MiniBrew My First Experience From Grain to Glass
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- Опубліковано 9 лип 2024
- This video features the mini brew system which, unlike the usual brewing products I feature on my channel, is a very hands off rather than hands on experience. Due to this the system offers a great deal of convenience for those that are short of time and also makes it super handy for test batches. In this video I show what is involved and go from grain to glass of my first experience with the system.
Channel links:-
groups/Brewbeer
www.teespring.com/stores/davi...
Introduction music:- Drink Beer (Till The Day That I Die) by Dazie Mae - Навчання та стиль
The prejudice against this cracks me up. I have seen fully automated Herms units that have had home brewers drooling so much they needed therapy, but the same droolers then turn haters when MiniBrew is mentioned. The same with Grainfather and it’s Bluetooth/WiFi automated multistage mashing, Yep you guessed it, that it REAL brewing but the MiniBrew .... 😂😂😂😂 as I said, it cracks me up.
Anyone who has every actually worked in a brewery know it is all fully automated and is 95% Janitor work
Another great review, thanks a David.
Very well said Anthony.
Looks really nice and sounds like the "brewing" Experience went well. Thanks for sharing!! Cheers David!! 👍🍻
Many thanks Brian :)
As a tech/DIY enthusiast this system looks truly incredible, I think it could be very useful for recipe prototyping while keeping heavy duty brews to more manual (and large) systems
Yes, that is where I feel it is useful to the regular brewer.
Notices new beer brewing equipment, clicks video. Looks pretty cool, would add a nice touch to the kitchen, looks fun.
Goes onto website and sees the price.......... I could literally upgrade my home brewery to its own shed outside and start a mini brewery.
Looks at the upgraded version price.........cries.
haha
Wow! $1,300 USD for the base model with one keg. I suspect if I looked around I could find $1,300 in brewing equipment in my basement, but that includes everything I have to brew 5 gal, 2.5 gal and 1 gal batches (grain mill, propane burner, 10 gal ss pot, 5 gal ss pot, several fermenters, 6 kegs w/ CO2 tank + regulator + distribution, pH meter, fridge + freezer/chamber, and a bunch of misc equipment). Then $24 recipe packs for a 5L brew?? Almost $10.50 for a 6 pack??? ($23.50 per 6-pack if you add in $1,300 cost divided over 100 batches...and ignore these "Service Packs" they want you to buy.)
Very true but that would not be automated. This is what is offered here.
@@BrentLangdon Costconvenience
That is exactly what people need to decide for themselves :)
It's definitely innovative and a convenient way to brew...although I love brewing on my 3 tier system...this was interesting to watch! thanks for sharing! cheers!
Sorry for the late reply, YT has some errors with message reporting recently so I only just got to see this! Glad you enjoyed this :)
I was also very impressed with the design and the smart engineering. But what kept me from actually purchasing it, was not only the fact that you have to go for the (considerably more expensive) Pro bundle if you don't want to be limited to Minibrew's own beer kits; from then on you will be billed another €89 per year for the Brewery Portal License, which is required to operate your device with your own recipes.
Yes, the convenience comes at a price for sure :)
Great video and great product!
Many thanks Claudio :)
Another great video David
Many thanks Ken :)
Interesting however not for me, fantastic customer support still exists. Super video, again 👍🍻👍
Thank you Allan, glad you enjoyed it :)
Nice informative video David. This brew system is not for me, but I can see why others would like it.
Many thanks Jennifer :)
Another very interesting video thank you. I did see these when they first came out but the price put me off but I can see the attraction if you want to simply make off the shelf beers without actually doing much......
Yes, not amount of money but worth it for some for sure.
Thank you for the review David. I was not quite sure that you were satisfied enough with the system to review it.
I have the pro version where I can make my own recipes, and made three brews with it, but I have had some issues though.
Fx that the hop bag were stuck in the carousel. In the pro version there is no bags included. I also find the keg too noisy with the fan running all the time. And it would be great if there were more Manuel options if you should want to use that, or in case something goes wrong.
