chigundo
Well-Known Member
Always brewed outside, which I like.. the selling point for me with the Grainfather is everything else about.
Grainfather!!
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Always brewed outside, which I like.. the selling point for me with the Grainfather is everything else about.
DarkUncle
Well-Known Member
Fair enough. To each their own. I have no intention of testing that though. Lol I'm on Long Island where it gets quite cold in the winter as well, though so far this winter is not representative of that.
Standing over a pot in the cold is not enjoyable for me so my brewing would go way down during the winter months. Now I setup in the kitchen and plop my arse down on the couch having a homebrew in the next room until I reach a step time. Lovin it!
seabrew8
Well-Known Member
I agree, one of the biggest reasons i want a GF is so i can just plug the guy into my wall! If it takes an extraz 30min to boil who cares?
Long island i see. Its been pretty cold here the last few weeks, -10 to 10C, i'm on the southeast coast of newfoundland. Relatively close to long island.
That works! That's quite a nicely detailed template someone put together, now to go get the reflectix and hopefully very soon the GF!
kellynm
Well-Known Member
I just purchased a roll of Reflectix from Lo*es... $25. It's 24" tall x 25' long... I've heard some folks double wrap their GF...
Yes, that was my intention, wrap twice (if only 40", then there's enough for numerous wraps!). And was thinking about making it removable with Velcro. I think the GF looks too nice to always leave the Reflectix on, however, time will tell. May be more of a pita to take on and off and store. If I decide to keep on full time I will use foil tape to keep it neat.
![Craft A Brew - Safale BE-256 Yeast - Fermentis - Belgian Ale Dry Yeast - For Belgian & Strong Ales - Ingredients for Home Brewing - Beer Making Supplies - [3 Pack]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51bcKEwQmWL._SL500_.jpg)
seabrew8
Well-Known Member
Why all the insulation? Do you have a GF now? With all that insulation it will be a huge pain to keep clean.
If I was going to put that stuff on i would use bands. If you use velco i really don't think it will last unless you treat it like a little baby.
I think smallest roll is 25'. It's not high R Value, so if excess why not 2 or 3 wraps? No, waiting on GF delivery- ordered this past Sat.
Yeah not sure on how Velcro will work, but I've had lots of practice with my daughter up at college these past 4yrs. Comes in long rolls.
Not sure about bands, though I guess also not permanent, so can keep the good look after brewing, one of my goals.
Yeah not sure on how Velcro will work, but I've had lots of practice with my daughter up at college these past 4yrs. Comes in long rolls.
Not sure about bands, though I guess also not permanent, so can keep the good look after brewing, one of my goals.
DarkUncle
Well-Known Member
For you guys using relectix, how about Velcro straps that go all around it?
My Graincoat stays on it full time. No need to remove it at all. Not sure you'd have to remove the reflectix either while cleaning. Although I don't know how durable it is to lean against a counter top while cleaning.
My Graincoat stays on it full time. No need to remove it at all. Not sure you'd have to remove the reflectix either while cleaning. Although I don't know how durable it is to lean against a counter top while cleaning.
I can't help but see GF as girlfriend in this thread.
Thanks a lot everyone! After reading this thread, I placed my order this morning. I'm stepping down from my half-barrel propane brewery, although I might continue to use it for session beers.
In my late 40's with a family and far fewer friends nowadays, I can't go through ten gals as quickly as in the past. Takes me about 5-6 weeks to drink 10 with a couple pints daily. Plus I'd rather have more variety than such a large quantity of the same thing. I wish this type of brewing had been around when I started 15 years ago. I might never have started brewing 10 gals in the first place.
Looking forward to this!
In my late 40's with a family and far fewer friends nowadays, I can't go through ten gals as quickly as in the past. Takes me about 5-6 weeks to drink 10 with a couple pints daily. Plus I'd rather have more variety than such a large quantity of the same thing. I wish this type of brewing had been around when I started 15 years ago. I might never have started brewing 10 gals in the first place.
Looking forward to this!
