WHICH HOMEBREW SYSTEM SHOULD I BUY?
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- Опубліковано 21 лип 2024
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I’ve never brewed beer in my life but I’ve been watching you for like 3 years now.
You'll never regret it once you start. Cheers braj
ha that's the nicest thing anybody has ever said to me :)
Yeah, dude, it's great fun. 😎
Yo homie, thanks for the shout-out, and GREAT VIDEO! Great info. We're gonna release a stainless fermenter in 2022, but only because we want to offer something with pressure and other capabilities. Otherwise, we use plastic. It's cheap, it's reliable and it's easy to use and clean. Over about our last 100 batches fermenting in plastic, we had a single, solitary issue with wild bacteria contaminating the next batch: Log yeast got into a light Mexican lager... Which actually made it amazing!
Can't wait!
Bottom line is, if you like the beer you're making, you're doing it right. I used to use a mash/lauter tun with a false bottom, and do a mash and sparge. After a stuck sparge that I wound up throwing out due to frustration, I told myself, "This is your hobby; you should be enjoying yourself. Simplify." I went to BIAB and I've never looked back. I boil on my kitchen stove and ferment in my basement. I've done pretty well in competitions with this system, and I like the beer I make. So nobody can tell me different.
Great advice, I too have reached the same conclusion after years of three vessel pumps and hoses, great channel, love the editing & content, Cheers!
Thank you Corey!
Crazy Braj! I was just looking at the Clawhammer basket to replace my bag. I don’t want to give up the speed of propane!
Exactly!
So much truth to this video! I still use 10 gallon coolers and no pumps. I do use glass fermenters, but only big mouth bubblers that are easy to clean!
Thx for the love again City!
Thank you for the video. I just bought the Northern Brew BSE Homebrew Starter Kit and cannot wait to get brewing!
I'm looking at buying a cooler with a faucet. I don't think I can justify the cost of a basket. I know one thing. I'm sick of using a bag. Rinsing those is a nightmare.
I seen a stainless steel mesh basket on eBay that I thought about using with my existing Kettle for a brew in a bag
Can you send me the link?
I brewed with a buddy halfway across the continent a few times over the years on his home made set up before buying a brewzilla 35L this year. I've owned the thing for less than a month and have made 4 batches on it. 3 which were good, one was a off the cuff experiment made of sugar water and hops. Not good. But I'm extremely satisfied with all the other beers. I started by buying a keezer, then kegs , using glass carboys were free with buying the kegs and has been ok so far, and finally got the brewery new from the local brew supply store after everything else was found used online. I'm now building grain storage and looking for more kegs. Buying pale malts by the 50lb bag. And watching 2-3 UA-cam videos on brewing each day for the last month. Thanks for all the entertainment and tips HB4L 🍻 cheers!
Great video.
I want a prediction video of what you will be brewing with in another five years.
Great idea!
Hey CH, I really enjoyed this, sorry to be behind but I have been sick and it is ongoing. I cannot say that I have had issues with my electric brewing systems but I take your point. I see that this video was inspired by the Clawhammer video but frankly I am so glad that you are one of the US UA-cam channels that is not sponsored by them. Keep it that way bro...seriously.
Happy Holidays David Heath!
I’m in a 1 bedroom apartment with my wife and have had some buyers remorse on some stuff and had to get creative with space. I wish I found this channel when I was starting out!
What’s worked for me:
- Cooler mash tun with false bottom and ball valve
- Big mouth bubbler plastic fermenter from Northern Brewer. Spigot on the bottom and super easy to clean.
- 5 gallon brew kettle (I do ~3 gallon batches)
- Capper, various hoses for transfers, airlock, etc
I don’t have a bottling bucket, I actually just bottle straight from the fermenter from the spigot (screw glass carboys), and don’t need any racking canes cause of the spigots. But I’ve turned out some great beers in a small space with those 3 main pieces of equipment.
