Lost my black stopper around my 3rd brew. Mashing in with 6 inches of silicon hose sitting on the top of my overflow these days. Great review David. I've got to say that I've been pretty happy with my Brewzilla, made my brew days shorter with less set up time and clean up from my old gas fired Biab keggle with HERMS loop, and less clean up at the end of the day. Plus the flexibility to make some big beers is awesome.
Thanks Aidan, Yes, I figured that people who have had this a while could lose this. I've been using the SS one that came with my GF instead but it doesn't need to be anything fancy. Good to hear that you have enjoyed it, it sure is great value.
After 12 batches in the Grainfather 30, I find I'm drawn to a larger system. Now that I'm kegging my output and sharing it with the neighbours, it's hard to keep even one tap going, even brewing every week, and I was hoping to utilise all four. So yes, the Brewzilla is looking like a great option, especially since the G30's bottom mash plate seal came loose yet again today. Another item for the growing wish list. And I'd better add some wort storage containers while I'm about it. Oh, and another, larger fermenter. ;^) Thanks again David. I'm spending a small fortune, but that's nothing new. At least now, I'm not spending it on finished beer, and the neighbours are very happy.
Good balanced review David. I've brewed 8 batches with my new 65L Brewzilla and am super happy with it. The only gripe I have is the immersion chiller (which is a different model here in Australia) doesn't sit low enough when you're brewing 20-25L batches. Like you, I bought the counterflow chiller from Kegland which is cheap and extremely effective. So my gripe is a minor one, as were yours. These units are phenomenally robust and accurate. As an added bonus, they are stone cold bargains. I have a few brewing mates. One of them owns a Grainfather and when I had my 35L Robobrew, I was always jealous of his brew rig, but simply couldn't pony up for the extra dollars. Now he is jealous of my B65. Another owns the Guten, which in my experience isn't even up to the quality of my old 35L Robobrew. He's saving to buy a B65 after coming around to my place for a brew day yesterday. Probably the most important thing to keep in mind is that we've all brewed great beers on each of these brew rigs. These are great times for the homebrew community.
Many thanks Andrew. Sounds like we have similar experiences. Funny though that the chiller is like that for Australia. Maybe they think it will just be used in an ice bath due to ground water temps?
I would love one but then I would also like a dedicated place to house it. I suppose that the Controller can be set up at eye level, lowered to working height and loaded up and then a simple start process. As for the power supply. In the UK it is normal to have a 30A circuit available for a Cooker for instance in the main supply box.
This is certainly bigger than smaller brewing systems but the difference is not huge, it is mostly wider and a little taller. Yes, ive been using it raised so that it is more comfortable to use. A short table works well. Yes I think so. Ive been using this on 16amps on 230v with no issues.
As an X-Electrical Engineer (more control systems than household) I should not suggest the insertion of a larger fuse into your domestic supply to this unit. Diversity will be involved and as a responsible person it would be atime limited event and under control. I monitor my electrical demand while I am brewing and with the GRainfather running at a declared 10%< and a 2.4kW Sparge Water heater going there is pleny of leeway on a 3kW outlet, nominal 13A. I once accidentally left the Sparge Water On while the GF was coming to the boil and the 13A fuse in the Plug-Top did not blow but when I saw what I had done I pouced on the Sparge Water heater and was grateful the fuse had held. There! I am an hypocrit :-) Happy brewing - I should get out more.
Great review David, your foray into comedy had me chuckling too. I've owned a Brewzilla for quite some time, I only use it when I want to do a double batch. The thing I find annoying about it is the amount of dead space under the malt basket 10L or so from memory.
Thanks Tony. I was concerned about that recoverable dead space at first, but it has caused me no issues thankfully. It does limit sparge on single batches but with the right graincrush and sparge technique I've had good numbers from it through out.
Thank you :) I hope to be reviewing the GF G70 but so far I have heard nothing from GF about this. So it really depends on what can be organised nearer the time. Right now I am trying to decide between the 65L Brewzilla and the Brewtools 80L. Tricky enough without factoring in the GF option!
Interesting review. It looks like a very capable system. I like the idea of brewing 3 corny kegs at a time but I don't really have the space for such a big system and really not the demand for 3 kegs at a time either. However, if a couple of neighbors come together to form a home brewery this could be a good option. I'd like to see a comparison with the big version of the Grainfather as well, I hope they will release it soon.
Sure but then you need at least 2, preferably 3 fermenter buckets as well. My brewing area is only a couple of square meters as is. I need to move into a bigger place to brew larger batches as it is now.
Thank you. I really have no idea to be honest with you but if you were to email Kegland directly then I am sure they could give you a list of retailers.
I actually helped make the Brewzilla 65L profiles on Brewfather. To adjust the volume simply change it on the top right to the amount desired. Same with all the Brewfather profiles :)
David, keep up the great work man. Your videos are very helpful and much appreciated. (Long time watcher, seldom commenter). I am considering upgrading to a larger brew system. I am currently using a G30 Grainfather (which I love and adore and has served me extremely well over the last few years). But it is time to upgrade to a larger vessel. I thought the G70 would be a natural move for me personally, however, I'm not wholly convinced on the performance of the Grainfather G70 and I really just need a tough ready to go system whenever I have half a day free..(bigger family = bigger brewing system. ) So my question is; as the cost of these systems vary quite a bit, how is the Brewzilla 65L still working out for you? Are you still using it? I am considering it for my next purchase and I would appreciate your experience and knowledge from using it over the last few years. Your insight would be much appreciated. Thank you.
