I started my first batch today (Pale Ale). I was part of the Kickstarter from about 8 years ago. My device came with a second hose and an adapter for small kegs you get in the beer section at the grocery store. Looking forward to trying this in 9 days.
If you are an all grain brewer who prefers to brew 5 gallons or more and regularly goes through those kegs, than no. If you are someone who brewed more for just the fun of trying new things and doesn't need more than just under 1 gallon produced every 1.5 weeks than that would be an easy yes. There is a rumor from someone who knows more than I do that they will eventually be coming out with a companion system that will allow for all grain. I will say, if you tried either of the last two brews I did you would be able to tell me they were extracts as they tasted better than a lot of commercial beers I'd had in those styles. I'm still floored by how good they tasted. The next brew I have planned is their Lager kit, and after that, I'm looking to do a home made extract brew from scratch without a kit.
@@BitterRealityBrewing Thanks so for the thorough response and great info as always! That is impressive those igulu beers you made tasted so good. The ease of use and automation almost seems magical. I am struggling with dry hopping and temp control currently. I have been brewing about 12 years and can be pretty self critical. I will look out for the all grain version to come out too I would generally be good with less beer, I currently have 2 5-gallon hazy kegs, but it is more than I currently need and can share. Had to high pH on one and tastes grainy, and pressure fermented hops put in at pitch no longer is working for me. I am paranoid about oxidation and don't want to open fermenter at all during brewing and transfer process.
I am currently playing around with a RAPT fermentation chamber that seems promising. The glycol system I have is beyond amazing but also extremely expensive when you add everything together.
@@BitterRealityBrewing I saw the RAPT on More beer, I like that the promo picture has 2 all rounders in it, the same 2 fermenters I currently use. My basement is usually a steady 60 degrees or so for most of the year which I think works pretty well, I always wrap the fermenter with a towel to block light, but I cannot keep a steady internal temperature the whole time, I am thinking that is what is helping contribute to that great iGulu beer, having perfectly controlled fermenter temperatures and no oxidation! I have always done closed transfers to kegs before serving, but for my next beer I am thinking of just serving in the cooler directly from the all-rounder as sometimes the transfers start well and midway through the trub starts getting mixed in beer and it foams and I feel like it ruins the beer at the last step, very frustrating. I also might just try a no boil extract beer like the igulu pale ale just a larger batch and see how it works, my beers have been very thin lately like finishing 1.006 / 7 for hazy IPAs with like 30% oats / wheat, I need to try a new approach. Thanks for the great videos and taking the time to reach out to viewers!
I fully understand it is not the thing for most home brewers but it has a niche, especially for those living in small spaces, or looking have some fun with something a bit different or even to experiment.
I started my first batch today (Pale Ale). I was part of the Kickstarter from about 8 years ago. My device came with a second hose and an adapter for small kegs you get in the beer section at the grocery store. Looking forward to trying this in 9 days.
@bitterreality Do you think an experienced all-grain brewer who is a bit burned out from brewing could be happy with an igulu?
If you are an all grain brewer who prefers to brew 5 gallons or more and regularly goes through those kegs, than no. If you are someone who brewed more for just the fun of trying new things and doesn't need more than just under 1 gallon produced every 1.5 weeks than that would be an easy yes. There is a rumor from someone who knows more than I do that they will eventually be coming out with a companion system that will allow for all grain. I will say, if you tried either of the last two brews I did you would be able to tell me they were extracts as they tasted better than a lot of commercial beers I'd had in those styles. I'm still floored by how good they tasted.
The next brew I have planned is their Lager kit, and after that, I'm looking to do a home made extract brew from scratch without a kit.
@@BitterRealityBrewing Thanks so for the thorough response and great info as always!
That is impressive those igulu beers you made tasted so good. The ease of use and automation almost seems magical.
I am struggling with dry hopping and temp control currently. I have been brewing about 12 years and can be pretty self critical. I will look out for the all grain version to come out too
I would generally be good with less beer, I currently have 2 5-gallon hazy kegs, but it is more than I currently need and can share. Had to high pH on one and tastes grainy, and pressure fermented hops put in at pitch no longer is working for me. I am paranoid about oxidation and don't want to open fermenter at all during brewing and transfer process.
@@BitterRealityBrewing BTW, I also saw some 8 year old videos of an early igulu model on UA-cam that was all grain.
I am currently playing around with a RAPT fermentation chamber that seems promising. The glycol system I have is beyond amazing but also extremely expensive when you add everything together.
@@BitterRealityBrewing I saw the RAPT on More beer, I like that the promo picture has 2 all rounders in it, the same 2 fermenters I currently use.
My basement is usually a steady 60 degrees or so for most of the year which I think works pretty well, I always wrap the fermenter with a towel to block light, but I cannot keep a steady internal temperature the whole time, I am thinking that is what is helping contribute to that great iGulu beer, having perfectly controlled fermenter temperatures and no oxidation!
I have always done closed transfers to kegs before serving, but for my next beer I am thinking of just serving in the cooler directly from the all-rounder as sometimes the transfers start well and midway through the trub starts getting mixed in beer and it foams and I feel like it ruins the beer at the last step, very frustrating. I also might just try a no boil extract beer like the igulu pale ale just a larger batch and see how it works, my beers have been very thin lately like finishing 1.006 / 7 for hazy IPAs with like 30% oats / wheat, I need to try a new approach.
Thanks for the great videos and taking the time to reach out to viewers!
not for me
I fully understand it is not the thing for most home brewers but it has a niche, especially for those living in small spaces, or looking have some fun with something a bit different or even to experiment.