All in one systems.

[HarryFlatters]

Surely it's not all in one if you need a separate HLT and a separate FV. Just all in 3.

Valid point. I guess you could ferment in an all in one system, but it'd mean your boiler is out of action for Fortnight.

I don't sparge often, and when I do is a cold sparge so no HLT required.

 

[foxy]

I have had the BM for 10 years, had a 4 year warranty, I have the 40 litre Guten which I used to win a 50 litre Guten, I haven't used the 50 yet but they come with a 3 year warranty. They come with a 3 year warranty. I also have a 60 litre Brau Wolfe which also has a 3 year warranty. There really isn't a lot which can go wrong with them. Do they make better beer? No, but they are more convenient, easy to clean and take up little storage.

 

[SteveH]

I think a big difference between the cheaper and more expensive all-in-one systems is the level of support and availability of parts.

I got a Robobrew less than a year ago and it's currently out of action due to a single burst silicone pipe (my fault, not a warranty issue). The parts are only available from China and I'm not getting any support from the UK based vendor, whereas it seems like the parts for e.g Grainfather and Braumeister are more readily available, and they're designed in a more modular way.

I suspect in due course I'll switch back to a more DIY BIAB approach, as it's easier to repair and there's less to go wrong.

 

[London]

Is it the elbow pipe you need as AHB have them in stock.

 

[SteveH]

Is it the elbow pipe you need as AHB have them in stock.

Thanks, they only have the pump inlet (which is strange because they're only available as a pair on aliexpress), the outlet is a different size although I may order one from AHB and try to cut it down to fit.

Nobody else seems to stock any spares at all for the Robobrew so it makes you realize it's a semi-disposable thing if anything major goes wrong.

 

[Gerryjo]

I have a Burco 30l,20l tea urn now converted to heat exchanger for recirculating, a 52l cool box converted to a mashtun and a 32l ss pot.
I voted for yes for the budget system but I know for a fact I'd be tinkering with it as I've made beer on the stove top mashing in the oven, BIAB, mashtun and I'm sure you get the drift but the best thing is it's different all the time and I'm happy with that as I k ow there's more than one way to brew beer.

 

[Cwrw666]

I've got an ACE 30L boiler and so far done about 100 brews with it (BIAB). Can't see why I would `upgrade' anything at all. Soon as you've got pumps and pipes it's just more cleaning you have to do. More to go wrong too.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Surely it's not all in one if you need a separate HLT and a separate FV. Just all in 3.

Valid point. I guess you could ferment in an all in one system, but it'd mean your boiler is out of action for Fortnight.
I don't sparge often, and when I do is a cold sparge so no HLT required.

In another thread someone said you can heat the sparge water first then put it into something like a cool box to use later so in theory you do not need a separate water heater, you do need an FV but i imagine everyone moving to an all in one will already have one.

 

[jceg316]

I used to brew on a 50 litre HERMS I sort of put together myself, but got a Grainfather about 2 years ago. Both systems have advantages and disadvantages, and I think both are great, but if I had the space I'd use my HERMS. I think I had more control over the final wort and it was easier to make better beer. However, the Grainfather still makes great beer which can equal that of my HERMS, just a little harder to get there. Also it's very compact so can brew in my kitchen, which I never could do with the HERMS. One day soon I'd like to write up a full comparison of both.

I have an ongoing project of setting up my HERMS at my wife's farm where there is the space for that sort of thing and do 2x20 litre split batches. Will give me the opportunity to try different yeasts on the same wort etc.

 

[Rodcx500z]

I have a klarstein boiler 30L biab it does a great job and keeps me happy, would I upgrade prob not I would more tha likely feck up with all them knobs and levers

 

[Clint]

With my on going quest to improve efficiency one major step was to go from bazooka filter in the picnic box to a copper manifold...another thing was to maintain my sparge water temp (I'd forget to mention this) by using my Inkbird BBQ thermometer and cracking the gas on and off. I wonder how retaining the sparge in a cool box,and unless you feed with a transfer tube,the constant open/close and heat loss would have any affect?

 

[Gerryjo]

With my on going quest to improve efficiency one major step was to go from bazooka filter in the picnic box to a copper manifold...another thing was to maintain my sparge water temp (I'd forget to mention this) by using my Inkbird BBQ thermometer and cracking the gas on and off. I wonder how retaining the sparge in a cool box,and unless you feed with a transfer tube,the constant open/close and heat loss would have any affect?

When I do an infusion mash using the mash tun I hook it up to a small 5v pump and recirculate through the boiler which keeps it in spec and does quite a good job on keeping the wort clear.

 

[Ashman]

We’ve had an outdoor electrical socket fitted. I’m debating whether to use an all in one system outside as the other half hates the smell.

I have found an alternative a klarstein konifstar 40 litre automatic preserver £109.99. Not primarily for brewing (for jam and mulled wine) but looks like I could mash, boil and then I’d ferment in it. Unfortunately it only seems to start at 30C temperature

 

[Rodcx500z]

We’ve had an outdoor electrical socket fitted. I’m debating whether to use an all in one system outside as the other half hates the smell.

I have found an alternative a klarstein konifstar 40 litre automatic preserver £109.99. Not primarily for brewing (for jam and mulled wine) but looks like I could mash, boil and then I’d ferment in it. Unfortunately it only seems to start at 30C temperature

Hi Ash I brew outside with a klarstein fullhorn for the same reason, its ok in the summer months I have yet to brew this time of year yet, I will find out next week

 

[Ashman]

Hi Ash I brew outside with a klarstein fullhorn for the same reason, its ok in the summer months I have yet to brew this time of year yet, I will find out next week

are you keeping the fermentation vessel indoors ?

 

[melhaer]

I have a BrewMonk as my micro "brewery" is just 4 sq.m. with the sink, plot and fridges inside, so all in one is the only possibility.

 

[Rodcx500z]

are you keeping the fermentation vessel indoors ?

goes in the shed when not in use, I am going to make a brewing space in there over the winter, sorry yes fvs in the old pantry

 

[Clint]

Made me chuckle. .Foxy with his herd of all in one systems that take up less space!!!
TBH that robobrew on at £330 nearly had my card out the wallet ...

 

[Deadhead]

I like my Grainfather.

I have done brewing from kits, to partial mash, to brew in a bag, to cool box mashing, to a DIY Herms system, to the Grainfather. The Grainfather is the smallest setup and it means I can brew in my utility room and not in my kitchen. And counterflow chiller really makes it for me, takes no time at all to chill beer! I guess if I had patience, I probably would have bought a cheaper system once they all came out and flooded the market as I'm not sure if the Grainfather is worth the extra cost. But when I bought it, it was really the only one of its kind on the go.

If I had more money and a more understanding husband, hahah, I would love to get something like the Blichmann Breweasy.

I really don't get how it's 'cheating' though? I still mash, sparge, boil, chill. I still have to input all the parameters for what I want. I still have to add the grain so it doesn't make dough balls, still have to troubleshoot (the grainfather is far from trouble free!), stir the gunk off the heating element, add things in the specific time order , etc. I still am trying to work out why I get really good efficiency one day and terrible efficiency the next time.

 

[MickDundee]

I have had the BM for 10 years, had a 4 year warranty, I have the 40 litre Guten which I used to win a 50 litre Guten, I haven't used the 50 yet but they come with a 3 year warranty. They come with a 3 year warranty. I also have a 60 litre Brau Wolfe which also has a 3 year warranty. There really isn't a lot which can go wrong with them. Do they make better beer? No, but they are more convenient, easy to clean and take up little storage.

Am I reading this right, you have 4 All-in-one brewing systems?