Hi Ian, great to hear that you have been enjoying my content long term. As I understand it things have improved with the G70. I had it for some months of testing after it's initial release but my testing stopped there. I do regularly use the BZ65 and despite its much lower price point I find that it works very well. Sure, it doesn't have some of the extras found in the Brewtools or the G70 but it brews very well and the end beers from all of these are very much the same. I think in the end it's a more down the individuals budget and desires.
This term refers to how much wattage the element uses in comparison to it surface area or its physical size. An element with low density uses a lower temperature to operate. A unit with higher density uses a higher temperature to operate. The benefit of low watt density for an element used in a brewing system is that burning is far less likely along with a lower level of caramelisation. For these reasons manufacturers prefer to use the low watt type but it is rarely seen in anything budget and some existing popular systems like the G30 do not feature it due to their age. Hope this helps :)
David Tks. I was waiting for G70 to improve my production, but it’s not a good item. So I’m searching for the Brewzilla 65l but the only way to have it in Italy is AliExpress. I try to contact KegLand. Tks for your answer
The Robobrew controller is simple to use but more basic. Having said that the GF Android app still has many issues, though the iPhone app is fine. The recipe creator however is very inaccurate and has been for some time.
David, you mention the Grain basket can handle 19kg of malt (or a max Grain bill of 15 - 16 Kgs). Have you tested this? I have the 65L Robobrew and with a 13Kg grain bill mashed in, the malt pipe is nearly overflowing (2.75:1 Grain/Water ratio) and I have to block the lifting handle holes to mash properly. I bought this unit base on your recommendations and the information on the manufacturers site, thinking it could make high gravity 50L batches, but I have found this is just not the case. What is the largest batch size you have made with the unit? Could you share the recipe?
Hi Rob, It sure can handle 19kg but this will kill your efficiency and as such is pointless. I have tested as far as 15,39kg of malt with 55L output with no issues using the Brewfather profile. This recipe is for a blonde hoppy ale, not easy to copy and past in here but I will try my best for you! :- 65L Brewzilla, Batch Size : 55 L, Boil Size : 61.5 L, Boil Time : 60 min,Pre-Boil Gravity : 1.063, Original Gravity : 1.071, 13 kg - Pale Ale Finest Maris Otter,717 g - Caramel Hell, 717 g - Heidelberg Wheat Malt, 478 g - Acidulated 6 EBC,478 g - Carapils,60 min - 23.6 g - Galena - 14.2% (14 IBU),10 min - 47.8 g - 5 min Cascade - 5.5% (4 IBU). I added all the malt slowly and stirred well as I went through the process. This way you get the grain absorption as predicted. My graincrush was pretty ideal and that will also help. That could have been where your went bad I guess or perhaps your numbers were off when it came to water volumes. It took me a while to dial all this in and of course this will vary depending on your brewing environment. It is really better to start with a smaller brew to get used to the system and dial your numbers in first. Hope this helps.
@@DavidHeathHomebrew Thanks David, I appreciate the advice. It's could know the problem is something local here. If anything my grain crush is on the course side, so I'll play with that and less haste when mashing in. Just out of interest, how full was the malt pipe for this recipe and what yeast would you recommend?
Rob Carruthers You will find that as the grain absorbs water it naturally wants to compact. If you rush this though with larger grain bills then it will temporarily seem too much. When I first added this grain bill it make the basket appear full at first. The more you add the more careful you will need to be. Once it has been mashed for a short time then this will shrink until by the end you will see it has shrunk down even more. So if you are loading up and it seems very full then give it a little more time or start recirculation for a short time before adding the rest after shrinkage. The grain you will use will vary in this regard also. This recipe will suit many types of yeast. American, British , Belgian. It depends on how you like your blondes :p
According to instructions i can read this: "There are two automatic modes which can be switched between. The first automatic mode will start the timer before reaching the step temperature. The second automatic mode will wait until the temperature of the step has been reached before starting the timer for the step. To switch between automatic modes hold the S1-S6 button for 5 seconds. If one beep is heard then it is in the second mode whereas if two beeps are heard then it is in the first mode"
@@DavidHeathHomebrew I did get my display for my 65L raised up. I spliced in a 8 wire telephone wire and used 1/2" fittings and nipples to raise it up 18". Works great.
Hi David, thanks for your greatly-informative videos. Have you tried the 35l brewzilla 3.0 and does it offer many if the same features as the 65l version aside from the increased capacity?
I feel kind of stupid asking this. Would it be possible to brew regular 20-25 liter batches with beer on this system? I filled up 20 liters on my system for a test run and the water barley filled up to the malt pipe for sparging. Is it possible to lower the malt pipe even lower?
