All Grain Brewing System reviews.

[Hoddy]

Well after doing kit brews for a while now I have been assessing both the BM and the GF. And to be honest I do have a preference for the BM as I am process engineer who specialises in control systems. If BM are serious about trials of the 10L then by all means put my name in the hat with a deposit. Might just confirm that I should buy a 20L.

 

[skiard]

Well the Brewster is the cheapest to begin with. Next it's a simple setup with everything in the open. No hidden tubes or pumps. Easy to clean. And the Electronics works fine. I'm happy - would by the same one again should it magicaly disappear [emoji2]

 

[drakey182]

would by the same one again should it magicaly disappear

It could always magically disappear to my shed lol :) sounds a great set up and love the idea of push fits.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Well the Brewster is the cheapest to begin with. Next it's a simple set-up with everything in the open. No hidden tubes or pumps. Easy to clean. And the Electronics works fine. I'm happy - would by the same one again should it magically disappear

Thanks, the more feedback the better. :thumb:

 

[Hoddy]

So I am leaning considerably more for a BM or a GF now. But I cannot make my mind up if a 10L or a 20L is the right choice. In my mind 10L means smaller more varied brews I can do. Or 20L means larger economy of scale and less frequency needed when brewing for special occasions. So thoughts, 20 or 10???

 

[MyQul]

So I am leaning considerably more for a BM or a GF now. But I cannot make my mind up if a 10L or a 20L is the right choice. In my mind 10L means smaller more varied brews I can do. Or 20L means larger economy of scale and less frequency needed when brewing for special occasions. So thoughts, 20 or 10???

Can't you make 10L brewlengths in a 20L BM/GF? If you can get the 20L then you have the best of both worlds

 

[Hoddy]

Yeah you can but for another £40 for a smaller pipe. It just really adds up when your spending £1200 on one plus a chiller.

 

[McMullan]

So I am leaning considerably more for a BM or a GF now. But I cannot make my mind up if a 10L or a 20L is the right choice. In my mind 10L means smaller more varied brews I can do. Or 20L means larger economy of scale and less frequency needed when brewing for special occasions. So thoughts, 20 or 10???

You could use a short (10L) malt pipe in the 20L.

 

[McMullan]

Yeah you can but for another £40 for a smaller pipe. It just really adds up when your spending £1200 on one plus a chiller.

That's the only issue I have. It's over priced. The 'extras' you actually need but are optional add-ons, i.e. cost a lot. I've been using a 20L for best part of two years now. It's totally reliable. Absolutely no problems. It will go on for years, so it will pay for itself, eventually. I should say, too, that Speidel's customer support is second to none. They are totally customer focused.

 

[Hoddy]

That's the only thing with the GF. I'm not convinced it has the same reliability as the BM. Anyone else able to sing for the BM or had issues with the GF since having one.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

The only real problem the guy in the video had with the Grainfather was the strainer leading to the pump which kept blocking, DoctorMick has a grainfather and posted this earlier in the thread.

Apparently cones are better than pellets but I've had mine block with cones. A cheap muslin bag solves the problem as you say, I've done one brew without a bag and regretted it.

 

[Soton]

I just watched the Brewster video, It looked like the ideal bit of kit for me to try AG brewing, I have always been put off AG due to having a small always very busy kitchen, Its never seemed very practical for me to make a AG brew outside! non the less I was going to sort out some kit to give AG a go but now I have seen the Brewster in action I think I will save up a bit more to get one.
The set up in the video would be spot on for me, Just place it on the work top right next to the sink and away you go
What I did like about it was how you can customise it to suit yourself and if thinking about it being practical over time if the pump or the heating element ever needed renewing it looks like it would be a simple job

As a after thought if Brewolution Brewster would like to loan me a Brewster and give the opportunity to a complete novice to all grain brewing a chance to test out the brewster, I will be happy to help :

 

[Soton]

I have now watched a couple of videos of the Grainfather and the Brewster online and going by what I have seen in the videos I would have to say the Brewster seems to edge it over the Grainfather, ease of use, having a built in timer, cleaning and even sparging seemed easier with the Brewster, because you could see inside the Brewster kettle when sparging you can see when you had washed the grain through and replaced lost liquid to the right level, going by what I have seen and the price of each bit of kit the Brewster looks the better buy, that said only time will tell on the quality of the build parts of each kit which one will work out more economical buy in the long term

On a foot note to this post my misses has offered to buy me either the Grainfather or Brewster for a Christmas present ( it's amazing what a fruit cider and home made strawberry wine dose for a mans beer brewing options ;-) ) so I am in no rush to decide which one to get so more views and reviews please :

 

[McMullan]

The Brewster is a Kitchen Chef counter top water heater with an upgraded tap, a simple pump, some John Guest fittings and tubing. For £500 that ain't much.

