Category Archives: Kettles

Hands on Review: BrewZilla Gen 4 All Grain Brewing System – TWO Deals + New Config Walkthrough

Updated: July 24, 2024

This review is by Homebrew Finds Contributor Brad Probert.  Brad is an engineer, expert homebrewer and experienced reviewer.  Grab a link to Brad’s website at the end of this review.

Hands on Review BrewZilla Gen4

I’ve brewed on several different all-in-one units. Like any brew system, they each have their own strengths and weaknesses. I did a hands-on review of the Robobrew when it first came out in late 2016. It has since changed its name to BrewZilla and is on the 4th generation of the brew unit. As you’d expect with repeated generations, they’ve been able to focus on fixing deficiencies in their previous models and also introduce new features.

Limited Time Deals! Choose from Two

Save on 35L at William’s Brewing

  • For a short time William’s Brewing has the 35L Gen 4 on sale for $509.99
  • Shipping is free or reasonably priced flat rate to addresses in the contiguous US depending on your order size for most items.

Brewzilla 35 Liter Gen 4 110 volt

MoreBeer Summer Sale!

 

MoreBeer’s Summer Sale!

The lineup includes two BrewZilla models.

New Config Walkthrough!

BrewZilla Gen 4 Temperature Control and Programming Tips and Tricks

The basic premise of an all-in-one brewing system is that your mash and boil kettle are in the

same vessel. So just like Brew In A Bag, after mashing, you pull the grains out and the wort stays behind to be boiled. They use electricity for heat, so they can be used outdoors where you can reach power or indoors where you have a venting system that can take care of all the steam you make during your boil.

BrewZilla Without Jacket

Stamped Volume Markings

Here are some basic stats on the Gen4 BrewZilla. It’s available in a 35-Liter form (for 5-6 gallon batches) with either a 110V setup, or 220V. There is also a larger 65-Liter that is only 220V (targeted to 10-12 gallon batches). The 35L unit holds 9.25 gallons, the mash basket can hold up to 23.5 lbs. of grain, and its electric heating elements can output up to 1500W of power (110V system) or 2400W of power (220V system). The 65L unit holds 17.1 gallons, the mash basket holds 41.5 lbs. of grain, and 3500W of heating power. All the Gen4 units have a pump bolted into the base. The pump can be used not only for wort recirculation during the mash, but also to pump beer through your wort chiller apparatus (should you choose to not use the immersion chiller coil included with the BrewZilla). The pump is more modular and accessible than previous Gen models. To protect the pump from clogging with hop debris during the boil or whirlpool, there is a filter screen (a perforated stainless disc that sits at the bottom of the unit) that sits at the bottom of the kettle. The small magnetic drive pump has a pump head rating of 1.5 – 2.1 m (4.9 – 6.9 ft) and a max flow rate of 11-12 L/min (2.9 – 3.2 gal/min).

Control Panel Notification During Mash Profile

One of the key upgraded features of the Gen4 BrewZilla is the controller. RAPT Is Kegland’s line of wireless connected brewing devices. The BrewZilla now has a RAPT controller so it adds a lot of features that can be monitored and controlled over Wi-Fi. This includes basic things like monitoring temperature from your laptop/cell phone, but also allows you to program complex mash programs online and then download to your BrewZilla. You can also adjust control parameters on the fly such as pump output duty cycle and heater output level. If you get the optional Bluetooth thermometer, you can stick the temperature probe into the middle of your grain bed, and then have the controller use that as its control signal in combination with the built-in temperature sensor that sits on the floor of the unit.

Bluetooth Temp Probe in Middle of Mash

Although All-in-One units are essentially BIAB, they use a stainless steel basket with holes in the bottom of it instead of a bag, and call it a “malt pipe”. These provide functional improvements over a nylon bag. The obvious one is they are way easier to clean. But they also allow you to ensure you get full flow through your grain bed by having holes only on the bottom. This means recirculating wort has no sneak paths out the side. The other benefit is malt pipes have simple brackets/feet welded onto the outside that allow you to lift your wet grains up and prop the malt pipe on the brew rig to drain or sparge. The BrewZilla has 2 sets of feet for this. One set is halfway up, allowing you to do the deadlift of grain & wort halfway and then let the liquid level drain down. Then when you lift it the full height, it’s not as heavy. It’s simple, but makes the process much better.

Welded-on Carry Handle (top) and Tip Handle (bottom)

There is a cool feature in the BrewZilla which normally only comes on much higher end systems, and that’s the central drain. With a concave bottom with a drain at the lowest point in the center, you don’t have to leave wort behind or goof around with tilting it to get the last drops of wort out at the end. This also enables the malt pipe to extend down lower and thus you can hold more grain (30% more than their Gen3). If you compared to other All-in-one units in the “5 gallon batch” size range, the 23.5 lbs. grain capacity is 30 – 50% more. This of course only matters if you’re trying to make high gravity brews. The drain in the floor is plumbed to the inlet of the pump below, and then you can direct pump output either to an external spigot for fast/easy transfer of wort out after brewing, or up the recirculation pipe for wort to get directed down on top of the mash.

Polished Bottom with Center Drain and Built-in Temp Sensor to Side

Bottom Side of Pump Filter Plate

To help with mash efficiency and mash temperature uniformity, they offer a Heat Exchanger Dish, which is just a stainless dish/plate that sits below your malt pipe and above the central drain. Without this dish in place, the flow of recirculating wort tends to go through the center of your grain bed, and straight out the drain. With the dish there, it directs the flow around the full circumference before it gets to the drain, which helps ensure a broader portion of the grist sees the flow.

Compare Prices, Review Continues Below:

Related: BrewZilla Gen 4 Temperature Control and Programming Tips and Tricks

Continue reading →

BrewZilla Gen 4 Temperature Control and Programming Tips and Tricks!

July 24, 2024

This write up is by Homebrew Finds Contributor Brad Probert.  Brad is an engineer, expert homebrewer and experienced reviewer.  Grab a link to Brad’s website at the end of this review.

BrewZilla Gen4 Temperature Control and Programming Tips and Tricks

The BrewZilla Gen4 has a list of features that make it unique from other All-In-One brew units. Those are covered here: https://www.homebrewfinds.com/hands-on-review-brewzilla/. But there are some significant functions and features that need a deeper look to fully understand them. In this write-up, I will focus on temperature control as well as programming tips to automate your brew day.

Temperature

When I first got the BrewZilla Gen 4 with the Bluetooth temperature probe, I didn’t understand it. I thought it just gave me the option to use either the temperature sensor in the base of the unit (like most other AIO units), or the Bluetooth as a wireless probe sitting in the grain bed. But that’s not it. It uses both sensors SIMULTANEOUSLY. No mass market controller does that- AIO or otherwise. To get that kind of functionality you’re talking a custom-built controller running some of the advanced brew control software.