Hey no problem. Yes, no problem there. You can extend the overflow pipe. There are also these new upgrade parts to extend even further:- th-cam.com/video/cT1jMkifqK8/w-d-xo.html
@@DavidHeathHomebrew Thanks for taking your time to answer my question. I definitely need to lookup the manual and do a test run with my machine. Cheers.
Good stuff. Thanks David. No chill cubes for me and this thing will save hours of work. I need to muster the courage and do a no boil. Do you think using storage cubes without a boil would be ok?
Nice review, well balanced. Did you brew more on the 20-25 Liter end of the spectrum or closer to 60? The reason I ask, is that some people using this in the US have been of the opinion that Brewzilla 65 doesn't do smaller batch sizes as well? Thanks again for the in-depth review.
Thank you. I've done 20,25, 30,45 and 55. No problems with any of them. Funny really but the efficiency has been good throughout. The main difference between sizes was speed of heating. I wonder what issue they faced?
@@DavidHeathHomebrew - I have asked but gotten no replies. The most common criticism was "overkill for 5 gallon batches". For me, I'd like the increased capacity to do very large mashes (big beers), and the possibility to do large brew sessions or parti-gile brews, especially considering the modest increase in expense and the much welcomed thicker sidewalls in the boiler and malt pipe. Good to hear that you've brewed almost to full capacity and no surprises. Cheers!
Hi, Great video - really informative. I think I’ve narrowed down my choice to this machine; the 65l BrewZilla. I am, however slightly confused as they seem to be listed as either a v3.1 or v3 on various sites/countries. Was there a v3 of the 65l model (like the 35l) or has there only been one? Also, do you feel that RoboBrew BrewZilla’s are of a higher quality that the Ace/BrewDevil/Hopcat(and other re badged) machines? As I have been lead to believe that the Robobrew BrewZilla’s aren’t built on the same basic platform. Many thanks, Mike
Hi Mike, I believe there were v3 in some markets. In Europe though the 65L starts with 3.1L. The BZ systems are better quality for sure and have more features. The Ace and other badges of the same thing are not bad, just not as good in my testing. BZ is not a rebadged design. It is unique.
David Heath Homebrew This is really helpful thank you. I’ve been brewing all grain for a couple of years but never with an all in one system and I’m new to this exciting world of one pot systems! The ones I’ve seen under the V3 badge are in Canada and the USA and I was wondering if they’d have the same features as the European V3.1. Do you have any ideas as to whether it’s the same model just named slightly differently due to release dates / different markets etc or an older design / circuit board etc?! No worries if not. Many thanks, Mike
@@DavidHeathHomebrew nice ok! Well even if you decide not to review it on video for the reasons you stated would still appreciate if you could send me a message with your opinion. Thank you so much and keep the good content coming!
Great review David Had some cash flow issues (See earlier reviews on same by same) So still not acquired anything So this does look very interesting Thanks again for sharing your knowledge You carry as many safety warnings as a packet of cigarettes..... I do understand why....
Hi David I tried finding a dealer here in Switzerland/Europe to buy this system but I couldn't find any. Does Brewzilla still not sell it in Europe? Cheers Ben
Good review David, and will be interesting to compare to the Big Grainfather when it’s released, so this has a steal on them. I wondered, if Robobrew have overcome the accuracy problem of the earlier 35l model on volume/ capacity. Did you check that during your trials? Cheers, and keep up the good work, much appreciated.
Thanks Chris. Yes those early Robobrew units were pretty bad. The volume part was just one of the issues! These new 3.1 versions of both 35 & 65L do not have any of those old issues thankfully, so considering this and the quality they are really good value in my eyes. Yes GF are going to be pretty late to the game even if they release late this year., which who knows if they will. I live in Norway and this 65L unit is going to be priced to the same level as the current smaller GF. So it will be interesting to see what the G70 brings to the table and at what price. Right now all we know is some basics and a prototype mock up. Ive not seen any details since. If GF release something that allows the heating elements to be replaced then that will hold value. If not then the gap between the GF and the Brewtools will probably be the most important point for those willing and able to spend at higher price points.
It is now 2021, i know there has been or still is issues with the controller on the GF, but if you had 10k NOK, would you go for the GF 30 or would you go for the this system? Skål!
I am still hearing mixed reports about the G70. My advice would be to go in the direction of either Brewtools or Brewzilla depending on your budget. The current G30 is not as up to date as these systems in terms of its heating. I highly suspect that it will be replaced by a more up to date model in the future.
@@DavidHeathHomebrew Thanks alot, i think i will get the Brewzilla. With all the extra stuff that you need for the brewtool it's just a bit much for a new home brewer 😊
Thank you. It certainly will be but there is a little wait yet. Summer 2019 is all I can say at this point and the release date will differ depending on where you live in Europe. Best thing really is to ask a supplier in your local area. They should have an idea of approx date and price either now or pretty soon.
