actech
Well-Known Member
finally my first beer made by grainfather Yoopers house pale recipe
finally my first beer made by grainfather Yoopers house pale recipe
My first brew day with the GF and so far so good! Getting use to the setup still and need to work on my time management (pre-sanitize and clean up) but all goes well. Reflectix working out well and water heater on standby for the boil.
Right now, I'm not sure who's a bigger fan: me or my wife. I'm brewing beer, folding clothes, and doing stuff around the house as we speak.
UPDATE
Welp. Happy fun time is over. I'm stuck on step 3 of a 4-step mash. Mash temp has stalled around 130F on a 16lb bill. Not sure I'm going to make it to 165F tonight (and then boil). Contacted GF about my situation.
UPDATE 2
Some fine soul reminded me to check the switch on the bottom. Perilous tipping it over but alas we're back on the rise.
finally my first beer made by grainfather Yoopers house pale recipe
Cool you got it settled. One thing i will say the GF is not foolproof, it will not make the beer for you.
My brews are going pretty smoothly now though. My main issues have been the pump/hops. Whirlpooling and letting the wort sit for 15min or so before you start the pump seems to have fixed that issue for me. Just make sure you don't hit the filter and hit the rubber cap off! Which i did one batch and i had to literally dump the wort in a brew bucket and use an ice bath! Of course you can use bags or something but i'm stubborn like that.
Cool you got it settled. One thing i will say the GF is not foolproof, it will not make the beer for you.
My brews are going pretty smoothly now though. My main issues have been the pump/hops. Whirlpooling and letting the wort sit for 15min or so before you start the pump seems to have fixed that issue for me. Just make sure you don't hit the filter and hit the rubber cap off! Which i did one batch and i had to literally dump the wort in a brew bucket and use an ice bath! Of course you can use bags or something but i'm stubborn like that.
After one brew I knew I needed a hop spider. I got the one below from my LHBS, and have not regretted it. The cooling process goes much quicker as well.
What do you think of the Gaincoat?
I'm trying to decide between buying that or making a refletex wrap. I have neoprene jackets on my ssBrewtech fermentors and like them, but am wondering about your experience with their thermal insulation (i.e. Graincoat)?
I made a reflectex wrap when I first received my Gf ( about 6-7 months now) and purchased the graincoat when it became available. I like the graincaoat better because 1: its easier to clean 2: my boils are noticably stronger 3: it is not as hot to touch as the reflectix when boiling 4: it doesnt make a terrible crinkling sound when lifting the unit ( though this could be avoided by removing) and 5: it fits much snugger so I think it is conserving heat a bit better, although i might have just made mine a little too loose. All in all, I think it was worth it to buy this, although in hindsite, I might have just asked my wife to sew heat resistant neoprene over the reflectix. also, I live in Minnesota and brew in my basement which is mid to high 60's F in the summer and mid to low 50's in the winter.
Completed a light a Canadian Pale Ale for my first Grainfather run. The recipe predicted 23 liters but i only ended up with 20. The OG and FG were all with the style range so I'm a bit puzzled. Anyway, I couldn't hold off trying it after a few days on the gas and it was really good - even for being undercarbed! It's back on the gas for a few days and then getting ready for an Old Peculiar clone. This run will be done with a new Graincoat instead of the Reflectix jacket. I was disappointed that I couldn't pull it over the Reflectix but am happy with the form for sure. I think I'm going to really enjoy this all grain thing
Sorry if you think I'm trying to fix something. My question is to you or anyone else in this thread, have you taken a temperature reading of the grain bed with a thermometer? This isn't rocket science as someone said earlier, but a very basic concept in brewing a batch of beer.
I mashed last Sunday for over 2 hours just so I could test the grain bed temp. With good amount of wort flowing down the overflow pipe, you will fall short of correct/maintaining mash temps.
