Using the Digiboil

[Brew Cat]

d) use it as a mash tun
I would line it with the bag but just drain it without pulling the bag
this needs further investigation

 

[Brew Cat]

For option d) I may need to fashion some type of false bottom

 

[Craigerrr]

For option d) I may need to fashion some type of false bottom

Just get an appropriately sized SS colander from the dollar store, place it upside down.

 

[Brew Cat]

Ok starting today
Just using it as a tun

 

[Brew Cat]

My wife saw me the other day setting up my pulley and step stool and asked " what are you doing" when I explained she is like "why"
Good question so I simplified it

I used to set up a extra table and pulley then mash in my pot and then wheel it out to my garage door and use the gas burner
So I eliminated the extra table and pulley

 

[Brew Cat]

I mashed in with 5 gallon I'll add the rest as I drain
I'll need to add a spigot to that kettle so I can drain off the boiler directly to my SS fermenter bucket to chill and pitch
I think this has simplified my process
Any other ideas?

 

[Brew Cat]

Just for the record from 7gal of water and 10.25 grain got 6.5 gallon to the kettle

Did 1.5 gallons poured over through the strainer
I'll check pre boil gravity maybe to full volume mash next time same recipe

 

[Brew Cat]

This was a little extra measured about 3/4 quart so grains held 3 quarts after the mash
Pre boil actually.004 high so I'll dump this in

 

[Brew Cat]

Well I got a better extraction rate more in line with what I used to get with the lauter which is kinda what I did today with the pour over kettle. I'll wait and try to do a full volume mash and see what I get
This time it was above 80%


I like to keep it closer to 70% since most shared recipes use that as base line. If my system is pulling more sugar I'll have to adjust all my recipes

 

[Brew Cat]

well something is off
I had to add 2 water to drop my gravity going into the fermenter but my volume was a bit low as well.
therefore this digiboil kettle volume marks are off or my old liquid tank is off
maybe both one up one down
next time I collect water I'll have to calibrate

 

[Donoroto]

well something is off
I had to add 2 water to drop my gravity going into the fermenter but my volume was a bit low as well.
therefore this digiboil kettle volume marks are off or my old liquid tank is off
maybe both one up one down
next time I collect water I'll have to calibrate

Also note that boiling or hot water is fluffier than cold water.

 

[jschein]

Also note that boiling or hot water is fluffier than cold water.

Science for the win!
But seriously you should weigh your water until you get the correct volume consistently. Never trust the machine volume markings

 

[Brew Cat]

Science for the win!
But seriously you should weigh your water until you get the correct volume consistently. Never trust the machine volume markings

well I could do that but since all my recipes are designed around the volume coming out of my old LT it my be easier to calibrate the digiboil to that volume.
my old HT I marked up myself filling 1 gallon jugs and dumping them in (very scientific)

 

[Brew Cat]

How long does it take y'all to heat your strike water in the 110V models?

Not sure you read my post but it heats around 2.5° F per minute
That was with a woolen blanket over it
I just ordered with a $20 gift card and 10% off the custom fit neoprene jacket
I'll send if that makes a difference
Should be easier to use than the blanket anyway

 

[Brew Cat]

Well I did my first 3 gallon brew in the digiboil
I boiled 4.75 gallons
with an upside down colander as a false bottom
because of the colander I transferred to the Chapman fermbucket to chill
everything went well enough
plenty room in the kettle
only problem was doing it indoors there was the steam to contend with
I brewed under a window with a shower curtain tent and fan
what I plan on doing next is just do a cool pool hop addition so I'm only boiling 5.5 gallons which should fit

 

[Craigerrr]

Well I did my first 3 gallon brew in the digiboil
I boiled 4.75 gallons
with an upside down colander as a false bottom
because of the colander I transferred to the Chapman fermbucket to chill
everything went well enough
plenty room in the kettle
only problem was doing it indoors there was the steam to contend with
I brewed under a window with a shower curtain tent and fan
what I plan on doing next is just do a cool pool hop addition so I'm only boiling 5.5 gallons which should fit

Yup, 1.75 gallons boiled off has to condense somewhere. I did a 30 minute boil indoors a while back, wasn't too bad. A lot of it condensed in the fan I had blowing out the window, and on the window screen as well. Steam condenser FTW!

 

[Brew Cat]

OK time for an update
I've did a few different brews with this thing and here are some take aways
mashing in it is alright but much easier and efficient using my MT and using the DB as a HLT
for step mashing it's much easier to do infusions for the steps than using heat for me
the tall narrow kettle is a pain to reach in for decoctions
using heat I need to spend the time to monitor but with infusion its dump and go
I did a couple of 3 gallon batches to see and ended with mashing to hot ending with a high FG
I did a 5gal using it just as a mash tun and it worked fine
The last 5gal batch I did is the way forward for me
I collected my 7gal in the DB and treated the water and heated it, then mashed in my tun
after the mash returned the wort to the DB for the boil ( it can boil 6 gal and took about 20min to go from 170 to boil, I think the slower ramp up with 1500w instead of 2500w is benefit, a hotter boil in that small of a pot would be asking for trouble)
after the boil I drained to my fermentor to chill then pitch

 

[Brew Cat]

so I wanted to try an all in one kettle but didn't want to go all in
I believe as I always did it's better to learn how to brew before trying to learn on an all in one system
that said I wouldn't recommend the 35L if you do. Get the bigger kettle with 220v for sure
of course that will require $$ and a bigger footprint
it does not guarantee good beer

 

[Dave Y]

so I wanted to try an all in one kettle but didn't want to go all in
I believe as I always did it's better to learn how to brew before trying to learn on an all in one system
that said I wouldn't recommend the 35L if you do. Get the bigger kettle with 220v for sure
of course that will require $$ and a bigger footprint
it does not guarantee good beer

I agree. I'm an AIO/BIAB brewer and while it can be more convenient than multiple vessels, it takes some ramp up to sort through the differences from 'traditional' brewing. It can work out really well, but can be a pain in the butt when you run up against your particular system's limits.
220v is preferred, without question. That said if all you can use is 110v, they will work, it will just be slower.