[narcout]

I'm tempted, what do you all think?

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/unibrau/unibrau-the-worlds-best-all-in-one-all-grain-brew?ref=discovery

Someone must have just cancelled their pledge when I was browsing, so I was able to snag one of the early bird specials: $1,245 Canadian (about $970 US right now).  I have 5 days to decide if I want to cancel.

You can get it with an Auber EZ-Boil instead of the ETC-120 controller. 

It would be nice to have the ability to recirculate during the entire mash and run whatever step mash profile I feel like.  I also like the fact that none of the components are proprietary, and you can repair/replace/upgrade the probe, controller, heating element, and pump as you wish.

I think I could brew low oxygen on it as well with a few simple adjustments.

[a10t2]

My first thought is that you could probably put together something functionally equivalent but less shiny for about half the price using a turkey fryer with the included basket.

Tri-clamps are nice, but they seem especially extravagant for a BIAB system. You're going to change one hose connection per brew day.

Do you have a pump and/or heat exchanger now? I'm wondering if the 12 W rating on the pump is accurate too; that's ~1/60 HP. Would probably make for pretty low flow rate through the plate chiller.

Are you brewing electric now? A 1500 W element takes almost two hours to heat 10 gal of strike liquor. Something to think about.

[BrodyR]

If you do curious to hear how it goes.

[narcout]

Tri-clamps are nice, but they seem especially extravagant for a BIAB system. You're going to change one hose connection per brew day.

Yeah, I think they are overkill on this system, but that's how it comes.

Do you have a pump and/or heat exchanger now? I'm wondering if the 12 W rating on the pump is accurate too; that's ~1/60 HP. Would probably make for pretty low flow rate through the plate chiller.

I have a Chugger pump that I use to recirculate wort at the end of the mash, pump to the boil kettle, and recirculate ice water through my immersion chiller.  I wasn't planning on using the plate chiller, but this is something to consider.

Are you brewing electric now? A 1500 W element takes almost two hours to heat 10 gal of strike liquor.

I'm not.  The manufacturer claims it can raise temperature 1.5° F a minute.  I was thinking I'd probably heat the initial strike water on my stove (like I do now), as it has a very powerful burner and can bring it up to temp in the amount of time it takes me to mill grain and get everything set up.

These are all good points, thanks for the response.

I want to change my setup, but I don't really want to build it myself, and all the turn-key solutions involve a compromise of some sort (it's kind of frustrating actually).

[Wilbur]

Tri-clamps are nice, but they seem especially extravagant for a BIAB system. You're going to change one hose connection per brew day.

Yeah, I think they are overkill on this system, but that's how it comes.

Do you have a pump and/or heat exchanger now? I'm wondering if the 12 W rating on the pump is accurate too; that's ~1/60 HP. Would probably make for pretty low flow rate through the plate chiller.

I have a Chugger pump that I use to recirculate wort at the end of the mash, pump to the boil kettle, and recirculate ice water through my immersion chiller.  I wasn't planning on using the plate chiller, but this is something to consider.

Are you brewing electric now? A 1500 W element takes almost two hours to heat 10 gal of strike liquor.

I'm not.  The manufacturer claims it can raise temperature 1.5° F a minute.  I was thinking I'd probably heat the initial strike water on my stove (like I do now), as it has a very powerful burner and can bring it up to temp in the amount of time it takes me to mill grain and get everything set up.

These are all good points, thanks for the response.

I want to change my setup, but I don't really want to build it myself, and all the turn-key solutions involve a compromise of some sort (it's kind of frustrating actually).

Some one in my Homebrew club brews electric, what they do to accommodate for the extra time is run their system on a time. Fill up the night before, set the timer, go to work in the morning, then when they come home they're ready to mash in. You can grab a WiFi security cam if you're worried about leaving it alone. I keep on getting tempted to switch to something like this, so I can do the same kind of thing. Maybe when I have kids and can't dedicate the 5 hours to a brew day.

I can't honestly speak to the system itself, but I have a similar BIAB setup (no pump), and I love it. Well..I guess I don't have triclamps...or a strainer pot... Or a plate chiller... Ok, I might just be another idiot on the internet.

[tommymorris]

Tri-clamps are nice, but they seem especially extravagant for a BIAB system. You're going to change one hose connection per brew day.

Yeah, I think they are overkill on this system, but that's how it comes.

Do you have a pump and/or heat exchanger now? I'm wondering if the 12 W rating on the pump is accurate too; that's ~1/60 HP. Would probably make for pretty low flow rate through the plate chiller.

I have a Chugger pump that I use to recirculate wort at the end of the mash, pump to the boil kettle, and recirculate ice water through my immersion chiller.  I wasn't planning on using the plate chiller, but this is something to consider.

Are you brewing electric now? A 1500 W element takes almost two hours to heat 10 gal of strike liquor.

I'm not.  The manufacturer claims it can raise temperature 1.5° F a minute.  I was thinking I'd probably heat the initial strike water on my stove (like I do now), as it has a very powerful burner and can bring it up to temp in the amount of time it takes me to mill grain and get everything set up.

These are all good points, thanks for the response.

I want to change my setup, but I don't really want to build it myself, and all the turn-key solutions involve a compromise of some sort (it's kind of frustrating actually).

I can't honestly speak to the system itself, but I have a similar BIAB setup (no pump), and I love it. Well..I guess I don't have triclamps...or a strainer pot... Or a plate chiller... Ok, I might just be another idiot on the internet.

That sounds like my setup. I love BIAB. So easy.