Learn More: Hands on Review: BrewZilla All Grain Brewing System!

Kegland’s implementation of dual-probe control is very simple and straightforward in the BrewZilla. To best understand how this works, you need to think of your system in its recirculation loop. The wort drains down from the grain bed to the bottom, gets heated by the elements in the base, then gets sucked into the pump to get dumped on top of the grain again. The Bluetooth probe sits in the middle of the grain bed, and base sensor sits in the small volume of wort getting heated by the elements. When you’re at a steady target temperature, both of these probes should read about the same, as you ideally have uniform temperature throughout your system.

Compare BrewZilla Prices, How-To Continues Below:

Continue reading →

Almost Gone… 15.5 Gallon Keggle with TWO Welded Ports – $109.95, OVER 50% Off Closeout

Homebrew Kettle With Two Horizontal 1/2" Couplings - 15.5 Gallons

Homebrew Kettle With Two Horizontal 1/2″ Couplings – 15.5 Gallons

More Info

From the product description, check product page for current description, price and availability:

Inline Half Barrel Brew Kettle With Two Welded 1/2″ Couplings.
These are brand new half barrels that we’ve had the top removed and 2 full 1/2″ female couplings welded next to each other. This allows you to put your kettles as close as you want to each other and still be able to read the Thermometer.
It is highly recommended that you use a heat shield with this type of kettle to protect your thermometer.
Choose from optional stainless steel and brass ball valve and pickup tube accessories.

 

12″ diameter opening and full 1/2″ female coupling.  Optional add-ons include lid, ball valve (choose from brass or stainless) and a pickup tube.

The full 1/2″ welded coupling means no messing around with weldless kits. “Full” means it’s threaded on the inside and out

These are on closeout for just $109.95. That’s MORE THAN HALF OFF list.

Homebrew Kettle With Two Horizontal 1/2″ Couplings – 15.5 Gallons

homebrewing.org sale

This post contains affiliate links. We may make a commission when you use our links. This will never cost you extra. Thank you for supporting Homebrew Finds!

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More: Recent AIH Finds

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Price, promotions and availability can change quickly. Check the product page for current price, description and availability.

Hands on Review: Kegland BrewZilla Electric Brewing System

Updated: July 24, 2024

This review is by Homebrew Finds Contributor Brad Probert.  Brad is an engineer, expert homebrewer and experienced reviewer.  Grab a link to Brad’s website at the end of this review.

Hands on Review BrewZilla Gen4

I’ve brewed on several different all-in-one units. Like any brew system, they each have their own strengths and weaknesses. I did a hands-on review of the Robobrew when it first came out in late 2016. It has since changed its name to BrewZilla and is on the 4th generation of the brew unit. As you’d expect with repeated generations, they’ve been able to focus on fixing deficiencies in their previous models and also introduce new features.

The basic premise of an all-in-one brewing system is that your mash and boil kettle are in the

same vessel. So just like Brew In A Bag, after mashing, you pull the grains out and the wort stays behind to be boiled. They use electricity for heat, so they can be used outdoors where you can reach power or indoors where you have a venting system that can take care of all the steam you make during your boil.

BrewZilla Without Jacket

Stamped Volume Markings

Here are some basic stats on the Gen4 BrewZilla. It’s available in a 35-Liter form (for 5-6 gallon batches) with either a 110V setup, or 220V. There is also a larger 65-Liter that is only 220V (targeted to 10-12 gallon batches). The 35L unit holds 9.25 gallons, the mash basket can hold up to 23.5 lbs. of grain, and its electric heating elements can output up to 1500W of power (110V system) or 2400W of power (220V system). The 65L unit holds 17.1 gallons, the mash basket holds 41.5 lbs. of grain, and 3500W of heating power. All the Gen4 units have a pump bolted into the base. The pump can be used not only for wort recirculation during the mash, but also to pump beer through your wort chiller apparatus (should you choose to not use the immersion chiller coil included with the BrewZilla). The pump is more modular and accessible than previous Gen models. To protect the pump from clogging with hop debris during the boil or whirlpool, there is a filter screen (a perforated stainless disc that sits at the bottom of the unit) that sits at the bottom of the kettle. The small magnetic drive pump has a pump head rating of 1.5 – 2.1 m (4.9 – 6.9 ft) and a max flow rate of 11-12 L/min (2.9 – 3.2 gal/min).

Control Panel Notification During Mash Profile

One of the key upgraded features of the Gen4 BrewZilla is the controller. RAPT Is Kegland’s line of wireless connected brewing devices. The BrewZilla now has a RAPT controller so it adds a lot of features that can be monitored and controlled over Wi-Fi. This includes basic things like monitoring temperature from your laptop/cell phone, but also allows you to program complex mash programs online and then download to your BrewZilla. You can also adjust control parameters on the fly such as pump output duty cycle and heater output level. If you get the optional Bluetooth thermometer, you can stick the temperature probe into the middle of your grain bed, and then have the controller use that as its control signal in combination with the built-in temperature sensor that sits on the floor of the unit.

Bluetooth Temp Probe in Middle of Mash

Although All-in-One units are essentially BIAB, they use a stainless steel basket with holes in the bottom of it instead of a bag, and call it a “malt pipe”. These provide functional improvements over a nylon bag. The obvious one is they are way easier to clean. But they also allow you to ensure you get full flow through your grain bed by having holes only on the bottom. This means recirculating wort has no sneak paths out the side. The other benefit is malt pipes have simple brackets/feet welded onto the outside that allow you to lift your wet grains up and prop the malt pipe on the brew rig to drain or sparge. The BrewZilla has 2 sets of feet for this. One set is halfway up, allowing you to do the deadlift of grain & wort halfway and then let the liquid level drain down. Then when you lift it the full height, it’s not as heavy. It’s simple, but makes the process much better.

Welded-on Carry Handle (top) and Tip Handle (bottom)

There is a cool feature in the BrewZilla which normally only comes on much higher end systems, and that’s the central drain. With a concave bottom with a drain at the lowest point in the center, you don’t have to leave wort behind or goof around with tilting it to get the last drops of wort out at the end. This also enables the malt pipe to extend down lower and thus you can hold more grain (30% more than their Gen3). If you compared to other All-in-one units in the “5 gallon batch” size range, the 23.5 lbs. grain capacity is 30 – 50% more. This of course only matters if you’re trying to make high gravity brews. The drain in the floor is plumbed to the inlet of the pump below, and then you can direct pump output either to an external spigot for fast/easy transfer of wort out after brewing, or up the recirculation pipe for wort to get directed down on top of the mash.

Polished Bottom with Center Drain and Built-in Temp Sensor to Side

Bottom Side of Pump Filter Plate

To help with mash efficiency and mash temperature uniformity, they offer a Heat Exchanger Dish, which is just a stainless dish/plate that sits below your malt pipe and above the central drain. Without this dish in place, the flow of recirculating wort tends to go through the center of your grain bed, and straight out the drain. With the dish there, it directs the flow around the full circumference before it gets to the drain, which helps ensure a broader portion of the grist sees the flow.

