Picobrew Z

[Goblism]

I had preordered a Z2 a year ago. I backed out this past December. My refund hit my account in under a week.

It was a good concept, but I just couldn’t wait.

I wonder if anyone has a Z2 review up now

The z2 hasn't even shipped yet so no reviews yet.

 

[Still Brewn]

I requested a refund on my Z2 yesterday. I feel like I have been patient, but it has taken far too long, and I'm still a month out from my estimated ship date. Anyone have an idea as to how long I might have to wait to hear from someone?

I had a response in a day or two, they asked if there was anything that could be done to keep my order. I said there was not. I had refund a few days later and purchase a Brewie that was delivered about 10 days or so from when I cancelled. I have since brewed 7 times and planning on an 8th this weekend or Monday. All the kinks it had when I received it have been worked out and I couldn't be happier. Software is being updated on a regular basis and you don't have to have an internet connection to brew. Automated water fill and wort cooling only adds to the convenience of the machine.

 

[dcbc]

This morning, I sent a message via Facebook messenger and got a response quickly. I gave them my email and order number and was told I would receive an email today, which I did around lunch time. Order is being cancelled. Hope someone gets their Z2 a bit more quickly as a result.

 

[Goblism]

Well my z2 status is changed to "in shipping queue" so z2s must be shipping very soon.

 

[dcbc]

Maybe you got mine.

 

[Goblism]

I was #2 in queue on the z2 with emails indicating shipment this week.
UPS lists 7 packages total on the shipment! Delivery scheduled for Thursday

 

[Thorrak]

I was #2 in queue on the z2 with emails indicating shipment this week.
UPS lists 7 packages total on the shipment! Delivery scheduled for Thursday

Interesting -- Z1x2 + 1 package. I'll be very curious to see what ends up arriving

 

[CheekiTiki]

Interesting -- Z1x2 + 1 package. I'll be very curious to see what ends up arriving

I’m going to guess the 7th package is the power distribution module. 240 to 110 splitter.

 

[Still Brewn]

I was #2 in queue on the z2 with emails indicating shipment this week.
UPS lists 7 packages total on the shipment! Delivery scheduled for Thursday

1 year and 2 months after you started this thread you are finally going to get your machine.... damn! You do have a lot of patience. I only hope it turns out to be worth the wait.

 

[Gut Pile]

1 year and 2 months after you started this thread you are finally going to get your machine.... damn! You do have a lot of patience. I only hope it turns out to be worth the wait.

I doubt they would have sold many machines if they had been honest about where it was in the development cycle. They would have been better off in terms of goodwill being honest and open about things. My guess that I am pulling straight from my arse based on the number of people I've heard cancelling is they lost a lot of orders in the end.

 

[doublea]

I was #2 in queue on the z2 with emails indicating shipment this week.
UPS lists 7 packages total on the shipment! Delivery scheduled for Thursday

Any update on your Z2? And how did you get your shipping status? (I only see it in email, which says Target Ship Week: 2019-04-13).

Anyone with Z1 have updated thoughts to share? Are you happy with the device (especially vs. Zymatic)?

 

[Goblism]

Any update on your Z2? And how did you get your shipping status? (I only see it in email, which says Target Ship Week: 2019-04-13).

Anyone with Z1 have updated thoughts to share? Are you happy with the device (especially vs. Zymatic)?

It shipped last week Friday but weather delays the last 2 days from this wonderful MN snow storm, so UPS won't deliver until Monday

 

[TallDan]

It shipped last week Friday but weather delays the last 2 days from this wonderful MN snow storm, so UPS won't deliver until Monday

Stupid snowflakes ruin everything.

 

[Goblism]

Z2 delivered today. Packages are marked 1-3 for the 2 z1 units and a package 4 of a power adapter. Hope to get it out together later tonight.

 

[doublea]

Z2 delivered today. Packages are marked 1-3 for the 2 z1 units and a package 4 of a power adapter. Hope to get it out together later tonight.

How did you know you were queued to ship? Do they send separate emails with updated status? It's been a few weeks since their last update.

 

[Thorrak]

How did you know you were queued to ship? Do they send separate emails with updated status? It's been a few weeks since their last update.

For me with the Z1, at least, I had emailed them once my shipping week was just about over and asked. They confirmed the status at that point, and suggested that it would ship out the following week. They then ended up sending across tracking numbers that evening.

 

[Goblism]

How did you know you were queued to ship? Do they send separate emails with updated status? It's been a few weeks since their last update.

I was told from emails I was #2 in queue. I also received an email with shipping notification.

 

[cheesemonster]

Thanks @Goblism! When was your ship date in the emails? Mine says week of 4/20 which is almost here but I have not had an update from them in over 3 weeks. But at least we have a confirmed Z2 shipment now which is good. Look forward to seeing updates.

 

[Mutant]

Anybody happy with the new (beta) recipe crafter? I think there is too much clicking.