I have BIG problems with the Brewzilla when I use say 12kg grain and 10% rice hulls to compensate for the cruch (did not crush myself). I use step mashing from 38 degrees and up. There is a temperature difference between the display and the grain zone more than 10 degrees C when heating, problem with wort flow and I have to constantly monitor and adjust the pump flow to prevent overflow. The bottom gets scorched even if I use only 500w ( and then it takes ages of course) to get to next temperature. I use only the manual mode because of the temperature difference. The automatic mode is useless if you want to hit your step temperatures. Off-calibration with water is not an option because the temperature will steadily increase when the desired temperature is met due to off-calibration. You can forget to use 16 kg of grain and not more than max 50 l total volume in water and grain or you get serious problems. I think it is useless if you want to make more than 30l finished beer and 10-12kg of grain. I have stopped using it and returned to kettles and gas burner. It has become a very expensive water heater. David: It would be interesting if you could do another review with step mashing from 38 degrees C, 40-45 l of water, 11-12 kg of pilsner malt and a bought not perfect grain crush. Monitoring the temperature of the grain zone and compare it to the temperature of the screen. Time to hit the temperatures and see if the bottom surface get burnt. It would be interesting to hear your experience and thoughts of this kind of brewday. Thank you for a very interesting and informative channel.
Hi Stefan, it sounds like your grain crush is really needing to be addressed here so that the Brewzilla can function properly. 10% rice hulls is way too much too. I would strongly suggest investing in a decent grain mill so that you can be in control here. The problem will be reduced if you reduced your grain bill and brew volume but this isnt a great answer to the problem.
I tried 6% rice hulls in one brew, but it did not help fully so I tried to increase it more to see if helped. Unfortunately not. I have bought a tree roller mill now.
Yes but this is more of a bandaid solution that causes other issues. The grain mill is a wise choice 🍻 Once the crush is right then your issues will go away.
@@DavidHeathHomebrew Also, do you know what would be the maximum amount of malt that I could use? for 55L of wort at the end and with my highest gravity beer, it would make something around 19kg ^^
In speaking to people who have used this for some time and also from my 11 brews so far I would stay within 16kg. No reason why you can do a reiterated mash. Sure it takes longer but the results will be far more predictable and you will be maximising your malt. So two mashes at 8kg will really smash your numbers and potential.
@@DavidHeathHomebrew I'm not familiar with reiterated mash. You do it in two times with different water and malt? What is currently your efficiency with 1 mash?
@@DavidHeathHomebrew Thanks mate. Got any news about when it's gonna happen, or when can I sign up to stay up with the news? It's 34 degrees Celsius here and I've had it with LME brewing. I want the real deal. So you can see it's kind of an emergency here.
antnx Well, I want people to understand my position. Some have made accusations in the past and that is just not me. So I add the disclaimers to cover that.
Top work David. Thanks for doing a review. It's really detailed and covered really well.
Many thanks, much appreciated :)
Lost my black stopper around my 3rd brew. Mashing in with 6 inches of silicon hose sitting on the top of my overflow these days.
Great review David. I've got to say that I've been pretty happy with my Brewzilla, made my brew days shorter with less set up time and clean up from my old gas fired Biab keggle with HERMS loop, and less clean up at the end of the day. Plus the flexibility to make some big beers is awesome.
Thanks Aidan, Yes, I figured that people who have had this a while could lose this. I've been using the SS one that came with my GF instead but it doesn't need to be anything fancy. Good to hear that you have enjoyed it, it sure is great value.
After 12 batches in the Grainfather 30, I find I'm drawn to a larger system. Now that I'm kegging my output and sharing it with the neighbours, it's hard to keep even one tap going, even brewing every week, and I was hoping to utilise all four. So yes, the Brewzilla is looking like a great option, especially since the G30's bottom mash plate seal came loose yet again today.
Another item for the growing wish list. And I'd better add some wort storage containers while I'm about it. Oh, and another, larger fermenter. ;^)
Thanks again David. I'm spending a small fortune, but that's nothing new. At least now, I'm not spending it on finished beer, and the neighbours are very happy.
Yes, these are all things I hear often :)
Good balanced review David. I've brewed 8 batches with my new 65L Brewzilla and am super happy with it. The only gripe I have is the immersion chiller (which is a different model here in Australia) doesn't sit low enough when you're brewing 20-25L batches. Like you, I bought the counterflow chiller from Kegland which is cheap and extremely effective. So my gripe is a minor one, as were yours. These units are phenomenally robust and accurate. As an added bonus, they are stone cold bargains.
I have a few brewing mates. One of them owns a Grainfather and when I had my 35L Robobrew, I was always jealous of his brew rig, but simply couldn't pony up for the extra dollars. Now he is jealous of my B65. Another owns the Guten, which in my experience isn't even up to the quality of my old 35L Robobrew. He's saving to buy a B65 after coming around to my place for a brew day yesterday.
Probably the most important thing to keep in mind is that we've all brewed great beers on each of these brew rigs. These are great times for the homebrew community.
Many thanks Andrew. Sounds like we have similar experiences. Funny though that the chiller is like that for Australia. Maybe they think it will just be used in an ice bath due to ground water temps?
I would love one but then I would also like a dedicated place to house it. I suppose that the Controller can be set up at eye level, lowered to working height and loaded up and then a simple start process.
As for the power supply. In the UK it is normal to have a 30A circuit available for a Cooker for instance in the main supply box.
This is certainly bigger than smaller brewing systems but the difference is not huge, it is mostly wider and a little taller. Yes, ive been using it raised so that it is more comfortable to use. A short table works well. Yes I think so. Ive been using this on 16amps on 230v with no issues.