Are most of you folks brewing in the kitchen with a vent hood on nearby? I'm in Denver so moisture is not a big concern, but SWMBO doesn't enjoy when I fill the house with the delicious smell of boiling wort.
Three velcro spots work well on the reflectix without issue. Mine are under the recirc line from pump to top. Not sure why you would lean it against the counter to clean.....just dump trub, add water and PBW or Carboy Tab (works great) and heat and recirculate....if you want to scrub, go ahead.
I still brew 10 gallon batches (for events or shared brews) or the occasional 1.16 gravity beer and the GF can't handle that so I kept my 10 gal system....kind of hard to get rid of "my baby."
I still brew 10 gallon batches (for events or shared brews) or the occasional 1.16 gravity beer and the GF can't handle that so I kept my 10 gal system....kind of hard to get rid of "my baby."
I still brew 10 gallon batches (for events or shared brews) or the occasional 1.16 gravity beer and the GF can't handle that so I kept my 10 gal system....kind of hard to get rid of "my baby."
Agreed. Will be nice to have options to fit either the recipe, situation, or weather. Winter's coming...
Lazer Wolf Brewing
Well-Known Member
I just ordered mine this morning as well Super excited for my first brew.
Question for you Grainfather owners regarding chilling the wort...please forgive a possibly stupid question.
does anyone run the wort-out hose back into the Grainfather? if it takes about 20 minutes to drain wort straight into fermenter, that means hot wort is still hangin out inside the Grainfather waiting to be pumped out for up to 20 mins. Would running cool wort back into the Grainfather be beneficial in preventing DMS?
Thanks!
Super excited for my first brew. Question for you Grainfather owners regarding chilling the wort...please forgive a possibly stupid question.
does anyone run the wort-out hose back into the Grainfather? if it takes about 20 minutes to drain wort straight into fermenter, that means hot wort is still hangin out inside the Grainfather waiting to be pumped out for up to 20 mins. Would running cool wort back into the Grainfather be beneficial in preventing DMS?
Thanks!
DarkUncle
Well-Known Member
I just ordered mine this morning as well
Question for you Grainfather owners regarding chilling the wort...please forgive a possibly stupid question.
does anyone run the wort-out hose back into the Grainfather? if it takes about 20 minutes to drain wort straight into fermenter, that means hot wort is still hangin out inside the Grainfather waiting to be pumped out for up to 20 mins. Would running cool wort back into the Grainfather be beneficial in preventing DMS?
Thanks!
What you want to do is after turning off the element, recirc the hot wort through the counterflow and back into the Grainfather for about 5 minutes to sanitize it without running the cold tap water through just yet. After that then you run the tap water until you feel the wort out hose cool to the touch. At this point close the valve and put the wort out hose into you fermenter. Then open the valve about 3/4 of the way and empty the GF. If the wort out is still a bit warmer than pitching temp restrict the valve a little further. Do not recirc the cool wort back into the GF. You are pretty much just wasting time by doing that.
As far as I know DMS production has nothing to do with the wort cooling process. In fact, many people do the no chill method and pitch the yeast the following day.
DarkUncle
Well-Known Member
I have absolutely no problems with steam using the GF. You really don't get much more then if you were boiling water on your stove. The GF doesn't produce one of those crazy vigorous boils that would effectively create a personal weather system in the house. The boil is a nice rolling boil that is just right.
As for the smell, yeah you will be producing a lovely aroma though. Whether it's offensive to your significant other will remain to be seen I suppose. Luckily my wife very much enjoys the smell of boiling wort and hops.
chigundo
Well-Known Member
I don't have any place inside that has exhaust and the smell of delicious wort is only pleasurable to me and not the other house guests.
@Gspot- I'm with you on the variety over volume. I figure GF will make it that much easier to test batches.
@Blizzard- Same, SWMBO isn't fan of the brewing smells (but likes the beer!), and I too am curious on the steam.
@Chezhead- Glad to see you've got the Velcro idea working, and here I thought I was being original!
