Curious about the Grainfather brewing system? Check out this full Grainfather review to find out everything about this system, from its features to its potential disadvantages!
Introduction
Are you looking for a high-quality, durable, and easy-to-use brewing system? If so, Grainfather may be the perfect option for you. This system is made with 304 stainless steel construction and features a tempered glass lid, mag drive pump, expandable grain basket, and more. In this Grainfather review, we’ll take a closer look at the features, pros and cons, and what’s included with this system to help you decide if it’s the right fit for your brewing needs.
What is the Grainfather?
The Grainfather is a smart all-in-one system that makes it easy to brew your own beer at home. It is made with high-quality stainless steel and designed to be both easy to use and produce great results. Some of the features of the Grainfather include an electric heating element, an electric pump, and a counterflow chiller. It can easily brew up to 6 gallons of beer at a time. Although it is pricier than some other brewing systems, it offers many conveniences and is still a great choice for many novices and experienced home brewers.
How much does the Grainfather cost? (in USD)
Although the Grainfather is not the cheapest option on the market, its quality and features justify its price tag of USD$899. For many home brewers, the Grainfather is the perfect compromise between price and quality, offering professional-grade features at a more affordable price than some of its competitors. If you’re serious about your brewing and are looking for a high-quality machine, the Grainfather is definitely worth the investment.
How does the Grainfather work?
The Grainfather is a stainless steel grain brewing system with a boiler, inner basket, black plastic base, and tempered glass lid. It also comes with a discharge pipe, 1800RPM pump, heating element, control box, and various filters, strainers, clamps, pipes, hoses, and valves. Plus, in order to hook up to your sink faucet, there is a counterflow wort chiller.
To select Boil or Mash heating, and to see the temperature display with set temperature buttons, there is a control panel off to the side of the boiler. At the base of the boiler, there is an element variation switch in order to bring the water up to temperature.
“If you have the money, no space, need to brew inside and love the tech side things- the Grainfather is for you.”
Brian Jarreau – customer reviews – grainfather.com
How do you operate the Grainfather?
The Grainfather is a simple and easy-to-use all-in-one brewing system that allows you to brew your own beer at home.
Here are the 6 simple steps to the entire brew cycle with the Grainfather:
Step 1: Assembly
The first step is to assemble your Grainfather. This includes installing the hop filter, attaching the controller, and connecting power. You can also connect your Grainfather to a wireless network and control it with the Grainfather App, if available with your variant.
Step 2: Mashing
Once your Grainfather is assembled, you’re ready to start brewing! The first step in brewing beer is mashing, which is the process of soaking crushed grains in water to extract sugars. To mash with your Grainfather, simply add the desired amount of water, prime the pump, and set the mash/strike temperature. Then, add the grains to the bottom grain basket and stir. Install the top grain plate and overflow inlet, and recirculate the wort (unfermented beer) for about 10 minutes.
Step 3: Sparging
Once your mash is complete, it’s time to sparge. Sparging is the process of rinsing the grains with hot water to extract all the sugars. To sparge with your Grainfather, simply remove the grain basket and place it on the provided lifting bar. Then, slowly pour hot water over the grains until the sparge water reaches the correct temperature. Remove the grain basket and discard the spent grains.
Step 4: Boiling
The next step is to boil the wort to sanitize it and extract bitterness and flavor from the hops. To boil with your Grainfather, simply add the desired amount of wort and set the boiling temperature. Then, add the hops at the appropriate time based on the recipe.
Step 5: Cooling
After boiling, the wort needs to be cooled to pitching temperature, which is the temperature at which yeast is added. To cool the wort with your Grainfather, simply use the provided counterflow wort chiller.
Step 6: Cleaning
Once brewing is complete, it’s time to clean your Grainfather. To clean your Grainfather, simply remove the excess liquid, remove the trub (solids that settle out during fermentation), and clean all the parts with hot water and a cleaner designed for brewing equipment. For more thorough cleaning, you can also disassemble the pump and recirculation hose and clean them separately. With proper cleaning, your Grainfather will be ready to brew again next time you’re ready to make beer!
