New Brewzilla Owner - I'm lost!

ok, so, I think i'm there with having the kit I need

however I definitely fall into - all the gear no idea!

I've got recipe books, I know what I'd like to brew but I don't have the first idea of how to use the kit. I was a bit surprised that the manual is essentially how to put it together and lacked any kind of "how to do your first brew" for complete beginners like me it's actually a little disappointing.

I mean, should I use the timers on the thing or just run it manually? I honestly don't even know what step one of my brew day would be! I'm daunted over ordering the right ingredients and it's all just a bit of a worry even planning a day to do this as it just feels like i'm guessing absolutely every stage.

The videos i've seen go from a bit too far along in the process, I'm really after an absolute start to finish run through of the first brew day - I mean I'm sure once i've got one done i'll be fine, I mean if there wasn't restrictions i'd just go to a brew club and watch for the day but can't do that either.

So. can anyone either take me through in utter basic terms a sheet for the day i.e.
09:00 fill sparge turn on heater
10:00 add grain to hopper

etc etc.

I see in some recipes, they have quite exact water 9.3 litres for example - so definitely need a better jug - mines plastic and not the easiest to read level

The recipe i'd like to do is a light lager. I understand that i'm best to use RO water for this - which is fine, can always sort that.

It calls for:
2.81kg lager malt
939g flaked maize

that's for the mash. 1 hour mash time @ 65deg. So does this mean, I should put 9.3ltrs of RO water in the brewzilla, with the inner basket in the lower position. Set temp to 65deg and wait till it gets there. Then put the grains required in the inner hopper. Put the lid on, leave it for an hour.

Now it moves onto "for the boil"

now require 27 ltrs of water with a 1 hr 15 min boil time.

Hops:
Hallertauer Hersbrucker 3.5% 20g at start of boil
Hallertauer Hersbrucker 3.5% 10g for last 5 mins of boil

Protofloc 1 tsp for last 15 mins of boil.

Now, can't see any mention of sparging, removing grain, any anything like that - I assume the hops go in the hob spider rather than just in the mix.

So that's my first "i'm lost" point. Then we've got the immersion chiller - where does that come in? I mean the next phase is fermentation, which is stated as 12deg then 3 weeks at 3 deg. With a little footnote of yeast S-189 dry lager.... so I guess that goes in when it's transferred into the fermenter.

So. back a stage - once the boil is complete. Do I turn the target heat down. then using the pump to circulate it round, chuck the immersion in, connect hose to it, and cool it all down to circa 12deg??

--

All the recipes I've seen are presented in this way, which is fine, I just don't get what i'm doing enough to be able to work through them. I understand lager is a bit of a toughy as a first brew, but I've got a stout on tap, a cider conditioning and a wine in ferment, so I'd like to add a lager to the mix as it'll get drunk quicker being "different" to my other offerings.

if there's a "starter guide" that would be amazing, I think i'll make my own when I know the process more, I'll just take photos of each stage and work my way through them until it sinks in.

I also have a the digiboil sparge heater, the fermentasaurus 35l gen 3, spund valve and vaious other bits as i'm intending to go completely enclosed and pressure ferment.

all help appreciated.


I need a brew buddy!

The experts will be along shortly,

First bit of advice watch some youtube brewers with the same system and especially those that do a full brewday second until you get up and running with the system I would buy some ready put together brew kits which are available from many larger brew companies such as choose a style of beer you like then choose the appropriate kits that tickle your taste buds but try and keep it simple.
some of our sponsors do plenty allgrain kits so a good choice there stick with a dry packet yeast aswell but do not try a kit that is too complicated with loads of hop additions in other words do not try to run before you can walk (I think they come with instructions)

Some great info and recipes from here:-
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC012YcFv3JKRun57ftzIWdQ
For my first brew i used his west coast ipa recipe and the brew day went pretty smooth.Was only 1 point down as well.Cold crashing atm and closed transfer to the corny on friday.

