Grainfather!!

[HCbrewing]

Do you guys know any tips (or list on a website somewhere) for increasing efficiency?
I had 65% the first time I used my GF,

As a reference, here is my process up to the boil:
2.75gal batch

• Adjust the gap of my grain crusher as wide as a credit card
• Use the Grainfather water calculator for small batches
• Set the striking water temp at 160
• Slowly poured the grain (5 minutes), making sure I was mixing it enough
• Press the top filter so it compress the grains just a little
• Set the mash temp at 153 (so it stays around 152)
• Mash for 60min, recirculated well
• Lift the basket, set the GF to boil, press on the top filter so it compress the grains just a little
• Slowly sparge with 0,80gal of water at 165, took 10 min, with a Pyrex cup. The water pretty much goes right through for the first 0,60gal
• Let drain for about 20 minutes
• Boiled for 60min

I hit my 2,75 gal pretty close, was at about 2,70. So my OG should be higher... It was 0.007 under...

My ideas for next brew:
Do a 75min mash, 90min boil
Compress a little more on the top filter? (afraid of creating a stuck mash...)
Higher sparge temp and/or change method?

Thanks for your ideas!

Sounds like your crush is a little course. I have my mill set at .26 and it usually takes me 30-40 minutes to sparge. One time I had to finish draining the grain basket into another pot because I was near boil and not done sparging. The other 2 times I was over 200 degrees before I finished sparging. All 3 batches have been right at 80% efficiency.

If you are sparging that fast I would guess it's all because your crush is too course which will hurt your mash efficiency, and you may also be leaving some sugar in your grain because your sparge is so fast.

 

[UltraRunner100]

I had scratches on the grain basket part but nothing like that. Did you buy online or local? The sales rep has still not responded to my LHBS about my claim. They emailed them in December to see if they would replace it. Good luck.View attachment 349075

Have you used your system at all or are you still waiting to see if they replaced it?

 

[Kampenken]

Thanks Kampenken... look forward to the pics to solidify things.

Sorry forgot last night, ended up bottling 2.5 cases of a Sierra Nevada Torpedo IPA clone last night, happy to get the extra as the hydro sample tasted very good! Another solid GF brew, even if the water calc for me is off (6g into fermenter, target was 5.5). At any rate, I have put a reminder on my phone to take pics.

 

[jdubdvdt]

I've been using the Grainfather's calculators for my mash and sparge water. Curious, when it is asking for your batch size what is the target? Fermenter or kettle?

 

[user 21663]

I've been using the Grainfather's calculators for my mash and sparge water. Curious, when it is asking for your batch size what is the target? Fermenter or kettle?

I based it on my recipe batch size. I do all mine at 6 gallons, transfer 5.5 gallon to the fermenter and have 5 gallons to the keg.

 

[jdubdvdt]

I based it on my recipe batch size. I do all mine at 6 gallons, transfer 5.5 gallon to the fermenter and have 5 gallons to the keg.

Interesting. I figured they accounted for the trub loss and equipment losses in their calculators. So you're doing 1/2 gallon in trub/equip losses?

 

[user 21663]

Interesting. I figured they accounted for the trub loss and equipment losses in their calculators. So you're doing 1/2 gallon in trub/equip losses?

Yes, but I've only done 2 batches on the grainfather so I still need to dial it in a bit. The 6-5.5-5 system works well for my propane brewing though.

 

[jdubdvdt]

Yes, but I've only done 2 batches on the grainfather so I still need to dial it in a bit. The 6-5.5-5 system works well for my propane brewing though.

That's what I typically did when I was using my propane system as well.

 

[Tombsy]

Where can I buy replacement parts? I 'lost' my entire mash/grain basket. Including the piping and screens.

 

[gotbeer74]

Have you used your system at all or are you still waiting to see if they replaced it?

I've been using it.

 

[gotbeer74]

Where can I buy replacement parts? I 'lost' my entire mash/grain basket. Including the piping and screens.

And how did you do that?

 

[treacheroustexan]

And how did you do that?

This should be good.

 

[Kampenken]

Thanks Kampenken... look forward to the pics to solidify things.

I took pics but what a pita to post here! It will be one at a time. Pic 1 is GF all ready to go

Pic 2 next post!

 

[Kampenken]

Pic 2- detail of the command strips that hold the Reflectix wrap onto itself.

 

[Kampenken]

Pic 3- top detail of the upper pipe insulation that creates air space. Electrical tape holds pipe butt ends together

 

[Kampenken]

Pic 4- bottom detail of lower insulation, cord cutouts and to right where the temp probe goes. I didn't take this all apart as this should provide enough detail I hope, and it's really snug around the controller. Probably will put on foil tape on the outer seam for a more finished look.
And I also have one wrap of insulation in the middle (just below the controller)

 

[Kampenken]

Do you guys know any tips (or list on a website somewhere) for increasing efficiency?
I had 65% the first time I used my GF,...!

I agree with previous comment that your crush was too coarse. Also small batches can be tricky with GF.

Hello, I am brand new to this forum and homebrewing. I recently purchased the grainfather and noticed some big scratches inside. My main concern is that I do not want to contaminate any batches. From what I read this isn't an issue due to the boiling process. Should I be worried and return it? Or am I just stressing for no reason?

Thank you

I'd return it. If it was the basket maybe they send a replacement. Good luck in what you choose to do.

I've been using the Grainfather's calculators for my mash and sparge water. Curious, when it is asking for your batch size what is the target? Fermenter or kettle?

Fermenter. I have issues with their calcs and am dialing it in. And there's zero consideration for boil time, which I can't understand.

This should be good.

Ditto, looking forward to this one!

 

[jdubdvdt]

Fermenter. I have issues with their calcs and am dialing it in. And there's zero consideration for boil time, which I can't understand.

