Grainfather!!

[skraeling]

Hopefully that means we have a chance of being in the 1st shipment

I already talked with a guy at AIH mine wont be making the first shipment, but probably the second.

 

[elreplica]

Woohoo, mine shipped from Everwood today. Was hoping it will be here (Ontario) by the weekend, but I'm not counting on it.

Will likely be there Monday or Tuesday as I previously prognosticated...rarely under five days...unless Priority or courier...but here's proof they're real and on the east coast...Dave and all others in NS only got them no earlier than Monday March 20th...I drove immediately to the warehouse in Dartmouth and picked up my preorder. Here's my preflight warmup...View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1490369134.479700.jpg

 

[joyride75]

My new controller just shipped from AIH, as of 5 minutes ago. WOO

 

[bigtex52]

Mine too! Hallelujah!!

 

[gotbeer74]

My new controller just shipped from AIH, as of 5 minutes ago. WOO

Mine too!!!!!

 

[elproducto]

Nice surprise on my porch waiting when I got home from work.

My new controller! Everwood came through!

 

[d-bone]

My new controller just shipped from AIH, as of 5 minutes ago. WOO

same here.

 

[elreplica]

Nice surprise on my porch waiting when I got home from work.



My new controller! Everwood came through!

Well...the groundhog was wrong too!

 

[gamerc]

My first all grain is a jalapeno cream ale.... warming up for the mash now!

...and I'm trying to kick the 5g keg of Goose Island Bourbon County RIS clone I made last summer. It's a fine winter sipper at 12.4% It's a fine companion to this one, but I need to pay attention since this is my first all grain brew.

 

[Kampenken]

I have the Grainfather, I don't understand what makes the connect worth the upgrade. As far as I understand all it does is save me from having to adjust the temp during the mash. Is there more to it than that. I think I saw one at my lhbs the other day. (I'm sure you guys that are waiting don't want hear that)

I'm in exactly the same camp. I don't mash step, other than a mash out(it helps to shorten time to boil from mash to boil). The delay start is a great advantage but I can do that with a much cheaper timer. It's indeed a nicer look but I see it mostly as a gadget I don't need, however I do get why so many here are opting for it. The PID mash temp control is pointless when it measures below the grain bed and really how finite control on this will make any difference in the beer is beyond me. Get it for the coolness factor or to replace a broken controller, not to change beer quality / consistency.

 

[Diamonddave74]

So you guys are right. Unlikely the new controller will make better beer but for me it will provide a better brew day experience. For me the convenience, control and ui are worth it.

 

[dibbz]

The triac temp control is a lot more accurate as it will vary the power of the heating element accordingly, so less temp swing like you get on the pid controller.

I've also used the online recipe creator and run the brew session via the connect app for my last 2 brews, I was also skeptical at first but it is really good to have all the timings automated. The 2 brews have hit efficiency and volume perfectly too, I'll never use beersmith for my GF equipment / recipes again.

 

[user 4295]

Will the new Connect controller make better beer? Probably not, but neither will the Grainfather. I know I bought mine because I like gadgets, especially gadgets that help make aspects of my life a little easier.

The GF lived up to that, and then some. This little gadget brought the joy of brewing back for me. I know that sounds silly, but it's true. The new Connect controller is just icing on an already delicious cake.

 

[rossi46]

I was on Williams Brewing website last night and saw they had one in stock. I pulled the trigger.

 

[UglySister]

I have few questions,
If the recipe calls far a dual temp mash, say 30 min @130° then 60min @ 150°, it takes the Grainfather some time to increase 20°. Should it still be 90 min total or 30 minutes at lower temp, then heat to higher temp before starting timer for additional 60 min?
Also I think I am sparging wrong. I have sparged every batch with the sparge water at mash temp. I've since noticed that recipes on the Grainfather app are sparging at 167°. What should I be doing? All my recipes so far have been from the 200 clones book and it does not specify sparging temp.

