The GrainFather
Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2016 10:16 am
So I can keep brewing in the extreme heat of summer, I purchased a GrainFather.
System Description: Essentially a 8.5 gallon coffee urn, with two elements (1600W, 400W, 120V). It has a little pump plumbed into the side to allow for circulation, and is essentially a Brew in a Basket system. There is about 1.5 gallon dead space under the basket, so a rough water/grist ratio of 1.75 qt/lb is recommended. With the basket inserted (a mesh false bottom, with a center malt pipe, and a mesh mash cap), a circulation "arm" allows wort to circulate through the mash basket. The malt pipe is there to account for overflow and to prevent pump over and burning the elements. Pump rate is controlled with a simple ball valve. Lauter occurs where the basket is removed and allowed to drain. It is lifted into position and balanced onto the urn below. Sparge water is then introduced manually, trickles through the mash into the urn. The design does allow wort to fall several inches (problematic).
The computer is essentially an STC-100 to control and maintain mash temperatures, with manual switches and temps. Step mashing is very easy. There are automated mods available that fully control the pump and heating, but they are expensive.
For a cheap brew rig - I like it. The question is how will it work in a LODO environment.
Procedurally, I am less concerned about the circulation, that can be controlled and splash-less (or minimized). The sparge is tough. The basket is not large enough for an no-sparge method. And with the fall of the lauter runnings into the kettle, there is no way to mechanically manage that process. I am thinking that a slightly higher dose of MBS in the sparge water might make sense to scavenge free O2.
Plan to take some measurements in a week or two on that system and get the baselines.
System Description: Essentially a 8.5 gallon coffee urn, with two elements (1600W, 400W, 120V). It has a little pump plumbed into the side to allow for circulation, and is essentially a Brew in a Basket system. There is about 1.5 gallon dead space under the basket, so a rough water/grist ratio of 1.75 qt/lb is recommended. With the basket inserted (a mesh false bottom, with a center malt pipe, and a mesh mash cap), a circulation "arm" allows wort to circulate through the mash basket. The malt pipe is there to account for overflow and to prevent pump over and burning the elements. Pump rate is controlled with a simple ball valve. Lauter occurs where the basket is removed and allowed to drain. It is lifted into position and balanced onto the urn below. Sparge water is then introduced manually, trickles through the mash into the urn. The design does allow wort to fall several inches (problematic).
The computer is essentially an STC-100 to control and maintain mash temperatures, with manual switches and temps. Step mashing is very easy. There are automated mods available that fully control the pump and heating, but they are expensive.
For a cheap brew rig - I like it. The question is how will it work in a LODO environment.
Procedurally, I am less concerned about the circulation, that can be controlled and splash-less (or minimized). The sparge is tough. The basket is not large enough for an no-sparge method. And with the fall of the lauter runnings into the kettle, there is no way to mechanically manage that process. I am thinking that a slightly higher dose of MBS in the sparge water might make sense to scavenge free O2.
Plan to take some measurements in a week or two on that system and get the baselines.