My Picobrew Thread

[sbartelski]

thanks for maintaining this thread!

for cleaning with PBW, has anyone tried connecting the rotating arm directly to the drain with silicon tubing or something? this would remove the step filter from this process and protect it.

Sounds like a good idea, but I would most certainly check with PicoBrew on this - post something on their forum and Kevin will probably answer. Or better still send you question to info at picobrew.com

 

[Baja_Brewer]

Isn't the end of the outflow nozzle flared? Might needed s drilled stopper or something to make that happen, and I'd be concerned about mismatched plump flow rates, etc creating pressure where it shouldn't be.

 

[Baja_Brewer]

OK, looked last night when I got home and its not flared, not sure why I thought that.

If someone were to try this, I would recommend a long enough hose to allow for the arm to rotate freely, and maybe build a custom brew out of entirely pass through processes to get the pump rates to match as close as possible.

 

[cheesecake]

SO how many batches does everyone have through the zymatic? thinking of purchasing one.

 

[ShaLaH]

My Zymatic should be arriving on Wednesday, so psyched for automation and freeing up 6 hours of my time each brew day.

I'm sure this has been answered, but I couldn't find it in the thread. I purchased the Zymatic without the keg - do I need their $150 keg or can I just use one of my 5 Gallon Ball lock kegs? If I cut the liquid dip tube back and inch or two am I good to go? Any benefits of buying their keg?

 

[jrcrilly]

You would need to cut only 1/2" from the dip tube, and then only if you plan to ferment in the same keg. I regularly brew with unmodified kegs.

 

[ShaLaH]

You would need to cut only 1/2" from the dip tube, and then only if you plan to ferment in the same keg. I regularly brew with unmodified kegs.

Sweet! 1/2" it is. I imagine a hacksaw or dremel would cut it pretty easily.

 

[DemonsRun]

SO how many batches does everyone have through the zymatic? thinking of purchasing one.

54 batches so far on the Zymatic (most 3.5 gallon batches).

Love it so much my larger system only gets used 3-5 times a year.

 

[sbartelski]

54 batches so far on the Zymatic (most 3.5 gallon batches).

Love it so much my larger system only gets used 3-5 times a year.

Only about 35, but I LOVE it

 

[cheesecake]

I placed my order and I can't wait for it to come in!

 

[pagrider]

about 25 love it too

 

[tdbutter01]

This thread has been really helpful and has gotten me incredibly excited to get this bad boy. The wife ordered it today for my birthday/christmas/anniversary/valentines day present. Needless to say she is a keeper.

Is it necessary to wait to access the picobrew.com recipe crafting tool? I would love to get in there and start trying to transcribe my 5 gal recipes I was making with my prior all grain systems.

Thanks again for keeping this thing going.

 

[DemonsRun]

This thread has been really helpful and has gotten me incredibly excited to get this bad boy. The wife ordered it today for my birthday/christmas/anniversary/valentines day present. Needless to say she is a keeper.

Is it necessary to wait to access the picobrew.com recipe crafting tool? I would love to get in there and start trying to transcribe my 5 gal recipes I was making with my prior all grain systems.

Thanks again for keeping this thing going.

Once they assign you a machine they can create your account, it is tied to the SN of the zymatic. also your user name will be created based off of the email used in the original order (or at least that is how it was when they started).

 

[tdbutter01]

Once they assign you a machine they can create your account, it is tied to the SN of the zymatic. also your user name will be created based off of the email used in the original order (or at least that is how it was when they started).

Thanks for the reply. The order was placed today so I am interested to see what the time frame will be like since the holidays are days away. Is there anything I should go ahead and order that will speed up my learning curve on this machine? I have corny kegs and my all grain setup from before. Any tricks tips for the first few brews?

Thanks!

 

[DemonsRun]

Make sure to put the four little black stoppers in the step filter, and use keg lube. otherwise when mashing the wort will leak out everywhere.

treat the 10 min hop addition like your 5 min addition, it takes 10min for the wort to make a full cycle thru the machine and into the keg.

I put a stainless spoon on the back of the top screen to keep it down. prob not needed but I do it.

When you get to the advanced editor the hop additions are cumulative because the hop cages flow into eachother. in the recipe crafter you will have your 60, 20, 10 hop additions. nut in the advanced editor it will look like adjunct1 40min, adjunct2 10min, adjunct3 10min. this is normal.

I use a hop sack in the keg weighed down with stainless balls for the hop stand.

most everything is the same concept.

For chilling- some people use the Jaded corny immersion chiller, some hook up their plate chiller (adapters needed), I just use a big black plastic tub full of ice water.

Sorry for the broken thoughts, Late and had a few

 

[tdbutter01]

Make sure to put the four little black stoppers in the step filter, and use keg lube. otherwise when mashing the wort will leak out everywhere.

treat the 10 min hop addition like your 5 min addition, it takes 10min for the wort to make a full cycle thru the machine and into the keg.

I put a stainless spoon on the back of the top screen to keep it down. prob not needed but I do it.

