Calling all Klarstein Owners.

[Mark Nohr]

Well this is all very interesting. knowing what model you have (220V or USA 110V ) or the power setting you are using as well as the altitude of your location would be helpful. Also I bought mine recently so I have the updated controller (one without the grains graphic).

I've seen a YouTube guy changing out the controller for a "better" one. I'm guessing the PID algorithm employed in the stock Klarstein is lacking the sophistication to achieve a more constant temperature.

Being new to brewing, I'm wondering how a +-2% mash temperature variation affects the consistency of the end result. I do see the temp drifting above and below so it probably averages out.

So I did a boil off test with 3 weighed gallons of water (with the kettle 3 gallon marking annoyingly 3/4" above the water line). I'm at sea level and have the lid slightly ajar (1" gap) to maintain a boil. I'm at full power (1800W). I found 0.86 gallons per hour with a slight amount of inaccuracy given the water left on the lid and sides.

 

[HowardB]

Thanks for the reply Petrolhead. I’ll give it a try when I do my next brew and report back.

I tried using the grain basket for hops ( a mixture of leaf and pellets) yesterday and it worked a treat. I did a full boil up to the max line (25 litres) and kept the grain basket draining ring in place. All the leaf stayed in the basket and there was some trub on the kettle bottom after cooling. The main thing was that the wort all passed through the tap without it getting blocked.
My only thought was that the feet could do with being a bit longer, (15 mm extra?)
Thanks for the help.

 

[Petrolhead]

Glad it worked Howard.

A good point about the feet and I have thought about running some stainless bolts through the grain basket floor, or even feet, and tightening up the nuts from below to raise the basket. This would also allow a filter to be fixed to the outlet but maybe this is a bit too belt and braces.

 

[HowardB]

That’s exactly what I thought of doing, using Stainless steel cap head bolts.
Cheers

 

[Adrian hix]

Any reviews for the klarstein brauheld with the anti burn like the bulldog brewer?

 

[PeterB]

Does anyone else experience a huge temperature differential between what the Klarstein thinks it is, and the temperature at the base of the mash and at the middle and top of the mash?

I'd also be interested in knowing if the Mash kettle with pump (mine is a Maishfest and has no pump) has a proper PID on it, or is it a simple controller (like mine) that allows a temperature variance of 3 deg Cent.

Cheers

 

[Horners]

Does anyone else experience a huge temperature differential between what the Klarstein thinks it is, and the temperature at the base of the mash and at the middle and top of the mash?

I'd also be interested in knowing if the Mash kettle with pump (mine is a Maishfest and has no pump) has a proper PID on it, or is it a simple controller (like mine) that allows a temperature variance of 3 deg Cent.

Cheers

Yep dont bother with on board thermometer just use trial and error based on temp of strike water and ambient. I only ever lose 1C in an hour mash and so no need to have unit on once strike water heated.

 

[PeterB]

Yeah - I have wrapped mine up a bit in shiny insulation, and it keeps the temperature well. I have the 25l version which is fine but the mash needs a lot of stirring to get the temperature even from top to bottom and limits me to less than 7.25kg grain.

I was thinking of replacing the Maishfest controller with a SmartPID, but if the any of the Klarstein kettles with pumps (Brauheld, Mundschenk, Cupbearer) have a PID and control temperature more accurately, I might use the Maishfest as an HLT and buy one of those.

 

[Horners]

Yeah - I have wrapped mine up a bit in shiny insulation, and it keeps the temperature well. I have the 25l version which is fine but the mash needs a lot of stirring to get the temperature even from top to bottom and limits me to less than 7.25kg grain.

I was thinking of replacing the Maishfest controller with a SmartPID, but if the any of the Klarstein kettles with pumps (Brauheld, Mundschenk, Cupbearer) have a PID and control temperature more accurately, I might use the Maishfest as an HLT and buy one of those.

I try and even the temperature out by manually recirculating for ten minutes after doughing in. Again accounting for the additional heat loss with a bit of trial and error. Not sure how consistent the resultant temperature is throughout the grainbed but as middle stays constant figure it cant be too far off from being heated evenly throughout.

 

[PeterB]

I guess by stirring, etc, that is the best that can be done. Next time I will buy a bigger one too make it easier.

 

[foxy]

Does anyone else experience a huge temperature differential between what the Klarstein thinks it is, and the temperature at the base of the mash and at the middle and top of the mash?