@Dark Uncle- thanks for all your comments, they've been very helpful, especially latest on the recirc- I've always chilled with an I/C so this will be new to me. If I move to basement I wonder if venting will be necessary even if its simply fan running towards basement walkout door? I realize without venting I'll still "fill" the house with those wonderful (but not appreciated) smells!
FedEx tracking has my GF in Sacramento currently and has just pushed back delivery date to Sat, from Friday. With any luck, they will still make it on Friday, or at least during the day Saturday...
@Blizzard- Same, SWMBO isn't fan of the brewing smells (but likes the beer!), and I too am curious on the steam.
@Chezhead- Glad to see you've got the Velcro idea working, and here I thought I was being original!
@Dark Uncle- thanks for all your comments, they've been very helpful, especially latest on the recirc- I've always chilled with an I/C so this will be new to me. If I move to basement I wonder if venting will be necessary even if its simply fan running towards basement walkout door? I realize without venting I'll still "fill" the house with those wonderful (but not appreciated) smells!
FedEx tracking has my GF in Sacramento currently and has just pushed back delivery date to Sat, from Friday.
With any luck, they will still make it on Friday, or at least during the day Saturday...Dave83
New Member
Extra screws are for securing your temp controller to the grainfather. Extra gaskets and o rings are replacements if ones on the unit get damaged or lost.
BrewMeister49
Well-Known Member
I know there is a small baggy with extra tiny black gaskets. That possibly? The only screws belong to the recirc arm. Where it attaches to the gf kettle.
I've never seen a Grainfather in person yet so my idea may be impossible. I was thinking of a way to aerate the wort as you pump it into the fermenter. On a hydraulic system, if you have air leaking into your suction pipe going to the pump, you make the oil foam up. Is there a way to introduce air to the pump on the Grainfather?
BrewMeister49
Well-Known Member
I would have no idea? Not sure why you would want to? I can see trying to do two things in one, but to manipulate something beyond its intent? I would just get an aeration system and do it that way with real O2.
I have not used a pump but from what I know about them is that you do not want to run them while dry or cavitating. You might get an air pump and introduce the air downstream of the pump...
Some pumps can run dry and some can't. Just thought it might be an easy way to aerate the wort as you pump it into the fermenter.
DarkUncle
Well-Known Member
@Gspot- I'm with you on the variety over volume. I figure GF will make it that much easier to test batches.
@Blizzard- Same, SWMBO isn't fan of the brewing smells (but likes the beer!), and I too am curious on the steam.
@Chezhead- Glad to see you've got the Velcro idea working, and here I thought I was being original!
@Dark Uncle- thanks for all your comments, they've been very helpful, especially latest on the recirc- I've always chilled with an I/C so this will be new to me. If I move to basement I wonder if venting will be necessary even if its simply fan running towards basement walkout door? I realize without venting I'll still "fill" the house with those wonderful (but not appreciated) smells!
FedEx tracking has my GF in Sacramento currently and has just pushed back delivery date to Sat, from Friday.
Venting is certainly not required. The steam produced by this unit is no where near enough to warrant that unless you are simply trying to get rid of the smell. In which case I'm not sure how effective that would be. Picture trying to vent the smell of freshly baking cookies in an oven out of your house. Same principle. Just isn't happening. But as I said, no one in my house finds the heavenly smell of wort and hops offensive. And if they did, too bad! I love it!
Stillraining
Well-Known Member
Just put a venturi in the line after the pump with a raidial inlet to outside air.
https://youtu.be/4czczYnuM_w
The venturi effect is exactly what causes the foam in the oil, so it will work. If that isn't enough O2 for you (and it's not really O2, it's air) then you could simply modify the counterflow chiller like I did (previous posts in this thread show the mod https://www.dropbox.com/sc/tndc9siflo4xicn/AAA5chGFdUxRESIPc-JcTZpua list some parts #99) and instead of putting a thermometer in there, you could attach an O2 tank
In terms of venting, just make sure the moisture has somewhere to go so it doesn't stay trapped in your brewing room and potentially cause mold. Maybe a fan in a nearby window blowing out. 1 gal of evaporated wort trapped in a 100sf room is a lot worse then throughout a whole house or apartment.
