Grainfather!!

[RedlegEd]

Awesome, thank you so much!

Although you've listed in non-metric units I'm guessing you have the 220V version (seeing 2.00 qt/hr boil evap rate)? Everywhere I've read online (including GF FAQ) says the 120V version gets 0.4 gal/hr boil evap rate (or 1.6 qt/hr).

You're regularly seeing 2.8 qt of wort left behind in the kettle dead space (or are you including wort loss in the fermenter too)?

1. Nope, 110v version. I use a Graincoat (with some extra insulation underneath) so I'm getting a pretty good boil off rate (closer to 2 qt/hr v. 1.6 qt/hr.)(I also tend to round up slightly as it's often better to have a little too much than not enough.)
2. The 2.8 qts is not really left behind, it's the wort under the grain basket and I believe it's used by BF to calculate water requirements. I just put that there so the BF water figures more closely match mine. If you'll notice the mash formula uses +0.9? I think that's the way they account for the wort in the dead space under the grain basket. Ed

 

[phishie]

Also, after about 6-8 batches on the Grainfather I have only been getting 56-60% total brewhouse efficiency.

Then after reading the Grainfather FAQ last night I noticed this:

We recommend a medium sized crush for the Grainfather. We have found that the roller mills on a setting of 1.27 – 1.4 mm (0.05 – 0.055 ") to provide the best crush. Roller mills also tend to keep the husk more intact while still crushing the grain effectively.

So now I think it must be my grind because I've always used mostly base grain in my grian bill (have brewed with 2-row and Pilsner), I've mashed from 144-158, always mashed for at least 60-90 minutes with a good stir halfway through, mash PH has been 5.2-5.4, and my thickness is never less than 1.3 qt/lb.

I never suspected it was my grind because I condition my grain with water (2% of the grain bill by weight) and grind pretty tight (cereal killer mill is set almost as tight as it can go). Has anyone else had similar problems with improper grind causing bad effic. w/ the Grainfather?

This same condition+grind process used to net me 80%+ effic on my Igloo Cooler + Stove Top system.

 

[skraeling]

Also, after about 6-8 batches on the Grainfather I have only been getting 56-60% total brewhouse efficiency.

Then after reading the Grainfather FAQ last night I noticed this:



So now I think it must be my grind because I've always used mostly base grain in my grian bill (have brewed with 2-row and Pilsner), I've mashed from 144-158, always mashed for at least 60-90 minutes with a good stir halfway through, mash PH has been 5.2-5.4, and my thickness is never less than 1.3 qt/lb.

I never suspected it was my grind because I condition my grain with water (2% of the grain bill by weight) and grind pretty tight (cereal killer mill is set almost as tight as it can go). Has anyone else had similar problems with improper grind causing bad effic. w/ the Grainfather?

This same condition+grind process used to net me 80%+ effic on my Igloo Cooler + Stove Top system.

im no expert on anything, but that almost doesnt look fine enough at all.

 

[phishie]

im no expert on anything, but that almost doesnt look fine enough at all.

Yeah I totally understand why it would appear that way.

I do have the mill set to a gap slightly smaller than a credit card, which is nearly as small as it will go.

It looks like the grain isn't crushed because by conditioning the grain beforehand with water the hull doesn't shred, it just sort of rips open.

I wish I had better pictures, it's only the top layer that looks like that, the grain gets progressively more crushed "looking" as you go down deeper.

Either way I'm going to recheck the gap with a gap checker this weekend now that I've found that suggested gap size from Grainfather.

 

[RedlegEd]

Also, after about 6-8 batches on the Grainfather I have only been getting 56-60% total brewhouse efficiency.

Then after reading the Grainfather FAQ last night I noticed this:



So now I think it must be my grind because I've always used mostly base grain in my grian bill (have brewed with 2-row and Pilsner), I've mashed from 144-158, always mashed for at least 60-90 minutes with a good stir halfway through, mash PH has been 5.2-5.4, and my thickness is never less than 1.3 qt/lb.

I never suspected it was my grind because I condition my grain with water (2% of the grain bill by weight) and grind pretty tight (cereal killer mill is set almost as tight as it can go). Has anyone else had similar problems with improper grind causing bad effic. w/ the Grainfather?

This same condition+grind process used to net me 80%+ effic on my Igloo Cooler + Stove Top system.

im no expert on anything, but that almost doesnt look fine enough at all.

I agree with @skraeling, it really doesn't look that fine. I also condition with ~1% (by weight) and I use a Schmidling Maltmill with default factory settings (~0.042-0.045) and mine comes out much more shredded than yours. I typically get high 90% conversion and ~80% BH. I've found if you mill too tightly, the wort doesn't flow very well through the grain basket and conversion suffers. Ed

 

[phishie]

I agree with @skraeling, it really doesn't look that fine. I also condition with ~1% (by weight) and I use a Schmidling Maltmill with default factory settings (~0.42-45) and mine comes out much more shredded than yours. I typically get high 90% conversion and ~80% BH. I've found if you mill too tightly, the wort doesn't flow very well through the grain basket and conversion suffers. Ed

Thanks for the input, greatly appreciated. Did you mean ~0.042-0.045 inches for your gap?

