StillSmart

http://www.lovebrewing.co.uk/grainfather/

initially seems expensive for a t500 boiler mod, but its a lot cheaper than a BM , its a top down mash recirculation system rather than a bottom up design like the bm, so a stuck mash will just divert the recirc feed down the central overflow..

I maybe out of my depth here,not owning a t500.and as such I may be simply talking bolleaux.
This to me seems a lot of money,for what appears to be a simple mash tun,the Alembic dome is extra,from my understanding of the Mp4s.
Maybe I is wrong,but I see blatant marketing.
Not that I don't get suckered into similar things from time to time!
Robert.

no not a cheap bit of kit but a fair bit cheaper than the only other off the shelf option all in one biab machine i am aware of https://www.brewuk.co.uk/equipment/ag-equipment/braumeister-systems/braumeister-20l.html?gclid=CjwKEAjww8eiBRCE7qvK9Z7W_DgSJABfOjf2jAeX6oz77rh1HQw4x66OxgBSTJZeJ70D3tG0ZdsnYxoCHlXw_wcB
on the pro side of the coin it comes with a counterflow chiller, and on the con side needs a 2nd vessel to hold or heat up sparge liquor, having considered making a diy version once or twice only failing to find suitable off the shelf parts for reasonable costs its worth mentioning..

You could build a full 3 vessel setup for that price, including a counter flow chiller and a Herms/Rims system for controlling the mash temp, having said that I've just arrived a work so don't have time to fully research it, it looks interesting though so I'll have a closer look later :-)

I've watched the videos and I recon its about £300 too expensive for what you get, it's a bit of a gimmick, saying that I'm sure someone will buy it if they're just getting started with all grain and want an all in one system

Anavrin wrote:I've watched the videos and I recon its about £300 too expensive for what you get, it's a bit of a gimmick, saying that I'm sure someone will buy it if they're just getting started with all grain and want an all in one system

Or have a larger setup making it awkward to brew 5 gallon batches.. must admit im considering it..

Looks pretty decent for the price in MHO

I'm lucky enough to have a Breumaister which Is quite a bit dearer. It is more sophisticated eg fully programmable from start to finishing inc boiling for beer with stepped temps etc

The big difference with the Breumaister is that it forces the wort up through the grist rather than sprinkles through the top so very efficient and only needs only a few litres from a pan on the gas ring to sparge

Made some very good beer with it too

It is expensive but horses for courses I haven't ot the time and probably know how, to make an equivalent from bits and pieces !

Anavrin wrote:saying that I'm sure someone will buy it if they're just getting started with all grain and want an all in one system

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Except its not really all in one - you still require an HLT to do the sparge. Okay if you already have a T500 boiler - but its pretty pricey for a BITB set up.

ive compared it to a BM and as Admiral Toad pointed out the major differences are the mash re circulation direction and degree of programable control.

the BM system will ensure a mash will never stick as its bottom up and rests so gravity will drop the grain between cycles, the grainfarther solution top down requires a good effective whetting and doughing in to guard against a stuck mash, so should not be a problem if the grain isnt too floury..

the control difference.. give it a few months and alternative BM arduino controllers will probably be modded to control this beast too, there are 2 alternative BM controllers im aware of both built and specked by Aussie brewers, i can provide links if of interest, but a quick browse of a few aussie brewforums will reveal em..
Matho's build is so well documented it includes instructions for making your own pcb's if you dont want to use strip board, and even includes info on how to use an iron to transfer a printed panel face onto an abs plastic project box..

if not the current work going on hacking the stc1000 controller into a mash controller looks like a very viable alternative too..