Grainfather 30L

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m_rawdin
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Joined: Mon Dec 07, 2015 8:52 am
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne

Re: Grainfather 30L

Post by m_rawdin » Mon Apr 17, 2017 9:05 pm

Jules T wrote:
m_rawdin wrote:I'm doing something similar, I've just sold my 100 litre 3 pot system as i was only really brewing to 23 litres. I'm going to be buying a Grainfather and was not going to bother with a separate water heater as a few people have said they sparge with cold water or if they've got a combi boiler then use warm water from the tap. I will be at the meet up tonight so will get some advice from everyone tonight.
Let us know if you get any more advice Image


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Different people use different sparging techniques, some people use tap water whether it's cold or warm and some people use hot, not boiling, water from a kettle. I would say that the warmer the better just to get those last valuable sugars out. Oh I didn't get a Grainfather in the end, I bought a Braumeister instead.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/341609746264187/

Fermenting: Nothing
Conditioning: Smoked porter
Drinking: Cider, witbier, brown ale, Milk stout
Planning: Gamma Ray clone v3

james1988
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Re: Grainfather 30L

Post by james1988 » Mon Apr 17, 2017 9:10 pm

I'm also looking to buy one of these in the next few weeks, one question I have (hope the thread starter doesn't mind) is how do you deal with the steam? I've cut a hole in the lid of my current boiler and have attached ducting to route the steam out of the kitchen window.

Do you end up with a kitchen full of steam and water running down the walls? I've done this once resulting in re-decorating the kitchen so I'd like to avoid it again.

Any advice is appreciated,
James

m_rawdin
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Posts: 213
Joined: Mon Dec 07, 2015 8:52 am
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne

Re: Grainfather 30L

Post by m_rawdin » Mon Apr 17, 2017 9:32 pm

james1988 wrote:I'm also looking to buy one of these in the next few weeks, one question I have (hope the thread starter doesn't mind) is how do you deal with the steam? I've cut a hole in the lid of my current boiler and have attached ducting to route the steam out of the kitchen window.

Do you end up with a kitchen full of steam and water running down the walls? I've done this once resulting in re-decorating the kitchen so I'd like to avoid it again.

Any advice is appreciated,
James
I brewed in my kitchen with the window wide open and it was fine
https://www.facebook.com/groups/341609746264187/

Fermenting: Nothing
Conditioning: Smoked porter
Drinking: Cider, witbier, brown ale, Milk stout
Planning: Gamma Ray clone v3

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Hairybiker
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Re: Grainfather 30L

Post by Hairybiker » Tue Apr 18, 2017 10:26 am

I usually/always brew in the kitchen. I open the small top window and usually the (outside) door while the boil is on.
Some people use extractor fans if they don't have an outside door.

james1988
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Posts: 136
Joined: Sun Oct 02, 2011 11:37 am

Re: Grainfather 30L

Post by james1988 » Tue Apr 18, 2017 1:16 pm

That's that settled then, Grainfather it is!

James

m_rawdin
Piss Artist
Posts: 213
Joined: Mon Dec 07, 2015 8:52 am
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne

Re: Grainfather 30L

Post by m_rawdin » Tue Apr 18, 2017 3:22 pm

james1988 wrote:That's that settled then, Grainfather it is!

James
I'd get a Braumeister if I were you, bit pricier though
https://www.facebook.com/groups/341609746264187/

Fermenting: Nothing
Conditioning: Smoked porter
Drinking: Cider, witbier, brown ale, Milk stout
Planning: Gamma Ray clone v3

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Hairybiker
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Joined: Tue Oct 14, 2014 10:28 am

Re: Grainfather 30L

Post by Hairybiker » Tue Apr 18, 2017 3:24 pm

A bit nearly double the price.

Nowt the bm can do that the gf can't with its new controller.

Rad

Re: Grainfather 30L

Post by Rad » Tue Apr 18, 2017 4:13 pm

I'd get a 50L BM if I was to ever replace the GF, but at the price point GF is hard to beat. I brew outside if the weather allows. Kitchen with a wide open window works fine if you don't have a busy household.

Jules T

Re: Grainfather 30L

Post by Jules T » Mon Apr 24, 2017 8:32 pm

Rad wrote:I've been experimenting with pushing my grainfather brew length. The goal was the get 2 full kegs out of my brew day. I got as far as 36L by boiling some DME in a separate pot on the stove. But I decided it was not worth the extra hustle.

I can get 32L brews comfortably. GF is just over 34L to the brim. So I adjust the recipe accordingly and use more sparge water than the calculator calls for. Usually the full volume of the GF urn (~18l).

There's not much space so I always watch it closely as it comes to the boil and knock down any foam with water from a spray bottle until is settles. If I hit or overshot my preboil gravity I'll add water from the kettle to replace the boil off.

I've done 2 brews this way, pale ales with ~6kg grain bill for around 1.050 og. Both came out great. I won't feel comfortable using more than 8kg of grain (idk where they got 9kg capacity from) so for stronger beers I'll aim at 28-30L.
Did my first GF brew on Saturday and it went kinda okay, a few mishaps but I have 23l of a raspberry wheat beer in the fermentation fridge so happy days. Even with my larger capacity kit I tended to brew no more than 30l at a time so once I've got a few more brews under my belt I may well head towards the 30l mark.

Rad

Re: Grainfather 30L

Post by Rad » Tue Apr 25, 2017 10:55 am

My last brew was a rye ipa with 8.75kg grain bill. It is doable after all but it's no picnic. The overflow pipe is barely long enough. Fitting the top plate required squishing the grain a bit but it didn't get stuck. My efficiency did suffer a bit but it might be due to my mill. I haven't checked the gap in a long while.

lancsSteve

Re: Grainfather 30L

Post by lancsSteve » Wed Jul 26, 2017 2:16 pm

I've shifted from awesome 4 vessel keg based gas-fired setup (2 boilers, HLT, mash tun) to a grainfather - LOVE it. First brewday in a while over earlier than expected rather than hours later with the exact amount of wort and gravity as calculated.

Not too impressed with iPhoen app though - seems to flake out and go blank a lot.

Otherwise WOW - it's actually now possible for me to brew again while being a busy bloke and a dad with a 3 and 6yr old... Oh and I have the yard back too.

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