GrainFather v other systems.

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Any reviews for the klarstein brauheld with the pump on the outside and the anti burn system ,it looks like a copy of the newbulldog master brewer
 
wink...The Bulldog is a copy of the Klarstein! They are all made in China and probably by only one or two factories. The Importers/distributors can request changes to the spec details. Another clone is the Coobra.
 
look at this which is good and has loads of extras but no recirc/antiburn. https://www.angelhomebrew.co.uk/en/brew-devil/390-pre-order-deal-30l-brewdevil-microbrewery.html

Or, another bargain, https://www.hopcat.eu/product-page/...ee-hop-spider-insulation-jacket-whirlpool-arm

I'm shopping around. I think I would go for the Coobra kit and then buy a hop spider. https://www.thehomebrewery.co.uk/coobra-brewery-kit-coobra-cb3-coobra-sparger

This is identical to the Klarstein Brauhels but includes a sparge boiler with the same dsiconnect as the mash kettle so you could have both units on a shelf or same level and use the pump for sparging.

https://www.thehomebrewery.co.uk/coobra-brewery-kit-coobra-cb3-coobra-sparger
 
i have a 10 litre braumeister and a grainfather, love them both but leaning towards the grainfather due to ease of use and no niggles so far.
 
i now have both the 10litre braumeister and the grainfather.
in some ways i prefer the grainfather for its connectivity and in some ways i find it more pleasant to use.
Braumeisters are a bit weak on the software side and the misting of the controller can be a pain. i think from other posts the pre 2015 unit is better.

i end up with boil overs with the braumeister because the element is not strong enough to keep a boil so put the lid on to get up to temp and then forget for a moment and sticky wort down the sides and underneath!!
i probably need to to get the thermal jacket.

i think they both have merits and it is down to personal choice.

i use the braumeister for speciality beers and the GF for larger simple styles. i have the short malt pipe but the efficiency doeas seem to drop when using it.

not sure if i will keep the braumeister long term
We will see.
 
That is the one I have just ordered but it was £250.
Was in an email amazon sent after I put one in a basket to buy but never completed - apparently they often send you a cheaper deal!
Wonder if they are selling them so cheap have they a new model coming along?

They gave you the 50L Mundschenk discounted to £250!?
 
No sorry mine was the 30l one but still pleased with it.
Have had to change the outlet filter as the one they supplied was too fine and clogged up all the time.

Oh I thought that you had got a crazy deal. That’s still decent for the 30L, I’m still umming and arrrring over what to get aheadbutt:laugh8:
 
Hi Ross

I'm looking to get into AG brewing and have been looking at this https://www.angelhomebrew.co.uk/en/brew-devil/390-pre-order-deal-30l-brewdevil-microbrewery.html
Does this seem like a good deal?
... I decided that it was a good enough deal a few weeks ago to buy one. It was delivered quickly and I've since been in touch with Angel Homebrew to ask a clarification question and they got back in touch quickly and were really helpful. I've only brewed with it once, so far, and apart from some slight problems (mostly me getting used to brewing with a different system (I have previously brewed using BIAB and 3V type systems)) it all went smoothly and I was very impressed with the kit.

Also would I need anything else (apart from the basics like FV etc.)
... if anything, there are some parts in the kit that you might only use some of the time (if at all) e.g. putting ALL of your hops in the hop spider makes the uprated bazooka filter a bit superfluous really (but some people prefer belt AND braces, I suppose) :?:... as for extras you might need to think about, the immersion chiller fittings will be pretty useless without two lengths of hose and a cold water tap to connect one of them up to (and you might need extra fittings on the hose/fittings to connect them together (I got a couple of the hozelock style ones like that (link) because that's what my garden hose connects to) ... and if you think you are likely to sparge with hot water you should think about something to heat it up in, I have a 19ltr stockpot that I used as my "HLT" in my 3V system (it was only ever 2.5 vessels really) so I heated up my sparge water on the stove in that for my one brew so far, which seemed to work fine so I'll probably stick with that approach :?:

Any other questions you might have may already have been answered in that (long) thread over there (link) (the Ace/Klarstein devices being discussed in that thread are basically (earlier versions of) the same machine as the BrewDevil you're looking at), but of course if you have any others feel free to ask, either here or there athumb.. :smallcheers:

Cheers, PhilB

Edited to add links that didn't get added first time.
 
Last edited:
Hi Ross

... I decided that it was a good enough deal a few weeks ago to buy one. It was delivered quickly and I've since been in touch with Angel Homebrew to ask a clarification question and they got back in touch quickly and were really helpful. I've only brewed with it once, so far, and apart from some slight problems (mostly me getting used to brewing with a different system (I have previously brewed using BIAB and 3V type systems)) it all went smoothly and I was very impressed with the kit.

... if anything, there are some parts in the kit that you might only use some of the time (if at all) e.g. putting ALL of your hops in the hop spider makes the uprated bazooka filter a bit superfluous really (but some people prefer belt AND braces, I suppose) :?:... as for extras you might need to think about, the immersion chiller fittings will be pretty useless without two lengths of hose and a cold water tap to connect one of them up to (and you might need extra fittings on the hose/fittings to connect them together (I got a couple of the hozelock style ones like that (link) because that's what my garden hose connects to) ... and if you think you are likely to sparge with hot water you should think about something to heat it up in, I have a 19ltr stockpot that I used as my "HLT" in my 3V system (it was only ever 2.5 vessels really) so I heated up my sparge water on the stove in that for my one brew so far, which seemed to work fine so I'll probably stick with that approach :?:

Any other questions you might have may already have been answered in that (long) thread over there (link) (the Ace/Klarstein devices being discussed in that thread are basically (earlier versions of) the same machine as the BrewDevil you're looking at), but of course if you have any others feel free to ask, either here or there athumb.. :smallcheers:

Cheers, PhilB

Cheers for the advice Phil acheers.
 

This is what I've bought, and two brews done in it I'm very happy with the system. One minor gripe, and I dunno if this is a common issue, is that the small pump filter gets clogged with hot break, so I can't use the whirlpool arm. Has anyone had this happen?

Another note, I bought a telescopic overflow pipe from Angel Homebrew which fits my system perfectly. I did have a small issue with it, and it was sorted by Paul at AHB very quickly and efficiently. I doff my cap to you :hat:
 
I have a Robobrew gen3. Works a treat. Half the price of the grainfather.
The only thing that would be better is the counter flow chiller.
I've done about 10 brews in it so far.
 

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