Brilliant or really dumb in the Brewzilla?

[Donoroto]

I'm trying to picture what you're talking about with the polycarbonate?
I have tried constant recirc, (a bit of overflow there), tried waiting 10 minutes and then recirculating, etc.

You know, I'm pretty experienced with brewing from stovetop to 3 vessel HERMS to pro breweries, and this Brewzilla is a huge PITA. It's tall, not wide, it requires a hoist, etc- I'm very unhappy with the 'ease' of an all in one like this. It requires another vessel for sparge water (and you can't really sparge in any traditional sense), the pump is anemic, the temperature variation from PID to RAPT (or my trusty thermometer) is huge, the pump clogs if I even consider using hops (bagged or not), the immersion chiller is 1/2 out of the wort in a 5 gallon batch, and more.

I should have bought the 65L even though I only do 20L batches, just for the space. The recirc during the mash wants to overflow each time. I stand there (literally stand not sit!) and babysit it. It's very disappointing, but I'll live with it for sure. The whirlpool arm (extra $) is worthless. The chiller it comes with is worthless. The pump is way undersized and I still can't figure out why it clogged as there was 0 particulate when investigated.

It has a small footprint, that's the only advantage I can think of right now.

Ugh. That doesn't sound like you're having fun.

Polycarbonate: this photo should help. Remember I have a BZ3, so it is a little different than yours. The tube on the left is clear

I recirc, but not at full throttle. It takes a few minutes to dial in the rate so it does not overflow. Rice hulls help.

I use a spaghetti pot for sparge water, with my sous vide heater set to 170. I agree that traditional sparge is nigh impossible, instead a batch rinse is the best one can do.

The temperatures were waaay off until I calibrated the controller. After that the temperatures, with recirc, stay within 2 degrees. I too would prefer a PID system like an Anvil, but live with the bang bang controller.

I simply do not have space for a 3V system, and cannot accommodate a gas-fired system. I agree this is a very different brew workpath, it takes getting used to.

Definitely get a hoist and attach it to the ceiling. Made all the difference for me, since mine has to sit on a table - the controller is at the bottom.

 

[The Brew Mentor]

I'm trying to picture what you're talking about with the polycarbonate?
I have tried constant recirc, (a bit of overflow there), tried waiting 10 minutes and then recirculating, etc.

You know, I'm pretty experienced with brewing from stovetop to 3 vessel HERMS to pro breweries, and this Brewzilla is a huge PITA. It's tall, not wide, it requires a hoist, etc- I'm very unhappy with the 'ease' of an all in one like this. It requires another vessel for sparge water (and you can't really sparge in any traditional sense), the pump is anemic, the temperature variation from PID to RAPT (or my trusty thermometer) is huge, the pump clogs if I even consider using hops (bagged or not), the immersion chiller is 1/2 out of the wort in a 5 gallon batch, and more.

I should have bought the 65L even though I only do 20L batches, just for the space. The recirc during the mash wants to overflow each time. I stand there (literally stand not sit!) and babysit it. It's very disappointing, but I'll live with it for sure. The whirlpool arm (extra $) is worthless. The chiller it comes with is worthless. The pump is way undersized and I still can't figure out why it clogged as there was 0 particulate when investigated.

It has a small footprint, that's the only advantage I can think of right now.

I'm so glad I didn't buy one yet.
Thanks for your reviews @Yooper

 

[Bigbre04]

Use cleaned malt pipe for superhopped wort..... ?
I had a heck of a time with only 6 ounces of hops in the boil even though all but 1.5 ounces were bagged when it came time to transfer to fermenter I had sooooo much sludge. I used a hops spider, a couple of bags, and then the whirlpool hops were not bagged.
So what about putting the cleaned malt pipe in for the boil to help with my next batch? Only 5 ounces of hops in the boil/whirlpool but maybe it could be so helpful to pull them out via the malt pipe after the boil.

So..........since I've brewed on this 35L Brewzilla once I'm not sure what to think about that and need someone smarter and more used to the Brewzilla than I am to give some help!

I also was considering leaving out the malt pipe and just mash BIAB and pull it out, stick it in my old cooler MLT and 'dunk sparge' it there. It's only 13.5 pounds of grain, and so maybe.......

Any thoughts??????

So this is very similar to my problems just on a smaller scale.

hops wise, I use almost exclusively cryo hops since they have very little plant material to them(they dont absorb volume, but they also dont add alot of trub to the end of the boil. they are far more efficent when you are tight on volume.

I have to mash in twice for all of my beers. I am pushing 2bbls out of a 2hl system. I lose some effeciency, but i need 4 full halfs out of each tank(even big dryhops). my first mash starts at 16 inches water volume. I sparge it up to 17-18 inches after i pull it out and then mash in again. I then sparge that up to 20 iches(80 gals).

Happy to help with more detail if you would like.

as Don said, ricehulls are super important!