As an X-Electrical Engineer (more control systems than household) I should not suggest the insertion of a larger fuse into your domestic supply to this unit. Diversity will be involved and as a responsible person it would be atime limited event and under control. I monitor my electrical demand while I am brewing and with the GRainfather running at a declared 10%< and a 2.4kW Sparge Water heater going there is pleny of leeway on a 3kW outlet, nominal 13A.
I once accidentally left the Sparge Water On while the GF was coming to the boil and the 13A fuse in the Plug-Top did not blow but when I saw what I had done I pouced on the Sparge Water heater and was grateful the fuse had held. There! I am an hypocrit :-)
Happy brewing - I should get out more.
Great information James, many thanks :)
Great review David, your foray into comedy had me chuckling too. I've owned a Brewzilla for quite some time, I only use it when I want to do a double batch. The thing I find annoying about it is the amount of dead space under the malt basket 10L or so from memory.
Thanks Tony. I was concerned about that recoverable dead space at first, but it has caused me no issues thankfully. It does limit sparge on single batches but with the right graincrush and sparge technique I've had good numbers from it through out.
As always, good stuff man.
Looking forward to future 65-70L GF review ;)
Next system in this house will be bigger than 30L!
Thank you :) I hope to be reviewing the GF G70 but so far I have heard nothing from GF about this. So it really depends on what can be organised nearer the time. Right now I am trying to decide between the 65L Brewzilla and the Brewtools 80L. Tricky enough without factoring in the GF option!
David Heath Homebrew Neat!
You making any review on the Brewtools 80L?
I hope to but nothing agreed right now :)
Interesting review. It looks like a very capable system. I like the idea of brewing 3 corny kegs at a time but I don't really have the space for such a big system and really not the demand for 3 kegs at a time either. However, if a couple of neighbors come together to form a home brewery this could be a good option.
I'd like to see a comparison with the big version of the Grainfather as well, I hope they will release it soon.
Thank you. It is not super huge but it is bigger than small systems of course:) I will be surprised to see the 70L GF this year but lets see :)
Sure but then you need at least 2, preferably 3 fermenter buckets as well. My brewing area is only a couple of square meters as is. I need to move into a bigger place to brew larger batches as it is now.
Ok, yes understood.
Hello and thank you. Another super tutorial by David Heath.
But I have a problem: where can I buy Brewzilla 65l in Eastern Europe?
Thank you. I really have no idea to be honest with you but if you were to email Kegland directly then I am sure they could give you a list of retailers.
Great review David.
Many thanks John.
Do you have any thoughts about the product Anvil Foundry brew systems
They are not available where I live sadly
Do you have a brewfather equipment / mash profile you could share with the 65L system? The default one on brewfather is for 14.53 gallon batches.
I actually helped make the Brewzilla 65L profiles on Brewfather. To adjust the volume simply change it on the top right to the amount desired. Same with all the Brewfather profiles :)
@@DavidHeathHomebrew Have you tried any half batches on the 65L? If so, have you done full volume?
David, keep up the great work man.
Your videos are very helpful and much appreciated. (Long time watcher, seldom commenter).
I am considering upgrading to a larger brew system. I am currently using a G30 Grainfather (which I love and adore and has served me extremely well over the last few years).
But it is time to upgrade to a larger vessel. I thought the G70 would be a natural move for me personally, however, I'm not wholly convinced on the performance of the Grainfather G70 and I really just need a tough ready to go system whenever I have half a day free..(bigger family = bigger brewing system. ) So my question is; as the cost of these systems vary quite a bit, how is the Brewzilla 65L still working out for you? Are you still using it? I am considering it for my next purchase and I would appreciate your experience and knowledge from using it over the last few years. Your insight would be much appreciated.
Thank you.
Hi Ian, great to hear that you have been enjoying my content long term. As I understand it things have improved with the G70. I had it for some months of testing after it's initial release but my testing stopped there. I do regularly use the BZ65 and despite its much lower price point I find that it works very well. Sure, it doesn't have some of the extras found in the Brewtools or the G70 but it brews very well and the end beers from all of these are very much the same. I think in the end it's a more down the individuals budget and desires.
@@DavidHeathHomebrew Thanks David, appreciate it.
Cheers Ian 🍻
Thanks for the effort David, but what about small "Grain Kits" 20 L - 25 L how is it performing in relation to efficiency ??
Thanks Allan, I've had good numbers throughout. If people are careful with graincrush and their methods then it works very well for all volume types.
What is Watt density? Does low watt density mean a large surface area which the power passes through?
This term refers to how much wattage the element uses in comparison to it surface area or its physical size. An element with low density uses a lower temperature to operate. A unit with higher density uses a higher temperature to operate. The benefit of low watt density for an element used in a brewing system is that burning is far less likely along with a lower level of caramelisation. For these reasons manufacturers prefer to use the low watt type but it is rarely seen in anything budget and some existing popular systems like the G30 do not feature it due to their age. Hope this helps :)
@@DavidHeathHomebrew thank you!
Hmmm. I’m tempted. Thanks for video!