I have not made my mind up yet if I really like it or not, but I am happy that you did.
Thank you. I really do not feel ready to review any product after just one use. Problems and annoyances do not always present themselves straight away and early found problems generally get solved after a littke thought or investigation. The test of time is important I feel :)
Very detailed review Sir. You are always very informative with your content, and it is always worth the time invested to watch. Watching this reminds me why Mrs. Beeriquois County tends to opine that I can buy any type of beer I desire in the marketplace, and that the investment would be nearly identical. Subtract the subtrahend from the minuend, and you still get beer. The question then remains, am I any more knowledgeable having taken the easier course of action. Great video Mr. Heath.
Many thanks for your much appreciated feedback :)
Excellent Job! Great video and description!
I live in a very hot region where beer is drunk cold. What's the pouring temperature after all the process is done and ready?
Thank you. The pouring temperature is set depending the beer style as part of the beer kits QR data. So it varies quite a lot :)
Hi David great video it looks like you got some great results out of the machine. Did you use normal tap water or treated water in your brew?
I just went with tap water. Having said that we are lucky with how great the water is here.
its actually amazing. im brewing now but im living basicly in one room and this might be a solution. until i can move but it may be a life long things if its that easy huh.
Great, yes nice and compact and easy for sure.
Great no bs review, thanks!
I’m curious why they use the hop bags at all? Don’t the have a filter sitting in the top of the vessel, which the system could just use as a hop spider and dump the hops straight into from the carousel without the bags?
Thank you. Using hop bags gives the process of clean up a head start. Never a bad thing really.
Just looked at minibrew on various websites. Most of their stuff seems to be out of stock in UK and the suppliers who have stock are quoting prices in euros. With the current import/export difficulties, I might just wait for a while...
I am not up to date on how well the company is doing these days.
Sounds quite interesting, even if it is a bit pricey. Are they using standard hop pellets or are they steamed hops?
The kit I used had regular pellet hops.
Very interesting. Good example also of the philosophy of throwing money at a problem. Would suit people with no space for a larger and more hands-on system (and who have the $1200-2000 to buy one of these). Also it seems it would be very useful for testing recipes, but that requires the "pro" subscription to their service, which is $90 a year.
The way I see it, the mash step is mostly the same for the large majority of beers, so you can start with one kit, keep the QR code, and reuse it by making your own recipes on the same profile. I would imagine that the hop additions are not verified, so you can leave a compartment empty if you don't need it in your won recipe.
I think it's a nice product that has a place in the market, but even if it was $120-200, the moment I see "paid subscription" I'll start to 'nope' the other way. What if the company goes bust in a few years? Shelve it next to the Juicero?
@@lokinya Yeah I doubt this company will be able to sell enough of these devices to sustain itself for more than 2 years. A very expensive device that makes a tiny amount of beer in 2-3 weeks from very expensive custom kits, who would buy that? Sure they will sell a couple while it's new but a couple of years from now, not so much.
These actually sell very well. Hence why they are able to continue developing it.
Thank you so much for your amazing video. If I buy the MiniBrew device and take it to my home country, what happens after I ran out of the Brew Packs? Is there any way to bypass/replace the Brew Packs? Or can I make them myself if I know what the ingredients are? They do not ship anything outside the Europe.
If this device is not a good option due to my shipping issue, is there any alternative device that you can suggest me? Something that you just buy the device and make all the ingredients yourself, from grain to Brew Packs?