 

[alaric10000]

Just about any other inconvenience is worth the final fix of the advanced editor recipe wipe, but I do agree with you on the clicking. Recipe must have at least one fermentable but you start with 0 fields and have to click to add one? Sloppy. The ingredient search does seem a little less finicky which is nice. My only real complaint is just a personal preference on layout. I'd like Malt/Boil Hops/Yeast at the top with a default 60m boil instead of needing to scroll past the water amendments section that I do outside of the crafter, and stuff the whirlpool hops/other additions that I rarely use in a brew and also just do outside of the crafter. The chronological order makes sense but it feels pretty clunky to me. It'd also be nice if it was able to use space a bit more efficiently on wider monitors. Between the left and right margins I'm already only using about half the usable space, and then even more of that is taken up by an almost entirely worthless Grain/Hop bills visualization.

 

[Goblism]

I haven't been able to progress on the beta recipe editor so I have used the regular.
Brewed my first batch today, can't believe how easy it was and liked being able to monitor the progress. Now a matter of running both units simultaneously in the z2 (z1+z1) configuration.

Still hoping the terminology changes from z1-z4 to simply the number of a unit's you have. It appears that registering the device follows the number of z units process.

 

[Mike Howard]

I never use the Recipe Crafter anymore...and the new one seems over-engineered. I use BeerSmith 3 and a few canned recipes on the Zymatic. No need to enter all of those recipe items on the PB apps.

 

[Mutant]

I'm presuming you export and import the recipe to operate the machine. How do you do that?

 

[Mike Howard]

I do not. I have several recipes that I use for all of my brewing. There is no need to put all of your recipes or your ingredients into the Recipe Crafter and there is no need to select a different recipe to brew a Pilsner or a Stout.

The Zymatic, or the new Z for that matter, does not do anything different for any recipe. It doesn't care that you used Pilsner malt or two row, doesn't care if you use Cascade or Galaxy hops, doesn't care if you use Adjuncts or water modifications...none of that matters to the machine. Just open any recipe and look at the Advanced Editor...under the covers every recipe is the same, with the exception of the Mash Profile and the number of hops.

I have several generic recipes where I have filled in all of the fields required with a generic item in the list and just use that. One for High Efficiency Mash, several for different Single Step Infusion temperatures and a few more for special Hop Profiles. In BeerSmith, I just identify in the Notes section what Zymatic recipe to use and I am good to go. There is no need to create a lot of recipes in the Recipe Crafter, I think I have 6 or 7 standard recipes that I use for the nearly 100 different recipes I have in BeerSmith.

Here is a generic recipe that I run for a large percentage of my brews, I just call it something like "HE 60-30-15":

 

[macgyuver]

I do not. I have several recipes that I use for all of my brewing. There is no need to put all of your recipes or your ingredients into the Recipe Crafter and there is no need to select a different recipe to brew a Pilsner or a Stout.

The Zymatic, or the new Z for that matter, does not do anything different for any recipe. It doesn't care that you used Pilsner malt or two row, doesn't care if you use Cascade or Galaxy hops, doesn't care if you use Adjuncts or water modifications...none of that matters to the machine. Just open any recipe and look at the Advanced Editor...under the covers every recipe is the same, with the exception of the Mash Profile and the number of hops.

I have several generic recipes where I have filled in all of the fields required with a generic item in the list and just use that. One for High Efficiency Mash, several for different Single Step Infusion temperatures and a few more for special Hop Profiles. In BeerSmith, I just identify in the Notes section what Zymatic recipe to use and I am good to go. There is no need to create a lot of recipes in the Recipe Crafter, I think I have 6 or 7 standard recipes that I use for the nearly 100 different recipes I have in BeerSmith.

Here is a generic recipe that I run for a large percentage of my brews, I just call it something like "HE 60-30-15":

View attachment 622845

Never thought of it that way but you are correct. I can see how it makes things easier with just a few setup recipes that cover the bulk of everything. I will start to redo my recipe database... thank you for pointing that out!

 

[macgyuver]

BTW I have received tracking number for my Z2. Should be here in the next week. I will try and put at least a brew through it by then. Posts with pics or video will follow.

 

[cheesemonster]

ARGH I am so aggravated right now! This is the week my unit was supposed to ship.. (You know, after the first ship date of 7/2018, then 2/20/19 "real date" then 3/29, 4/10....) Now in this update they pushed it back 3 weeks! 5/11 "target ship week" This is complete nonsense and I responded for them to cancel my order. I have been very patient until now. Now I am really mad.

 

[sharpbeer]

ARGH I am so aggravated right now! This is the week my unit was supposed to ship.. (You know, after the first ship date of 7/2018, then 2/20/19 "real date" then 3/29, 4/10....) Now in this update they pushed it back 3 weeks! 5/11 "target ship week" This is complete nonsense and I responded for them to cancel my order. I have been very patient until now. Now I am really mad.

Sorry to hear. I also waited patiently until late February. Cancelled even after they tried to offer me a $219 discount. I bought a Brewie+ since a lot of people on here mentioned it and have brewed 3 beers on it so far. It's a great machine if you're wondering, shoot me a PM if you have any questions about it!

 

[Brewfreedom]

ARGH I am so aggravated right now! This is the week my unit was supposed to ship.. (You know, after the first ship date of 7/2018, then 2/20/19 "real date" then 3/29, 4/10....) Now in this update they pushed it back 3 weeks! 5/11 "target ship week" This is complete nonsense and I responded for them to cancel my order. I have been very patient until now. Now I am really mad.

You are far from alone.

 

[Mike Howard]

I am so happy with my Brew Boss 20 gallon.....