I've read my book a little further, so have clarified a few things. But it's more aimed at 3V rather than all in one, so i'm just touch confused with process.

so, my understanding thus far - hopefully someone can correct/comment:

1) In Digiboil, add total water required. Heat to 77 deg
2) Weigh all ingredients ready for use
3) Transfer Mash water qty into Robobrew. set to mash temp
4) add grain
5) Using whirlpool arm, set temp to mash and leave for required time.
6) lift out the grain basket - and sparge with remaining water in digiboil.
7) Grain basket out, set temp for rolling boil
8) Hops in hop spider
9) After 1 hour (as per my recipe) add protofloc
10) 5 mins before end of boil, add hops
11) Remove hop spider, turn temp down
12) Insert cleaned immersion chiller, running cold water through
13) using recirc arm, leave till temp reads 20-22deg
14) transfer into fermenter via recirc arm
15) chuck in the yeast, seal it up and move to ferm fridge which is set to 12 degrees (inkbird in thermowell in fermenter)
16) using party tap, monitor fermentation, likely to take circa 2 weeks until it's done
17) Once fermentation is complete set inkbird to 3 degrees for 4 weeks to condition
18) Transfer to keg using spunding line and C02
19) chuck it in the kegerator, put the C02 on, leave it for a few days to allow the carb to circ.
20) drink

Now questions I have are:

Priming sugar/malt - when and how? I understood this to be for conditioning, but in a sealed fermentasaurus how do I add it? do I remove the bottle at the bottom, clear the yeast out then put the priming ingredients in there, replace and open the port?

Sparge - how do you get a good sparge with the digiboil - is there a sparge arm I should be looking at?

RO water or Bottled water? My water is hard, I'm keen to get a good crisp lager Bottled is easier to get than RO but long term i'd like to have an RO filter on the sink in the garage but which route should I take for now? I don't really want to add water to my "complications" list so for now, easier the better.

I haver this spunding valve: BlowTie V2 Diaphragm Spunding Valve Kit

can I connect the party tap to this and take samples - through - it? or do I remove the spunding valve, then chuck the party tap on then once samples are done, go back to the spund valve?

Hudson do your self a favour, go and watch a few videos on YouTube with people using the 35ltr brewzilla.
It will help you a lot.
I watched quite a few videos on the brewzilla.come brew day it was pretty straightforward.

Hudson1984 said:

ok, so, I think i'm there with having the kit I need

however I definitely fall into - all the gear no idea!

I've got recipe books, I know what I'd like to brew but I don't have the first idea of how to use the kit. I was a bit surprised that the manual is essentially how to put it together and lacked any kind of "how to do your first brew" for complete beginners like me it's actually a little disappointing.

I mean, should I use the timers on the thing or just run it manually? I honestly don't even know what step one of my brew day would be! I'm daunted over ordering the right ingredients and it's all just a bit of a worry even planning a day to do this as it just feels like i'm guessing absolutely every stage.

The videos i've seen go from a bit too far along in the process, I'm really after an absolute start to finish run through of the first brew day - I mean I'm sure once i've got one done i'll be fine, I mean if there wasn't restrictions i'd just go to a brew club and watch for the day but can't do that either.

So. can anyone either take me through in utter basic terms a sheet for the day i.e.
09:00 fill sparge turn on heater
10:00 add grain to hopper

etc etc.

I see in some recipes, they have quite exact water 9.3 litres for example - so definitely need a better jug - mines plastic and not the easiest to read level

The recipe i'd like to do is a light lager. I understand that i'm best to use RO water for this - which is fine, can always sort that.

It calls for:
2.81kg lager malt
939g flaked maize

that's for the mash. 1 hour mash time @ 65deg. So does this mean, I should put 9.3ltrs of RO water in the brewzilla, with the inner basket in the lower position. Set temp to 65deg and wait till it gets there. Then put the grains required in the inner hopper. Put the lid on, leave it for an hour.

Now it moves onto "for the boil"

now require 27 ltrs of water with a 1 hr 15 min boil time.

