PicoBrew present

Banjo-guy · Post by **Banjo-guy** » Fri Jul 24, 2015 8:33 am

The grain and hop bins,
Notice the screen filters.

Banjo-guy · Post by **Banjo-guy** » Fri Jul 24, 2015 8:35 am

Banjo-guy · Post by **Banjo-guy** » Fri Jul 24, 2015 8:36 am

I'm not sure what this does.
This goes on the keg during the mash to contain foam over.

Banjo-guy · Post by **Banjo-guy** » Fri Jul 24, 2015 8:42 am

Here is the main unit in front of my kererator. The 5 gallon keg was included in the price but you can buy it without the 5 gallon keg if you have one already.
The mash and fermentation all take place in the 5 gallon keg.

Post by **Beer-lord** » Fri Jul 24, 2015 10:06 am

It didn't come with a 2.5 gallon keg to put the finished beer in?
I know they have a lot of recipes but I assume you won't be buying lots from them and making your own as well. Their forum is pretty good from what I've seen.

Banjo-guy · Post by **Banjo-guy** » Fri Jul 24, 2015 1:41 pm

It comes with a 5 gallon to mash and ferment in. The kegging or bottling is not provided.

Banjo-guy · Post by **Banjo-guy** » Fri Jul 24, 2015 1:44 pm

I'll be making my own recipes but I'll check out what they have . The forum is great and there is a rating system for the menus.
You can also buy kits that run around 30.00. Shipping is really high on these kits.

RickBeer · Post by **RickBeer** » Fri Jul 24, 2015 4:11 pm

I would assume that you can enter any recipe, just have to specify time, temp, etc. No reason to buy ingredients from them, right?

Edit: looks like a third party sells the kits, and no reason to buy from them. You can load xml files too.

Post by **Beer-lord** » Fri Jul 24, 2015 7:17 pm

Banjo-guy wrote:I'll be making my own recipes but I'll check out what they have . The forum is great and there is a rating system for the menus.
You can also buy kits that run around 30.00. Shipping is really high on these kits.

That's how they'll make their money on you really. $30 for a 2 1/2 gallon batch is high but if it makes good beer, its worth it.

Banjo-guy · Post by **Banjo-guy** » Fri Jul 24, 2015 7:48 pm

I won't be buying any kits from them.
Everything can be customized. I haven't even turned it on yet but I've read that the user can specify mash temperatures and time ( including step mashes ) ,boil time,specific hop times and of course grain.
There is a port for adding liquid ( hop shots), samples can be drawn out of a port by using a syringe. You can pause at 180 ( or any temp you choose) for a hop stand. I'll have to investigate whirlpooling. Dry hopping is done in the usual manner.
It does everything I can think of for a brew day. Am I missing something?

When it's time to clean you dump the grain and hops and cycle water through for a clean cycle.

I don't have place to set it up yet. When I get it going I I'll take pictures and post them.

mashani · Post by **mashani** » Fri Jul 24, 2015 11:59 pm

Sweet. If I had the $$$$ I'd get one of those things. It would let me to AG more often, since I could program it and walk away. To me that's worth it.

Banjo-guy · Post by **Banjo-guy** » Sun Jul 26, 2015 4:20 pm

I'm running a rinse cycle to prepare for my first brew.
I'm going to use the Pale Ale that is sent out with the unit.
Everything is clearly labeled. They don't number the hop additions but list them as Bittering, Flavoring, Flavoring and Aroma, Aroma. I think the non/ brewer would like them listed which of the 4 hop bins they go in.

Post by **Beer-lord** » Sun Jul 26, 2015 4:24 pm

It looks like the grains are already crushed. Do they have a date on them? I ask because once grains are crushed, even in sealed bags, they may not be totally fresh after 2 weeks.
I'm very much looking forward to what you think. I bet you're gonna have a ball.

Banjo-guy · Post by **Banjo-guy** » Sun Jul 26, 2015 10:30 pm

They are crushed. I have no idea how old they are. I have some two row that I could crush. I think I'll use my fresh base malt. I might have some Crystal.
I'm going to brew this on Monday.

RickBeer · Post by **RickBeer** » Mon Jul 27, 2015 6:42 am

I believe the company drop ships product, i. e. dealers don't have inventory. They cannot be stupid enough to ship stale grains, I think you would be fine. Call them if unsure.