I've been brewing all grain for over 10 years, this principle for all grain is about as basic as it gets. I'm not talking about being off the the target temp 1 or 2 degrees. I set the controller for a 149 degrees and started testing..........2 hours later the grain bed finally got to 147 from starting point of 138. The controller is fine, it reads 149 plus or minus a degree. The wort flowing out of the return arm is reading around 149 or so. Does nothing for you if it goes down the overflow pipe. I see the overflow pipe as the safety in the system if you step away from the system for a few minutes.
I'm gathering that Grain father users are gauging success on clear wort at the end.
Please don't take my comments/observations as threats to how the Grain Father works for you. I'm really trying to make what is a good product out of the box a great brewing system.
Sorry
Jamie
I recently noticed this in my BIAB using a turkey fryer, which is why I am considering the change to a GF. My grain-bed was in the 140's whilst the wort on the outside of the basket was 155/156F. I was thinking that the muslin bag is too thick to allow the transference of temperature in the liquid between the outside of the basket/bag and the inside of the basket/bag.
I'm assuming, (without trying to cause hate and discontent in this thread), that if the grains are not mashing at the proper temperature, that there are going to be unforeseen consequences, what they might be, I don't know, but I've been mashing for about 15-30 minutes longer in the hopes that that will make the difference.
I'd hate to go back to the nylon paint strainer as I am concerned about the fact that they are not food-grade.
I might be wrong in my assumptions, but I'm glad that Jamie has come up with the question so that I may be able to get some answers.
I'll keep following this thread and see if someone comes up with some better plan - but even if they don't I think Jamie has raised a valid point.
Just my two centavos ......
Did you use the GF online water calculator? I have found it to be spot on.Yes SB...it was supposed to be 23L...now I've got 10L FFS...I'll pay more attention to the strain and drain the next time. It's really good beer though! A real thirst quencher...I'm hoping I can keep enough to fill a couple bombers with my Blichmann...
I recently noticed this in my BIAB using a turkey fryer, which is why I am considering the change to a GF. My grain-bed was in the 140's whilst the wort on the outside of the basket was 155/156F. I was thinking that the muslin bag is too thick to allow the transference of temperature in the liquid between the outside of the basket/bag and the inside of the basket/bag.
I'm assuming, (without trying to cause hate and discontent in this thread), that if the grains are not mashing at the proper temperature, that there are going to be unforeseen consequences, what they might be, I don't know, but I've been mashing for about 15-30 minutes longer in the hopes that that will make the difference.
I'd hate to go back to the nylon paint strainer as I am concerned about the fact that they are not food-grade.
I might be wrong in my assumptions, but I'm glad that Jamie has come up with the question so that I may be able to get some answers.
I'll keep following this thread and see if someone comes up with some better plan - but even if they don't I think Jamie has raised a valid point.
Just my two centavos ......
OMF! Went to kegerator and lost half my first keg of my Northern Light Pale Ale...so pissed off I had to have a beer before cleaning up a mess. Not sure if the post or picnic tap stuck at the moment. It's time for me to bite the bullet and get my taps on. Oh well, here's a look at my first nearly a total loss all grain...talk about a tear in a beer :-(View attachment 345719
For those of you that had to contact support, which route did you go to contact them? My controller doesn't really work. I have to push the buttons in really far to get them to register. I have to use a pen or something small to push them in far enough to register and then they get stuck so I have to dig them out. I could probably live with it but for the price I don't think I should have to. I have another STC controller that I bought off eBay to wire up my fermentation fridge that works fine. This one definitely isn't right so I'd like them to swap it out. I emailed them on Friday and just tried calling them now but haven't been able to get through. Not getting impatient yet but would rather minimize the amount of time before I can start using this thing.
Did you use the GF online water calculator? I have found it to be spot on.
I'm thinking of purchasing a GF to start on my home brewing. Do you just suggest it for a newbie? Are there other brand would you recommend?
I've used email and Facebook and even called. Only Facebook has garnered a response. NZ hours and weekend backlog prob not a good setup.