 

[elreplica]

Will the new Connect controller make better beer? Probably not, but neither will the Grainfather. I know I bought mine because I like gadgets, especially gadgets that help make aspects of my life a little easier.

The GF lived up to that, and then some. This little gadget brought the joy of brewing back for me. I know that sounds silly, but it's true. The new Connect controller is just icing on an already delicious cake.

Yup...it definitely rekindled the buzz. I'm with you on gadgetry and it definitely maintains the temperature more accurately than the original one. Its flexibility in downloading or uploading various recipes from an iOS device is worth the price of admission alone, let alone the step mashing and delayed start. I worked through it manually for my first session and whilst I dropped the ball on a couple of things, it had nothing to do with the Connect whatsoever. All things told, it's the controller that should've shipped with the Grainfather but thankfully the upgrade path was relatively painless. Plenty of three vessel people migrating to the GF from what I understand.

 

[skraeling]

I have few questions,
If the recipe calls far a dual temp mash, say 30 min @130° then 60min @ 150°, it takes the Grainfather some time to increase 20°. Should it still be 90 min total or 30 minutes at lower temp, then heat to higher temp before starting timer for additional 60 min?
Also I think I am sparging wrong. I have sparged every batch with the sparge water at mash temp. I've since noticed that recipes on the Grainfather app are sparging at 167°. What should I be doing? All my recipes so far have been from the 200 clones book and it does not specify sparging temp.

timer shouldnt start till you hit your intended temp.

sparge water temps have beena matter of debate lately. you can use cold water if you want but that will jus tmean a longer time to heat to boil after sparging.

 

[rossi46]

3 in stock at Williams

View attachment 1490557305546.jpg

 

[skraeling]

3 in stock at Williams

If I hadnt managed to score one from aih for 128 shipped I would. I may as well keep waiting on mine at this point.

 

[elreplica]

If I hadnt managed to score one from aih for 128 shipped I would. I may as well keep waiting on mine at this point.

At that price I'd say start the car!

 

[Jratt]

anyone used a blichmann therminator plate chillerwith the GF? My currentl GF chilelr is leaking and its becoming a pain, and for the same price i can get a plate chiller (good quality, that will bolt into place on my GF stand.

Anyone?

I have a plate chiller and use it with my grain father. I didn't like the connections on the counter flow chiller that came with it and the plate chiller works well.

 

[crusader1612]

I have a plate chiller and use it with my grain father. I didn't like the connections on the counter flow chiller that came with it and the plate chiller works well.

how is it cleaning wise?
I've heard reports that it can be a pin to clean?
or do you just go through the standard cleaning process of the GF when you do it?

 

[bigtex52]

Guess what the mail lady just put on my doorstep!! WooHOOO! Pre-ordered 1/16.

 

[joyride75]

Guess what the mail lady just put on my doorstep!! WooHOOO! Pre-ordered 1/16.

Mine is on truck for delivery today. FINALLY.

 

[elreplica]

Mine is on truck for delivery today. FINALLY.

I heard that orders going into Minneapolis were being held up...

 

[rossi46]

Got mine today ! Ordered on Friday night !

View attachment 1490807473626.jpg

 

[skraeling]

55 days and counting still.

 

[JBurger538]

Got this from AiH today when I inquired about the Connect and the back order.

"Thanks for reaching out to us. grain Father had run into some production issue that delayed the shipment to the US further than expected, and they had not passed this information along to us right away. We got tracking information that the controllers will be delivered by the end of business tomorrow and we;ll be processing orders out for shipment through the end of the week, and over the weekend for shipping early next week. As soon as your order has shipped, you'll receive tracking information sent to your E-mail. Let us know if you need a hand or have questions on anything else and we'd be glad to help, Cheers!"

 

[d-bone]

I heard that orders going into Minneapolis were being held up...

Got mine today.. Im in Minneapolis

 

[elreplica]

Got mine today.. Im in Minneapolis

I was only kidding lol. I was shocked that we in eastern Canada beat out many brew bros stateside getting these gizmos.