All in one systems

[fgoulding]

I love the look of the Spike Solo, Clawhammer, Blichmann Breweasy, Unibrau etc.

The Dark Farm AIO looks good (although although I would replace the Inkbird and then the costs would go up).

I‘ve lusted after the Brewtools and Speidel Braumeister for ages and they have lots of replaceable parts. But as mentioned, they also replace lots of your money with fresh air.

However, I’ve been more than happy with my Brewzilla 35L and yes, I’ve had a few issues but that’s all part of my learning process.

Now I’m ready to step up to another system. Not necessarily it terms of a more expensive brand but in terms of volume.

 

[Rodcx500z]

They look units, I guess the question is do they have any drawbacks or things that could be better. Or any bug bares with them?

Teething problems like the 6.75Ltr dead space under the malt pipe, but nothing major

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Thanks guys I think I’m gearing towards one of those now. Does anyone see any benefit of the other type (spike / unibrau) systems?

I think its fairly obvious now no one has one of those systems and now its been shown every part of the Grainfather can be replaced (which is why you were looking at the modular system in the first place) why not buy the Grainfather, the Grainfather is the equivalent of $882 (£650) not $1,675 plus postage why pay double for as system that has no UK reviews and that parts may be hard to get it it goes wrong.

Spike Solo System
Starting at $1,525
Threaded Fittings

Spike+ Solo System
Starting at $1,675
Tri-Clamp Fittings

Unibrau =
$ 1,669.00

 

[Chippy_Tea]

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Hey if anyone wants a bulldog master brewer for £530 let know need to clear some stock and get some money in the bank!
Bulldog Master Brewer.. STEAL!

 

[2Beers]

I have a brewzilla 35 a brew devil 70, both are great although I prefer the brew devil.

 

[labrewski]

I have a brewmonk I use it every 2nd week for the last year and a half and it's still perfect I'm pretty sure it has a 3 year guarantee to replace or repair which I doubt I will ever need if I even make some effort in maintaining it

 

[Brianbrewed]

My wife (God bless) bought me this system 4 years ago.
Highly reccommend

https://www.geterbrewed.ie/brew-monk-all-in-one-brewing-system/
Once you get experience on it you can get great efficency.

 

[acreid]

Why is the grainfather much more expensive than the brewzilla or brew monk for example?
Sorryfor hijacking the thread.

 

[The Baron]

Good marketing and extra profit is the answer. It has the same bonded element and the same pump as a lot of the opposition the only difference is it has a controller which is bluetooth enabled the others have controllers which you can set approx 6 steps plus some have brewing sessions that can be set to repeat at the press of a button so to answer your question is buy the cheaper product unless you want to pay for the kudos of saying I have a Grainfather

 

[fgoulding]

I considered the Grainfather as the controller is better positioned than than the Brewzilla and Brew Monk and it has more functionality. But I’m glad that I bought the Brewzilla because I just enter the temps for the mash then boil and that’s it. No need to spend a lot more money be nagged at to add hops!

 

[Brianbrewed]

Why is the grainfather much more expensive than the brewzilla or brew monk for example?
Sorryfor hijacking the thread.

I think the grainfather was one of the original all in one systems.
Brew monk and the rest are copies.

Grainfather - Marks & Spencer
Brewmonk - Lidl/Aldi

I own a Brewmonk by the way

 

[Chippy_Tea]

I think the grainfather was one of the original all in one systems.

I wonder what price they would have put on it had they brought it out when other systems were already available.

I guess we will never know if they are they better quality as i doubt many members have owned a GF and another.

 

[stripeyjoe]

The G40 is a step up in quality with the wifi controller, heavier gauge steel and a more powerful pump than the G30.

 

[Eskimo John]

I want to move to a set of kit that will alow me to brew larger volumes. I have in mind two systems:
The Grainfather S40 at £449
or
The 50Ltr Brewdevil at £469
Price is similar so quality, ease of use and reliability are the things that will sway me.
I am leaning toward the Brewdevil at the moment. What do you all think?