Hi Mohsen. Thank you :) There is software that comes at an extra cost that allows you to make your own recipes. So as long as you can buy malt, hops and yeast then this will work. Alternative you could buy a brewing system that is less automated. Something like this or smaller will be cheaper but still easy to use:- ua-cam.com/video/KKTL7EjUHI8/v-deo.html
This is a nice little system but for the money you can get so much more from PicoBrew. The Pico Pro is $599 starting and the budget friendly Pico C is $399 starting. Both are 5L system that also have a sous vide capability. The Pico Pro also comes in a 220V option, not sure about the others. The Pico system wouldn't look as sexy on the counter top but bang for the buck and capability the Pico is the clear winner for me. Hopefully you can get your hands on one and compare the two. I personally think the far more expensive Pico Z series ($2749) would fit your needs better as it does just under 9.5 liters (2.5 US gallons) and is a more flexible system in general. But the C system was designed as a budget friendly option for home users, where as the Z series is designed for pro brewers and experienced home brewers. I am going to assume the Pico systems are not readily available in Norway.
Trouble is the future of Picobrew is looking uncertain right now:- thespoon.tech/exclusive-picobrew-is-up-for-sale/
Looks great, but where can you the find recipes to clone? Do you think it possible to clone something like Dortmunder Union for example?
Mini Brew have their own range of kits in many different styles. The internet is full of recipes, as is my channel :)
Cloudy beer - not my favourite. Any chance the system allows beer to be fined?
You could certainly add in something to help this.
As I can see, there is cooling system on board. It would be really interesting to check the making lager style on it.
Yes, heating and cooling. Very flexable.
@@DavidHeathHomebrew How is the cooling accomplished?
@@degueloface theres a thermoelectric cooling element on the back of the kegs.
Cheers Roy, I must of missed this question
I would try using your own recipe with your next brew. Something that you've brewed before and came out well, maybe something you have on hand, that way you can compare and contrast any difference.
Yes, this is my plan. It has gone to others first, so hope it isnt too long before I can get it back for this test :)
@@DavidHeathHomebrew Looking forward to seeing that video.
Thanks David, excellent video. Can you tell me how much beer does a batch of the Mini Brew make?
Thanks Joe,glad you found it useful. These make 5L batches.
@@DavidHeathHomebrew Thanks David. I must admit I am tempted...
Its a nice easy system, that is for sure.
Not really for me this one but a great video, thanks David.
It's all about choices :)
does the keg have the cooling feature to serve cold beer?
Yes it does :)
3 issues I have:-
1. Where does the grain go? I've looked at a couple of videos and it's not obvious. Does the mash keep the grain in the top and wash it constantly?
2. The system gives beer but then it's a container for beer for howev er long it takes to drink it, then there's a 2 week gap before you have beer again. At 5 litres in size, I'd need at least 3 of them to ensure I don't run out of beer. :D
3. In kegging I have noticed the beer needs some time to condition and develop. It's usually gassed in a week at serving pressure but is a btter beer at 2 weeks. That brings up 2 issues - a. I'd need even more minibrews to get the best beer and b. how long will those mini gas cartridges last for conditioning?
1) In the container on top. 2) Yes, its a small batch system. 3) This really depends on the beer style/carbonation level. The IPA I tested with used about 3 from start to finish.
Hi David I am looking at a fully automated brewing system like Minibrew or Beermkr and it will be fantastic if you could compare and suggest one. Cheers. Great work.
Thanks George. I've not tried Beermkr but I am trying the Pinter which is a lot cheaper than this. So far nothing has been as good as the Minibrew but it does come at a fairly high price.
I have a question if the system is going to boil is the lid staying on ??
At the boil stage the hop carousel is connected.
@@DavidHeathHomebrew Thanks David for your answer,so it is not an open boil??
And if I want to add candy syrup in the last 10 minutes, should the hop carousel and corn box be removed?
Do you plan to continue using the device? Is it worth it?
I had this one loan for the purpose of this video. Personally I really enjoy a full brew and I am happy to make time for it. So really a system like this is not aimed at me.
where we buy this product
I have put a link in this videos description for the manufacturers website. See if there is a dealer in your country or close. Here is that link:- brewbrain.nl
This reminds me of a local brewery that just replaced their entire brew house. They now simply wake up in the morning, open an app on a tablet and press a button on which beer to brew. Their brew system does all the rest. Are you really a brewer at that point?