When you get to the advanced editor the hop additions are cumulative because the hop cages flow into eachother. in the recipe crafter you will have your 60, 20, 10 hop additions. nut in the advanced editor it will look like adjunct1 40min, adjunct2 10min, adjunct3 10min. this is normal.

I use a hop sack in the keg weighed down with stainless balls for the hop stand.

most everything is the same concept.

For chilling- some people use the Jaded corny immersion chiller, some hook up their plate chiller (adapters needed), I just use a big black plastic tub full of ice water.

Sorry for the broken thoughts, Late and had a few

Thanks for all the tips I will be sure to do these. Do you find crafting recipes to be similar to beersmith? How is the quality of beer you make?

 

[DemonsRun]

I use brewers friend for my recipe craftin, on my larger RIMS. I will also plug the Zymatic recipes in, I usually have to adjust the efficiency (Zymatic not as efficient), and change the hop times - 5 min (example: 5 min addition in Zymatic would be 0 on brewers friend, 10 min = 5....)

I Love the beer, I force carb and then bottle up a bunch and deliver to bartender friends. The beer is well loved by all. Barrel aged espresso stout I had to scale up and do on my larger system just to meet demand. but I love the ability to do lots of small batches, and still take my kids to brunch. I have done 3.5 gallon batches every other weekend for 2 years straight . only use my big set up 5 times a year now.

 

[sbartelski]

Thanks for all the tips I will be sure to do these. Do you find crafting recipes to be similar to beersmith? How is the quality of beer you make?

I use Beersmith to craft my recipes and then enter the recipe into the PB Recipe Crafter. There is often a difference between the calculated OG in BS and RC, but when using 65% efficiency in BS I am usually closer to the BS number than the RC number. If you have BS, PM me and I can send you my PB equipment and mash profiles.



Stefan

P.S. Instead of a SS spoon, Annie recommends using a Keg lid o-ring. I use a piece of 1/4" silicone tubing (do not use PVC) that I cut so it will form a square.

 

[tdbutter01]

Thanks so much for the tips guys. I ordered the system from adventures in homebrewing and checked to see the status. It currently says it has been drop shipped. I am guessing that means manufacturer to aih. I am excited to get started with this thing. Anybody have any good clone recipes they can suggest to start with. I am a huge fan of Deschutes IPAs and other similar beers. If any of you guys/gals have pics of your brew day with a pico zymatic that you would be willing to share showing your tricks I would greatly appreciate it.

I would also be curious to know if BAJA, who started this thread, is still going strong with his machine.

Thanks

 

[Anyhowe]

Thanks so much for the tips guys. I ordered the system from adventures in homebrewing and checked to see the status. It currently says it has been drop shipped. I am guessing that means manufacturer to aih. I am excited to get started with this thing. Anybody have any good clone recipes they can suggest to start with. I am a huge fan of Deschutes IPAs and other similar beers. If any of you guys/gals have pics of your brew day with a pico zymatic that you would be willing to share showing your tricks I would greatly appreciate it.

I would also be curious to know if BAJA, who started this thread, is still going strong with his machine.

Thanks

You are going to love it. Order a stainless hop cage for dry hopping and start with the Fresh Squeezed receive. Gl.

 

[sbartelski]

.....For chilling- some people use the Jaded corny immersion chiller, some hook up their plate chiller (adapters needed), I just use a big black plastic tub full of ice water......

Take a look at YouTube (or PicoBrew.com) videos. Annie suggested using a coil chiller "inside-out", i.e. sending the wort through the coil, while it stands in a bucket of ice. I just switched to that method, reduced chilling from 45-75 minutes standing the keg in ice water to 20-35 minutes! I have some pictures on the PB forum, search for "chiller"



Stefan

 

[Baja_Brewer]

You are going to love it. Order a stainless hop cage for dry hopping and start with the Fresh Squeezed receive. Gl.

I purchased one of these and used it for about 2.5oz of Dry Hops in a Wheat IPA I made a little while back. It is pretty easy to use, and can go in the dishwasher which is awesome!

Despite this I've still yet to make a hoppy brew I'm completely happy with, with a major caveat being that I use bottled spring water without any additional adjustments - which I reading more and more as important features of making the hops "pop" a la New England IPAs.

 

[Anyhowe]

I purchased one of these and used it for about 2.5oz of Dry Hops in a Wheat IPA I made a little while back. It is pretty easy to use, and can go in the dishwasher which is awesome!

Despite this I've still yet to make a hoppy brew I'm completely happy with, with a major caveat being that I use bottled spring water without any additional adjustments - which I reading more and more as important features of making the hops "pop" a la New England IPAs.

Welcome to the neverending conveyor belt of home brew learning and tweaking. Most every brew is an evolution (with the occasional step back). I like your attitude. GL!

 

[Anyhowe]

I purchased one of these and used it for about 2.5oz of Dry Hops in a Wheat IPA I made a little while back. It is pretty easy to use, and can go in the dishwasher which is awesome!