Compare Prices, Review Continues Below:

Related: BrewZilla Gen 4 Temperature Control and Programming Tips and Tricks

Continue reading →

Hands on Review: Anvil Foundry Brewing System

anvil brewing equipment foundry review

July 7,2024

This review is by Homebrew Finds Contributor Brad Probert.  Brad is an engineer, expert homebrewer and experienced reviewer.  Grab a link to Brad’s website at the end of this review.

Anvil Brewing Equipment Foundry

There are a lot of all-in-one electric brew rigs on the market. The entry to all-grain for most was through a converted cooler 3-vessel system. It was the cheapest way to get into all-grain, and why so many of us came that way. Precision control and/or electric heating convenience came at a premium that you would upgrade to later. Well, those are now relegated to “old timer stories”. At the all-grain entry level price point, you can now get an all-in-one electric unit from Anvil for the price you’d pay for an Igloo cooler kit with a burner and pot. So now those getting into all-grain can start with the precision of digital temperature control, and the weather-proof convenience of an electric heat source.

Compare Models, Prices and Availability, Review Continues Below:

These are affiliate links, note that multiple variations of this product may be available, as such a different version may appear at these links

Anvil Foundry 6.5...image
Anvil Foundry 6.5 Gallon All-In-One Brewing System - No Pump
$374.99
Foundry 10.5 Gallon...image
Foundry 10.5 Gallon All-In-One Brewing System With Pump
$590.00
ANVIL FOUNDRY 6.5...image
ANVIL FOUNDRY 6.5 Gallon Electric Boiler Kettle For All Grain Brewing T500 Ready Includes Recirculation Pump Kit and Wort Chiller
$489.95
Foundry 10.5 Gallon...image
Foundry 10.5 Gallon All-in-One Brewing System - No Pump
$494.95
All-in-One Electric Brewing...image
All-in-One Electric Brewing System, Anvil Foundry™, Home Beer Brewer, Delayed Start Timer, 240V or 120 Option, Easy Clean False Bottom, Sous Vide Machine (10.5 Gallon)
$467.99

Comparing Anvil Foundry Versions

The Anvil Foundry comes in two sizes, a 10.5 gallon and a 6.5 gallon. They share most all of the same features, but the 10.5 is targeted at 4-5 gallon batches, and the 6.5 for 2.5 gallon batches. There’s also an accessory you can order for the 10.5 to insert in the mash basket and then go as low as 2 gallon batches. Both of these units come with the option to add on a recirculation kit, which provides a pump and some other hardware bits to allow you to recirculate wort during the mash. Every unit also has a simple switch you can change to run on 120V or 240V. However, the unit comes with a 3-prong 120V plug, so if you do opt for the 240V setting, you have to cut the plug off and attach the appropriate 240V plug type.

Continue reading →

Almost Gone… 15.5 Gallon Keggle with TWO Welded Ports – $109.95, OVER 50% Off Closeout

Homebrew Kettle With Two Horizontal 1/2" Couplings - 15.5 Gallons

Homebrew Kettle With Two Horizontal 1/2″ Couplings – 15.5 Gallons

More Info

From the product description, check product page for current description, price and availability:

Inline Half Barrel Brew Kettle With Two Welded 1/2″ Couplings.
These are brand new half barrels that we’ve had the top removed and 2 full 1/2″ female couplings welded next to each other. This allows you to put your kettles as close as you want to each other and still be able to read the Thermometer.
It is highly recommended that you use a heat shield with this type of kettle to protect your thermometer.
Choose from optional stainless steel and brass ball valve and pickup tube accessories.

 

12″ diameter opening and full 1/2″ female coupling.  Optional add-ons include lid, ball valve (choose from brass or stainless) and a pickup tube.

The full 1/2″ welded coupling means no messing around with weldless kits. “Full” means it’s threaded on the inside and out

These are on closeout for just $109.95. That’s MORE THAN HALF OFF list.

Homebrew Kettle With Two Horizontal 1/2″ Couplings – 15.5 Gallons

homebrewing.org sale

This post contains affiliate links. We may make a commission when you use our links. This will never cost you extra. Thank you for supporting Homebrew Finds!

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More: Recent AIH Finds

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Price, promotions and availability can change quickly. Check the product page for current price, description and availability.

Upgrade KegLand DigiBoil to All In ONE w/Mash Upgrade Kit – on sale for… $49.99

Digiboil 35 Liter Mash Upgrade Kit

This grain pipe kit lets you mash with the 35 Liter Digiboil. It includes a octagon basket holding ring that pops into place on your unit, so the assembled malt pipe can be raised and twisted for sparging.

Note that the Digiboil was designed for boiling, and does not have the more complex electronic wiring of say a Mash & Boil or Digiboil, so when the malt pipe is in place, you will need to use the 500 watt element only to prevent grain from burning onto the element.

Includes malt pipe, bottom screen for malt pipe, false bottom (that goes below the malt pipe), and malt pipe lifting handle. All items are 304 grade stainless.

This fits the Gen 1 Digiboil with a stainless lid. It does not fit the Gen 2 with a glass lid, as the wire basket holder does not fit the Gen 2 boiler.

  • When I first posted about this on 2022, the SALE price was the current list price ($79.99). I don’t have the list price documented, but it’s safe to assume it was more than the sale price.
  • As of this posting this is on sale for just $49.99.
  • Shipping is free or reasonably priced flat rate to addresses in the contiguous US depending on your order size for most items.

Digiboil Gen 1 35 Liter Mash Upgrade Kit

This post may contain affiliate links. We may make a commission when you use our links. This will never cost you extra. Thank you for supporting Homebrew Finds!

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Visit William’s Brewing – Web Only Clearance Sale

williams

Price, promotions and availability can change quickly. Check the product page for current price, description and availability.

IMUSA 52 Quart Kettle and False Bottom…. $49.99!

IMUSA 52 Quart Tamale Steamer and False Bottom

IMUSA 52 Quart Kettle and False Bottom

More Info


Highlighted Features
  • Made of Aluminum
  • Removable Steamer Insert
  • Can be used as a Stock pot without insert
  • Heavy duty, durable and easy to use
  • Ideal for Tamales, Lobster, Mussels, Corn on the Cob and More
Learn More

 

This has a steamer insert/false bottom that could potentially be handy for Brew in a Bag/BIAB style brews.

6/12 11 AM Central: This is selling for just $49.99. In my opinion, that’s a bargain. Shipping is also free to many US addresses. Prices and availability can change quickly.  Check product page for current info – More About Prices

IMUSA USA Jumbo Tamale/Seafood Steamer 52-Quart, Silver– affiliate link, note that multiple variations of this product may be available, as such a different version may appear at this link

More BIAB-Related!