Thanks Larry. I know more beer sell these in the states, you should reach out. These are quite the bargain really since v3.
Hi David. Tks for your great jobAleJust an information. Where can i buy brewzilla 65l in Europe? I live in Italy.
That I know of it is sold in Norway, Sweden and the UK. You could email Kegland and see if they have a stockist in Italy.
David Tks. I was waiting for G70 to improve my production, but it’s not a good item.
So I’m searching for the Brewzilla 65l but the only way to have it in Italy is AliExpress.
I try to contact KegLand.
Tks for your answer
@@alessandrosandrini433 Yes, it is impossible to recommend the G70, where as the Brewzilla 65L works very well and has a very good price.
What are your thoughts on Grainfather's PID controller vs. this one on the RoboBrew 65L?
The Robobrew controller is simple to use but more basic. Having said that the GF Android app still has many issues, though the iPhone app is fine. The recipe creator however is very inaccurate and has been for some time.
David, you mention the Grain basket can handle 19kg of malt (or a max Grain bill of 15 - 16 Kgs). Have you tested this? I have the 65L Robobrew and with a 13Kg grain bill mashed in, the malt pipe is nearly overflowing (2.75:1 Grain/Water ratio) and I have to block the lifting handle holes to mash properly. I bought this unit base on your recommendations and the information on the manufacturers site, thinking it could make high gravity 50L batches, but I have found this is just not the case. What is the largest batch size you have made with the unit? Could you share the recipe?
Hi Rob, It sure can handle 19kg but this will kill your efficiency and as such is pointless. I have tested as far as 15,39kg of malt with 55L output with no issues using the Brewfather profile. This recipe is for a blonde hoppy ale, not easy to copy and past in here but I will try my best for you! :- 65L Brewzilla, Batch Size : 55 L, Boil Size : 61.5 L, Boil Time : 60 min,Pre-Boil Gravity : 1.063, Original Gravity : 1.071, 13 kg - Pale Ale Finest Maris Otter,717 g - Caramel Hell, 717 g - Heidelberg Wheat Malt, 478 g - Acidulated 6 EBC,478 g - Carapils,60 min - 23.6 g - Galena - 14.2% (14 IBU),10 min - 47.8 g - 5 min Cascade - 5.5% (4 IBU). I added all the malt slowly and stirred well as I went through the process. This way you get the grain absorption as predicted. My graincrush was pretty ideal and that will also help. That could have been where your went bad I guess or perhaps your numbers were off when it came to water volumes. It took me a while to dial all this in and of course this will vary depending on your brewing environment. It is really better to start with a smaller brew to get used to the system and dial your numbers in first. Hope this helps.
@@DavidHeathHomebrew Thanks David, I appreciate the advice. It's could know the problem is something local here. If anything my grain crush is on the course side, so I'll play with that and less haste when mashing in. Just out of interest, how full was the malt pipe for this recipe and what yeast would you recommend?
Rob Carruthers You will find that as the grain absorbs water it naturally wants to compact. If you rush this though with larger grain bills then it will temporarily seem too much. When I first added this grain bill it make the basket appear full at first. The more you add the more careful you will need to be. Once it has been mashed for a short time then this will shrink until by the end you will see it has shrunk down even more. So if you are loading up and it seems very full then give it a little more time or start recirculation for a short time before adding the rest after shrinkage. The grain you will use will vary in this regard also. This recipe will suit many types of yeast. American, British , Belgian. It depends on how you like your blondes :p
According to instructions i can read this: "There are two automatic modes which can be switched between. The first automatic
mode will start the timer before reaching the step temperature. The second automatic
mode will wait until the temperature of the step has been reached before starting the
timer for the step. To switch between automatic modes hold the S1-S6 button for 5
seconds. If one beep is heard then it is in the second mode whereas if two beeps are
heard then it is in the first mode"
Useful stuff :)
@@DavidHeathHomebrew I just got this today so yes, very useful =)
:)
Would you be able to recommend how to raise the controller up higher on the system?
I wish I could :)
@@DavidHeathHomebrew I did get my display for my 65L raised up. I spliced in a 8 wire telephone wire and used 1/2" fittings and nipples to raise it up 18". Works great.
Nice, are you on Facebook? Would love to see pics? :)
@@DavidHeathHomebrew Yes I am. My homebrew page is Outlaws Brewing. There are some pics on there.
Hi David, thanks for your greatly-informative videos. Have you tried the 35l brewzilla 3.0 and does it offer many if the same features as the 65l version aside from the increased capacity?
Hi Ed. Yes I have. Instead of reviewing it on its own I compared it to its main rival in this video:-
th-cam.com/video/SCfTs-j5iQU/w-d-xo.html
As you will see it compares very well, despite the lower price point.
I also covered it in this 3 part guide that looks at the whole market:-
th-cam.com/play/PLeY07JqsrXM8qdQcqQnMGB2T5h9PLpt_Z.html
I feel kind of stupid asking this. Would it be possible to brew regular 20-25 liter batches with beer on this system? I filled up 20 liters on my system for a test run and the water barley filled up to the malt pipe for sparging. Is it possible to lower the malt pipe even lower?