I'd also be interested in knowing if the Mash kettle with pump (mine is a Maishfest and has no pump) has a proper PID on it, or is it a simple controller (like mine) that allows a temperature variance of 3 deg Cent.

Cheers

Can you not re calibrate the temperature, I have the one with pump (Guten) and you can re calibrate the temperature.

 

[PeterB]

Can you not re calibrate the temperature, I have the one with pump (Guten) and you can re calibrate the temperature.

No - the Maischfest doesn't have a PID like (I believe) the Guten does. Instead it has a simple controller which cannot be adjusted/programmed.

 

[foxy]

No - the Maischfest doesn't have a PID like (I believe) the Guten does. Instead it has a simple controller which cannot be adjusted/programmed.

Guten doesn't have a PID its adjusted by holding down the + and - buttons at the same time.

 

[PeterB]

I did ask Klarstein but they said it couldn't - but I will definitely give that a go. Thank you!

 

[PeterB]

Nah - didn't work. I couldn't get any mixture of buttons to do anything. Good idea though.

 

[foxy]

Another thing is it depends from where you are reading the temperature, try putting in about 3 inches of water and set the temperature at about 65 C and if you have a good thermometer take the temperature next to the probe as that is where the temperature is displayed from on your screen. They should be pretty close.

 

[Jake Michael]

Hi! I’ve recently started out in the home brewing world and have really enjoyed brewing a couple extract kits. However, my hob struggles to heat my brew kettle for a full rolling boil and it takes forever to heat up.

So I’ve been looking at getting a boiler to brew extract or partial mash in but it’s led to me finding the Klarstein Maischfest Mash Kettle.

I’ve read all the info that everyone has posted on here and it’s been really informative. My thinking is that instead of shelling out £110-£140 on just getting Tea urn style boiler it’s worth getting one of these (https://www.klarstein.co.uk/?cl=det...&varselid[0]=e018b9aa17e376b75cf41801365023a5) for £179.99 using the £10 voucher code for signing up to their newsletter.

I could use this to carry on brewing a few extract recipes and then when I’m ready to take the plunge I can move to AG brewing without having to buy any major equipment. What are people’s thoughts? I’m quite the novice, only brewed two batches so far of which one is currently conditioning in the bottle and the other is in the FV.

Lastly what litre version do most people have on here as I’ve seen that the 30L is the same price as the 25L so surely getting bigger is better for when I eventually move to AG?

Thank you for any advice!

 

[Horners]

Hi! I’ve recently started out in the home brewing world and have really enjoyed brewing a couple extract kits. However, my hob struggles to heat my brew kettle for a full rolling boil and it takes forever to heat up.

So I’ve been looking at getting a boiler to brew extract or partial mash in but it’s led to me finding the Klarstein Maischfest Mash Kettle.

I’ve read all the info that everyone has posted on here and it’s been really informative. My thinking is that instead of shelling out £110-£140 on just getting Tea urn style boiler it’s worth getting one of these (https://www.klarstein.co.uk/?cl=details&cnid=d5de636772474df01690626dae61c46b&anid=310bdfc7008747d9358767de89cb2c7a&varselid[0]=e018b9aa17e376b75cf41801365023a5) for £179.99 using the £10 voucher code for signing up to their newsletter.

I could use this to carry on brewing a few extract recipes and then when I’m ready to take the plunge I can move to AG brewing without having to buy any major equipment. What are people’s thoughts? I’m quite the novice, only brewed two batches so far of which one is currently conditioning in the bottle and the other is in the FV.

Lastly what litre version do most people have on here as I’ve seen that the 30L is the same price as the 25L so surely getting bigger is better for when I eventually move to AG?

Thank you for any advice!

I have the 25l version and its difficult to do a full boil for a 23L batch without bpiling over.

 

[Jake Michael]

I have the 25l version and its difficult to do a full boil for a 23L batch without bpiling over.

Was the 30L version not in stock or more expensive when you got yours?

 

[Horners]

Was the 30L version not in stock or more expensive when you got yours?

Was an impulse buy a whole 5 days after dping my first Wherry kit. That said, very happy with it. Meets my needs and have a good brew day process dialed in. I deal with boilover issue by holding some of the runnings back and topping up boiler as I go along - my boil off seems huge compared with 'standard' figures.