 

[Hoddy]

I would agree with you mcmullan. That's the reason why I wouldn't buy one. I would make one. If I wanted to. For much much less that they are sold for. The pipe work, pump and fittings that makes it all up to cost no more that £50. I have however been costing up making a BM copy and to do it to the same quality with the same level of control is coming out as just, if not a bit more expensive. I think if your going to go AG then you might as well do it properly. And the good thing with the BM controls over all others is the repeatable guaranteed process. So if you want to be able to reproduce the same recipe every time. That's the one, or make your equivocal with a pi or other.

 

[Hoddy]

Soton if your missus is restricted on budget get her to buy you a GF. If not then get her to buy you a BM [emoji6]

 

[Soton]

Soton if your missus is restricted on budget get her to buy you a GF. If not then get her to buy you a BM [emoji6]

Just out of interest why would you go for the Braumeister?
My thoughts are after looking at the Braumeister v Grainfather video its said the Braumeister is three times the price of the grandfather but it doesn't come out of the comparison three times better then the Grainfather when it comes to the beer they both produce.
The issue with the pump blocking on the Grainfather can be easily over come by dropping a false bottom in before the hops are added or as was mentioned putting the hops in a bag, (I would expect the they will look to address that problem as they improve the product) I can see with the timer on the Braumeister step mashing is made easy or even done for you, but on a brew day would you just want add the grain, turn on the machine and go out for 90 minutes to then come home and add some hops! I wouldn't I would want bit more to do and give a reason to keep a eye on things.
If money was no object to the decision I would definitely go for the Braumeister as it looks a good build but on a practical level the Grandfather and Brewster will produce comparable beers to the Braumeister for less outlay

 

[McMullan]

I would agree with you mcmullan. That's the reason why I wouldn't buy one. I would make one. If I wanted to. For much much less that they are sold for. The pipe work, pump and fittings that makes it all up to cost no more that £50. I have however been costing up making a BM copy and to do it to the same quality with the same level of control is coming out as just, if not a bit more expensive. I think if your going to go AG then you might as well do it properly. And the good thing with the BM controls over all others is the repeatable guaranteed process. So if you want to be able to reproduce the same recipe every time. That's the one, or make your equivocal with a pi or other.

There was a guy on another forum (jim's maybe?) who documented his DIY BM build. I think he struggled to source a control unit and the build took a long time and got quite expensive in the end. I think you can now buy stand alone BM control units. There's the BrewBoss control unit too. Or, yes, build your own controller. A rewarding project, but, yes, the quality of the components makes it expensive. My 20L is the best piece of brewing kit I've ever bought. Given the cost of decent beer here in Norway, it's probably paid for itself by now, though ;-)

 

[McMullan]

Just out of interest why would you go for the Braumeister?
My thoughts are after looking at the Braumeister v Grainfather video its said the Braumeister is three times the price of the grandfather but it doesn't come out of the comparison three times better then the Grainfather when it comes to the beer they both produce.
The issue with the pump blocking on the Grainfather can be easily over come by dropping a false bottom in before the hops are added or as was mentioned putting the hops in a bag, (I would expect the they will look to address that problem as they improve the product) I can see with the timer on the Braumeister step mashing is made easy or even done for you, but on a brew day would you just want add the grain, turn on the machine and go out for 90 minutes to then come home and add some hops! I wouldn't I would want bit more to do and give a reason to keep a eye on things.
If money was no object to the decision I would definitely go for the Braumeister as it looks a good build but on a practical level the Grandfather and Brewster will produce comparable beers to the Braumeister for less outlay

The Brewster is not value for money, as far as I can see. The GF is much better and seems to be good value. The BM, apart from being of higher quality, is more automated and you can develop a brewing strategy making it very hands off, leaving time for other things.

 

[Soton]

The Brewster is not value for money, as far as I can see. The GF is much better and seems to be good value. The BM, apart from being of higher quality, is more automated and you can develop a brewing strategy making it very hands off, leaving time for other things.

Yeah that damn grass don't cut its self