Love the channel guys!
Solid feedback, cheers Pat!
Great video. Your comment about breweries using rudimentary equipment really hit home.
For me, homebrewing is all about making beer myself, not managing an automated brewing system. I realized that any system that makes brewing less hands-on and more automatic won't necessarily make brewing more enjoyable.
Started with a 40-liter tea urn BIAB system and still rocking it to this day.
Agreed!
Lots of good points! I moved to BIAB almost 3 years ago from a crude 3-vessel system, and I am happy I made the switch! A lot of attention is put on brew day equipment, but the fermentation and serving stages might be more important for quality beer. I agree that simplicity = less things to go wrong = higher chance for good beer. Also, I moved from using glass carboys to PET Fermonsters and I have been very happy with them. There are a few other nice PET fermenters. They might not last 10 years, but are a pretty decent value in the $30 to $40 price range.
Solid feedback Cascades, and keep the content coming!
I like your idea of getting a nice kettle a grain basket and going with a propane burner. I think that’s where I’m headed as a rookie brewer. It’s best of both world at a more accessible price. Thank you CH
you got this braj!
@@HOMEBREW4LIFE ✌️
"YOU CAN DO IT!"
I went with Brew in a bag just because it is a lot easier to clean. I also put the hops in a bag as well. I use 2 fermenters a primary bucket for the main fermenting (3-7days) and then I take it off to a carboy to finish.
Very good tips. You learned a lot in just seven years. I sometimes reminisce about my cooler systems. I prefer simplicity too.
I've definitely had dozens of boil overs in my time. There's plusses and minuses to every system! Let's get you on the Hoppy Hour again soon!
It really depends on what I’m brewing. My three vessel system has never let me down, but the ebiab stuff is really convenient and simple. Usually I will do smaller test batches on the brewzilla, then scale up if I like it.
Great point!
I’ve also been trying make the process more efficient. Without spending too much money. One thing I am trying is the no chill method of chilling the wort. Seems to be working so far. It does extend the process to the next day. The brew stays really hot in that container for a long time. But it divides the process up into two smaller pieces which are easier to swallow. As long as you have time on a Saturday and Sunday to mess with it.
I was thinking of adding a pump to my system just so I didn't have to lift those heavy kettles of water. Not anymore! 😁 Thank you for telling it like it is! 👍👍👍 I'll just keep brewing outside, next to the stairs on my deck. A 3 hour brew day is the best I've ever done. You must focus, no fooling around! Lot's of knowledge & experience here................. Thank You.
That brew in a bag method looks awfully tempting, but you said it yourself, you're giving up temperature control. I'll stick with the Coleman Cooler I've been using for 7 years. Brew on!
From 10 to 30l biab is great, over that separate mash tun is useful. Electric 2 or 3V systems with replaceable elements are great for anything between 20 and 200l. Over that up to 600l direct fire, and then on only steam jacket is usable.
Solid feedback Uros!
Just about to start home brewing for the first time after buying a kegerator and some cornelius kegs (I get them filled at local breweries for AUD$60 a keg). Your videos are an absolute godsend, and for that I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Obviously the brewing options here in Australia are different from the US (we have about 1/100th of the choice you guys do for equipment!), but over the past week I have already learnt so much from you - again, THANK YOU!
Haha, one year later I've read this comment, how'd you go? I'm also in Australia and curious if you discovered KegLand.. Huge advantage over the rest of the world having first access to new innovations.
@@chrisnewman861 I live in Brazil, and I'm always prioritize purchasing from them. Their stuff is awesome.
This is great, you never hear people talk about the negative experiences with some of these systems and I think you nailed it! You know I love my clawhammer system, pricey but worth it for me. BIAB is by far the best way to start out though!
Much love, cheers Steve!
Bag it. 3 hour brewday are the best. I keep my setup focused on least cleaning as possible.
Totally agree!