That sounds like a load of bullshit if it involves a micro brewery (even a nano brewery at most points). What is the brewery in question and what is this million dollar automation platform they are using? Usually such systems are out of the scope of microbreweries hence the name.
@@moxdownful Maine Beer Company, Sebago Brewing are two that I know of. And FYI... anyone smaller than Sam Adams (Boston Beer Company) is considered a micro brewery.
This is a Home System.... keep it Simple.... If You are using Your Own Recipes Then My FRIEND YOU ARE A BREWER.... Or Better yet a Home Brewer.... It is a Simple as STAYING IN YOU LANE.... You are not Producing 1BBL... Are You Selling Your Beer/ Home brews?.... If it is for your own enjoyment Then In YOUR WORLD YOU ARE THE MASTER BREWER.... JUST HAVE FUN....
Tricky one really. Though what you call yourself is up to the individual. I think people need to make their own minds up really.
This looks interesting but I don't imagine there are too many people in the U.S. who will be lining up to pay €386 for shipping. 😮
I should think not 🍻🍻
@@DavidHeathHomebrew Some good news for U.S. customers. Minibrew has partnered with a U.S. Distributor.
@CrazyAboutVinylRecords great 🍻🍻🍻
Wow, that price. Needs to be around 1/2 that.
Thanks for sharing
It is an interesting product, however you don't mention the batch size it can make. I have the feeling that it is less that 2 gallons, and therefore it ends up in the category of gimmick rather than a real tool. I understand that a 3 to 5 gallon system would be much larger, but it would also be more useful.
il
It is a 5L system. I thought I had mentioned this a couple of times :)
Yeast Starter Maker : D
Haha :)
whats the timeline from start to finish?
This is shown in the video in detail :)
@@DavidHeathHomebrew No, not really. no where in this video is a timeline mentioned. You say, "once it was finished i saved it for Christmas" but how long did it take for it to be finished?
Oh I see what you mean now. After the brew it took about 2 weeks for fermentation and then another 2 weeks for the beer to be carbonated and ready. So another 4 weeks. This will vary from style to style.
@@DavidHeathHomebrew I see. thank you very much for the answer. I think the best way to go about it with a smaller tank like this is to have 2-3 tanks and sort of find a cycle. waiting 4 weeks for 5 liters of beer is a heck of a long time. i would drink it in one setting :D
@@DavidHeathHomebrew oh, and one more thing. If i chose the "forced" carbonation. Does it only take 2 weeks in that case? since i don't have to wait for natural carbonation?
this looks way more complicated than a one gallon extract brew that most homebrewers start with. Overall if you're looking to get into brewing, don't waste your money on this. Even if you're someone like myself who prefers lagers, just use a kveik to start. It's fast, easy, and won't produce fusels or very many esters at room temp. There are even mini kegs/kegerators if you're looking to start with small amounts like this. Ultimately, if you're willing to spend close to $1000 on homebrewing, save your money. Invest in a nice fermenter/brew kettle as well as a kegs and a kegerator.
Thanks for your input Connor but its actually very simple and fully guided.
In a nutshell here is a more objective review of the minibrew: it brews 5l from recipes that you create yourself (if you pay a hefty annual fee). There are no buttons whatsoever on the machine or on the app that will let you recover from errors. The entire process s controlled remotely by the manufacturer. You basically hardly own this machine... When anomalies happen you will have to contact them in order for your beer brewing to continue. Everything is very fiddly and the app makes you go through dozens of steps that if weren't there you were guaranteed to fail. Some of these steps are entirely senseless for example : open and close the beer valve (to put in contact the hole with hot water and sterilize it), while next being , open the beer valve to let the hot water out.... !!! The hop carousel seems great but you have to secure hops into tiny bags that sometime do not drop at all. it would have been so much easer to use metal cage filters that would drop every time. The pump is so sensitive that putting some Irish moss within the hop filter would likely block it and make yo send the machine back. The enclosure have a dozen of plastic pieces and silicone joints that you must clean every time with the risk of breaking them. You have to humidify your grains with exactly 1l of water before putting them into the machine, which is very messy and impractical (maybe again the sensitive pump issue ?). Oh and also there is no Android app (only iOS) because - says the manufacturer - developing it is complicated and time consuming ! While some ideas could have been great, the entire system is so locked-in with the manufacturer that it is reduced into a gimmick, just as those inkjet printers that print great for a couple of times then either break or require you to buy expensive cartridges.
