Grainfather

[Johnf]

Ive been searching all the threads relating to the Grainfather. And have now decided thats the way Im wanting to go. 1 of the sites sponsers sell it and we get 5% discount. Ive priced 1 local for 595. Is there any better prices out there?

 

[ManseMasher]

595 is the cheapest I've seen it recently. BrewUK.....

 

[Slid]

Hmmm, 600 quid, eh?

Let's think out loud on the economics.

My records suggest I brew every other week or so. Maybe 30 brews a year.

This flakey looking GF thing, I would depreciate (accountant speak) over 3 years-ish. So for the sake of argument, let's call it 100 brews at 22.5L. So £6 a brew sounds like a number.

My current process is doing a partial mash is a stove top mash for half the brew and a sale price kit at, for the sake of doing the maths, £10. You want about £7 of grain for a full AG batch (say) and half that, maybe, plus the kit for a PM.

Malt cost for GF over 100 brews - £(700 + 600) = £1,300

Malt cost for current PM method over 100 brews £(350 + 1,000) = £1,350

My guess is that the GF is going to be slightly less hassle and less time. Also, I am going to guess that gf is going to be better beer, on the basis of the AG experiments I have done, than a PM.

That makes it an easy decision on the GF route. Just as long as it will last for any where around 100 brews.

Any views on the GF longeivity / maintenance costs?

 

[MyQul]

Hmmm, 600 quid, eh?

Let's think out loud on the economics.

My records suggest I brew every other week or so. Maybe 30 brews a year.

This flakey looking GF thing, I would depreciate (accountant speak) over 3 years-ish. So for the sake of argument, let's call it 100 brews at 22.5L. So �£6 a brew sounds like a number.

My current process is doing a partial mash is a stove top mash for half the brew and a sale price kit at, for the sake of doing the maths, �£10. You want about �£7 of grain for a full AG batch (say) and half that, maybe, plus the kit for a PM.

Malt cost for GF over 100 brews - �£(700 + 600) = �£1,300

Malt cost for current PM method over 100 brews �£(350 + 1,000) = �£1,350

My guess is that the GF is going to be slightly less hassle and less time. Also, I am going to guess that gf is going to be better beer, on the basis of the AG experiments I have done, than a PM.

That makes it an easy decision on the GF route. Just as long as it will last for any where around 100 brews.

Any views on the GF longeivity / maintenance costs?

Using your accountancy witchcraft it almost makes it sound worth it getting a GF

 

[JapanBrew]

Your missing out your equipment as well. It's not so much on just having a small pot to do partial mash, it's that if you were to produce a full 23 AG, you would need a mash tun, hlt, and a boil pot that is large enough for 35 liters or more. That equipment can run up to the same price. So just putting in grain price and not the cost of you pots depreciation, doesn't pan out. With that amount added, GF looks really good!!
The other point, recirculating mash and heating element puts that unit a double plus.

 

[Slid]

Using your accountancy witchcraft it almost makes it sound worth it getting a GF

This particular spell is known as the "Business Case" :whistle:.

My main assumption is that the GF will last 100 brews before requiring major and expensive repairs. That is quite an assumption.What's the highest number we have seen on the Brewday part of the forum in a thread titled something like:

AG GF #nn

 

[Notlaw]

A bit of online research reports that they are pretty robust and are pretty well supported in terms of service and repair... even in the UK. They come with a 12 month warranty, so hammer it for 11 months and send it back claiming some fault or other. They'll test and service it and send it back saying it's good to go.

 

[Smileyr8]

Hmmm, 600 quid, eh?

Let's think out loud on the economics.

My records suggest I brew every other week or so. Maybe 30 brews a year.

This flakey looking GF thing, I would depreciate (accountant speak) over 3 years-ish. So for the sake of argument, let's call it 100 brews at 22.5L. So �������£6 a brew sounds like a number.

My current process is doing a partial mash is a stove top mash for half the brew and a sale price kit at, for the sake of doing the maths, �������£10. You want about �������£7 of grain for a full AG batch (say) and half that, maybe, plus the kit for a PM.