One thing I've come to realize after a few brew days it that if you are going to spend 3 hours to brew a beer on a brew day then you might as well spend 4.5 hours to brew two. This works especially well with the home depot mashtun setup...dump the grain, hose it out and you are ready for batch #2. I even send the hot water coming out of my wort chiller for the first brew to a small kettle that I heat a bit more for the second brew. Most of the time I am still chilling my first batch when I've started the timer for my second batch's mash.
As for buyer's remorse...well I still have my catalyst fermenter sitting in my basement looking pretty (also empty) as I ferment all my beer in plastic buckets instead.
Solid feedback dragon!
All of the reasons you said about pumps and electric are why I was never interested in using them, more stuff to go wrong on a brew day. I have a 3 tier rig with propane and love it! Great video!
All systems definitely have their share of ups and downs. I've had my share of boil overs on propane!
Very good video my dude. While filming my first 5 gallon last week, we noticed my electric stove was struggling to get the temperature up to boil point. Thinking the anvil brewing system will be what we got for!
Glad it helped
I started with a Northern Brewer kit, then upgraded to a 3 tier system, then upgraded to the Anvil Foundry which I love but damn it takes way too long to brew on 120v. I'm really considering the Anvil Burner & Kettle but I'm really liking that idea of using the Anvil grain pipe in the kettle.... Killer Idea Braj! See you Saturday 12/4!
See you then!
30 brews and another 50 or so hours boiling down maple sap on the grain father with no issues. I do like the BIAB method and like mentioned below, not too bad to clean. I do still want to try the 3 vessel system. Great overview of the journey! Cheers Braj!
I utilize about 3 different systems on any given brew day. Good to have options!
I am up to 15 brews on my Anvil and absolutely love it. No problems yet. There are of course things that I dislike about the system but as compared to brew in a bag, not a problem. It also does a great job on my bourbon mashes. I have to agree with you that plastic fermenting buckets for the home brewer are the way to go.
Great to hear!
I've been homebrewing for over 20yrs. I can say I have come down a rather similar journey with materials and setups that you have shown here. Over time I have gone from 5gal batches and putting them into 5L pony kegs to 1BBL unitank and keg off into 5gal or 1/2 BBL kegs. Currently using a 2 vessel Electric system so I can brew in the winter inside and get everything kegged and ready for the Spring through fall so I can get things done outside. Seems strange? Ya, I live in the Mtns and need to get thins done outside before we get feet of snow and it holds for a few months.
Solid feedback Dan, cheers!
Good job CH! I just bought a Brewzilla, stepping up from burner and converted coolers. I hope I'm not at disappointed as you were with the electric route...
Hope you enjoy it!
I have a combi gas boiler for my heating/hot water. It heats the water as it goes through and so is safe to drink. I brew with water out the hot tap at 71C that’s 160F to you and really speeds up my brew day.
no boil?
Yeah I boil it just starts me off quickly. I sparge with hw from the tap too no need for a HLT
3rd Batch still using malt kits (Brewers Best) but have already started kegging. Cold up here now did last batch in kitchen on gas range good temp control just slower.
Sounds great!
H4L, thank you for the video. I was going to get an electric all in one but after watching, Im going to stick with my propane and just upgrade my bag to a basket and invest in a quality stainless fermenter instead.
Picking a system is hard! Glad you sparked the discussion!
Happy Holidays Jus!
I spent 3.5-4 years using glass and collecting more of it because of the "plastic = bacteria" myth. Used a 7gal plastic when I started doing DIPA's and what a game changer. I started hearing stories of people getting hurt by dropping 5/6 gallon glass carboys (aka glass shrapnel, it can get bloody). Just starting to get into brewing again after a 3 year break because of moving, buying/fixing a house. This makes a LOT of sense. been considering the electric 3 vessel brewery thing, but this makes a whole lot more sense ... thanks for sharing heading to eBay after this post (glass carboys for sale)
We are on the same page Pablo!
