The Evolution of Homebrewing Equipment and what's next?

Your not going to want to keep your beer on the yeast cake or dry hops. It's going to cause off-flavors. Unless I'm misunderstanding something in how these work.

I'm considering some small batch extract brews to remove variables, in order to test a post boil process that I've been contemplating. Removing those variables should help with consistency for blind taste tests.

I couldn't agree with you more, Mike. These systems are not cheating. Most importantly, they are helping to keep homebrewers, with time constraints, in the hobby. Find the system that works for you and run with it!

I'm one of the guys who pretty much stopped video games when they stopped being on disc. The same can be said of my brew style. If there's "smart phone" involved in the loop, chances are I tuned out at some point BEFORE that happened. I'm more than happy with the mash and boil type system & buckets. I did buy a sous vide stick just so I can jacket my fermentation buckets hill-billy style, and I'm glad to say it works, and that's all I need. All this new stuff with connectivity and one stage 'intelligent' systems, just spells spend more of your cash on crap you don't need - which kinda defeats the idea of why I began home brewing in the first place. I started to -

1. Save cash. Beer is ridiculously expensive at the store these days.
2. learn how to brew consistently good beer. The price tag on basic, useable, gear is already pretty dear, but this newfangled market just sounds over the top, and far more expensive than just buying the beer. 750$USD for a single gallon system is a very, very high price, considering I can do 10 gallons for the 450$ CAD I spent on an s40, and a couple 15$ buckets. It's also reminiscent of the automobile industry, the more bells n whistles, the more German engineering, the more sensors, and software, the more expensive & brand named your vehicle, the more service bulletins, recalls, repairs & maintenance costs. Codes, upon codes, upon codes.

I will always believe that trial and error, learning the techniques with the basic tools, getting your hands dirty, and making it your own, in analog, will always be preferable over the algorithmic automaton. We're losing our humanity through technology. Next thing Elon Musk will just install a patch on your brain chip to control your "home brew" system. At some point on the gradient it starts to look less like a home hobby, and more like Frankenstein's nightmare. It's a gimmick that will only cost you your soul, so to speak. It's not really a "cheating" thing so much, to me, it's just not the same as "home brewing." I mean, by the same logic buying beer at a local pub is also "cheating"...LoL But, by all means, cheat if you're thirsty. If you're new and wanting to get into the hobby, this will at least get you 4 liters of fresh brewed, albeit very expensive beer, in the minimum. Not so sure it can be said you'll learn any sort of brewing skills from it, tho...Maybe I'm just a Luddite.

I'll admit that you have changed my mind. I never thought it was cheating, but I personally did not see the value in a Pinter or iGulu. You've opened my eyes to a creative way to consider these new Ferment & Serve systems. I am still not interested in the current offerings but a 20L Ferment & Serve system could be interesting. Plus, I totally agree that if Pinter or iGulu get more people interested in homebrewing, then it is a win for all of us. After all, I got started with a heavily discounted PicoBrew.

I brewed extract and partial mash on my stovetop for about 20 years before I finally made the switch to all grain by purchasing a Brewer's Edge Mash & Boil. The all in one electric brewing systems were a real game changer for homebrewers when they first hit the market.

I see the value in both

Check out the recent Homebrew Happy Hour episode with Trong from HomeBrewerLab. His Pot-Au-Brew is a neat innovation!

Almost sounds like we were in the same brew club years ago - everything I did that wasn’t done 30 years ago was “cheating” with them 😂

I went from doing it on the stove to aa Anvil system

Yes I have anvil too great show

The saying here was he who dies with the most toys still dies.

Great video, man. I still use propane only because I'm cheap, and I kinda like doing it that way. I would go to electric if I lived in a colder climate, but as long as you're making brew, that's all that matters.

Interesting discussion! I’ve been playing with the Pinter 3 and it’s pretty cool! Makes for an easy entry into the hobby, which is what we all want!!! Cheers 🍻

If I could go electric I would have already. lol not having to go out and exchange propane tanks would be awesome. As it’s a pita. I’m not keen on the BIAB though. That’s just me, but I also have the space for the 3 vessel system.

Anything that is going to get people into the hobby who cares and i believe it will open the door to a lot of people. That would be a cool thing to have for test batches. The igulu is like the Keurig of homebrewing 😂

My most recent beer I used my anvil foundry to mash and boil. Then proceeded to no chill in a keg, ferment and serve out of that same keg. Best beer I've made to date.

This newfangled item is definitely for some folks - but it isn't for me. 1 gallon (too small) - I learned this by starting out with brew demon fermenters. Requires kits. I hate beer with crap floating in it, so serving off the yeast cake is a no-no (Yep - you can add a top draw to it to alleviate this.) If you like to dabble and do kits - I can see the appeal, but you're gonna be brewing ALL THE TIME. 128 oz = 10 beers. The game changer would be if the big breweries sold kits for it from their most popular and seasonal stock - like pliny the elder kits or perhaps kits from Treehouse, 3 Floyds, Cherry Street, etc.

I have a buddy who has mashed, boiled, and fermented in his anvil. He did it just to see if you could do it.