I need to do some more checking on my mill this weekend, something must be setup wrong.

 

[RedlegEd]

Thanks for the input, greatly appreciated. Did you mean ~0.042-0.045 inches for your gap?

I need to do some more checking on my mill this weekend, something must be setup wrong.

Yes, sorry about that. Stupid fingers don't always listen! Ed

 

[skraeling]

Also, after about 6-8 batches on the Grainfather I have only been getting 56-60% total brewhouse efficiency.

Then after reading the Grainfather FAQ last night I noticed this:



So now I think it must be my grind because I've always used mostly base grain in my grian bill (have brewed with 2-row and Pilsner), I've mashed from 144-158, always mashed for at least 60-90 minutes with a good stir halfway through, mash PH has been 5.2-5.4, and my thickness is never less than 1.3 qt/lb.

I never suspected it was my grind because I condition my grain with water (2% of the grain bill by weight) and grind pretty tight (cereal killer mill is set almost as tight as it can go). Has anyone else had similar problems with improper grind causing bad effic. w/ the Grainfather?

This same condition+grind process used to net me 80%+ effic on my Igloo Cooler + Stove Top system.

Heres my crush, note im not using a GF though. stark difference though.

 

[phishie]

Heres my crush, note im not using a GF though. stark difference though.

Hmm, that doesn't look all that much different than what mine look like I think, although it doesn't look like you condition your malt so it breaks apart the husk a bit more.

It really makes no sense to me, I have set my mill to just less than credit card thickness and that should be at most 0.030.

I've seen some posts mention there can be issues of one roller locking up on the Cereal Killer mill if it's adjusted inproperly so I need to check if that's my problem. Unfortunately can't test the mill again until Fri.

 

[ReverendJ]

I agree with @elproducto, that doesn't sound normal. Did you contact the folks at GF? If it died after the first use, I'm sure they would be more than happy to make it right. Ed

Yeah, been in touch with the store I bought it from and the company, they're sending me a new pump hopefully that fix the problem, otherwise it's the control box that's busted.

 

[skraeling]

looks like grainfather connects are starting to get closer to reality for us finally.

 

[Cutterman]

Also, after about 6-8 batches on the Grainfather I have only been getting 56-60% total brewhouse efficiency.

Then after reading the Grainfather FAQ last night I noticed this:



So now I think it must be my grind because I've always used mostly base grain in my grian bill (have brewed with 2-row and Pilsner), I've mashed from 144-158, always mashed for at least 60-90 minutes with a good stir halfway through, mash PH has been 5.2-5.4, and my thickness is never less than 1.3 qt/lb.

I never suspected it was my grind because I condition my grain with water (2% of the grain bill by weight) and grind pretty tight (cereal killer mill is set almost as tight as it can go). Has anyone else had similar problems with improper grind causing bad effic. w/ the Grainfather?

This same condition+grind process used to net me 80%+ effic on my Igloo Cooler + Stove Top system.

I've learned that using my old mash calculations don't work with GF. My efficiency sucked. I tried GF's mash water calculator and efficiency is always over 78 now.

 

[elproducto]

I found once I slowed my drill speed down on my grain mill, my efficiency went from 65 to 80%!

FWIW I used to get 75% with a cooler mlt.

 

[Kampenken]

I presume all eff being quoted are brewhouse. I am 73-75%. Not sure on everyone's process here but I'd suspect the main contributor's here are: (in no order), lauter, water chemistry, crush, sparge runoff usage. The rest is all the same for us with the exception of possible no sparge attempts (I will be attempting this soon). That also assumes you follow GF water calcs, though you can't be that far afield from their mash ratio. I don't believe a 90 min mash will appreciably increase eff over a "regular" 60 min mash.

 

[cowfodder]

248 pages in about 2 days. My wife says I'm obsessed. Looks like I'll probably be ordering a gf for myself soon. Thanks to everyone who's posted tips and tricks so far.

 

[thenewton]

I just ordered one around Christmas direct from the Grainfather site as it included the graincoat. Unfortunately it arrived last week with marks inside the boiler that lined up with the extensions on the bottom of the grain basket, one is just a scratch, the next is a scratch with indentation and the third is a pretty deep gouge. The controller lid was also broken. I have not done anything with it as of yet as I am waiting to hear back from the company, so who knows what else might have taken a hit. I know they are probably a bit busy since just opening back up from the holidays so we will see what happens. Just wondering what others have had as far as interaction with the company on damage. Thanks

 

[MilwaukeeBrewGuy]

Well my first run with the grainfather last night wasn't very smooth. To start with, I neglected to add any rice hulls in my denny conn's wry smile rye ipa, so the mash drain and sparging went real slow and was pretty much stuck. Then, I proceeded to double charge my 60 min addition with Columbus instead of Mt. Hood. So realizing i was going to be real high in IBU's, i decided to do only do a 30 min boil. Then as i am running my chiller to sanitize it, i placed it on the grainfather only to have a boilover!

