Like you, I didn't particularly need Bluetooth and never liked the price point of Grainfather, since I could get two BZ systems for equivalent cost. I started with a 65l Brewzilla v3.1 220v that I use for most brewing. I now have the extended mash tube and collar, and that was a total game-changer, especially when doing high-gravity beers. I first used a 35l Robobrew 110v for sparge, later upgraded to a v3.1 board, with added feet for board cooling. I recently acquired a 35l Brewzilla v3.1.1 110v on close-out when the Gen4's first came out. I use all three systems, typically the 65l for mash and boil since it's 220v, and the 35l's for sparge water or other needs. If you have option go for the 220v, but the 110v does work, mashing seems comparable it's just slower to boil. When I kettle sour I usually mash a 13 gal double-batch in the 65l and split the clarified wort between the two 35l's and they keep temp for souring. Then I just hop and boil the individual batches in the 35l's. I can also separate off half of the 13gal base wort into a smaller kettle to adjunct or hop differently. I used all male camlocks on my hoses, and corresponding female fittings on my CF chiller, and this makes it easy to configure transfers back and forth between the kettles and/or chiller. For example, I'll hook a hose to the recirc on my big kettle, and I can backfeed wort to fill a smaller kettle through their recirc. I can also use a small kettle to quasi-decoct some first runnings, and return to main kettle, or I can also underlet if needed to reset the grain bed to free up a slow lauter, although copious rice hulls certainly help to avoid that. I've been playing with LODO recently, so I can also underlet hot liquor from the smaller kettle into larger kettle when mashing-in. I mounted my CF chiller, stainless spiral type, vertically next to my big kettle with the outlet a few inches above the rim, so all the liquid drains back into the kettle when I disconnect. I don't lose any wort from hoses or chiller because gravity completely drains everything back into the kettle. A good friend recently bought a Gen4, and after brewing with it, he and I are both NOT fans of that center drain. As others mentioned, it might work good for cleaning but it precludes the ability to whirlpool and clarify your wort. I don't know about others, but as for my priorities, I want a system that first and foremost brews beer well; I don't particularly need or want a system that cleans itself real good at the expense of or complicates the making of beer... It would be nice to have both, but having to choose one over the other, I'd forgo cleaning convenience and instead go for beer-making features... My 3.x.x series with offset raised intake for the pump helps to keep coagulated proteins and hop matter from getting into the pump. In addition, my friend had to buy an extra heat-distribution disk to use in the bottom of his Gen4, because of the way heat convection works with the center pump inlet. So essentially Gen4 requires an extra purchase to fix what I consider a design mistake. KegLand, are you listening? I like most KegLand stuff, it's innovative and usually very well thought out, but IMHO that Gen4 center drain was a huge step backward in functionality... I do a lot of heavy hops and whirlpooling, and having used 3.x.x series and Gen4, I would not buy a Gen4, precisely because of that center drain. All three of my Robo/BZ systems have been working fabulously over many years and brews, but I recently noticed the pump in my 65l seems weaker than it should be. So I bought one of the big green pumps they have now for the Gen4's, and I plan to fabricate a mount to adapt it to my 65l v3.1. Also, the CIP spray ball I use wasn't as robust as I'd like with the stock pump, so the larger pump should also give me a better spray pattern and force. I have experience with 7bbl and 10bbl brewhouses, and IMO having a sprayball to hot-CIP is such a nice convenience, set it and forget it, come back later and all is clea. Anyway, overall I'm very happy with my Robo/BZ's 3.x.x's. For anyone considering a Gen4, just know it works exactly as designed, you can make good beer, but with some extra effort...