This post contains affiliate links. We may make a commission when you use our Amazon links. This will never cost you extra. Thank you for supporting Homebrew Finds!

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IMUSA 32 Quart Kettle & False Bottom – now $43.08 + free shipping, volatile

IMUSA USA MEXICANA-34 Aluminum Tamale and Steamer Pot 32-Quart, Silver

IMUSA USA MEXICANA-34 Aluminum Tamale and Steamer Pot 32-Quart, Silver

More Info


Highlighted Features
  • Made of Durable Aluminum
  • Removable Steamer Insert
  • Can be used as a Stock Pot without Insert
  • Heavy duty, Durable and Easy to Use
  • Ideal for Tamales, Lobster, Mussels, Corn on the Cob and More
Learn More

 

This has a steamer insert/false bottom that could potentially be handy for Brew in a Bag/BIAB style brews.

What are others saying?  Search this product’s Amazon reviews for “beer” – affiliate link, note that multiple variations of this product may be available, as such a different version may appear at this link

6/10 7 PM Central: This is on sale for $43.08. Shipping is also free to many US addresses. Prices and availability can change quickly.  Check product page for current info – More About Prices

IMUSA USA Aluminum Tamale and Steamer Pot 32-Quart, Silver – affiliate link, note that multiple variations of this product may be available, as such a different version may appear at this link

This post contains affiliate links. We may make a commission when you use our Amazon links. This will never cost you extra. Thank you for supporting Homebrew Finds!

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Happy Hour Deal… 15.5 Gallon Keggle with TWO Welded Ports – now… $99.95, OVER 50% Off

Homebrew Kettle With Two Horizontal 1/2" Couplings - 15.5 Gallons

Homebrew Kettle With Two Horizontal 1/2″ Couplings – 15.5 Gallons

More Info

From the product description, check product page for current description, price and availability:

Inline Half Barrel Brew Kettle With Two Welded 1/2″ Couplings.
These are brand new half barrels that we’ve had the top removed and 2 full 1/2″ female couplings welded next to each other. This allows you to put your kettles as close as you want to each other and still be able to read the Thermometer.
It is highly recommended that you use a heat shield with this type of kettle to protect your thermometer.
Choose from optional stainless steel and brass ball valve and pickup tube accessories.

 

12″ diameter opening and full 1/2″ female coupling.  Optional add-ons include lid, ball valve (choose from brass or stainless) and a pickup tube.

The full 1/2″ welded coupling means no messing around with weldless kits. “Full” means it’s threaded on the inside and out

These are on closeout for just $99.95. That’s MORE THAN HALF OFF list.

Homebrew Kettle With Two Horizontal 1/2″ Couplings – 15.5 Gallons

homebrewing.org sale

This post contains affiliate links. We may make a commission when you use our links. This will never cost you extra. Thank you for supporting Homebrew Finds!

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More: Recent AIH Finds

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Price, promotions and availability can change quickly. Check the product page for current price, description and availability.

CO-Z Step Drill Bit Set [Add a Weldless Bulkhead to Your Kettle]

CO-Z 10 Sizes Titanium Step Drill Bit, 1/4 to 1-3/8 Inches High Speed Steel Drill Cone Bit

CO-Z 10 Sizes Titanium Step Drill Bit, 1/4 to 1-3/8 Inches High Speed Steel Drill Cone Bit

More Info


Highlighted Features
  • Durable HSS Drill Bit ----- High-speed steel makes it last longer than others, titanium coating ensure easily cut through iron sheets, aluminum sheets, copper & plastic & wood board and many other types of sheet metal with ease, and it can automatically deburr holes while drilling to keep the drill bit clean.
  • Titanium Coating ----- Coated with titanium, this step drill set performs well in heat, corrosion and rust resistance.
  • Revolutionary Design ----- Tri-flatted shank fits into power tools chuck securely and eliminates slip; two-flute design clears chips faster and allows particles to escape easily.
  • Includes 10 Step Sizes ----- 1/4", 3/8", 1/2", 5/8", 3/4", 7/8", 1", 1-1/8", 1-1/4", 1-3/8".
  • A Must-Have for Handyman or Professionals ----- Perfect for home repairs and light jobs such as drilling holes in plastic, aluminum, copper, iron and many other types of sheet metal (excluding steel or any other harder metal).
Learn More

From HBF: Make sure the components you use are compatible and rated for your intended application.  Contact manufacturer with questions about suitability or a specific application.  Always read and follow manufacturer directions.

 

Possible Uses: Drill a hole in your kettle based brew kettle, mlt or hlt so that you can add a weldless bulkhead, ball valve or thermometer.

What are Other’s Saying?   Search this product’s Amazon reviews for “brew” – affiliate link, note that multiple variations of this product may be available, as such a different version may appear at this link

CO-Z 10 Sizes Titanium Step Drill Bit, 1/4 to 1-3/8 Inches High Speed Steel Drill Cone Bits for Sheet Metal Hole Drilling Cutting, HSS Multi Size Hole Stepped Up Unibit for DIY Lovers Electrician – affiliate link, note that multiple variations of this product may be available, as such a different version may appear at this link

This post contains affiliate links. We may make a commission when you use our Amazon links. This will never cost you extra. Thank you for supporting Homebrew Finds!

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AIH Deals Roundup

 

1/2" NPT 3 Piece Stainless Steel Ball Valve

Stainless Steel Full Port Ball Valve from Adventures in Homebrewing

More Info

From the product description, check product page for current description, price and availability:

Stainless 3 piece, full port ball valve can be completely disassembled, and features all food grade materials. A locking sleeve on the handle can be engaged to lock this valve closed if desired. 1/2″ female NPT threads on both sides.

If you would like to add barb and close nipple to make a full assembly, please see options below.
Perfect to put a shut off on any part of your brew system

 

1/2″ NPT 3 Piece Stainless Steel Ball Valve

33% Off Cider Kits!

An easy way to qualify for free shipping is to buy three kits

Mangrove Jack’s Cider Kits

Limited Availability Imperial L25 Hygge Lager Yeast

imperial l25 hygge yeast

Crispy lager lovers, rejoice! Back by popular demand, Imperial’s L25 Hygge (hyoo-guh) is back for a limited time! This northern European lager used complements significant hop additions in styles like pilsners, and the cooler weather is the perfect time to get a lager batch brewing. There’s nothing better than settling into the warmth and comfort of the season than a cold lager with friends by the fire, and this crisp offering will bring those vibes!

Imperial Yeast’s Pitch Right pouches are jam-packed with 200 billion fresh yeast cells, guaranteed to deliver flawless, fast fermentations, every time. We are excited to carry a lineup of their revolutionary liquid yeasts that boast a higher cell count than other brewing yeasts. Their yeasts are grown by a team of pro brewers and homebrewers in Portland, Oregon, who live to help brewers learn more and ferment better. Imperial Yeast is also the only homebrew yeast that’s USDA-certified.

Imperial Yeast L25 Hygge Lager Yeast – Seasonal Limited Release

Brand New Ball Lock Kegs – on sale for $99.98:

homebrewing.org keg sale

Brand New 5 Gallon Gallon Ball Lock Kegs from Adventures in Homebrewing

I have this great keg.  Check out my Hands on Review

  • As of this posting, AIH has these on sale for $99.98.
  • No coupon code required.

AIH New 5 Gallon Corny Keg Ball Lock

Corny Keg Fermenter Lids – convert kegs to fermenters – on sale for… $11.98

ferment in keg

Cornelius Keg Fermenter Lid via Adventures in Homebrewing.

More Info

From the product description, check product page for current description, price and availability:

By popular demand, we now have a brand new version of the Secondary Fermentation lid.

What a great way to use your corny keg as a secondary fermenter! Simply replace your existing lid with this lid to turn your keg into a secondary fermentation vessel!

These lids have an approximate 3/4″” inch port hole (may vary by 1/8″”) for an airlock, bung and lid o-ring (included).

They will not fit Racetrack kegs.

 

These have a hole that’s designed to accommodate the included stopper and airlock.  That allows you use a Cornelius Keg as a fermenter.  Use a 5 gallon keg as a secondary for a 5 gallon batch, use a 5 gallon keg as a primary fermenter for smaller batches or use a 10 gallon Cornelius Keg as a fermenter for 5 gallon+ batches.

These should fit standard ball lock and pin lock kegs.

I have two 10 gallon kegs that I use as primaries.  This allows you to do quite a few things including, easily transfer under pressure, ferment under pressure, carbonate in the primary fermenter and carbonate and serve from the primary (with a cut off dip tube).

Cornelius Keg Fermenter Lid

Clearance Sale

20% Off Spring Seasonal Wine Kits:

  • For a limited time AIH is discounting select wine kits by 20%.
  • Use coupon code SPRINGWINE to get the deal

Spring Wine Kit Sale!

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Hands on Review: BrewZilla Gen 4

Updated: July 24, 2024

This review is by Homebrew Finds Contributor Brad Probert.  Brad is an engineer, expert homebrewer and experienced reviewer.  Grab a link to Brad’s website at the end of this review.

Hands on Review BrewZilla Gen4

I’ve brewed on several different all-in-one units. Like any brew system, they each have their own strengths and weaknesses. I did a hands-on review of the Robobrew when it first came out in late 2016. It has since changed its name to BrewZilla and is on the 4th generation of the brew unit. As you’d expect with repeated generations, they’ve been able to focus on fixing deficiencies in their previous models and also introduce new features.

The basic premise of an all-in-one brewing system is that your mash and boil kettle are in the

same vessel. So just like Brew In A Bag, after mashing, you pull the grains out and the wort stays behind to be boiled. They use electricity for heat, so they can be used outdoors where you can reach power or indoors where you have a venting system that can take care of all the steam you make during your boil.

BrewZilla Without Jacket

Stamped Volume Markings

Here are some basic stats on the Gen4 BrewZilla. It’s available in a 35-Liter form (for 5-6 gallon batches) with either a 110V setup, or 220V. There is also a larger 65-Liter that is only 220V (targeted to 10-12 gallon batches). The 35L unit holds 9.25 gallons, the mash basket can hold up to 23.5 lbs. of grain, and its electric heating elements can output up to 1500W of power (110V system) or 2400W of power (220V system). The 65L unit holds 17.1 gallons, the mash basket holds 41.5 lbs. of grain, and 3500W of heating power. All the Gen4 units have a pump bolted into the base. The pump can be used not only for wort recirculation during the mash, but also to pump beer through your wort chiller apparatus (should you choose to not use the immersion chiller coil included with the BrewZilla). The pump is more modular and accessible than previous Gen models. To protect the pump from clogging with hop debris during the boil or whirlpool, there is a filter screen (a perforated stainless disc that sits at the bottom of the unit) that sits at the bottom of the kettle. The small magnetic drive pump has a pump head rating of 1.5 – 2.1 m (4.9 – 6.9 ft) and a max flow rate of 11-12 L/min (2.9 – 3.2 gal/min).

Control Panel Notification During Mash Profile

One of the key upgraded features of the Gen4 BrewZilla is the controller. RAPT Is Kegland’s line of wireless connected brewing devices. The BrewZilla now has a RAPT controller so it adds a lot of features that can be monitored and controlled over Wi-Fi. This includes basic things like monitoring temperature from your laptop/cell phone, but also allows you to program complex mash programs online and then download to your BrewZilla. You can also adjust control parameters on the fly such as pump output duty cycle and heater output level. If you get the optional Bluetooth thermometer, you can stick the temperature probe into the middle of your grain bed, and then have the controller use that as its control signal in combination with the built-in temperature sensor that sits on the floor of the unit.

Bluetooth Temp Probe in Middle of Mash

Although All-in-One units are essentially BIAB, they use a stainless steel basket with holes in the bottom of it instead of a bag, and call it a “malt pipe”. These provide functional improvements over a nylon bag. The obvious one is they are way easier to clean. But they also allow you to ensure you get full flow through your grain bed by having holes only on the bottom. This means recirculating wort has no sneak paths out the side. The other benefit is malt pipes have simple brackets/feet welded onto the outside that allow you to lift your wet grains up and prop the malt pipe on the brew rig to drain or sparge. The BrewZilla has 2 sets of feet for this. One set is halfway up, allowing you to do the deadlift of grain & wort halfway and then let the liquid level drain down. Then when you lift it the full height, it’s not as heavy. It’s simple, but makes the process much better.

Welded-on Carry Handle (top) and Tip Handle (bottom)

There is a cool feature in the BrewZilla which normally only comes on much higher end systems, and that’s the central drain. With a concave bottom with a drain at the lowest point in the center, you don’t have to leave wort behind or goof around with tilting it to get the last drops of wort out at the end. This also enables the malt pipe to extend down lower and thus you can hold more grain (30% more than their Gen3). If you compared to other All-in-one units in the “5 gallon batch” size range, the 23.5 lbs. grain capacity is 30 – 50% more. This of course only matters if you’re trying to make high gravity brews. The drain in the floor is plumbed to the inlet of the pump below, and then you can direct pump output either to an external spigot for fast/easy transfer of wort out after brewing, or up the recirculation pipe for wort to get directed down on top of the mash.

Polished Bottom with Center Drain and Built-in Temp Sensor to Side

Bottom Side of Pump Filter Plate

To help with mash efficiency and mash temperature uniformity, they offer a Heat Exchanger Dish, which is just a stainless dish/plate that sits below your malt pipe and above the central drain. Without this dish in place, the flow of recirculating wort tends to go through the center of your grain bed, and straight out the drain. With the dish there, it directs the flow around the full circumference before it gets to the drain, which helps ensure a broader portion of the grist sees the flow.