 

[Bigbre04]

This is the second tube(mash in) for my brew today. My tube can only hold 95# at a time. Hence I have a hard limit on grain weight and therefore abv. It sucks. But I have alot of work arounds

 

[Craigerrr]

Maybe tackle one issue at a time. I had many struggles when I first got my Gen 3 BZ as well.

If you are having issues with recirculating the mash, add some rice hulls, and/or adjust your crush.

Re the pump clogging, I had the same issue early on as well, it seemed to me that it was grist related. It seems redundant but I use a bag in the malt pipe. Between that and bagging my hops, I can't remember the last time I had a pump blockage issue.

These are good machines (in my opinion), but they are Lada's not Cadillac's,

Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater just yet...

 

[PECBrewtown]

Sounds like a horrible experience. I've recently purchased the Grainfather G70V2 and have been loving it. Recently brewed up 60L of English Pale Ale with about 12 oz of hops and it handled it without issue. Could be the overall size of the unit is helping but the pump on the unit in combination with the hop filter plate has been great.

 

[Sanctuary Brewing]

I just completed my 25th batch on a 35L Gen 4. I have also experienced the same frustrations as everybody else. The wild temps, the clogged pumps, etc.
Here is what has worked for me so far.
Mash - Once I mash in, I reduce the heat to 85%. Pump 100% and I close the valve just slightly.
A thinner mash has proven to work better for me as sparging seems to lose a good deal of efficiency. The less sparge water the better.
I do use the false bottom as well as both screens on the bottom of the mash pipe. Yes, I'm referring to the screen they want you to use on top of the grain bed.
I've done batches with the Hop spider and some without and using definitely reduces the % of clogging the pump.
Boil - Use the Hop spider and I send the pump to 10% just so it kicks on and clears any potential trube.

I may be investing in a 3 vessel system, or may just be upgrading to a bigger SVU. Maybe the 65L or the SS Brewtech system.

Overall, I've made some really good beers and it has been convenient.

 

[Bigbre04]

I just completed my 25th batch on a 35L Gen 4. I have also experienced the same frustrations as everybody else. The wild temps, the clogged pumps, etc.
Here is what has worked for me so far.
Mash - Once I mash in, I reduce the heat to 85%. Pump 100% and I close the valve just slightly.
A thinner mash has proven to work better for me as sparging seems to lose a good deal of efficiency. The less sparge water the better.
I do use the false bottom as well as both screens on the bottom of the mash pipe. Yes, I'm referring to the screen they want you to use on top of the grain bed.
I've done batches with the Hop spider and some without and using definitely reduces the % of clogging the pump.
Boil - Use the Hop spider and I send the pump to 10% just so it kicks on and clears any potential trube.

I may be investing in a 3 vessel system, or may just be upgrading to a bigger SVU. Maybe the 65L or the SS Brewtech system.

Overall, I've made some really good beers and it has been convenient.

Im surprised that you lose efficiency from sparging?

 

[Donoroto]

I'm so glad I didn't buy one yet.
Thanks for your reviews @Yooper

It does take getting used to.

A buddy has an Anvil system. It needs an external pump, and is not programmable, but I really like that the heat is settable in 1% steps. It also costs less.

Programming is nice for step mashes, like my Hefeweitzen. Set it and walk away for a couple hours.

 

[Yooper]

Im surprised that you lose efficiency from sparging?

The set up for sparging on this thing is not really 'sparging' at all. The water will channel and run through it as you don't stir (like in a batch sparge) or keep a level of liquid to avoid channelling (fly sparge). I didn't take an SG of the sparge 'runnings' but I will next time. I'm certain a full volume mash would give much better efficiency in the Brewzilla vs using their sparge set-up.

 

[Donoroto]

The set up for sparging on this thing is not really 'sparging' at all. The water will channel and run through it as you don't stir (like in a batch sparge) or keep a level of liquid to avoid channelling (fly sparge). I didn't take an SG of the sparge 'runnings' but I will next time. I'm certain a full volume mash would give much better efficiency in the Brewzilla vs using their sparge set-up.

It is more of a rinse than a sparge. But it does capture more sugars. And with its limited capacity, that's the only way I get my volume.

I suppose I could brew a smaller, stronger batch instead.

 

[Bigbre04]

The set up for sparging on this thing is not really 'sparging' at all. The water will channel and run through it as you don't stir (like in a batch sparge) or keep a level of liquid to avoid channelling (fly sparge). I didn't take an SG of the sparge 'runnings' but I will next time. I'm certain a full volume mash would give much better efficiency in the Brewzilla vs using their sparge set-up.

My setup is very similar. to avoid or help with channeling, you can sort of stir the grain bed while you push hot water through it. I have to do 2 sparges as my setup requires 2 mash ins and i cant put the full volume in without "sparging" or rinsing the grain.

I have done quick refracs of my water dripping out during sparge and there is def sugar in it, its not high, but its still better then just topping off with water to make volume. similar to final runnings on a mash tun. its light in sugar, but there is still def sugar.