Malt cost for GF over 100 brews - �������£(700 + 600) = �������£1,300

Malt cost for current PM method over 100 brews �������£(350 + 1,000) = �������£1,350

My guess is that the GF is going to be slightly less hassle and less time. Also, I am going to guess that gf is going to be better beer, on the basis of the AG experiments I have done, than a PM.

That makes it an easy decision on the GF route. Just as long as it will last for any where around 100 brews.

Any views on the GF longeivity / maintenance costs?

Nice work Slid some fantastic analysis sometimes we need an Accountant's head on things like this. For me you have hit the nail on the head..

Malt cost for Burco Sygnet over 100 brews - ��£(700 + 65) = ��£765...
Any views on the Burco Sygnet longeivity / maintenance costs?

 

[Johnf]

Seems that 595 is the mark 1! The updated mark 2 is 645!!

 

[MickDundee]

Your missing out your equipment as well. It's not so much on just having a small pot to do partial mash, it's that if you were to produce a full 23 AG, you would need a mash tun, hlt, and a boil pot that is large enough for 35 liters or more. That equipment can run up to the same price. So just putting in grain price and not the cost of you pots depreciation, doesn't pan out. With that amount added, GF looks really good!!
The other point, recirculating mash and heating element puts that unit a double plus.

i see what you did there!

 

[Tytonegro]

I have a Grainfather and a self build one-pot rims with biab bag that has cost me less than half of the GF. I actually prefer to use my self build, less stuff (to clean) and for cooling I put a pan in a tub of rainwater that I exchange a few times....

 

[Slid]

I have a Grainfather and a self build one-pot rims with biab bag that has cost me less than half of the GF. I actually prefer to use my self build, less stuff (to clean) and for cooling I put a pan in a tub of rainwater that I exchange a few times....

Many thanks for this input. This is exactly the sort of observation I was trying to tease out.

In my mind, such as it is, I see the decision being around familiarity vs new toy.

I know I can make fairly decent beer with the stove top / PECO boiler kit at a pretty reasonable cost in �£ terms and I basically enjoy the process of playing with it. Quite like PM beer too, since it is effectively a resilient process, with little risk of disaster.

The GF would open up a whole new game of numbers chasing. Step mash temp of 63C for 35, then 72C for your eldest child's age in months converted into minutes, all following protein rest at 53C, then micro manage the efficiency @ 80%, blah, blah, blah.

Still want one, though :lol:.

Even though, I do enjoy messing around with the stove topped. partial mash approach, with a one can kit, although I do concede that an AG batch of half the length is objectively superior beer.

Tough decision.

 

[Tytonegro]

Many thanks for this input. This is exactly the sort of observation I was trying to tease out.

In my mind, such as it is, I see the decision being around familiarity vs new toy.

I know I can make fairly decent beer with the stove top / PECO boiler kit at a pretty reasonable cost in ��£ terms and I basically enjoy the process of playing with it. Quite like PM beer too, since it is effectively a resilient process, with little risk of disaster.

The GF would open up a whole new game of numbers chasing. Step mash temp of 63C for 35, then 72C for your eldest child's age in months converted into minutes, all following protein rest at 53C, then micro manage the efficiency @ 80%, blah, blah, blah.

Still want one, though :lol:.

Even though, I do enjoy messing around with the stove topped. partial mash approach, with a one can kit, although I do concede that an AG batch of half the length is objectively superior beer.

Tough decision.

It is more about a proper controller than the type of kettle in that sense! Proper control gives more reproducible results, that's what you want if you made a nice beer: Make it again!

 

[Slid]

Well, it is on order now, from Hood Brew Supplies.

I talked (rambled?) myself into it and SWMBO made no objection, despite me giving her 3 chances to veto.

 

[Granarian]

I'm also an accountant - you won't regret it. Means you need less clutter around the place as it's all done in one vessel. And it's a good toy!

 

[Notlaw]

Well, it is on order now, from Hood Brew Supplies.

I talked (rambled?) myself into it and SWMBO made no objection, despite me giving her 3 chances to veto.

Congratulations Slid.

 

[jackthehat]

Rambling Slid Rumpo?

 

[Slid]

Rambling Slid Rumpo?

Sounds a right Carry On to me :lol: