What do you think of this set up? Thinking of buying one if reviews are ok

[zippy40]

Hi All

I am thinking of making the jump to AG but I am lazy sod and thought I might use this piece of equipment here https://www.brew2bottle.co.uk/bulldog-brewer-craft-brewing-system-complete-grain-brewing-system-for-home-beermaking.html

Anyone any thoughts on if this is a good buy or no??

Thanks Zippy

 

[wfr42]

I believe they are very new to the UK market someone may have one.

 

[Davemc]

See the previous thread. http://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=64480

 

[zippy40]

cheers - seems to be so new there is very little about it. I will maybe wait until there are more reviews on it but it does look like a good piece of kit for the price

 

[chewie]

One thing that strikes me about it is the pump seems to be below the bottom of the unit, this either means the unit has to be raised up on something (more possibility of being knocked over) or the pump pipe could become kinked.

 

[zippy40]

I did think that myself and wondered is it designed as a countertop unit - or is it just the way the photo is shot that makes it look like its below the main unit??

 

[Fil]

vids ive seen of the european version were filmed with the pot on a pallet platform on the floor, it still required the brewer to get on his hands n knees to look at and use the base mounted control panel which is its major flaw imho. counter top brewing May require you feeding the sparge liquor within a tight space under your ceiling??, and lifting /removing the grain tube would require a step ladder.

Imho its a cheaper less sophisticated version of the grainfather without the hard plumbed in pump and integral standpipe substituting quick and easy friction fitting of soft silicone tube over hard tube to connect the pump to the recirculation or cfc which cuts down on the costs a fair bit i expect, the grainfather uses ball locks on its standpipe to ensure no accidental spurts and its chiller and sparge/recirc arm attach with a steep screw (few turns to lock) thread for quick disconnections, engineering features omitted from this design with a keep it simple (cheap) approach..


the major down side to this system imho is its controllers position and it being integral to the boiler itself, it makes it tricky to use and even trickier to upgrade.

you can also expect the end of the silicone connecting tubes to split at some point so a spare bit of thicker walled tube would be a wise buy too.

 

[Leon103]

Personally I would rather save a little more for a grainfather

 

[GlentoranMark]

Seems a good bit of kit but like others have noted, a Grainfather is tried and tested and well cemented into the market. If your willing to spend £400, you'd be better spending the extra on a Grainfather.

You don't need all this fancy equipment to brew decent beer, a Peco boiler (or even a DIY boiler) and BIAB will do the same job. All this fancy equipment does is automate some processes.

BTW I also love shiny's and aspire to a Grainfather

 

[zippy40]

Seems a good bit of kit but like others have noted, a Grainfather is tried and tested and well cemented into the market. If your willing to spend �£400, you'd be better spending the extra on a Grainfather.

You don't need all this fancy equipment to brew decent beer, a Peco boiler (or even a DIY boiler) and BIAB will do the same job. All this fancy equipment does is automate some processes.

BTW I also love shiny's and aspire to a Grainfather

How much more is a grain father?

The main reason for wanting one is 1. I am a lazy git and the less steps to get a nice brew the better :whistle: and 2. I don't mind spending a bit at the start if I can do AG for a really cheap brew :grin:

 

[IainM]

How much more is a grain father?

The main reason for wanting one is 1. I am a lazy git and the less steps to get a nice brew the better :whistle: and 2. I don't mind spending a bit at the start if I can do AG for a really cheap brew :grin:

You can pick one up for just shy of �£600. Presumably they're discounted to get rid of stock before the new version is released (in November, I think) which comes with the new control box as standard.

 

[chewie]

I've seen Grainfathers for about £575.00 on Ebay now and again, they don't tend to sit long at that price, £600 or thereabouts is the norm.

 

[zippy40]

The other one I looked at is only £390. I don't know whether the cost difference is acceptable. I am complete newbie here but I have yet to hear a bad review about the grainfather.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

A quick look round and almost every advert has "Be the first to review" in it so i guess you are are going to have to risk it or maybe choose a different system if you can find reviews.

.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Videos from this thread - http://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=54878&highlight=Braumeister+grainfather

Brewster - �£494 + a kit for a penny - http://www.home-brew-online.com/equ...ster-all-in-one-all-grain-micro-brewery-p1781

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrmlBaExCZw[/ame]

Brewcrafter - �£479.56 + free shipping - http://www.brewcrafterstore.com/product/brewcrafter25/

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8E8z047NfA[/ame]

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yrx9JyDtcEA[/ame]



.

 

[chewie]

The other one I looked at is only �£390. I don't know whether the cost difference is acceptable. I am complete newbie here but I have yet to hear a bad review about the grainfather.

The counterflow chiller that comes with the grainfather is very good, not only in its chilling but the fact that it utilises the pump to pump out the kettle and chill at the same time, something that no other domestic kettle/masher offers, this alone will save you at least 30 mins time on a brew day.

 

[GlentoranMark]

Natures Way (Houseofhomebrew) has the Grainfather in stock (as I know your from NI). Have a word with them and let you look at the system.

It's a big outlay just to automate some processes, saying that efficiency and time will be saved and probably clarity will also improve. And who doesn't love a shiny :)

 

[Fil]

If at all diy inclined? Just spend < £100 on a basic diy brewery
PP buckets 5 x for £25 ebay
to 3 of them add water butt taps (waddington and duval brand are afaik foodsafe)
and to 2 of these add 1 x £5 budget kettle element ( perhaps 2x in the boiler)
And u have a HLT and a boiler

Drill 1-2mm holes all thru the base of one bucket all over , and sit this in the bucket with a tap and no element. insulate with bubble wrap or £shop camping mats and gaffer tape and u have a tun with a false bottom.

the last virgin bucket can be your Fermenting bucket.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-x-25-Li...751103?hash=item1eb8669b7f:g:z~0AAOSw6n5Xtxd5

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Plastic-T...625594?hash=item1c1cd2413a:g:WlEAAOxyGwNTF2ye

http://www.tesco.com/direct/tesco-b...jzqcqwgaAuri8P8HAQ&gclsrc=aw.ds&source=others

should build you a 4gallon circa 18-20l brewery for well under £100 even if u need to buy tools in a saturday afternoon. get hozelock type taps and use original hozelock or gardinia brand connectors (afaik foodsafe ??) with 1/2" pvc hose for easy connecting :)
the taps may drip at boil temps, but you can spend more on better quality bits too

 

[zippy40]

great advice guys - food for thought :)

 

[Razor]

If at all diy inclined? Just spend < £100 on a basic diy brewery

PP buckets 5 x for £25 ebay

to 3 of them add water butt taps (waddington and duval brand are afaik foodsafe)

and to 2 of these add 1 x £5 budget kettle element ( perhaps 2x in the boiler)

And u have a HLT and a boiler



Drill 1-2mm holes all thru the base of one bucket all over , and sit this in the bucket with a tap and no element. insulate with bubble wrap or £shop camping mats and gaffer tape and u have a tun with a false bottom.



the last virgin bucket can be your Fermenting bucket.

So is that 7 buckets, 3 taps and 3 kettle elements?




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