Well, let's see what happens. I assume batch size was for the kettle on this go around. I always just set my boil volume to 1gal/hr boiloff rate. I'll add water if I need to... they need some work with their calculators.

 

[doogster]

Kampenken, Thanks for the pics....Looks simple enough and effective.

Let me know how your garage brew session goes this weekend, and I'll sit here waiting for my GF to arrive!

 

[Lazer Wolf Brewing]

I've been using the Grainfather's calculators for my mash and sparge water. Curious, when it is asking for your batch size what is the target? Fermenter or kettle?

It took me some trial and error (a couple 2 hour boils to reach the FGs I wanted) but I finally figured out how to get my numbers right. In Brewers Friend software im targeting 6.0gallons final kettle volume, and inputting 5.5gallons into the grainfather calculator.

 

[Kampenken]

That's essentially where I'm at, if I use GF calcs I'm over by ~.5gal on a 60 min boil. Still makes great beer, just tying out these loose ends. I've adjusted my calc split with the majority impact on the sparge water. And have taken into consideration boil time. Next test is Sat morning in my brother's cold garage- high here is 41 & snow. Hmmm, isn't this why I have the GF too??! Might move inside and wave to those two in the snow!

 

[jdubdvdt]

It took me some trial and error (a couple 2 hour boils to reach the FGs I wanted) but I finally figured out how to get my numbers right. In Brewers Friend software im targeting 6.0gallons final kettle volume, and inputting 5.5gallons into the grainfather calculator.

Thanks. I'll try that today with my pale ale. Honestly I only use the calculator to get a rough estimate of my sparge water and to get the mash thickness set for the grain father. With it set to 5.5gallons for the grain father calc, what are you targeting for fermenter volume and preboil volume (60/90min boil)? Grain father doesn't account for boil time which makes zero sense.

 

[HCbrewing]

Thanks. I'll try that today with my pale ale. Honestly I only use the calculator to get a rough estimate of my sparge water and to get the mash thickness set for the grain father. With it set to 5.5gallons for the grain father calc, what are you targeting for fermenter volume and preboil volume (60/90min boil)? Grain father doesn't account for boil time which makes zero sense.

I think it accounts for boil time, but it just assumes 60 minute boils.

 

[jdubdvdt]

I think it accounts for boil time, but it just assumes 60 minute boils.

After doing a bunch of research I just decided to create my own brew day calculator for the Grainfather. I use their figures to get the mash water, but after that I use my excel spreadsheet to determine the rest. I hit my 5.5 gallon target (fermenter) exactly with 89% efficiency.

Will keep experimenting in the future, but this may be my last brew until Julyish.

 

[gspot]

After doing a bunch of research I just decided to create my own brew day calculator for the Grainfather. I use their figures to get the mash water, but after that I use my excel spreadsheet to determine the rest. I hit my 5.5 gallon target (fermenter) exactly with 89% efficiency.

Will keep experimenting in the future, but this may be my last brew until Julyish.

That's what I did. I entered their formula from the user manual into a spreadsheet. It's simply a matter of inputting the total weight of your grain bill, and it outputs your mash and sparge water volumes.

 

[Kampenken]

That's what I did. I entered their formula from the user manual into a spreadsheet. It's simply a matter of inputting the total weight of your grain bill, and it outputs your mash and sparge water volumes.

I did the same and yes it does, however my experience is the water calcs from GF are too high. I'm leaning towards keeping the mash water figure as is (seems to work well for the recirc) and subtract about 1/2 gallon of the sparge water for an hour boil. For each 30 min longer boil I will subtract 1qt less, so that a 2hr boil (I haven't gone that long) would use what the GF results produce. Longer, could you imagine such a thing!!, I would add a qt/30 min. Might sound like I'm picking nits, but would like to hit the fermenter with what I plan in my recipe.

Moving my brew day to Sunday, apparently my brothers find a forecast of snow and 37 as a high not conducive to brewing. Poor outdoors folks, I'd just set up inside and wave to them! Gotta love that feature of the GF! :rockin:

 

[gspot]

I did the same and yes it does, however my experience is the water calcs from GF are too high. I'm leaning towards keeping the mash water figure as is (seems to work well for the recirc) and subtract about 1/2 gallon of the sparge water for an hour boil. For each 30 min longer boil I will subtract 1qt less, so that a 2hr boil (I haven't gone that long) would use what the GF results produce. Longer, could you imagine such a thing!!, I would add a qt/30 min. Might sound like I'm picking nits, but would like to hit the fermenter with what I plan in my recipe.

I arrive at the same result, just slightly differently. The manual recommends an evaporation rate of 8-10% for the calculation. I found that using 8% for a 60 min boil and 10% for a 90 min boil gives me good results. YMMV.

 

[jdubdvdt]

I arrive at the same result, just slightly differently. The manual recommends an evaporation rate of 8-10% for the calculation. I found that using 8% for a 60 min boil and 10% for a 90 min boil gives me good results. YMMV.

I am using a flat rate of 0.8 gal/hr and 0.12 gal/lb-grain. Comes out pretty nice.

 

[elgee]

I just got my GF and haven't used it yet but was wondering what the best place to go for the mash/Sparge conversions, I know some people use beersmith, some use the GF website and some use an excel spreadsheet. Planning on brewing the off the topper from northern Brewer as my first GF brew and don't want to mess it up too much as it will be my inaugural brew!

 

[scallopking]

I just got my GF and haven't used it yet but was wondering what the best place to go for the mash/Sparge conversions, I know some people use beersmith, some use the GF website and some use an excel spreadsheet. Planning on brewing the off the topper from northern Brewer as my first GF brew and don't want to mess it up too much as it will be my inaugural brew!

I use online calcs and finally got my Beersmith profile fairly accurate.