I have brewed with the GF for about 12 batches now. The strike temp is super critical to get right. I would say at least shoot for about 10 to 12 degrees above desired set temp. If you dough in at desired mash temp, the grain bed will drop outside the range and it will be really tough to recover in the 60 to 75 min mash time. I've been running the temp probe in the mash tun for the last few batches. Its really a nice addition to help you make some changes if needed. I'll go to boil settings temporarily to increase the temp if needed.
It is a different machine to brew with, that I know. I have brewed for about 10 years in a simple cooler as a mash tun. This should not be that much different, but the mash cycle really has lots of factors that seem to change each time. A good steady flow in the grain bed is important. If its running down the pipe, its not changing the temperature in the mash tun much. Thats why the strike temperature is critical to nail at mash in. You want your starting point of the actual grain temperature to be close to set temp.
Jamie
In other words it doesn't matter.
I'm thinking of purchasing a GF to start on my home brewing. Do you just suggest it for a newbie? Are there other brand would you recommend?
I still don't understand how the grain bed is that much cooler. Once you start the pump, the wort from the grain bed is drawn down past the temp probe. The readout drops slightly (3-4 IME) and then within 5-7 mins (IME) it rises back to set temp and then swings a few degrees either way during the mash. If the grain bed is 10-12 cooler, wouldn't the wort coming out of it be 10-12 degrees cooler as well?
I guess the most important thing is the wort temp not the actual bed.
Either way, after 11 brews i think now none of my beer have been "thin". And only one was less then %70 brewhouse efficiency. Numbers don't lie has they say.
I still don't understand how the grain bed is that much cooler. Once you start the pump, the wort from the grain bed is drawn down past the temp probe. The readout drops slightly (3-4 IME) and then within 5-7 mins (IME) it rises back to set temp and then swings a few degrees either way during the mash. If the grain bed is 10-12 cooler, wouldn't the wort coming out of it be 10-12 degrees cooler as well?
I'm thinking of purchasing a GF to start on my home brewing. Do you just suggest it for a newbie? Are there other brand would you recommend?
My thinking would be "yes" of course. It's reasonably priced and a relatively compact piece of kit. I would suggest some accessories however, ie - hop spider, Graincoat, GFCI for plug, etc. I've only used it once but see a lot of potential. My approach is to use some "built" tried and true recipes before I start customizing and cloning. I'm on my way however.
Is a portion of your return wort going down the over flow? If so, you answered your question.
What's your past brewing experience? Don't take this as a insult. Just trying to understand why the mash discussion becomes a sort of a sore spot with some folks.
Lot of books written about the science of mashing. This thread is challenging a few good author's.
I'm trying to educate you that I have ran a calibrated temp probe in the mash tun, and it's tough to change the temp if your off. Give it a try before you state facts about something you haven't tried.
No one is doubting your data, it's the importance of it they are doubting. If I set the temp controller to 152 and get the same results as when I used a cooler and mashed at 152, why do I care what the actual grain temperature is? All we are saying is anecdotally it appears the liquid temp is the more important factor and the Grainfather directly measures that. Why change the way the manufacturer recommends to use the equipment when it works flawlessly? Don't you think they tested it? If grain bed temp is so important, and my method is fatally flawed, why do I nail my predicted final gravity?
I'm thinking of purchasing a GF to start on my home brewing. Do you just suggest it for a newbie? Are there other brand would you recommend?
No one is doubting your data, it's the importance of it they are doubting. If I set the temp controller to 152 and get the same results as when I used a cooler and mashed at 152, why do I care what the actual grain temperature is? All we are saying is anecdotally it appears the liquid temp is the more important factor and the Grainfather directly measures that. Why change the way the manufacturer recommends to use the equipment when it works flawlessly? Don't you think they tested it? If grain bed temp is so important, and my method is fatally flawed, why do I nail my predicted final gravity?
Are you really asking why we care what the grain bed temp is?
The GF does not need to be a religious thing, just to believe because the company says. We can test it to prove if it works the way the science of the hobby says it should.
Why do you feel threatened to discuss this topic? I'm not saying it's junk. Just looking to improve an already good system. Kind of hoping for guys to provide some input of their experiences.
Maybe a new thread would help?
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