Single vessel electric brewing

[DeanCostigan]

Hey ladies and gents,
This would clearly be a topic that’s spoken about regularly, and maybe I should’ve done a search first.. but, I didn’t. What’s the options these days for a single vessel electric brewery? Obviously we have the Grainfather which I’ve already owned, and we have the Robobrew. I’d love to make double batches, but can’t wait till end of year for the 65L Robobrew. Does anyone have any suggestions? I’m looking at making one myself, but fear it’ll cost more than just buying 2 smaller systems and running them side by side.
Cheers!

 

[wide eyed and legless]

KegKing are coming out with a new one, not sure how far off it is step mash, recipe memory and hop timer. 50 litre and 40 litre though if you do 'no sparge' would be around 32 litre max for the 40 litre.

 

[real_beer]

Does anyone have any suggestions? I’m looking at making one myself, but fear it’ll cost more than just buying 2 smaller systems and running them side by side.
Cheers!

It can cost a bit to build your own system but if you plan, design & build it well, you'll be proud of it & able to modify it yourself as the need arises. The biggest drawback I see to a store bought system for myself is when new models become available I'd probably always want one . The Grainfather at least allows you to upgrade the bits & pieces, but systems with the controller built in don't. Having said that they are a lot cheaper to buy and a lot of people like them.

Reading your question I think you've probably already made up your mind you want a 65L Robobrew at the end of the year, however I wouldn't rush into buying one straight away in case a revised and upgraded version hits the market 3 or 6 months later as history seems to suggest it will.
Cheers

 

[DeanCostigan]

Thanks for the info gents, I guess all my googling over the last month shows that as usual we seem to miss out on a bit in AUS. The Ace/Guten/hopcat would be right up my alley though they don’t seem to deliver here. I’d love to get a larger pot and use a micron basket, temp control and recirculate - basically a larger Grainfather! But I need a system basically now, I’ve got grains in the fridge waiting. Thinking I may choose 2 Robobrew Gen 3’s. Set and forget interests me again, now we’ve got 2 kids under 2 I need it to be fairly hands free

 

[MHB]

50L Braumeister, not inexpensive but very good quality compared to most other systems (a lot of design features most people don't notice).
I had one for several years, very good unit.
Mark

 

[TwoCrows]

If you want set and forget , the Braumister is the go. But you still will need the time to oversee the process.

Have you done a full brew day?

It still takes me 5 or 6 hours to complete and not a lot of time to relax. The fist hour is waiting to get to temp, the next hour or two is mashing and mashing out. The next hour or two is the boil and whirlpool, you got to be there for most of that time. Then clean up , this takes me into the next day after soaking all parts.

I have used the Robobrew in conjunction with a hot water urn (hlt) for my last 4 brew days.
I do like the simplisity of this unit and I run it on manual mode.

To get bigger Batches or do a two seperate on brew day. You can do a mash and drain it off to a seperate boil kettle.

 

[wynnum1]

How long have the Robobrew been on the market the price has dropped what do you do with your old Robobrew when it dies would think that they could be brought back to life with an external controller.

 

[TwoCrows]

Ver.3 came out late feb.

Some people are talking up adapting the grain father controller. I like the idea.

 

[wynnum1]

If you look at the 110 v model very under power compared to here in Australia .

 

[stm]

An equally good solution (in terms of making excellent beer) is an electric urn (eg, Crown) for a couple hundred dollars and a BIAB bag for $10.

 

[MHB]

An equally good solution (in terms of making excellent beer) is an electric urn (eg, Crown) for a couple hundred dollars and a BIAB bag for $10.

Having done both I would go so far as to agree its an option - "equally good" I cant agree with.
The ability to do stepped mashes, and to be able to repeat them precisely gives options you simply wont get with an urn.
Mark

 

[Chap]

The ability to do stepped mashes, and to be able to repeat them precisely gives options you simply wont get with an urn.
Mark

Hey Mark

Having never used a 3v system before and looking to upgrade my crown urn 1v to recirc with a malt pipe and use PID control, what options would I not get from a brew using this system compared to a 3v or other?

Cheers
Chap

 

[MHB]

Well an easy to program step mash/boil time controller.
Good quality pumped recirculation, the Braumeister bottom up system is surprisingly effective
Really long super low density elements, which massively reduce the chance of wort scorching
Little things like the lifting handle on the back of the 50L BM, that makes it easy to clean as it balanced so the unit drains perfectly.
Plenty of other reasons that would have to go into the decision, I know it wont be the right option for everyone, but they are very well made, designed specialist brewing equipment and it shows.

A lot of it is like the difference between a BMW and a Kia, both get you there, if it wasn't for the price difference I'm pretty dam sure we would all choose the BMW.
Mark
PS
Get someone with a BM to show you how long it takes to pull the pump down and clean it.
Mark

 

[Chap]

Well an easy to program step mash/boil time controller.
Good quality pumped recirculation, the Braumeister bottom up system is surprisingly effective
Really long super low density elements, which massively reduce the chance of wort scorching
Little things like the lifting handle on the back of the 50L BM, that makes it easy to clean as it balanced so the unit drains perfectly.
Plenty of other reasons that would have to go into the decision, I know it wont be the right option for everyone, but they are very well made, designed specialist brewing equipment and it shows.

A lot of it is like the difference between a BMW and a Kia, both get you there, if it wasn't for the price difference I'm pretty dam sure we would all choose the BMW.
Mark
PS
Get someone with a BM to show you how long it takes to pull the pump down and clean it.
Mark

Thanks for the explanation, I have briefly looked at the brau, but the cost as you mentioned stopped me. Might do some more research.

Cheers
Chap

 

[stm]

ability to do stepped mashes

Depends what types of beers you wish to brew.

 

[MHB]

Doesn't that sort of illustrate my point - if urn and bag was just as good, it wouldn't depend, you could make any sort of beer just as easily.
Mark