Maybe some pics of the heat stick? I am really considering a GF.

 

[Andyoesq]

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1441817131.715982.jpg this is the bottom

 

[Andyoesq]

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1441817169.611588.jpg this is the top

 

[TE10984]

Can I get some more info on this hot rod heat stick. I am very interested in buying one and how to hook it up. I am not electrical friendly. Thanks

 

[TE10984]

Can I get some more information on the hot rod heat stick. I am interest in purchasing one like this for my grainfather and how to wire it. Or I'll pay extra for some one to do the wiring. Thanks send me a message please.

 

[Bobby_M]

I'm on the verge of bringing in some bulk SJ type cord and I may be offering a pre-wired hotrod in the future but I'm not ready yet.

 

[bmorosco]

Got My GrainFather Yesterday! I looked at the GF and the BM .. After all the efficiency is what matters and the end product for me. I looked at both of these and I really did not want total automation or have to brew in one spot because that's where the 220V line is. I like a schedule and having to increase temps during my step mashing keeps me engaged in the process. Looking forward to brewing my first batch..

 

[J0N]

Keep us posted!

 

[gwapogorilla]

I want one

 

[DU99]

got one as a retirement present from the place i worked

 

[pauld315]

I am seriously considering buying one of these and selling all of my existing equipment. Mostly, just for the convenience and space savings. If the people who already have this could keep us all posted on the good and bad of the system, it would be appreciated. It already looks like an auxillary heating source such as the hotrod will be needed based on previous posts. What else is needed besides a way to heat your sparge water ?

 

[andysim]

I am seriously considering buying one of these and selling all of my existing equipment. Mostly, just for the convenience and space savings. If the people who already have this could keep us all posted on the good and bad of the system, it would be appreciated. It already looks like an auxillary heating source such as the hotrod will be needed based on previous posts. What else is needed besides a way to heat your sparge water ?

I bought a $8.99 heater save time on heating water and built a hop spider. Those are my only changes so far.

I will probably add a insulation jacket also.

My efficiency is not as high as my old system, so I'm going to adjust my crush.

I love it. It's simple to use and clean. Definitely a space saver.

 

[bmorosco]

Ok first brew down with the GrainFather! Let me start by saying! EASY!!! I love it. What a great device! Started off with a simple recipe..
4 lbs Pilsner Malt
4 lbs Two Row
1 lb Honey malt
1 lb biscuit Malt
1 lb flaked Maze

Heated the Water up in no time 14 min. I did a step Mash 142 for 20 152 for 50 and mash out at 167 for 10 min.. did all the calculations SG was calculated at 1.052 and the Grain Father hit it right on the nose 1.052 .
I heated up sparge water to 167 on my stove and sparged with that and it worked well.
After Sparge was complete I removed the Grain Can and placed in a bucket . Fired up the Boil buttons and that took about 20 min to get to a boil and I was impressed that it was a decent Boil. I had heard that the US versions were hard to get to Boil but that was not the case.
Used FUGLE hops 1oz for 60 and 1oz for 15min also had some Orange peel I added to the Boil at 30 min..
As of right now it is in the fermenter and bubbling away with US05 in there doing it's magic!
I am sorry for no pictures this time but Next time I will I wanted to concentrate on getting the process down with the new system. I am brewing again this Thursday and can't wait ! If you can get your hands on one of these I would!!

Brew Calculator worked perfect from Grainfather.

 

[bmorosco]

What did you get for efficiency?

 

[bmorosco]

I bought a $8.99 heater save time on heating water and built a hop spider. Those are my only changes so far.

I will probably add a insulation jacket also.

My efficiency is not as high as my old system, so I'm going to adjust my crush.

I love it. It's simple to use and clean. Definitely a space saver.

What did you reach for efficiency?

 

[andysim]

I've been between 63-69%.

I think I need a finer crush.

It's takes me only 10-15 minutes to sparge.

I was getting 75-78% batch sparging on my old system

 

[bmorosco]

It definitely is Grain Crush size I am looking at numbers and it says it is between 85-90% which is fantastic and my crush is exactly that crushed.

 

[xandersaml]

Out of stock

 

[josh-h]

I love the grandfather! however be aware of unfinished machining on the sharp edges of the grain basket..I was in the middle of sparging, and i accidentally knocked the basket and caught it only to realize my fingers were cut pretty good. I fortunately didn't drop it into the hot wort however.
-j

 

[pagrider]

how do you sparge? do you really have to heat up a pot of water and pour it over the top.

 

[DU99]

you can buy an optional unit which similar to a hot water urn.sparging is hand done with a jug or similar item.check the video on you tube