Speidel Braumeister?

[PD]

I totally agree Vossy it certainly aint cheap in my book. and as I said in my earlier post...All Grain brewing without any hassel. And thats probably its biggest downfall as apart from loading the water and grains all you do is set the computer and then watch it perform.
Home brewing at my level is a hobby a fun past time, do I want to stand there and press a button ? Watch the video's of the Spiedel and all their owners are bemoaning how easy it is and how little there is to do.
However that may appeal to some folk and to a certain degree it does to me ( perhaps because I've never AG brewed and am unsure of it )

I think if I ever managed to own a Brewmeister I'd have another system set up ( Biab or extract or kit ) just while I'm waiting for the Spiedel....

That would be fun.

 

[Kev888]

Its probably always going to be a compromise I think; generally we're chasing consistency, for which automation helps, but many of us still want to be hands on. Where we choose to draw the line is pretty personal - some people are into equipment and processes whilst others are more into perfecting recipies, for example.

Cheers
kev

 

[swiggingpig]

Hi, I've just upgraded to a 20L BM. I moved from a 3V system to the BM because of space problems. I don't know if you've seen these vids but they are quite good at showing you just how easy they are to use, clean and store.
http://youtu.be/MRWz4G6tkMU
http://youtu.be/ivCRHvHv8dY
Any questions, please feel free to ask :

Nice links, thanks for posting!

I too would love to hear how you get on with it.

Cheers
Kev

and how is it going ? any problems ?

Changes here at home mean that I have to brew in my celler but I don't really have the room to work safely and comfortably with a 3V system, the BM allows me to continue with this great hobby without it being a chore to set-up, clean-up and pack-away each time in a cramped and confined area. So to me it is a worthwhile investment.

I paid the Euro price at a reasonable exchange rate for Sterling taking into consideration the current strength of the £ against the €. They are expensive and it's taken me a long time to get past the price of the unit, like many others I looked at building a 'copy' but realised that I would still spend a lot of money and time to end up with something that would be 'nearly' as good as the BM so I decided to 'bite the bullet' and buy one.

I went with the 20L BM as I brew to fill 1 cornie.

I like to try different recipes and styles, I also like a selection of beers on tap, so I try to keep 6 different beers on the bar at any one time. I didn't want 2 cornies of the same beer so could not see the point of buying the 50L with the short malt pipe AND paying for an electrician to fit a 16Amp supply.

I don't do many 'big' beers and after checking my brew records I'd only done 2 'big' beers within the last 2 years so ~98% of my brews fit within the guidelines for the BM and when I want a 'big' beer I will accept a lower finished volume as I will bottle it rather than hog a cornie and a bar tap for months.

I've only managed a couple of brews on the BM since I got it although I'm brewing on it tomorrow. On my 3V PID RIMS system with batch sparging I would get around 72% brewhouse eff., first run out the BM gave me 77.2% eff. , second run gave me 79.4% eff. :party: !!!

There is a home brew shop owner in Austrailia who can supply a SS pick-up tube and a seal for the top filter, they are a worthwhile addition to the BM. Using whole hops, with a ss mesh filer that I attach to the pickup, I have a little over 1 litre of dead space in the BM.

The system is a joy to use and so easy to clean !!!

As far as the BM taking the involvement out of making beer I strongly disagree. Compared to my 3V PID RIMS system, which is the type of system that many brewers aspire to, the only thing extra that the BM does is to manage the timing of mash steps and automatically setting the temp to the next stage. Everthing else is the same, you still choose the recipe, the grains and the hops. Once it starts boiling you still have to time the hop additions.

This bit of kit is the dogs danglies !!!!
If anyone out there is undecided about getting one, just buy it, you won't regret it :

Any other questions, please just ask.

 

[PD]

thanks for that. I've lots more questions but unfortunately I can't afford to buy one as yet so I'd be wasting your time.
However have you experienced any problems with the pump as a few have reported ?

 

[swiggingpig]

thanks for that. I've lots more questions but unfortunately I can't afford to buy one as yet so I'd be wasting your time.
However have you experienced any problems with the pump as a few have reported ?

Please ask away, it took me over 12 months to research and save for my BM so I understand where you're at.

I think that the BM is a really good system and I'd be happy to help where I can.

If anyone is really considering a BM and can get to Huddersfield they are welcome to see one in the flesh if they wish.

I haven't had any problems with the pump, I don't believe it is a big problem, I can think of 3 people who have had a problem and they have been resolved very quickly by Speidel.

Right, I'm off now to put on a brew, 'Big Kenny' with yeast from the Rebellion Brewery :thumb:

 

[EskiBrew]

There is a home brew shop owner in Austrailia who can supply a SS pick-up tube and a seal for the top filter, they are a worthwhile addition to the BM. Using whole hops, with a ss mesh filer that I attach to the pickup, I have a little over 1 litre of dead space in the BM.

Thanks swiggingpig I was wondering about that - the videos I have seen all show people using pellets rather than whole leaf hops therefore I was wondering how I could make a filter. Can you post a link to the Ozzy one or alternatively photos of your one?

