Baja_Brewer
Well-Known Member
What ^ said. Yikes- I imagine you had a mess on your hand. I only pull about 1ml for my refractometer.
What cap? I have no cap. I don't pause either. (You're pausing to take a sample? By draining the wort?)
I always take samples when the wort is cycling - once or twice during mashing to check pH and then at the end of the boil to get a gravity reading.
But I'm confused about the cap you mention.
Are you talking about the inline filter on the other (black) line? I don't touch that during the brew. Obviously, the inline filter needs to be cleaned and the filter cap tightened down during each brew. If this is removed, the suction gets screwed up and, yeah, I'd guess it might be messy.
In terms of the clear sample port on the white ball lock (Gas in) side of the keg, I just screw in a syringe, pull a sample, unscrew syringe, squirt in shot glass, and repeat two more times. I do this while the mash is mashing or the boil is boiling.
No adding or removing cap needed, no fiddling with the controls to drain or pause.
The sample port should seal by itself. I don't unscrew or remove anything when taking a sample. A little wort leaks out when I've unscrewed the syringe, but only a tiny bit -- a drop or two. Then it seals itself.
Did they add caps to the sample ports in newer Picos?
BTW -- One way to know if your circulation is messed up -- if there's grain stuck in your white ball lock/Gas in valve is when you go to take a sample and the syringe fills up by itself -- the syringe handle is pushed out by itself. I couldn't figure out why it was doing this -- then it dawned on me. Wasn't circulating right. Cleaned the ball lock, and I was back in business.
What ^ said. Yikes- I imagine you had a mess on your hand. I only pull about 1ml for my refractometer.
Okay I think I'm doing it wrong...or something's up...
On the sample port (Gas in) there's a clear screw on 'cap' which contains the blue seal for I'm thinking a needle syringe??...any way the only way to screw on the syringe that came with the zymatic it is to unscrew this cap (revealing the thread) and then screw on the syringe...
What am I missing here? as I can't connect the syringe without taking the cap off...
Sounds like you might have a syringe with the wrong tip. Are you using the sample syringe that came with the system? I think mine came with a 5ml syringe. I bought 10ml from Amazon.
The port is designed to be used without removing anything. You just screw your syringe onto the end, pull sample, unscrew. As I say, it automatically seals back up. That's by design.
These are the syringes I'm using. They work great -- no issues.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BQDFGBS/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20
I'd shoot an email to pico support. Their Response time is great. They'll get you back in business ASAP.
Are you pushing the syringe with force into the purple rubber before you attempt to screw it on? That is what I have to do with mjne.
Severum
I brewed my 4th Pico batch last night, a Helles. Got it cooled all the way to 65 then used my ferm fridge to get it to 50.
Pitched last night.
Curious to see how fermentation goes, as I have never made a true lager style.
Greetings PicoBrewers!
To clarify on this matter:
Please refrain from using PBW and other alkaline cleansers during your machine's cleaning cycles.
-Kevin
Greetings PicoBrewers!
To clarify on this matter:
Please refrain from using PBW and other alkaline cleansers during your machine's cleaning cycles. As a fellow homebrewer I understand the reasoning behind wanting to use PBW, it is an amazing product and is great for cleaning darn near everything including the kegs that you use with your Zymatic, however we have noticed a pattern developing where step filters have been cracking after users have ran a cleaning cycle with PBW.
Generally we only recommend using PBW when a user has not ran any cleaning cycles after brewing several batches or there is an obvious reduction in machine performance.
The Zymatic cleaning tablets have been specially formulated for PicoBrew by Craftmeister, who make many fine homebrew related cleaning products including Iodophor and BLC.
Non-scented dishwasher tablets are an acceptable alternative as well, however please do not use the gelpacks as these can clog the internals.
Also, it is great for sanitizing your serving/carbonation kegs and transfer hoses, however please do not ever run a StarSan solution through your machine. This is unnecessary as the heat generated during your brew cycle will sanitize the machine for you and we are unsure of the long term effects of StarSan on the components of the Zymatic.
I hope that this has answered any questions you may have. If you have any further questions, or you have a cracked step filter or another damaged component, please send an email to [email protected] so that we can get you taken care of.
Cheers!
-Kevin
Where to buy the cleaning tabs? The shipping from PicoBrew is more than the tabs!!
No starter needed and I've brewed a big high abc last time around. pitch and go.
Severum
I made a double batch and used a starter just to ensure it really takes off.
Ordered mine from AIH and it drop shipped from Seattle via UPS Ground. Ordered on Friday night, shipped Tuesday, on my door in MN on Friday.
Looks like PB is trying again with a smaller machine with plug and play kits. Their announcement and kickstarter will go live at 9AM EST but Engadget jumped the gun:http://www.engadget.com/2015/10/26/picobrew-takes-a-stab-at-automated-counter-top-homebrew-beer/
At 499 for the earlybird it is pretty tempting... of course being small it does about 1.3 gallons per batch.
I'm also not sure how easy it is to use your own recipes....
You can't make your own recipes
If I could use it just like the bigger version I'd jump on the 499 price right now.
Bummer.
they said custom recipe are going to be possible with this version. Updates come soon
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