Is Hopcat legit?

[TheCheiftain]

Hello!
I'm thinking of getting a Hopcat MK2 but considering the low price of it, the accessories included in the price and the fact that I haven't see a lot of reveiws of it I'm starting to question wether the buissness is legit or not. Do you guys have any experience with the Hopcat? Is it a good system and can you be sure to get the brewing system after placing an order? It would be quite ***** to order something for 400 pounds plus shipping to my country and then recieve a bad/non working product or no product at all.

I would be thankfull for any input :)

 

[kelper]

Consider this alternative https://www.angelhomebrew.co.uk/en/brew-devil/390-pre-order-deal-30l-brewdevil-microbrewery.html

Angel Homebrew have a phone number which Hopcat hasn't. That's a good sign.

Where do you live?

Or there's this bargain with chiller and jacket. Dark Farm are forum sponsors and members of this forum.

https://www.darkfarm.co.uk/product/robobrew-brewzilla-35l-generation-3-all-grain-brewing/

 

[TheCheiftain]

Thank you very much, I'll definitley look in to those you mentioned. I'm glad they have space for 15kg malt. Most other systems for 45l only have capacity for 12.

I'm from Sweden so I think shipping won't be too expensive.

 

[Sandimas]

I've been around homebreweing for years, on 3 forums and FB and never heard of or seen a Hopcat.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

 

[The Baron]

The Hopcat is the same as the Ace,Guten,Klarstein Angelbrew etc its been around for a few years no

 

[rich1985]

Really tempted by an all in one system. We want a 50l system. So to be clear the options are Robobrew or hopcat?

 

[kelper]

or Coobra. And on this one it's easy to use the pump for sparging.

 

[TheCheiftain]

And brewdevil apparantly

 

[An Ankoù]

Just sent them a message asking them to read the thread and post their credentials if they're interested.

 

[rich1985]

Good idea! Let's see what they come back with!

 

[hywel1984]

I've got a 30l hopcat. From what I can gather all the machines, ace, gluten, hopcat, brewdevil, brew monk etc are the same units just with different badges on. You can buy them in bulk, 50 at a time, from Alibaba for about £250 each and they'll put whatever badge you want on them for you to resell.

I'm very happy with my machine but hopcat was about 2 months late with the pre order delivery time. I would go for a brew devil machine from angel home brew as it's the same machine but the owner of that site is very helpful and more honest with his expected delivery dates.

There's 2 Facebook groups dedicated to the machines that are very helpful with any problems you may have.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Good idea! Let's see what they come back with!

They have posted and i can confirm they said they are legitimate and have posted their systems all over Europe, if they take up the offer of advertising sponsorship they will be able to discuss their systems in the forums with potential customers.

 

[stz]

I've a friend with a 50L brewbot. I think it is a brewbot. It might be a robobrew. He said it was £400. I've seen a few similar systems in use, including a grainfather. He seems happy with it and makes good beer. Not sure he bothers with a 'proper' sparge, to do so you've got to lift the grain basket and allow it to drain into what is now the boiler, heat up some water separately and then pour it over the grain. That or you top up the boiler to your final volume and then let it recirculate it over the grain using an additional pump. He keeps saying something about an additional pump or something. I think he brews 40L using as much grain as possible and uses sugar to correct the gravity at the end. Which is fine, like I said his beer is quite nice, the sugar helps to keep them quite dry and drinkable especially as I've never had anything south of 6.5% from him to try. He also has a temperature controller, freezer, keg setup etc so the hobby still sprawls as usual.

I made a 50/60L stainless 3 vessel kit for under £300. It can handle approx 15kg of grain at 85% efficiency. At full volume brew length without sugar out gravity of 73 is possible. This is enough to brew two kegs with losses at every stage. Anything more, sugar, malt extract, reduced volumes, double mashing etc. I did a beer starting at 1.122 quite happily on a 25L batch size, it was relatively relaxed, one keg and some bottles take off.

Annoyingly I did have the option for 70L or 100L vessels and I wish I'd gone for the 70L as they were only a few pounds more. It'd be nice to be able to do three keg batches and to always have the extra headspace. The 100L would have been great, but rarely would have needed. Would also have to consider extra heating power. I've 7.5kWh and to bring 60L from sparge to the boil is almost an hour.

 

[rich1985]

Would love a set up like yours. Unfortunately I have zero DIY skills. Current set up is a 30l ace mash tun and a 30l ss pot with tap.

 

[HarryFlatters]

I've ordered the 50 litre Hopcat, due for delivery next month. I've watched several reviews on YouTube and it all seems to be ok, functionally identical to those mentioned by The Baron.

 

[Graham Simpson]

Are there any other contact options for Hopcat? As they are not replying to my emails.

 

[HarryFlatters]

There's a facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/brewpuss/

Haven't managed to track down a phone number.

If you've paid by credit card, you can instruct your provider to cancel the transaction.

 

[stz]

Would love a set up like yours. Unfortunately I have zero DIY skills. Current set up is a 30l ace mash tun and a 30l ss pot with tap.

I don't want to be that ... just do it kind of guy. I'd love an all in one system (space saving) but can't bring myself to accept the cost and limitations. But my system was pretty much big german stainless saucepans, a suitable cutting die, weldless bulkheads with o-rings, some silicone tubing and jubilee clips, a brazed copper heat exchanger like you'd find on a boiler, propane burner, an insulated cool box and a bunch of stainless 1/2" and 1" fittings, valves, bazooka screens and a pump. Obviously decent drill and bits, angle grinder, tapered half round file, these things all help.

 

[rich1985]

Another question is about steam with these things. Do you get a lot? If so what do people do about it? I wouldn't be able to use the extractor obviously...