What are the main features (advantages) of the Grainfather?
The following are some of the main features that make Grainfather an advantageous brewing system:
● It is made with 304 stainless steel construction for durability and stability.
● The tempered glass lid helps to insulate the mash, keeping temperature control consistent.
● The mag drive pump is 6 watts and 1800 RPM, making it powerful and efficient.
● The pump filter is stainless steel and can be easily removed for cleaning.
● The expandable grain basket will fit a wide range of grain bills, and the perforated filter allows for even extractions.
● The heating element is 1600 watts and can be controlled to maintain consistent mash temperatures.
● The recirculation pipe is insulated to keep heat loss at a minimum.
● The system can hold up to 6 US gallons, making it perfect for small-batch brewing.
● It comes with a cleaner and counterflow wort chiller with a copper inner coil.
● Excellent connect system synchronizing between the PID algorithm and Triac provides optimal, stable heating.
“No one would say that brewing beer is easy, but we’ve developed the design and engineering from craft breweries to create homebrewing systems with an intuitive design that allow you to produce consistent brews, at home.”
grainfather.com/about-grainfather
What are the disadvantages of the Grainfather?
While there are many benefits to brewing with a Grainfather, there are also some potential disadvantages to consider:
● The Grainfather is a more expensive brewing system (U$899), so it may not be the best option for those on a budget.
● Since it doesn’t have a built-in sparge water container, you’ll need to have a separate container on hand for that purpose.
● There is no sight gauge or timer, so you’ll need to keep track of those things separately.
● The bottom pump filter is small and can become clogged easily. It’s recommended that you use a hop spider (purchased separately) to avoid this issue.
● It doesn’t have as vigorous of a boil as some other methods, for instance propane burners.
● It is only able to brew 5-6 gallon batches, so it’s not ideal for those who want to upgrade to brewing larger batches.
● The system is not very versatile, so it is not well suited for advanced brewing techniques.
What is included with the Grainfather system?
The Grainfather system includes the following:
● The boiler assembly comprising of a 1600W electric heating integrated component and an 1800 RPM magnetic drive pump.
● A tempered glass lid for the boiler.
● Adjustable overflow pipes to control the liquid level in the boiler.
● A counterflow chiller to cool the wort.
● A recirculation arm that circulates the wort during brewing.
● A grain basket with top and bottom grain filter plates to hold the grains during brewing.
● Connectivity Control Box to control and monitor the brewing process.
● A pump inlet filter that keeps foreign objects out of the pump.
Where can you buy the Grainfather?
You can purchase the Grainfather online through their official website or their authorized retailers. You can also find the Grainfather on Amazon, eBay, Walmart, and other e-commerce stores. It is also available at some online homebrew stores, such as iBrew, Australian Homebrewing, Distillery King, and more. It is recommended to do a price comparison before purchasing to ensure you are getting the best deal.
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Is the Grainfather worth it?
The Grainfather is a great brewing system for those who are looking for an automated and easy-to-use option. It has plenty of features, such as a built-in heating element and pump, that make brewing easier and more efficient. Additionally, the Grainfather is made from high-quality materials that will last for many years. While it is more expensive than some other brewing systems, it is definitely worth the investment for those who want to complete the entire brewing process and make high-quality beer at home.
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Conclusion
The Grainfather is a great brewing system for those who are looking for an all-in-one solution. It is made with high-quality materials and comes with everything you need to get started brewing. The only potential downside is the cost, as it is a more expensive system. However, you are paying for quality and convenience. If you are looking for a great brewing system, the Grainfather is a great option to consider. Happy Brewing!
What do you think? Is the Grainfather the best brewing system on the market? Let us know in the comments below!
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Sources
https://grainfather.com/ (Primary Source)
https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/grainfather/
https://grainfather.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/G70_full_instructions_web.pdf
