StillSmart

Am swayed towards the Grainfather because
of its stilling option. But the German
machine sure does look tempting.

gaza the instructor wrote:Am swayed towards the Grainfather because
of its stilling option. But the German
machine sure does look tempting.

Yes, using as a still is easy, I have a T500 lid and seal for my Grainfather and both my pot still and Boka still fit.

There is a YouTube you should watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nr2Qlh5YKwo

I have been doing beer kits for years.
They get better every year, or is it
me more accurate patient etc..
Anyway as I sit here supping a dark
Belgian Strawberry Ale.. Oh Yeesss!
I look at these Sd Crystal Dragons
and dream.
Would the small 2" one fit on The Grainfather

Get the Grainfather. With the still option and ONE OF the new controllers. And a shiny SS brewtech. You will still be under the budget of a 2015 20l BM.

The only question in my mind is WHICH controller. ALVA or this new one. I think ALVA but Vino-tinto can help you with that decision.

Either way you will save money and get more versatility.

I love my original 20l BM. I have had it for some years now. Stunning.
It is a better slicker brewing system than the GF.

But germen customer support is very poor. Speidel do not appear to listen or give a toot.
The guys who have bought the new 2015 model - all pretty colour lights and touch screen (no beer benefits) have had problems.

The SS build quality is superior, and you could consider a 20l preowned orig on Ebay? - but to be fair, a lot of hassle (must collect - don't risk shipping) and you won't have the still option. And most probably still more money.

Just my 2p.. and yes I am biased.

Thanks Mash for your thoughts. My brewshed
will be done in 4 weeks then I will buy.

gaza the instructor wrote:I have been doing beer kits for years.
They get better every year, or is it
me more accurate patient etc..
Anyway as I sit here supping a dark
Belgian Strawberry Ale.. Oh Yeesss!
I look at these Sd Crystal Dragons
and dream.
Would the small 2" one fit on The Grainfather

The simple answer is YES.
1. Grainfather
2. T500 Lid & seal
3. 2" Tri-Clamp Weldless Bulkhead Fitting
4. 2" Crystal Dragon

Thats it then a Grainfather it will be

You left the ALVA off that list vino...

It should be an inclusion IMO.

Give me a led on this guys
so I can have a look.

http://www.alva-control.eu/

Here you go.

I would like to upgrade the controller on my GF, especially as my 1 year old has snapped the clear plastic cover off, the best thing I find with the GF is the iPhone app, you put in your recipe, it calculates how much mash water, sparge water etc

And once you start the session it times everything and prompts you every step of the way so you can't really go wrong, the only down side of the app, is you can't create recipes in it, you still need beer smith for that, but once you copy all you grain and hop additions into the GF app, off it goes :-)

If you don't have a fancy controller it's the next best thing

Just sat and watched the grainfather Vs braumeister clips that VT posted the link too..........

That all grain brewing lark ? stick it right up yer arse..... So much faffing about. It'd drive me up the wall.........

I'll stick to my flavour essence neutral for me spirits, country and "normal" wines and meads. A lot less effort IMO...........

I did like the fact that I now follow the process a lot more but no, that wasn't enough for me to convert to making beer.

I'm presuming that doing extract kits is likely to be easier (I don't know. I do have a beer kit somewhere that I won in a raffle a year or so ago, but haven't got round to making it up to try yet)..........

So me becoming an all grain brewer and as the adage goes.......... "pigs might fly"

still fit.

There is a YouTube you should watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nr2Qlh5YKwo

It is worth watching this. They are quite different how they go through the process. I think it fair to say the BM is also more "hands off"

@ Phantom
I only have capacity for beer "kits" ATM,
but they are simplicity its self. Some
are very impressive. Have a look at the
Beerworks kits on LB and they produce
a fantastic result. I'm only going
all grain for the challenge.

I would like to buy Phantom a drink tonight, we don't argue much, but here I think we may agree for different reasons, but from the soul!
Brewing by iphone app?
Really, is this home brewing or AI brewing?
I am considering becoming a "Prepper"

Robert.