Compare Prices, Review Continues Below:

Related: BrewZilla Gen 4 Temperature Control and Programming Tips and Tricks

Continue reading →

30% Off Select Homebrew Kettles

  • AIH is discounting select brew kettles by 30%.
  • Choose from several sizes of MegaPot Kettles and more
  • Check Clearance Page for selection, availability & pricing

AIH Clearance

homebrewing.org sale

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Price, promotions and availability can change quickly. Check the product page for current price, description and availability. 

Hands on Review: BrewZilla Gen 4

Updated: July 24, 2024

This review is by Homebrew Finds Contributor Brad Probert.  Brad is an engineer, expert homebrewer and experienced reviewer.  Grab a link to Brad’s website at the end of this review.

Hands on Review BrewZilla Gen4

I’ve brewed on several different all-in-one units. Like any brew system, they each have their own strengths and weaknesses. I did a hands-on review of the Robobrew when it first came out in late 2016. It has since changed its name to BrewZilla and is on the 4th generation of the brew unit. As you’d expect with repeated generations, they’ve been able to focus on fixing deficiencies in their previous models and also introduce new features.

The basic premise of an all-in-one brewing system is that your mash and boil kettle are in the

same vessel. So just like Brew In A Bag, after mashing, you pull the grains out and the wort stays behind to be boiled. They use electricity for heat, so they can be used outdoors where you can reach power or indoors where you have a venting system that can take care of all the steam you make during your boil.

BrewZilla Without Jacket

Stamped Volume Markings

Here are some basic stats on the Gen4 BrewZilla. It’s available in a 35-Liter form (for 5-6 gallon batches) with either a 110V setup, or 220V. There is also a larger 65-Liter that is only 220V (targeted to 10-12 gallon batches). The 35L unit holds 9.25 gallons, the mash basket can hold up to 23.5 lbs. of grain, and its electric heating elements can output up to 1500W of power (110V system) or 2400W of power (220V system). The 65L unit holds 17.1 gallons, the mash basket holds 41.5 lbs. of grain, and 3500W of heating power. All the Gen4 units have a pump bolted into the base. The pump can be used not only for wort recirculation during the mash, but also to pump beer through your wort chiller apparatus (should you choose to not use the immersion chiller coil included with the BrewZilla). The pump is more modular and accessible than previous Gen models. To protect the pump from clogging with hop debris during the boil or whirlpool, there is a filter screen (a perforated stainless disc that sits at the bottom of the unit) that sits at the bottom of the kettle. The small magnetic drive pump has a pump head rating of 1.5 – 2.1 m (4.9 – 6.9 ft) and a max flow rate of 11-12 L/min (2.9 – 3.2 gal/min).

Control Panel Notification During Mash Profile

One of the key upgraded features of the Gen4 BrewZilla is the controller. RAPT Is Kegland’s line of wireless connected brewing devices. The BrewZilla now has a RAPT controller so it adds a lot of features that can be monitored and controlled over Wi-Fi. This includes basic things like monitoring temperature from your laptop/cell phone, but also allows you to program complex mash programs online and then download to your BrewZilla. You can also adjust control parameters on the fly such as pump output duty cycle and heater output level. If you get the optional Bluetooth thermometer, you can stick the temperature probe into the middle of your grain bed, and then have the controller use that as its control signal in combination with the built-in temperature sensor that sits on the floor of the unit.

Bluetooth Temp Probe in Middle of Mash

Although All-in-One units are essentially BIAB, they use a stainless steel basket with holes in the bottom of it instead of a bag, and call it a “malt pipe”. These provide functional improvements over a nylon bag. The obvious one is they are way easier to clean. But they also allow you to ensure you get full flow through your grain bed by having holes only on the bottom. This means recirculating wort has no sneak paths out the side. The other benefit is malt pipes have simple brackets/feet welded onto the outside that allow you to lift your wet grains up and prop the malt pipe on the brew rig to drain or sparge. The BrewZilla has 2 sets of feet for this. One set is halfway up, allowing you to do the deadlift of grain & wort halfway and then let the liquid level drain down. Then when you lift it the full height, it’s not as heavy. It’s simple, but makes the process much better.

Welded-on Carry Handle (top) and Tip Handle (bottom)

There is a cool feature in the BrewZilla which normally only comes on much higher end systems, and that’s the central drain. With a concave bottom with a drain at the lowest point in the center, you don’t have to leave wort behind or goof around with tilting it to get the last drops of wort out at the end. This also enables the malt pipe to extend down lower and thus you can hold more grain (30% more than their Gen3). If you compared to other All-in-one units in the “5 gallon batch” size range, the 23.5 lbs. grain capacity is 30 – 50% more. This of course only matters if you’re trying to make high gravity brews. The drain in the floor is plumbed to the inlet of the pump below, and then you can direct pump output either to an external spigot for fast/easy transfer of wort out after brewing, or up the recirculation pipe for wort to get directed down on top of the mash.

Polished Bottom with Center Drain and Built-in Temp Sensor to Side

Bottom Side of Pump Filter Plate

To help with mash efficiency and mash temperature uniformity, they offer a Heat Exchanger Dish, which is just a stainless dish/plate that sits below your malt pipe and above the central drain. Without this dish in place, the flow of recirculating wort tends to go through the center of your grain bed, and straight out the drain. With the dish there, it directs the flow around the full circumference before it gets to the drain, which helps ensure a broader portion of the grist sees the flow.

Compare Prices, Review Continues Below:

Related: BrewZilla Gen 4 Temperature Control and Programming Tips and Tricks

Continue reading →

60 Quart Brewer’s Edge BrewKettle… $99.99, Save $60 at William’s Brewing!

60 Quart/15 Gallon Stainless Steel Brewer’s Edge BrewKettle from William’s Brewing.

More Info

From the product description, check product page for current description, price and availability:

This Brewer’s Edge pot features organ welded construction, .031” thickness 210 grade welded stainless construction, and a ½” female NPT port for a thermometer that comes plugged with a stainless plug. A KettleValve is included which features a ½” NPT exterior port, and 3/8″ NPT interior female port (to fit our R49 KettleScreen). The solid stainless handles are welded on. A very sturdy pot, and a great value for the price.

This pot is too large to use on a home stove, an outdoor burner is recommended. Not recommended for use with an induction stove. 18” tall, 16½” wide

 

  • William’s Brewing is discounting loads of merchandise as part of a limited time Spring Clearance Sale.
  • This is included in the mix and marked down a whopping $60 to $99.99.
  • Shipping is free or reasonably priced flat rate to addresses in the contiguous US depending on your order size for most items.