I’m new to brewing but the coffee maker seems intriguing. Do you have a video on that set up at all?
Great synopsis CH - I'm 40+ brews in on my Brewzilla 35L electric system and am itchin' to upgrade. Loads of good info here! Cheers braj! 🍻
Glad it was helpful!
My Hybrid system.
Spike Custom Kettle configured exactly like a Spike Solo
Blichmann Brew Commander (Easy to use👍)
Blichmann Rip Tide pump (best pump)
Blichmann Therminator plate chiller
Very easy to integrate the 2 brands.
Dialed in!
Great timing video for me. I love these reality checks on the end result. Make beer you love to drink.
I started brewing about 7 months ago and have chewed through all the UA-cam brewing favourites. I've had my sights on all grain all year but other projects have taken priority. 1. Sort the keg system. 2. Build a pub 3. Go all grain. So I've sorted one and two and I brewed my first all grain batch this week. I went with BIAB partly to learn more and maybe to make a better choice on my all grain system. Like most gadget lovers Ive talked myslef all the way up to top end and then reset to a bag for life!
Maybe I need to do a few MBC and head over to Amazon 🤪
Solid feedback Andrew & MBC 4 LIFE!!!
I've been eyeing an electric system lately, especially for the winter when propane isn't pleasant for me to use. My BIAB bag has been good for 18 batches, no holes yet!
Cheers Adam!
My Grainfather connect is fantastic. Not cheap, but worth every penny 🤘🏼🍻
Glad to hear Fibre!
Hey Braj, when I was in the market for my first all grain setup I thought about doing BIAB with the same sort of basket from Clawhammer. I even ran into the same issue with sold out clawhammer basket and got in touch with Elliot over email. I was fully committed to the grain basket since I felt like that with my Ss boil kettle trub damn would be excellent for preventing stuck mash/unwanted haze. Plus as soon as mash is over I could easily turn up the heat, dump grain, rinse the basket and have a hop filter before boil would come on. Shit sounded money. But as I sobered up and thought about it more I realized dimensions would be an issue and the thermometer on the boil kettle would be a no go with the larger basket. I think I may revert back to that idea, cut out the thermometer and grab an ink bird to submerge or at least those honkin 13-15 inch thermometers to strap on the side. When thinking about souring...I'd just go with the Philly since it seems good enough! I love the video man...it's got me thinking again. Excited to see what the new setup is going to be in a next brew vid.
I'm gonna hit Emmet up tomorrow, so I'll keep you posted. Cheers Chris!
@@HOMEBREW4LIFE Elliot?? How many beers did I have….I meant Emmet lmao!
I 100% agree on the diy method rather than the all in one systems. Electric makes sense to me on 240v, but not 120v. Since I already have 3 SS pots, I am rigging up a hybrid system with a 120v inkbird controller for my hlt, and a propane fired BK
Tought for something to go wrong on that system!
I’m glad I found this. I was just about to pull the trigger on an all in one. It was the things you mention, at some point something is going to break, that has kept me from doing it. For less money I’m going to get a mesh basket, sous vide and maybe down the road the coffee pot. My igloo has seen better days and if I have to do something anyway I’m all for simpler. Whats your opinion on sous vide stick? Do you find it worth it? Thanks.
Most recent brew I used my electric mash system just to heat the water and then did the whole mash in a Home Depot cooler (BIAB). Only lost one degree over the 60 min mash. Worked way better than trying to do my whole mash in the electric system. Once my bag breaks I will upgrade to a metal basket as well. Sometimes simple is best.
Cheers!
I’ve made about a dozen brews in my brewzilla and so far it’s been great. A bit slow to heat up but that’s minor.
yeah i'm all about starting early and finishing before noon, so i'm going with propane right now. Cheers!
I've had my northern brewer pump for 3 years and over 30ish batches the thing is still pumping. It does make an interesting buzzing sound now that it didn't when it was new buuuut it still works.