Hey no problem. Yes, no problem there. You can extend the overflow pipe. There are also these new upgrade parts to extend even further:- th-cam.com/video/cT1jMkifqK8/w-d-xo.html
@@DavidHeathHomebrew Thanks for taking your time to answer my question. I definitely need to lookup the manual and do a test run with my machine. Cheers.
No problem, enjoy 🍻🍻🍻
Can the BrewZilla be controlled by an external PID? Will it resume the last heating state when powered on and off?
I would imagine so, though I feel you should get confirmation from Kegland directly. Email:- beer@kegland.com.au
Good stuff. Thanks David. No chill cubes for me and this thing will save hours of work.
I need to muster the courage and do a no boil. Do you think using storage cubes without a boil would be ok?
Thanks :) This I have not tried but I have looked into it and it looks like others have had some decent results.
Hey David, do you have a 65l profile for beersmith?
Sadly not. I started using this after I moved to Brewfather.
Nice review, well balanced. Did you brew more on the 20-25 Liter end of the spectrum or closer to 60? The reason I ask, is that some people using this in the US have been of the opinion that Brewzilla 65 doesn't do smaller batch sizes as well? Thanks again for the in-depth review.
Thank you. I've done 20,25, 30,45 and 55. No problems with any of them. Funny really but the efficiency has been good throughout. The main difference between sizes was speed of heating. I wonder what issue they faced?
@@DavidHeathHomebrew - I have asked but gotten no replies. The most common criticism was "overkill for 5 gallon batches". For me, I'd like the increased capacity to do very large mashes (big beers), and the possibility to do large brew sessions or parti-gile brews, especially considering the modest increase in expense and the much welcomed thicker sidewalls in the boiler and malt pipe. Good to hear that you've brewed almost to full capacity and no surprises. Cheers!
Hi,
Great video - really informative. I think I’ve narrowed down my choice to this machine; the 65l BrewZilla. I am, however slightly confused as they seem to be listed as either a v3.1 or v3 on various sites/countries. Was there a v3 of the 65l model (like the 35l) or has there only been one?
Also, do you feel that RoboBrew BrewZilla’s are of a higher quality that the Ace/BrewDevil/Hopcat(and other re badged) machines? As I have been lead to believe that the Robobrew BrewZilla’s aren’t built on the same basic platform.
Many thanks,
Mike
Hi Mike, I believe there were v3 in some markets. In Europe though the 65L starts with 3.1L. The BZ systems are better quality for sure and have more features. The Ace and other badges of the same thing are not bad, just not as good in my testing. BZ is not a rebadged design. It is unique.
David Heath Homebrew This is really helpful thank you. I’ve been brewing all grain for a couple of years but never with an all in one system and I’m new to this exciting world of one pot systems! The ones I’ve seen under the V3 badge are in Canada and the USA and I was wondering if they’d have the same features as the European V3.1. Do you have any ideas as to whether it’s the same model just named slightly differently due to release dates / different markets etc or an older design / circuit board etc?! No worries if not.
Many thanks,
Mike
Out of context but curious since tou said many companied tried sending you stuff. Whats your opinion on the hopcat 50l mk2? Thanks
Hi, Ive not tried it yet but it could be happening in the future.
@@DavidHeathHomebrew nice ok! Well even if you decide not to review it on video for the reasons you stated would still appreciate if you could send me a message with your opinion. Thank you so much and keep the good content coming!
Sure no problem:)
Great review David
Had some cash flow issues
(See earlier reviews on same by same)
So still not acquired anything
So this does look very interesting
Thanks again for sharing your knowledge
You carry as many safety warnings as a packet of cigarettes.....
I do understand why....
Thanks Andy, glad you enjoyed it! Yes money can be an issue with this hobby for sure!
Hi David
I tried finding a dealer here in Switzerland/Europe to buy this system but I couldn't find any. Does Brewzilla still not sell it in Europe?
Cheers Ben
Hi :) I know it is sold in the UK, Norway and Sweden. Past this you could ask the company behind it about availability.
Hi David,
do you know where could one buy the 65L European version?
There are various stores in Europe that sell it, which country?
@@DavidHeathHomebrew in Romania, for example...
Ahh ok. Sorry but I do not know. I would suggest emailing Kegland for that information
Good review David, and will be interesting to compare to the Big Grainfather when it’s released, so this has a steal on them.
I wondered, if Robobrew have overcome the accuracy problem of the earlier 35l model on volume/ capacity. Did you check that during your trials?
Cheers, and keep up the good work, much appreciated.
Thanks Chris. Yes those early Robobrew units were pretty bad. The volume part was just one of the issues! These new 3.1 versions of both 35 & 65L do not have any of those old issues thankfully, so considering this and the quality they are really good value in my eyes. Yes GF are going to be pretty late to the game even if they release late this year., which who knows if they will. I live in Norway and this 65L unit is going to be priced to the same level as the current smaller GF. So it will be interesting to see what the G70 brings to the table and at what price. Right now all we know is some basics and a prototype mock up. Ive not seen any details since. If GF release something that allows the heating elements to be replaced then that will hold value. If not then the gap between the GF and the Brewtools will probably be the most important point for those willing and able to spend at higher price points.