BREWER’S EDGE 60 QUART BREWKETTLE – Spring Clearance Sale

This post may contain affiliate links. We may make a commission when you use our links. This will never cost you extra. Thank you for supporting Homebrew Finds!

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Price, promotions and availability can change quickly. Check the product page for current price, description and availability.

BrewZilla Gen 4 Temperature Control and Programming Tips and Tricks

July 24, 2024

This write up is by Homebrew Finds Contributor Brad Probert.  Brad is an engineer, expert homebrewer and experienced reviewer.  Grab a link to Brad’s website at the end of this review.

BrewZilla Gen4 Temperature Control and Programming Tips and Tricks

The BrewZilla Gen4 has a list of features that make it unique from other All-In-One brew units. Those are covered here: https://www.homebrewfinds.com/hands-on-review-brewzilla/. But there are some significant functions and features that need a deeper look to fully understand them. In this write-up, I will focus on temperature control as well as programming tips to automate your brew day.

Temperature

When I first got the BrewZilla Gen 4 with the Bluetooth temperature probe, I didn’t understand it. I thought it just gave me the option to use either the temperature sensor in the base of the unit (like most other AIO units), or the Bluetooth as a wireless probe sitting in the grain bed. But that’s not it. It uses both sensors SIMULTANEOUSLY. No mass market controller does that- AIO or otherwise. To get that kind of functionality you’re talking a custom-built controller running some of the advanced brew control software.

Learn More: Hands on Review: BrewZilla All Grain Brewing System!

Kegland’s implementation of dual-probe control is very simple and straightforward in the BrewZilla. To best understand how this works, you need to think of your system in its recirculation loop. The wort drains down from the grain bed to the bottom, gets heated by the elements in the base, then gets sucked into the pump to get dumped on top of the grain again. The Bluetooth probe sits in the middle of the grain bed, and base sensor sits in the small volume of wort getting heated by the elements. When you’re at a steady target temperature, both of these probes should read about the same, as you ideally have uniform temperature throughout your system.

Compare BrewZilla Prices, How-To Continues Below:

Continue reading →

Hands on Review: BrewZilla Gen 4 All Grain Brewing System

Updated: July 24, 2024

This review is by Homebrew Finds Contributor Brad Probert.  Brad is an engineer, expert homebrewer and experienced reviewer.  Grab a link to Brad’s website at the end of this review.

Hands on Review BrewZilla Gen4

I’ve brewed on several different all-in-one units. Like any brew system, they each have their own strengths and weaknesses. I did a hands-on review of the Robobrew when it first came out in late 2016. It has since changed its name to BrewZilla and is on the 4th generation of the brew unit. As you’d expect with repeated generations, they’ve been able to focus on fixing deficiencies in their previous models and also introduce new features.

The basic premise of an all-in-one brewing system is that your mash and boil kettle are in the

same vessel. So just like Brew In A Bag, after mashing, you pull the grains out and the wort stays behind to be boiled. They use electricity for heat, so they can be used outdoors where you can reach power or indoors where you have a venting system that can take care of all the steam you make during your boil.

BrewZilla Without Jacket

Stamped Volume Markings

Here are some basic stats on the Gen4 BrewZilla. It’s available in a 35-Liter form (for 5-6 gallon batches) with either a 110V setup, or 220V. There is also a larger 65-Liter that is only 220V (targeted to 10-12 gallon batches). The 35L unit holds 9.25 gallons, the mash basket can hold up to 23.5 lbs. of grain, and its electric heating elements can output up to 1500W of power (110V system) or 2400W of power (220V system). The 65L unit holds 17.1 gallons, the mash basket holds 41.5 lbs. of grain, and 3500W of heating power. All the Gen4 units have a pump bolted into the base. The pump can be used not only for wort recirculation during the mash, but also to pump beer through your wort chiller apparatus (should you choose to not use the immersion chiller coil included with the BrewZilla). The pump is more modular and accessible than previous Gen models. To protect the pump from clogging with hop debris during the boil or whirlpool, there is a filter screen (a perforated stainless disc that sits at the bottom of the unit) that sits at the bottom of the kettle. The small magnetic drive pump has a pump head rating of 1.5 – 2.1 m (4.9 – 6.9 ft) and a max flow rate of 11-12 L/min (2.9 – 3.2 gal/min).

Control Panel Notification During Mash Profile

One of the key upgraded features of the Gen4 BrewZilla is the controller. RAPT Is Kegland’s line of wireless connected brewing devices. The BrewZilla now has a RAPT controller so it adds a lot of features that can be monitored and controlled over Wi-Fi. This includes basic things like monitoring temperature from your laptop/cell phone, but also allows you to program complex mash programs online and then download to your BrewZilla. You can also adjust control parameters on the fly such as pump output duty cycle and heater output level. If you get the optional Bluetooth thermometer, you can stick the temperature probe into the middle of your grain bed, and then have the controller use that as its control signal in combination with the built-in temperature sensor that sits on the floor of the unit.

Bluetooth Temp Probe in Middle of Mash

Although All-in-One units are essentially BIAB, they use a stainless steel basket with holes in the bottom of it instead of a bag, and call it a “malt pipe”. These provide functional improvements over a nylon bag. The obvious one is they are way easier to clean. But they also allow you to ensure you get full flow through your grain bed by having holes only on the bottom. This means recirculating wort has no sneak paths out the side. The other benefit is malt pipes have simple brackets/feet welded onto the outside that allow you to lift your wet grains up and prop the malt pipe on the brew rig to drain or sparge. The BrewZilla has 2 sets of feet for this. One set is halfway up, allowing you to do the deadlift of grain & wort halfway and then let the liquid level drain down. Then when you lift it the full height, it’s not as heavy. It’s simple, but makes the process much better.

Welded-on Carry Handle (top) and Tip Handle (bottom)

There is a cool feature in the BrewZilla which normally only comes on much higher end systems, and that’s the central drain. With a concave bottom with a drain at the lowest point in the center, you don’t have to leave wort behind or goof around with tilting it to get the last drops of wort out at the end. This also enables the malt pipe to extend down lower and thus you can hold more grain (30% more than their Gen3). If you compared to other All-in-one units in the “5 gallon batch” size range, the 23.5 lbs. grain capacity is 30 – 50% more. This of course only matters if you’re trying to make high gravity brews. The drain in the floor is plumbed to the inlet of the pump below, and then you can direct pump output either to an external spigot for fast/easy transfer of wort out after brewing, or up the recirculation pipe for wort to get directed down on top of the mash.

Polished Bottom with Center Drain and Built-in Temp Sensor to Side

Bottom Side of Pump Filter Plate

To help with mash efficiency and mash temperature uniformity, they offer a Heat Exchanger Dish, which is just a stainless dish/plate that sits below your malt pipe and above the central drain. Without this dish in place, the flow of recirculating wort tends to go through the center of your grain bed, and straight out the drain. With the dish there, it directs the flow around the full circumference before it gets to the drain, which helps ensure a broader portion of the grist sees the flow.