I'm jinxed! Enjoy your pump gods good karma!
It’s the way forward CH, I’m relatively new to this, looked at all the fancy kit and ended up adapting products to my home brew and enjoy using it more as it is my creation.
Great to hear!
I started with BIAB with a tea urn and then when i had a bit of spare cash went to lower end electric system which after 2 years broke. I lost my job so bought the grainfather g30. Its a good machine with a small footprint, perfect for me so far. But the cleaning takes longer than the brewday I miss my BIAB so bought a bag gonna see if i can brew in the grainfather with a bag. Cheers Lads
Solid feedback, cheers Crewewolf!
Right now the premium starter kit from morebeer looks like a better deal than the Northern brewer kit. Its currently 110 more than the Brew,Share,Enjoy, but it comes with an 8.5 gallon spigoted kettle and a wort chiller.
So happy to bring you to the BIAB squad, but damn now I need to get a metal basket, that would be legit, no more bag holes!
I have one for you (it's trevors, but he can use mine lol)
The bags are super easy to clean. Just give them a quick rinse to get the majority of the grain off and let it hang dry. Once it's dry, the rest of it comes off with a quick shake.
Thanks for the info!
@@HOMEBREW4LIFE Also a good bag is 7-10 bucks and a cheap one 3-5 it really doesn't hurt to buy the best ones.
I thought I had already commented on this video but maybe it was a dream… Great video Bro, cheers 🍻🤙🏼
Happy Holidays Raul!
I appreciate the video and the insight on your equipment journey but I’ll still stick with my 3 vessel setup. I’ve had great success with it through the years, maybe I’m just lucky.
Don't fix it if its not broken! Every system has plusses and minuses. I'm just going after a 3 hour brew day these days. Cheers!
Check out Philly Sour yeast - allows you to brew sours without the bacteria. Pitches and ferments like standard yeast so you don’t need electric
yup! Cheers Steve
Been using a cooler mash tun for about 5 years now, I love it, it works fantastically, it is very easy to clean, and I get excellent efficiency (with batch sparging). Electric systems look fun, but I see it as solving a problem I don't have.
I love mine too! Cheers DGrove!
Super essential reflections here, simplify! That complex systems require more maintenance is almost a principle of the universe.
Great Stuff! I went the opposite direction: Biab to Anvil Foundry. Love the Foundry & recirculation pump and have zero mechanical issues in almost a full year of brewing at least 2-3x per month. Only downside is the weak-ass boil that I get with 120V, but the beer comes out good so I guess it isn't an issue. I disagree with the bag vs. basket cleaning: Foundry basket is a PITA to try to get everything out of it. Biab is easy - just spray the hell out of it, turn it inside out and spray again. Not good enough? Throw it in with the laundry. Rip a hole in it? You are only out another $10-$20 to replace. I've heard a lot of people using Biab bags in their electric system, but I haven't gone there yet. Good luck finalizing the next system! Can't wait to see what you come up with. Cheers!
Great feedback, cheers Rick!
Hybrid BIABasket with propane is the way to go. Unless you have to brew inside in the winter. I can't find a basket that is cheap enough so I'm still brewing in a bag. In the winter here now, so I have to go with 240V with ventilation out the window. Keep up the great content. Love the Party Time brewing T-shirt... MBC!
Agreed and thx for the support Dave! Cheers braj!
Before we get started, I'm also one to leap before looking.
I like the mash and boil and foundry. I had an issue with the mash and boil pump but I just stir from the bottoms pushing everything up when mashing in. It’s not really recommended but I haven’t had any issues so far doing that. The only system that looks like it’s an issue if you brew alone and don’t have a racket system is the claw hammer you need to lift it then put the legs on. I rent so can’t set up a ratchet system so that system is out for me
Great info Chris!
Hell I switched to doing partial mash extract batches too!!
I love doing partial mash batches John, cheers!