Steven, this was not a review in name nor in content. It was simply my first brew experience.
Needs to be in the man cave
🍻🍻🍻
I really don't see the point of this product. If you have no interest or time for brewing that's fine but then it's far FAR cheaper to just go to the store and buy beer. This device is very expensive and only makes a measly 5 liters. It takes weeks to make these 5 liters so you will never recoup the money for the device if that's the objective. If not, and you are not interested in brewing, what other reason might there be to get one of these? Is the beer so incredibly much better than commercial craft beer? I very much doubt it.
edit: and the fact that you have to pay an annual fee on top of the already expensive machine to be able to make your own recipes instead of buying overpriced kits is an outright insult!
Yes, this will not suit everyone but it does suit some people:)
@@DavidHeathHomebrew Yes they will sell a couple but I don't see it as a viable business. There are just too many weaknesses for this to become sustainable. Even the PicoBrew looks good in comparison (except for the actual design of it, the MiniBrew did do that bit right).
@@fdk7014 you are mixing your personal opinion with the general opinion. I only drink and share a few beers a week, I have kids so little time and little interest to stir my kettle the whole day, and then clean the whole shebang. Yet I still like to brew, refine and try new recipes. Minibrew is replacing my grainfather after it has done 8 years of service.
Good point. Each to their own
@@Roy-ug7ek Obviously I can only give my own opinion. My main gripe with this machine is that you have to use the kits you buy from them and they are not cheap! If you could just buy a bunch of ingredients from your LHBS and chuck them in as you please it would make a bit more sense but this machine has a DRM system so it only accepts kits from the machine maker. While you can make custom kits you have to pay for a subscription service to do so and you must order these custom kits through the Minibrew website, for a hefty markup of course.
too many manual steps to make it a success. And i suspect you cannot do a custom brew unless you get them set up for you a custom pack that comes with a custom QR code?
Custom brews need the software and license. Its an extra basically.
.Just don't see the point, so much money for a 5 litre batch. Would just be better off buying decent craft beer. If it did 23 litres and you could do your own recipes then I could understand.
It seems like the Carlsberg/OBH Nordica draft master where you had to pay €200 for the privilege of drinking extra expensive carlsberg. At least its possible to make good beer on this one though. The market is getting very saturated indeed with gimmicky expensive products though.
Yes, this certainly will not be for everyone but they do sell in good numbers anyway. No one product is great for all.
While the idea looks pretty good, the software is absolutely locked up and leaves you no choice on any slightest hick up then to call the helpline. It may be ok for the average I-phone baby boomer user, but if you want a simple brew day instead of going back and forth with the support, it is a horrendous experience.
Thanks for sharing your experience.
@@DavidHeathHomebrew I like very much your content but I believe this video does not really reflect the minibrew experience. There are many obvious hardware and design flaws that were completely ignored during the review. It is not possible that you did not notice during your brews that this system is extremely fiddly and does not tolerate the slightest deviation from the manufacturers flow process. While that may seem as done in purpose in theory, it is very impractical and renders most of the usual brewing additions and handlings impossible. This system has in fact no intelligence embedded and guesses the result of a simple automation by "jailing" the beer process very tightly. The side effect of this is that this is a system that will not make beer making process enjoyable at all and ultimately will break very easily without possibility of repair unless you send it back and suffer costs. Maybe an independent and objective review would have highlighted those issues. Unfortunately this review does not.
Steven, this was not a review in name nor in content. It was simply my first brew experience.