Despite this I've still yet to make a hoppy brew I'm completely happy with, with a major caveat being that I use bottled spring water without any additional adjustments - which I reading more and more as important features of making the hops "pop" a la New England IPAs.

East coast IPA is a function of the yeast as well. Read on...

 

[Baja_Brewer]

Welcome to the neverending conveyor belt of home brew learning and tweaking. Most every brew is an evolution (with the occasional step back). I like your attitude. GL!

East coast IPA is a function of the yeast as well. Read on...

I've used Conan, etc.- the water adjustments are the line I haven't crossed. I'm curious if anyone has successfully made an E. Coast IPA in the Z? Looking for suggestions. Not opposed to making hop additions to the keg in my SS hooper, if necessary!

 

[Anyhowe]

I've used Conan, etc.- the water adjustments are the line I haven't crossed. I'm curious if anyone has successfully made an E. Coast IPA in the Z? Looking for suggestions. Not opposed to making hop additions to the keg in my SS hooper, if necessary!

Just kicked a keg full of hoppy chopper. Go for it with gusto.

 

[Baja_Brewer]

I owe this thread a serious update, but I don't have many pictures so it will be pretty boring:

1. I've ditched my plate chiller in favor of a bucket and ice or no-chill. Winter is easiest - I can scoop snow into a tub, back fill with water, and chill in 30 minutes or so.
2. The mini-fridge I have for my brewPi (I think its an Avanti) is 7 years old and has mostly **** the bed - it can drop the temp about 10 degrees over a few days. Since the fridge is generally in the garage (sub 60F) I need to rig it with a fan to pump in cool air when cooling is needed. The heating pad still works gang busters. The brewPi is kick-asS for fermentation control. Get/build one!
3. I have too much beer on hand!

Back in April/May, I made a bunch of Belgians. Previously, I made 2 Belgian Blondes and tried different yeasts. They both came out great, and I'm not good enough at flavor profiles to provide much more feedback (aside from the fact that the sulfur smell from Safale Abbey Ale yeast does fade after fermentation.) I also made a couple batches that should have like Leffe Brun - they were also good, but didn't have the same flavor or mouthfeel as the Leffe Brun's I buy at the store. In another note, my acquaintances have told me that I'm a terrible salesman when it comes to getting them to try my beer. Undersell, over deliver.

Anyway, I used a recipe from CIS and another from AIH when trying to make Chimay Premiere. Its pretty exciting to brew these against one another. I used the same yeast and fermentation profile for them, and the recipes are fairly different, with CIS having Belgian Pils, Cara-Malt, Torrified Wheat & Belgian Candi Sugar Amber while the AIH having Belgian Pils, Belgian CaraMunich, Belgian Aromatic, German Carafa & Belgian Candi Sugar Dark.

I like the CIS better.

CIS

AIH

I also made an attempt at an Ommegang Art of Darkness clone, using cultured Ommegang yeast. Oh man, its good. Not even close to what I remember AoD being, but good.

I bottled these back in November after aging them for ~6 months and it was well worth it - age your brews that deserve it, you'll be happy you did.

 

[Anyhowe]

Baja. Thank you for sharing. Most excellent.

 

[sbartelski]

Baja,
Thanks for sharing. A quick question, in the pictures below of the PB RC, it shows that you are using the Z High Efficiency mash. But the RC print function does not show the actual Advanced Editor vales, just the default. Are you using different values?

Stefan

I owe this thread a serious update, but I don't have many pictures so it will be pretty boring:

Back in April/May, I made a bunch of Belgians. Previously, I made 2 Belgian Blondes and tried different yeasts. They both came out great, and I'm not good enough at flavor profiles to provide much more feedback (aside from the fact that the sulfur smell from Safale Abbey Ale yeast does fade after fermentation.) I also made a couple batches that should have like Leffe Brun - they were also good, but didn't have the same flavor or mouthfeel as the Leffe Brun's I buy at the store. In another note, my acquaintances have told me that I'm a terrible salesman when it comes to getting them to try my beer. Undersell, over deliver.

Anyway, I used a recipe from CIS and another from AIH when trying to make Chimay Premiere. Its pretty exciting to brew these against one another. I used the same yeast and fermentation profile for them, and the recipes are fairly different, with CIS having Belgian Pils, Cara-Malt, Torrified Wheat & Belgian Candi Sugar Amber while the AIH having Belgian Pils, Belgian CaraMunich, Belgian Aromatic, German Carafa & Belgian Candi Sugar Dark.

I like the CIS better.

CIS

AIH

I also made an attempt at an Ommegang Art of Darkness clone, using cultured Ommegang yeast. Oh man, its good. Not even close to what I remember AoD being, but good.

I bottled these back in November after aging them for ~6 months and it was well worth it - age your brews that deserve it, you'll be happy you did.

 

[Pelikan11]

Yes. I use bottled water as well and when I started adding a tablespoon of gypsum it made a big difference in bring to hops to the front