Hardest part for me is getting rid of the old stuff when you upgrade. I have 3 glass carboys I want to just smash
ha i have like 6 of them. Some are the expensive pyrex ones too
The brew bag is what i use for Biab. The product is great and the customer support is good too
Totally agree!
I think the most important part is the solid grain basket for sparging. I do biab for mash, lift the bag and slide it into the anvil grain basket while it's on top of the kettle. Then you can set that on top of the kettle and sparge from there like you have. This way no dead space. The anvil basket obviously can be used with any system because it's not actually going into the kettle. I've found it's not that difficult to place the grain bag into the pipe after the mash, just need to let it drain a minute the. You can press and shape it In. Really solves the problem for any of these systems
solid feedback, cheers Matt!
I've been doing BIAB with a 50 litre Hopcat system for a few years and maybe 50 brews, but here in Scotland we have 220v from the socket as standard so heating 30 litres of water from 5 celcius to mash in temp takes about half an hour, then maybe 20 minutes from mash out to boiling. I've had temperature control/calibration issues but nothing that has really been detrimental to the brew.
As long as you know your system, you'll get good beer.
system > recipe Cheers Mozz!
I'm on a 30 litre tea urn (hot wired for a rolling boil!) A stainless mesh basket built to fit the urn, a seperate HLT for doing a little sparge, and an electric hoist directly above 😆 it does make life really easy i gotta say. Seems like lots of people are going down this route.
how did you rig it to boil?
@@HOMEBREW4LIFE flipped it upside down, took the bottom apart and disconnected the thermostats 🤫 😆
BIAB makes good wort. After that the yeast management is the important thing IMO. The only thing BIAB is gving me a problem with is not controling your water/grain ratio. I don't know why but that's giving me a lot of problems with wheat beers. Besides that, can't beat it. Cheep, fast, easy to clean, packs in a small footprint. What more do you need?
Solid feedback Jason!
Sounds like a cool project idea, when I was getting into biab I was looking for something like what clawhammer has. Wonder if that would fit in a sanke keg?
Just did my first indoor brew after converting my kettles to electric, 5500 watt heating elements. Those got the water to temp faster then propane ever did. So far Im liking it, had an electrician replace my breaker box and add 2 30 amp breakers. Then from each breaker run a line to my brew room to a box with an on/off switch and from there to the outlet. I had to wire the extension cords together, but it was easy. Next step will be getting a wash sink and a water line into that room.
ha same for me (the sink). I don't own a house, so the landlord might get pissed off lol. Cheers KF
@@HOMEBREW4LIFE guessing you would be adding a sink in your garage, you could just have a pvc pipe go down into a 5 gallon bucket and keep an extra 1 or 2 nearby. But yeah there's the landlord part too
Great video and commentary. Curious though, what exactly are you using the 4.5 liter coffee caterting thing for? Like what heating and at what stage? I missed the intent of that. Thanks in advance
Good stuff. If you want to do a sour with gas/biab, just use Philly Sour yeast, imo.
Great tip!
Hi I'm happy with my brew in bag set up never had and any of the flashie brew gears so for me its interesting to here your experiences got heaps of mates with all the flashie gears ,think the more you brew in the end u just learn ,also enjoy 23ltrs brews for that reason thanks agian☆☆ like your grain basket idea might get one my self see how you go!!Cheers.
Thanks for sharing!
Hey CH: Great video as always. I just went to the Clawhammer 10 gal 120v system that I augment with a 1800 watt induction cooktop. It's awesome. The addition of the cooktop really cuts down on the amount of time it takes to heat water and bring to a boil.
Solid feedback, cheers Rich!
How much steam does the 120 volt system put off?
@@johnrambo3851 It's not too bad. I brew in my basement and don't have a ventilation hood. I just use a small fan to circulate air.