Hops:
Hallertauer Hersbrucker 3.5% 20g at start of boil
Hallertauer Hersbrucker 3.5% 10g for last 5 mins of boil

Protofloc 1 tsp for last 15 mins of boil.

Now, can't see any mention of sparging, removing grain, any anything like that - I assume the hops go in the hob spider rather than just in the mix.

So that's my first "i'm lost" point. Then we've got the immersion chiller - where does that come in? I mean the next phase is fermentation, which is stated as 12deg then 3 weeks at 3 deg. With a little footnote of yeast S-189 dry lager.... so I guess that goes in when it's transferred into the fermenter.

So. back a stage - once the boil is complete. Do I turn the target heat down. then using the pump to circulate it round, chuck the immersion in, connect hose to it, and cool it all down to circa 12deg??

--

All the recipes I've seen are presented in this way, which is fine, I just don't get what i'm doing enough to be able to work through them. I understand lager is a bit of a toughy as a first brew, but I've got a stout on tap, a cider conditioning and a wine in ferment, so I'd like to add a lager to the mix as it'll get drunk quicker being "different" to my other offerings.

if there's a "starter guide" that would be amazing, I think i'll make my own when I know the process more, I'll just take photos of each stage and work my way through them until it sinks in.

I also have a the digiboil sparge heater, the fermentasaurus 35l gen 3, spund valve and vaious other bits as i'm intending to go completely enclosed and pressure ferment.

all help appreciated.


I need a brew buddy!

Click to expand...

I am in exactly the same postion. Got a BIAB to do next then I'm on to the Brewzilla - this is what was recommended to me

There are a lot of questions in your post. It would take an essay to reply.

As others say, watch a few YouTube videos, and also there is a good thread on here with people sharing their experiences of brewzilla use, read through that. Then if you have any specific questions left come back and ask.

When you are up to fermentation phase, watch some videos on that, there are plenty of videos on fermentersaurus use. Maybe research lager pressure fermentation.

To be honest you are brave going for a lager first up, a simple SMASH might have been better, but it's your choice. Don't expect too much from your first try, just enjoy the process.

So as @RGeats says, there's a lot of questions here so first and foremost... pause and step back.
If you haven't extract brewed then consider doing so first with an extract kit. It's a way of practicing the steps other than the mash and can still be done in the brewzilla kit with the steeping grains that often come with the kits as a mini-mash. It also takes the stress out of quantities and timings as well.

If you've done extract already then purchase an all grain kit from one of the suppliers mentioned often here. Geterbrewed is good in my view but there are many others. Then it's a case of following instructions but you do have to adapt for the equipment.

Feeling a bit brave- try some brewing software , I use brewfather which is free for 10 stored recipes and has the 35 litre brewzilla as a profile you can select. However the short version of all of this is do something simple first with a dried yeast and dinnae fash - you'll get something fine out of it whatever you do, the rest is tweaking.

Anna

Take a look at the link below and this will help you through the process.
https://www.youtube.com/c/GashSlugg

Some very good info from home brew channel.Learnt loads from gash’s channel, down to earth fella.He has had some cracking brew days with recipes.

Yeah been watching a few of gashs videos earlier and another with someone using the same kit as me. Certainly seeming a bit clearer - especially as one of the videos the guy was on manual too and that’s what I’m wanting to do.

Gash’s videos are the best though, could quote happily spend an afternoon just relaxing to those just a calm guy who doesn’t worry too much. And that’s my aim, yes loads of questions but I’m happy with a bit of trial and error.
Happily he also has the same fermenter so I’m certainly closer to ticking off those questions.

yeah lager is probably a run before I can walk but hey in for a penny and all that. At worst all I lose is £15 of supplies, the time isn’t wasted as I’ll learn something from the mistakes. So I’m not too worried about a failed brew

Hudson1984 said:

Yeah been watching a few of gashs videos earlier and another with someone using the same kit as me. Certainly seeming a bit clearer - especially as one of the videos the guy was on manual too and that’s what I’m wanting to do.