It is now 2021, i know there has been or still is issues with the controller on the GF, but if you had 10k NOK, would you go for the GF 30 or would you go for the this system? Skål!
I am still hearing mixed reports about the G70. My advice would be to go in the direction of either Brewtools or Brewzilla depending on your budget. The current G30 is not as up to date as these systems in terms of its heating.
I highly suspect that it will be replaced by a more up to date model in the future.
@@DavidHeathHomebrew Thanks alot, i think i will get the Brewzilla. With all the extra stuff that you need for the brewtool it's just a bit much for a new home brewer 😊
Great, I hope you enjoy it :)
Thanks for a great review once again David. Do you know if its possible to buy RoboBrew in the EU?
Thank you. It certainly will be but there is a little wait yet. Summer 2019 is all I can say at this point and the release date will differ depending on where you live in Europe. Best thing really is to ask a supplier in your local area. They should have an idea of approx date and price either now or pretty soon.
I have BIG problems with the Brewzilla when I use say 12kg grain and 10% rice hulls to compensate for the cruch (did not crush myself). I use step mashing from 38 degrees and up. There is a temperature difference between the display and the grain zone more than 10 degrees C when heating, problem with wort flow and I have to constantly monitor and adjust the pump flow to prevent overflow. The bottom gets scorched even if I use only 500w ( and then it takes ages of course) to get to next temperature. I use only the manual mode because of the temperature difference. The automatic mode is useless if you want to hit your step temperatures. Off-calibration with water is not an option because the temperature will steadily increase when the desired temperature is met due to off-calibration. You can forget to use 16 kg of grain and not more than max 50 l total volume in water and grain or you get serious problems. I think it is useless if you want to make more than 30l finished beer and 10-12kg of grain. I have stopped using it and returned to kettles and gas burner. It has become a very expensive water heater.
David: It would be interesting if you could do another review with step mashing from 38 degrees C, 40-45 l of water, 11-12 kg of pilsner malt and a bought not perfect grain crush. Monitoring the temperature of the grain zone and compare it to the temperature of the screen. Time to hit the temperatures and see if the bottom surface get burnt. It would be interesting to hear your experience and thoughts of this kind of brewday.
Thank you for a very interesting and informative channel.
Hi Stefan, it sounds like your grain crush is really needing to be addressed here so that the Brewzilla can function properly. 10% rice hulls is way too much too.
I would strongly suggest investing in a decent grain mill so that you can be in control here.
The problem will be reduced if you reduced your grain bill and brew volume but this isnt a great answer to the problem.
Have you performed a step mash and a bigger grain bill? How was your experience? The temperature difference, what do you think of that?
I tried 6% rice hulls in one brew, but it did not help fully so I tried to increase it more to see if helped. Unfortunately not. I have bought a tree roller mill now.
Yes but this is more of a bandaid solution that causes other issues. The grain mill is a wise choice 🍻 Once the crush is right then your issues will go away.
I am aiming for 38 l finished beer to fill two Cornelius kegs. With advertized 65l I think it should be possible to get at least 38 liters.
A great review 👍👍👍
Many thanks Russell :)
Has anyone tried fermenting in the Brewzilla? Can it be done or will sediment burn or clog pump?
You could, though it is not ideal really. You will not have any burning issues due to the low watt density heating.
What would be the maximal volume to expect at the end of the boil?
I've had 55L out and it seems that this could have been a bit more had I tried.
@@DavidHeathHomebrew Really? That's nice!!! Do you remember what was your pre-boil volume?
@@DavidHeathHomebrew Also, do you know what would be the maximum amount of malt that I could use? for 55L of wort at the end and with my highest gravity beer, it would make something around 19kg ^^
In speaking to people who have used this for some time and also from my 11 brews so far I would stay within 16kg. No reason why you can do a reiterated mash. Sure it takes longer but the results will be far more predictable and you will be maximising your malt. So two mashes at 8kg will really smash your numbers and potential.
@@DavidHeathHomebrew I'm not familiar with reiterated mash. You do it in two times with different water and malt? What is currently your efficiency with 1 mash?
Where could I get this in Europe?
Hard to advise you on this but a google search should give you the information :)
Wife bangs on door “it’s been hours!!!! What are you doing in there?!?!??” Husband, “almost done darling (adds in sound effects)” 😂🤣😂🤣
Haha, welcome to my world :)
WHERE CAN I GET IT IN EUROPE?
It has not arrived in Europe just yet.
@@DavidHeathHomebrew Thanks mate. Got any news about when it's gonna happen, or when can I sign up to stay up with the news? It's 34 degrees Celsius here and I've had it with LME brewing. I want the real deal. So you can see it's kind of an emergency here.
@@josip4287 It is predicted to be late August or early September , it will depend on where you are and who you are buying from though.
What's the recommendation regarding running this system in UK/Ireland. Is a 16amp required?
As I understand it you will need 15 amps on a 240v system. The 16 amps is for the lower voltage on the EU model.
David, I like your videos but you worry too much about shills.
antnx Well, I want people to understand my position. Some have made accusations in the past and that is just not me. So I add the disclaimers to cover that.