Robobrew and Grainfather false bottom

[Harbey]

These are now in stock at Homebrew Online for about £20 including p&p.

These were reviewed a good while ago by David Heath but have not been available in the UK. I know some people don't have any issue with blocked filters but it's something which does happen to me occasionally so I'm keen to try one.

 

[Mungri]

These are now in stock at Homebrew Online for about £20 including p&p.

These were reviewed a good while ago by David Heath but have not been available in the UK. I know some people don't have any issue with blocked filters but it's something which does happen to me occasionally so I'm keen to try one.

I've been using one ordered from China for the last 10 or so brews.
It catches most of the hop material before it gets to the Grainfather filter, which makes for a faster transfer to the fermenter and a I get a little extra wort than before.
The only down side I can see is that you can't scrape the bottom whilst the boil is on. It doesn't bother me, I only get a light coating on the bottom of the Grainfather which wipes off with a sponge.
I suppose if you normally get a heavy deposit or cut outs without scraping then it wouldn't be a good idea. Personally though I'd hate to be without it now.

 

[Jakeyboi]

I seem to be prone to blocked pumps with my grainfather, mainly the amount of hops, sometimes the seal at the bottom not being quite right and grain getting through. I ordered one of these from home brew online today, hopefully putting it into practice next weekend, will let u know how I get on

 

[Ghillie]

They're really good - but I guess only if they're the exact dimensions of your existing kettle...

 

[Norfolk79]

Used the Grainfather overflow filter today. Result no grain in the boil :thumba:

 

[Ghillie]

Used the Grainfather overflow filter today. Result no grain in the boil :thumba:

You should be throttling the pump ideally, so nothing ever goes down the overflow. If it's going down the overflow, it's not going through the grain bed.

More uniform mash temps throughout the grain bed, better clarity of wort and no grain in your wort going into the boil. It's win win

 

[Jakeyboi]

You should be throttling the pump ideally, so nothing ever goes down the overflow. If it's going down the overflow, it's not going through the grain bed.

More uniform mash temps throughout the grain bed, better clarity of wort and no grain in your wort going into the boil. It's win win

I find that it takes so long to go through the grainbed that the water level just rises at the top, which ends up going down the overflow anyway, never been able to brew with the grainfather without at least 95% of the water going straight down the overflow, I’m interested in how u manage to to do it?

 

[foxy]

I find that it takes so long to go through the grainbed that the water level just rises at the top, which ends up going down the overflow anyway, never been able to brew with the grainfather without at least 95% of the water going straight down the overflow, I’m interested in how u manage to to do it?

By using the tap as a choke as Ghillie suggested, letting the wort go down the overflow is achieving nothing, the wort has to be washing through the grain. The other disadvantage is all the little bits from the crush will just keep recirculating instead of being dumped on the top of the grain bed.

 

[Ghillie]

I find that it takes so long to go through the grainbed that the water level just rises at the top, which ends up going down the overflow anyway, never been able to brew with the grainfather without at least 95% of the water going straight down the overflow, I’m interested in how u manage to to do it?

I use a Robobrew, but the concept is the same.

You likely have a compacted grain bed and/or too thick a mash. Some things to help matters:

1. Wet condition your grain, this is an amazing technique.

2. Mash thinner. Too thin a mash isn't even a thing with all in one systems.

3. Let your mash rest for 10 minutes after doughing in before turning the pump on.

4. Turn your pump on with the valve closed and creep it open in gradual increments until you find the sweet spot, this will stop your grain bed getting compacted if you start the pump with the valve wide open.

 

[Harbey]

I never get a mash that doesn't end up with wort going down the overflow either. It certainly helps to go with a little more liquor than the GF app suggest. I've also found that giving the grain a stir mid mash works well.

 

[foxy]

I never get a mash that doesn't end up with wort going down the overflow either. It certainly helps to go with a little more liquor than the GF app suggest. I've also found that giving the grain a stir mid mash works well.

No need to stir the mash, the reason I bought a Guten, Klarstein, Brew Devil etc was to prove the Braumeister was superior due to the pump breaks which in effect stirred the mash. I was wrong, I did a side by side brew same ingredients, same crush, same mash regimes and they both turned out the same.

 

[Mungri]

They're really good - but I guess only if they're the exact dimensions of your existing kettle...

Luckily they fit perfectly in the Grainfather.
For such a simple piece of kit they make a big difference .

 

[Harbey]

Mine arrived yesterday so hoping to get a brew on this week (got a week off work). My only slight concern is that it doesn't look like stainless steel. It's very shiny, like it's had some kind of cheap chrome treatment. Hopefully I'm wrong, but I'll be interested to see how it stands up to a few brews.

 

[Ghillie]

Mine arrived yesterday so hoping to get a brew on this week (got a week off work). My only slight concern is that it doesn't look like stainless steel. It's very shiny, like it's had some kind of cheap chrome treatment. Hopefully I'm wrong, but I'll be interested to see how it stands up to a few brews.

It's stainless steel; as is the hook, stud, nut and washer. Wipes clean every time, about 40 brews in.

 

[Harbey]

Cheers @Ghillie That's reassuring to hear.

 

[Ghillie]

Cheers @Ghillie That's reassuring to hear.

You’ll soon be buying a Robobrew to accommodate your new false bottom

 

[Harbey]

Robobrew do look a very nice bit of kit for sure.

 

[Poochops]

I’ve been thinking about trying one of these for ages, not because of blockages but because I like the idea of pulling the hopcake out in one slab when cleaning up, just ordered so thanks for the heads up

 

[Jakeyboi]

Mine arrived this week, sadly no time to brew for a while, baby number 2 is imminent!

 

[Harbey]

Baby 2 = wife and children not around as much as usual? Just a thought.

Congratulations either way.