Gash’s videos are the best though, could quote happily spend an afternoon just relaxing to those just a calm guy who doesn’t worry too much. And that’s my aim, yes loads of questions but I’m happy with a bit of trial and error.
Happily he also has the same fermenter so I’m certainly closer to ticking off those questions.

yeah lager is probably a run before I can walk but hey in for a penny and all that. At worst all I lose is £15 of supplies, the time isn’t wasted as I’ll learn something from the mistakes. So I’m not too worried about a failed brew

Click to expand...

If you haven't got a cold garage/shed or fermentation chamber use Californian ale yeast or Cali common as its known and will happily brew at 15°.
Gash is very informative and just a happy chappy when brewing.

Going to give my own channel a wee plug here :-) I've done a few using my Robobrew (the name of the Brewzilla originally). Have a few sitting waiting editing but take a look at the one from December last year - it's pretty much a start to finish. Would welcome any suggestions for what's missing for a "beginner" as I have been toying with the idea of putting together some newbie vids - just need to find the motivation!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCB-HmSAduHiDv-86MVxdqEA
This is the link to the Dec video I mentioned:



My best bit of advice is just to have a go! You'll learn so much in the process. Enjoy :)

I'd second what the others have said about YouTube vids and especially homebrew network, I must have watched 50 hours plus of various channels before doing my 1st AG brew which was a helles lager. I'd add that an app like brewfather also helps greatly in working out your recipe, additions, water profile etc. you can borrow others recipes and play around and it will give you a good idea of whats needs to be done process wise as well. not to add more to your list but you'll probably want to treat your bottled water with some lactic acid to get the PH down, again there are vids about this on YT.

only other thing id say for a lager is you'll need a lot longer conditioning in the keg. I fermented mine at 12c degrees for c 4 days then raised it up to 19c over 4 days or so, then cold crashed in the fermenter for a week. then transferred to a co2 flushed corny keg. I'd say it took 6 or 7 weeks in the keg and 5c (tasting once a week) to really improve in flavour and clarity, and was probably best after 9 weeks when unfortunately I finished the keg.

despite it being daunting taking on a lager 1st time I'd say go for it, but just be patient, it might taste off at first but give it time and it should clear and improve over weeks.

OK, i thought i would make a couple of edits to help out. It is just to get you pointed in the correct direction. Like people have said, watch a few vid's, there are plenty of them using this system.


1) In Digiboil, add total water required. Heat to 77 deg
2) Weigh all ingredients ready for use
3) Transfer Mash water qty into Robobrew. set to mash temp
1) Prep Everything the day before: Equipement, ingredients.
2) Heat up Strike water using the brewzilla.
4) Add grain
5) Using whirlpool arm, set temp to mash and leave for required time.
6) lift out the grain basket - and sparge with remaining water in digiboil.
6) Once your happy that you have full conversion, heat up sparge water in DigiBoil, Pull up the malt pipe and spage away.
7) Grain basket out, set temp for rolling boil
8) Set Timer, Hops in hop spider
9) After 1 hour (as per my recipe) add protofloc
10) 5 mins before end of boil, add hops, add Protofloc & immersion chiller to serialize.
11) Remove hop spider, turn temp down
12) Insert cleaned immersion chiller, running cold water through
12) Run cold water through immersion chiller.
13) using recirc arm, leave till temp reads 20-22deg
14) transfer into fermenter via recirc arm (i prefer the bottom valve, but that's another topic)
15) chuck in the yeast, Carefully add the correct amount of healthy yeast, seal it up and move to ferm fridge which is set to 12 degrees (inkbird in thermowell in fermenter)
16) using party tap on the liquid post, monitor fermentation, likely to take circa 2 weeks until it's done
17) Once fermentation is complete set inkbird to 3 degrees for 4 weeks to condition
18) Transfer to keg using spunding line and C02
18) Transfer to keg, using all the new knowledge by watching closed transfer videos.
19) chuck it in the kegerator, put the C02 on, leave it for a few days to allow the carb to circ.
20) drink - Give some to friends.

Do not worry, just give it a go. Take some pictures and post to brew day thread.