@@CaledoniaGardener thats what I was wondering if some circulation would be sufficient
I use a pro-quality 120 volt induction cooktop with my 10 gallon Spike kettle and it works great. The time to heat water up is used to add my brewing salts, weigh and mill the grain, and clean up. After 3 years I still mash in a 10 gallon converter cooler. No pumps. Plastic bucket or Fermzilla for pressure fermentation. Inkbird all the way. Yeah, I don’t do stuff like step or decoction mashing, I don’t make big batches, and I don’t mash out. But I do sparge and my numbers are fine. Who needs complicated expensive stuff that breaks anyway? Great video!
My grainfather sparge water heater is the unsung hero in my brewhouse. Doesn't get enough credit!
Glad to hear tony!
Hi guys
Love the vids
Any chance you could do a NEIPA I have the same system but 35L
Would love to see you so this classic
Keep it going
5teve G
I did some research to upgrade my setup as I wanted to increase my production volume and I have now a BIAB system with a grain basket custom made to my pot, so right now I can make 40L (10,5 gal) batches. I feel that a burner is the better option for this volume since it's not that hard to balance the thermal inertia and keep a good temperature control. I'm trying to do a recirculation system to increase efficiency, but also working on some fermenters from used kegs. Plastic is so versatile but I''d like to experiment some more with different styles and maturation and plastic does not support that, and since stainless steel fermenters are so expensive I'll try to do my own. If my logic is wrong I appreciate some advice and constructive criticism
Sounds like the same path I'm going down!
I'm on the same path as well. Just ordered some parts to convert some corny kegs to fermentors. I was thinking about grabbing an Anvil pump to get a recirc setup going and buying a basket to fit my kettle so I could have a 3 vessel/ cooler mash tun system and a BIAB option for larger batches. Brew on brew bros!
Braj. I use strainers and a 3qt saucepan as a giant ladle. No bags, no pumps. Big ass pot on a propane burner, temp control with a dot probe thermometer. Mash in an unmodified cooler. Sometimes I stir halfway through. I put a giant pasta strainer in my stainless fermenter and scoop the wort and grain in with the saucepan, doesn't take long. Then I put sparge water in the tun, to rinse out the grains and swish it around, sometimes I heat to sparge temp, but usually not, then dump it over the grain in the fermenter. I put the kettle under the spigot on the fermenter and drain the wort through a hop spider back into the kettle. The pasta strainer gets most of the grain, but some settles in the conical bottom, and the hop spider gets the rest. Proceed as normal. A malt pipe would work for the strainer.
Sounds like me!
Good Morning Braj's! Good Beers, Good ideas! Good Vibes!
Thank you! Cheers!
I've been doing BIAB for years. I easily converted my 10 gallon kettle (induction compatible) to electric by adding a hot water tank style element. I wired it to use 20 amp 120 volt outlet and the kettle sits on an 1800 watt induction plate. Getting to mash and boil temperature is quick. Cleanup is a breeze, just the kettle and the immersion cooler.
Great tip!
Do you mean you use the induction plate in addition to a tank style element mounted on the pot (in the water)?
@@daileybryan Yes because I didn't have access to a 240V outlet. The element and the plate use regular 120V outlets that are not on the same circuit. I go from mash temp to a strong boil in perhaps 15 to 20 minutes. Once at boil I run the plate at 30 to 40%. Also I built shoulders using aluminium trim on both side of the plate to support the weight of the kettle. Works well for me.
Also I control the element during mash (the plate is turned off) using a INKBIRD IPB-16.
Yeah, if you're going the electric route, you really need to splurge and get a modular system. They're just more sturdy and electric controller is away from the kettle, limiting the chance of splash damage. The Grainfather, Brewzilla models are great, but once something breaks it's done for the most part. If you're not going to splurge on something like a Clawhammer, Spike, or some other type of modular system, BIAB is the way to go. It's just so cost effective and so much less of a hassle, especially if you're brewing 5 gallon batches.
