Grainfather all in one brewing system

[beerlover1983]

So i posted about this exciting new product a few weeks back they have put a new video up showing key features of the product.Must say the ability to do 9kg of grain ? must be a real winner compared to some other systems.

really looking forward to this product



http://youtu.be/sO68EQS39zw

[ArmChair]

Really interesting, wounder what the uk price will be.

It's like a cheap braunmiester

[aamcle]

It's like a cheap braunmiester

No its not, the flow is down not up at best its a recirculating BIAB.

The temperature probe is down by the pump so who knows what the temperature into the top is.

Atb. Aamcle

[chris172]

NZ price equates to about £500 inc a counterflow chiller....

Ok, it's all manual drive but we've all been doing that with a 3v system, bonus is you can do as many rests as you want, just dial it in. Keeps you in control of the whole brew.

Might put my buy for a BM on hold until reviews start coming in for it when released.

[floydmeddler]

I like the distillery option!

[bryanferry]

Will be really interesting to see what price they can do in the UK once transport is taken into account. I would certainly buy one as its looks a nice compact unit and possibly more efficient than my keggle. (plus always fancied a crack at distilling).

[beerlover1983]

NZ price equates to about £500 inc a counterflow chiller....

Ok, it's all manual drive but we've all been doing that with a 3v system, bonus is you can do as many rests as you want, just dial it in. Keeps you in control of the whole brew.

Might put my buy for a BM on hold until reviews start coming in for it when released.

Exactly what i was thinking .Im close to buying a bm within next year.So going to keeo eye on this size wise for brewing in my flat it looks ideal and distilling hood for water for my star san will be great.

[barneey]

It will be interesting when a direct test between a BM & Grainfather unit is done.

The key to the Grainfather has to be the pump control for the recirc bit.

One of the key points / features with a BM unit is the upside down mash = no stuck mashes.

They have certainly priced the unit well (although UK cost unknown), I think they should have made the cfc an add-on option myself.

Time will tell & look forward to an honest review

[aamcle]

I tried solid sided Malt Pipes like the Grain Father when I was developing my recirculating BIAB system.

Unless I used a very course mesh at the bottom they blocked resulting is a stuck mash and an overflowing MP.
There isn't enough head pressure to force the wort through the grain it took the easy path and overflowed the MP.

Furthermore a mesh course enough to permit even minimal flow through the MP also resulted in a lot of material being swept into the outer vessel.

I'm now using a BIAB bag in a basket made of inch mesh so the returning wort can flow out the sides of the bag as well as out the bottom.

I mentioned the other issue previously, the temperature at the top will be lower than that measured at the base of the tank.
Enzyme activity will occur both in the MP and in the liquid in the outer tank. On my system I measured temperature differences of 2°C and more.

This at least is an easy if ugly fix, insulating everything from the pump inlet to the wort return spray got it down to just 1°C. I feel that I can live with that.

For all my doubts it would be great if the Grain Father works well I very much like a cheap tidy compact system.

http://www.biabrewer.info has lots of info about "brew in a basket" ( or MP) type systems if you feel like reading up on them.

Atb. Aamcle

[fego]

Interesting product. Shame they didn't demo it in action.

Can't see the distilling addition making its way here though seeing as it illegal in the UK, unless you have R&E's permission in which case you probably wouldn't be buying this as a still in the first place...

[darkonnis]

Interesting product. Shame they didn't demo it in action.

Can't see the distilling addition making its way here though seeing as it illegal in the UK, unless you have R&E's permission in which case you probably wouldn't be buying this as a still in the first place...

I've adapted my T500 for this and it gets stuck spectacularly when i mash in it. Now I've got time and a bit of fluidity I might treat myself to some more testing and see what I can get to go.

As for importation, It is not illegal to own a still as you can still essential oils and water. It is illegal to use a still for the purposes of separating alcohol. If you don't sell it however, it is impossible to prove.

[aamcle]

To make it work you need holes (open area) in the malt pipe and a BIAB bag. If you read the US forum homebrewtalk there is discussion of these recirculating systems and in the end solid sides or those with low open area block.


Aamcle

[beerlover1983]

A fellow brewtuber filmed the grainfather bein showen at hes local homebrew store.
Im still sold on this unit.I do want to see some reviews from shops that have them and some unbiased reviews but for what i eant it for its sound.And i see it doing well for the money.


http://youtu.be/VRByABEdLhA

[Fil]

Answers some Questions raised by Aamcle n Cooky, like there is a central overflow tube to return excess recirculated liquor back to the bottom, but raises a few more like how do u know if u have a suck mash??

IM still interested tho and am impressed with the modular simplicity..

[ArmChair]

Same company that does the still spirits or what every there called?

Looks very very similar to thier boiler / still