 

[2Beers]

The brew devil has 25% more volume, that is a significant difference. I use brew devil 70 which is a great bit of kit, identical to the 50, except the volume.

I'm sure the grainfather is equal to or better than it, but their 70 litre system is way too expensive, especially when you consider that home brewing on a 70l means a lot fewer brew days, making it even harder for me to justify a larger than necessary spend.

That said, it's all about disposable income and time and what you choose to spend it on.

 

[Eskimo John]

The brew devil has 25% more volume, that is a significant difference. I use brew devil 70 which is a great bit of kit, identical to the 50, except the volume.

I'm sure the grainfather is equal to or better than it, but their 70 litre system is way too expensive, especially when you consider that home brewing on a 70l means a lot fewer brew days, making it even harder for me to justify a larger than necessary spend.

That said, it's all about disposable income and time and what you choose to spend it on.

Good advice thanks. The 50 ltr system is an attractive one as I want to brew two full kegs at a time with room to spare. A 40 ltr system seems like it hasn't enough margin.

 

[stripeyjoe]

Good advice thanks. The 50 ltr system is an attractive one as I want to brew two full kegs at a time with room to spare. A 40 ltr system seems like it hasn't enough margin.

I think the S40 has a batch size of 40l, so around 45l or so capacity. There’s a few reports that the temp control is not the best on the S40.

 

[fgoulding]

I considered a 40 litre system because I would like to get at least 2 kegs out of each brew day. But I think you would need to push the G40 and S40 to the limit to achieve that. Maybe a current owner has some advice.

So I’m looking at the slightly bigger systems and hoping to hear some details about the Brewzilla 4th generation 65L soon…

 

[stripeyjoe]

I considered a 40 litre system because I would like to get at least 2 kegs out of each brew day. But I think you would need to push the G40 and S40 to the limit to achieve that. Maybe a current owner has some advice.

The max boil size is just over 46l, so, in theory, you could just about squeeze 40l out post boil depending on trub & hops. There's a couple of you tubers who have attempted full size brews (from memory, Griffo and Gash but might be wrong).
The other thing you can do is just add a couple of litres top up water at the end of the boil, easy to work out if you use Brewfather or similar. I've just been doing 23-25l batches in mine as I've only got a 30l fermenter anyway.

Before I bought the G40 I checked it out at BrewCon, there were a few other cheaper systems there and I felt there was a significant difference in build quality, the steel in the G40 feels a lot thicker, it weighs a bloody ton! It's basically the same base unit as the G70, just a bit shorter with a new design of grain basket so no middle overflow pipe needed and a combined recirc tube and sight glass.

As you said you might want to wait to see what Keg Land have to offer with the gen 4 Brewzilla range, they'll probably be cheaper. I was impatient!

 

[fgoulding]

The max boil size is just over 46l, so, in theory, you could just about squeeze 40l out post boil depending on trub & hops. There's a couple of you tubers who have attempted full size brews (from memory, Griffo and Gash but might be wrong).
The other thing you can do is just add a couple of litres top up water at the end of the boil, easy to work out if you use Brewfather or similar. I've just been doing 23-25l batches in mine as I've only got a 30l fermenter anyway.

Before I bought the G40 I checked it out at BrewCon, there were a few other cheaper systems there and I felt there was a significant difference in build quality, the steel in the G40 feels a lot thicker, it weighs a bloody ton! It's basically the same base unit as the G70, just a bit shorter with a new design of grain basket so no middle overflow pipe needed and a combined recirc tube and sight glass.

As you said you might want to wait to see what Keg Land have to offer with the gen 4 Brewzilla range, they'll probably be cheaper. I was impatient!

I must admit that the G40 looks like a quality piece of kit and I love the form factor. But I know what you mean about impatience! Waiting for the Gen 4 is wrecking my head because I want a bigger system and I may not even buy it! Typical FOMO ;-)