I do 15 gallons batches, so I have the system from Dark Farm, which has no PID controller. It's double insulated and works very similar to how Igloo coolers for mash work, but I can literally upgrade everything as I go if I want.
Anyway, great advice. BIAB if you're on a budget... if you must go electric, plan on spending some dough.
I think that's really great feedback Josh. We were able to pay $100 or so to have Grainfather ship up the LED screen. They shipped it swift and everything ended up working out
I've been brewing with a Speidel Braumeister for over 10 years without anything breaking or wearing out. 👍
Been doing 3-tier brewing since 2008, brewing dialed in beers. I don't have anything against BIAB systems, but I figure if it ain't broke don't fix it. I might be brewing with old-school methods, but I'm still eating good and drinking good 14 years later!
ya Rob! Keep working it!
+1 to Sous Vide stick. Inkbird makes some; I believe they are 1000w. Use propane to boil, and Sous Vide stick to maintain mash temps. If the wind didn't blow 100mph here, I would ditch my Brewzilla and go to propane.
Yo Kenny, can you send me a link to that Sous Vide stick, thx!
BIAB + Sous Vide = BrewFUN and not too much cleaning and temp control. Fire up the propane for boil. I do it! Cheers Brajes!
Sous Video video on deck!
Curious if you guys hit up any of the homebrew meetups around San Diego! Do you recommend any?
Barley Engineers
I sparge with cold water there seems to be no difference saves having an extra water heater been brewing for over 40 years and have gone back to BIAB years ago.
If you were on 240V would you consider electric over propane for heating up your sparge?
Love brewing with my BE Mash & Boil but considering a HERMS setup for larger volume. What are your thoughts on something well made like the Spike Trio Brewing System? #H4L
It's definitely the opposite of the H4L way, but cheers James!
Awesome! Glad I never bought an electric system or a pump. I use brew in a bag and mash in a bag. I saved my old cooler with the false bottom and ball valve and use it with a brew bag. No stuck mash or sparge and no vorlauf step needed. I would like a grain basket but wow are they expensive! I paid less for a really nice brew pot that I drilled and installed a ball valve, hard to justify more money for a basket.
Solid feedback, cheers Tim!
You said you wouldn't recommend using a converted multi-keg system and mentioned the pumps being a real pain and always acting up
Could using a keggle for BIAB then a sankey keg with the 2"tri clamp corney conversation and DIY spunding valve as a pressurised fermenter also be problematic?
CH,
Have you seen this series about "Shake and Brew" by Dr. Hans? Simple, fast and limited equipment seems right in you wheelhouse. Love your content but the laughs are what keeps me coming back. When do you debut at the Laugh Factory?
Thx for the kind words DK, and i'll check those videos out now. Cheers!
I didn't think you could submerse the probe on the Inkbird you show in this video, I thought if the liquid went past the metal probe the plastic lead would get trashed? I only use mine for fermenting. Do you find robust enough for mashing?
Ditto regarding reviews of equipment right out of the box. Since the gear has not been put through any serious testing (via multiple brews) they come across as just reading the product specs.
Cheers Crevo!
New homebrewer who has only done extract so far. I'm still considering an electric system. Hell, if it lasts me a couple of years I'm good. Just wanna keep it simple. Cheers Brajjes!
All systems have their plusses and minuses, cheers Mike!
Went from a dual pump 3 vessel single tier to single pump BIAB 5-6 years ago and never looked back. I've tried sparging the bag with a couple gallons of water but the 1-2% efficiency increase isn't worth the time and eqpt IMO.
Sounds like we are on the same page iceberg!
So the single pump just for transferring to fermenter? If so no need ball valve to urn?
Biab is the way. Ive been using all glass carboys for primary and my Last brew I went back to the bucket. Man it's easier and more movable! I just have to get use to not staring at my glass carboy watching the fermentation show! Oh and stop sniffing the airlock! That shit smells so good!
lol! Solid feedback Adam