Compare Prices, Review Continues Below:

Related: BrewZilla Gen 4 Temperature Control and Programming Tips and Tricks

Continue reading →

Hands on Review: BrewZilla Gen 4

Updated: July 24, 2024

This review is by Homebrew Finds Contributor Brad Probert.  Brad is an engineer, expert homebrewer and experienced reviewer.  Grab a link to Brad’s website at the end of this review.

Hands on Review BrewZilla Gen4

I’ve brewed on several different all-in-one units. Like any brew system, they each have their own strengths and weaknesses. I did a hands-on review of the Robobrew when it first came out in late 2016. It has since changed its name to BrewZilla and is on the 4th generation of the brew unit. As you’d expect with repeated generations, they’ve been able to focus on fixing deficiencies in their previous models and also introduce new features.

The basic premise of an all-in-one brewing system is that your mash and boil kettle are in the

same vessel. So just like Brew In A Bag, after mashing, you pull the grains out and the wort stays behind to be boiled. They use electricity for heat, so they can be used outdoors where you can reach power or indoors where you have a venting system that can take care of all the steam you make during your boil.

BrewZilla Without Jacket

Stamped Volume Markings

Here are some basic stats on the Gen4 BrewZilla. It’s available in a 35-Liter form (for 5-6 gallon batches) with either a 110V setup, or 220V. There is also a larger 65-Liter that is only 220V (targeted to 10-12 gallon batches). The 35L unit holds 9.25 gallons, the mash basket can hold up to 23.5 lbs. of grain, and its electric heating elements can output up to 1500W of power (110V system) or 2400W of power (220V system). The 65L unit holds 17.1 gallons, the mash basket holds 41.5 lbs. of grain, and 3500W of heating power. All the Gen4 units have a pump bolted into the base. The pump can be used not only for wort recirculation during the mash, but also to pump beer through your wort chiller apparatus (should you choose to not use the immersion chiller coil included with the BrewZilla). The pump is more modular and accessible than previous Gen models. To protect the pump from clogging with hop debris during the boil or whirlpool, there is a filter screen (a perforated stainless disc that sits at the bottom of the unit) that sits at the bottom of the kettle. The small magnetic drive pump has a pump head rating of 1.5 – 2.1 m (4.9 – 6.9 ft) and a max flow rate of 11-12 L/min (2.9 – 3.2 gal/min).

Control Panel Notification During Mash Profile

One of the key upgraded features of the Gen4 BrewZilla is the controller. RAPT Is Kegland’s line of wireless connected brewing devices. The BrewZilla now has a RAPT controller so it adds a lot of features that can be monitored and controlled over Wi-Fi. This includes basic things like monitoring temperature from your laptop/cell phone, but also allows you to program complex mash programs online and then download to your BrewZilla. You can also adjust control parameters on the fly such as pump output duty cycle and heater output level. If you get the optional Bluetooth thermometer, you can stick the temperature probe into the middle of your grain bed, and then have the controller use that as its control signal in combination with the built-in temperature sensor that sits on the floor of the unit.

Bluetooth Temp Probe in Middle of Mash

Although All-in-One units are essentially BIAB, they use a stainless steel basket with holes in the bottom of it instead of a bag, and call it a “malt pipe”. These provide functional improvements over a nylon bag. The obvious one is they are way easier to clean. But they also allow you to ensure you get full flow through your grain bed by having holes only on the bottom. This means recirculating wort has no sneak paths out the side. The other benefit is malt pipes have simple brackets/feet welded onto the outside that allow you to lift your wet grains up and prop the malt pipe on the brew rig to drain or sparge. The BrewZilla has 2 sets of feet for this. One set is halfway up, allowing you to do the deadlift of grain & wort halfway and then let the liquid level drain down. Then when you lift it the full height, it’s not as heavy. It’s simple, but makes the process much better.

Welded-on Carry Handle (top) and Tip Handle (bottom)

There is a cool feature in the BrewZilla which normally only comes on much higher end systems, and that’s the central drain. With a concave bottom with a drain at the lowest point in the center, you don’t have to leave wort behind or goof around with tilting it to get the last drops of wort out at the end. This also enables the malt pipe to extend down lower and thus you can hold more grain (30% more than their Gen3). If you compared to other All-in-one units in the “5 gallon batch” size range, the 23.5 lbs. grain capacity is 30 – 50% more. This of course only matters if you’re trying to make high gravity brews. The drain in the floor is plumbed to the inlet of the pump below, and then you can direct pump output either to an external spigot for fast/easy transfer of wort out after brewing, or up the recirculation pipe for wort to get directed down on top of the mash.

Polished Bottom with Center Drain and Built-in Temp Sensor to Side

Bottom Side of Pump Filter Plate

To help with mash efficiency and mash temperature uniformity, they offer a Heat Exchanger Dish, which is just a stainless dish/plate that sits below your malt pipe and above the central drain. Without this dish in place, the flow of recirculating wort tends to go through the center of your grain bed, and straight out the drain. With the dish there, it directs the flow around the full circumference before it gets to the drain, which helps ensure a broader portion of the grist sees the flow.

Compare Prices, Review Continues Below:

Related: BrewZilla Gen 4 Temperature Control and Programming Tips and Tricks

Continue reading →

Last Call, Almost Sold Out… 15 Gallon Stainless Kettle w/Welded Port & Volume Markings…. $47.93! on closeout

15 Gallon 1 Weld Volume Marked Brew Pot
15 gallon stainless steel kettle from Adventures in Homebrewing

More Info

From the product description, check product page for current description, price and availability:

15 gal Marked Pot with One weld

18 gauge with one 1/2″ NPT welded female coupling. Perfect for a 1/2″ ball valve assembly on the outside and a bazooka screen on the inside.

Pot measures approximately 16″ (diameter) by 19″ (height) and weighs just under 10 lbs

Inner Dimensions are 15 3/4″ wide x 18 3/4″ high

The inside of the pot features 1/4 gallon markings from 1/4 gallon to 14 gallons

 

Features a welded full 1/2″ NPT port.  That means no drilling your kettle and no messing with weldless kits.  Full port means you can install a ball valve on the outside and a pickup tube or screen on the inside.

As of this posting AIH has this on clearance for just $41.93. That’s a whopping $98.06 off list. Get it while you can.

This is one of the final closeout brew pot models AIH has in stock…. get it while you can.

15 Gallon 1 Weld Volume Marked Brew Pot

homebrewing.org sale

This post contains affiliate links. We may make a commission when you use our links. This will never cost you extra. Thank you for supporting Homebrew Finds!

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More: Recent AIH Finds

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Deal subject to change.  Check product page for current price & availability.  prod:aihkettle1port15gal