First impressions:

• No graincoat on a 20A and it boils great.
  
• I wish the chiller hose that connects to the pump was a little bit longer. I had a boilover when it was sitting on the grainfather and had nowhere to put it!
  
• Its wonderful to not have to babysit a propane burner.
  
• Being new to the controls, i wish they highlighted the MASH and BOIL words on the switch. Heck even a light indicator would be nice. I found myself quite a few times, checking to make sure i was in the right mode.
  
• Coming from an Immersion chiller, the counter flow really streamlines things!
  
• I did not use any hop baskets, just threw the hops in naked and with 5 ounces, I did find i had to scrape the filter to get it flowing better. I did take out ball and spring.

So far I love it, just need to tweak some things and spend some more time with it.

 

[Elkobrewer]

It will only get better the more you use it. Congrats on your first Grainfather brew day

 

[Diamonddave74]

Those are not the same but similar learning curves ive had. By batch 3 you'll be a pro

 

[RedlegEd]

[*]I wish the chiller hose that connects to the pump was a little bit longer. I had a boilover when it was sitting on the grainfather and had nowhere to put it!

I did the same thing the first time when I put my lid on. So you know, a standard ball lock corny keg is the perfect height to hold the CFC while you sanitize, and when you chill your wort into the fermenter. Ed

 

[Kampenken]

First impressions:

• No graincoat on a 20A and it boils great.
  
• I wish the chiller hose that connects to the pump was a little bit longer. I had a boilover when it was sitting on the grainfather and had nowhere to put it!
  
• Its wonderful to not have to babysit a propane burner.
  
• Being new to the controls, i wish they highlighted the MASH and BOIL words on the switch. Heck even a light indicator would be nice. I found myself quite a few times, checking to make sure i was in the right mode.
  
• Coming from an Immersion chiller, the counter flow really streamlines things!
  
• I did not use any hop baskets, just threw the hops in naked and with 5 ounces, I did find i had to scrape the filter to get it flowing better. I did take out ball and spring.

So far I love it, just need to tweak some things and spend some more time with it.

Good list, and I see you've read here well (taking out the ball and spring)! As for the CFC I put mine on a stool, besides avoiding your issue, I never understood why to keep a lid on when trying to cool. I guess it seems compact, but you've explained the flaw well. All in though, sounds like it was a good brew day, congrats! Cheers!

 

[M0KCE]

I thought about taking out the ball and spring, but once it was explained that it was there to keep me from getting a face full of boiling wort, I decided to leave it. Burns suck.

 

[skraeling]

Its killing me to not order one right now, but I have a birthday in less than a week so cash from that and then im pulling the trigger on one. This is going to be a LOOONNNNGGGGG week.

 

[Kampenken]

Look forward to hearing your 1st brew day report!

 

[52hurtz]

Just got a GF for xmas and can't wait to try it out - one point of concern is that mine does not have the GF logo stamped into the top of the unit - see pic below - is this something that was missed on a few units or no longer done?

 

[skraeling]

Look forward to hearing your 1st brew day report!

yeah itll be nice to actually brew inside for once in a looong time

 

[MilwaukeeBrewGuy]

Just got a GF for xmas and can't wait to try it out - one point of concern is that mine does not have the GF logo stamped into the top of the unit - see pic below - is this something that was missed on a few units or no longer done?

This is the first I have see with no stamp. What is the date code on your mfgr sticker? Mine is 1115.

 

[52hurtz]

0516 - wife got it from AiH I believe.

 

[elreplica]

Just got a GF for xmas and can't wait to try it out - one point of concern is that mine does not have the GF logo stamped into the top of the unit - see pic below - is this something that was missed on a few units or no longer done?

Oh oh...it's a counterfeit one made in China...wait a sec...they're all made in China! I'm not seeing a mini ball valve on the recirculating pipe on the left running through the lid...maybe it's a first generation leftover and not a difficult nor expensive upgrade to the latest version - excluding the new Bluetooth controller.

 

[skraeling]

Oh oh...it's a counterfeit one made in China...wait a sec...they're all made in China! I'm not seeing a mini ball valve on the recirculating pipe on the left running through the lid...maybe it's a first generation leftover and not a difficult nor expensive upgrade to the latest version - excluding the new Bluetooth controller.

Curious what his pump filter looks like too.