I'll go and have a look to see if you have posted a brew thread using your BM next :thumb:

 

[swiggingpig]

Thanks swiggingpig I was wondering about that - the videos I have seen all show people using pellets rather than whole leaf hops therefore I was wondering how I could make a filter. Can you post a link to the Ozzy one or alternatively photos of your one?

I'll go and have a look to see if you have posted a brew thread using your BM next :thumb:

I've not got round to posting up a brewday with the BM, I'll try and get my act together for the the next brew :?

This piccy shows the pickup tube and the seal that I got from here http://www.ubrew.com.au/web/index.asp

I made the the filter from from some fine ss mesh wrapped around some 15mm copper pipe and bent into a curve with some pvc inside to prevent it kinking.

Here it is in place

 

[EskiBrew]

Thanks for the photos :thumb:

I've not got round to posting up a brewday with the BM, I'll try and get my act together for the the next brew :?

Will look forward to it :

 

[caerleon]

Well, i have been contemplating purchasing the unit from Vigo - i have been looking at buying one for 6 months.

I nearly brought one last week when i called for an updated price £1100 for the 20L and £1600 for the 50L then they added - plus VAT! Well i made my apologies and walked away from it - I think you can buy direct from Germany or use a Republic of Ireland store to get the saving on the Euro.

But this system although looks really good, cannot justify the cost...at this time. SWAMBO has been pursuaded that this will mean i can get rid of all the other stuff :wha: I have the money but looking to find a saving on this system.

Pumps are a problem on them, mainly because people had not read the manual beforehand.

 

[zgoda]

50 litre unit is available here for ~1200 euro. People here complaint about og limitation and sometimes failing pumps.

I'm sorry, just checked my local prices and €1200 is a price for 20L unit, for a 50 litre unit it's ~€2000. This includes 23% vat.

 

[swiggingpig]

Well, i have been contemplating purchasing the unit from Vigo - i have been looking at buying one for 6 months.

I nearly brought one last week when i called for an updated price £1100 for the 20L and £1600 for the 50L then they added - plus VAT! Well i made my apologies and walked away from it - I think you can buy direct from Germany or use a Republic of Ireland store to get the saving on the Euro.

But this system although looks really good, cannot justify the cost...at this time. SWAMBO has been pursuaded that this will mean i can get rid of all the other stuff :wha: I have the money but looking to find a saving on this system.

Pumps are a problem on them, mainly because people had not read the manual beforehand.

I tried to order from Germany but they would not sell it to me direct. Email Jon at Vigo, if he knows you're serious about purchasing a BM and are ready to commit to one he may do a bit of a deal for you, he did one for me and it brought the price closer in line with the Euro price at the current exchange rate.

 

[Kev888]

I made the the filter from from some fine ss mesh wrapped around some 15mm copper pipe and bent into a curve with some pvc inside to prevent it kinking.

Looks like a useful addition! Do you happen to remember where the mesh came from? I can only find quite coarse stuff in a tube shape.

Cheers
Kev

 

[swiggingpig]

I made the the filter from from some fine ss mesh wrapped around some 15mm copper pipe and bent into a curve with some pvc inside to prevent it kinking.

Looks like a useful addition! Do you happen to remember where the mesh came from? I can only find quite coarse stuff in a tube shape.

Cheers
Kev

Hi Kev,

I got the mesh from here as a flat sheet.

I cut off a section, formed it round a 15mm copper pipe to make a straight tube, removed the copper pipe replacing some PVC tubing so that I could bend a curve in it without kinking it, removed PVC tube, folded over the ends and made a hole in the side of it just big enough to insert the end of the dip tube.

I'm just about to go on hols for the weekend, I'll try and take some better photo's when I get back next week.

Cheers

Colin

 

[Kev888]

Ah, cunning! Thanks for the info.

Cheers
kev

 

[caerleon]

I have just ordered it today for delivery on Wednesday - Cannot wait!

 

[PD]

quote.

I have just ordered it today for delivery on Wednesday - Cannot wait!

I bet you can't. don't forget lots of pics required of the machine and your first brews.....

Have lots of fun.

 

[martinh]

Afternoon all. I just wanted to jump in on this thread as I have just placed an order of the Braumeister (20L) today - due on Wednesday morning. This looks like a good place to be to share all things BM. Just a quick question - browsing through the above, does the BM not support whole hops, unless you build/buy the mesh filter? Do I need to order pellets until i get this filter together? Many thanks - and I will be sure to share some pictures of my first brewday. Cheers. :

 

[swiggingpig]

The tap is a couple of inches up from the bottom of the BM so I don't see why you can't use whole hops.

The only reason I went to the trouble of a mesh filter is because I use a plate chiller and did not want the hot break and hop particles blocking it.

 

[EskiBrew]

Wow these Braumeisters seem really popular suddenly. Look forward to the pics :thumb:

 

[martinh]

OK thanks for the heads up. I have the copper immersion chiller so it shouldnt be a problem for me then.