I was shocked after watching this video of the experience you two had as it was the complete opposite of my experience. I had to go grab my empty Pale Ale Kit to read the instructions which are on the back of the packet. I thought Mike forgot to add the priming sugar to the fermentation. I swore it said to add it, but maybe someone from iGulu told me to, I'm not sure as I can't remember that far back. I actually added all three packets of corn sugar to the fermentation and I did release a little excess CO2 a couple of times during fermentation. Once my Pale Ale kit was done and ready for sampling the only issue was a little over carbonation, but the clarity, flavor, and aroma were all amazing for a Pale Ale. We were so shocked at just how an all extract kit could be so amazing, it was shocking. We drank the hell out of it. (I have a pre-production igulu also, so the CO2 valve system was replaced during the main production run.) I reached out to iGulu and recommended they try brewing it your way (according to the instructions) and the way I brewed it with the corn sugar added to the fermentation and possibly either updating the PRV to a weaker one or purging a few times during fermentation. This way they can compare the outcomes as I honestly think you two should ask for a 2nd kit and try my process as it was one of the best American Pale Ales I'd ever had in comparison to most commercially available ones. Three Floyds Zombie Dust would be an exception of course, but that isn't available here in Florida. (I can only think of a couple Pale Ales I preferred better here in Florida and all of them contain Rye which is why I prefer them.)
Excellent, thorough review. I have several thoughts. Looks impressive on the surface. As for the kits, I'm very troubled by the country-of-origin of the hop extract and yeast. Probably the same place the system was manufactured. That said, it would be no trouble at all to source domestic hop extract and yeast from anywhere except that country. Or better yet do like you said, just use your own ingredients & process and use the iGulu as the delivery system. I love Briess Pale Ale DME. It's 100% pale ale malt, where their Golden Light DME is 99% 2-row and 1% Carapils (Briess website). I use both often, sometimes in combination, like today for instance! My son is a homebrewer as well but he and his wife are career US military and raising children. The iGulu or a similar system (Pinter?) would be ideal for him, or any person looking to brew small batches on a small footprint, whether extract, part mash or all grain. Cheers Dudes!🍺🍻
Well, about as I expected. It’s a neat idea like some other 1 gal set it and forget it systems in past years. I’m sure the cost isnt short money and I’m trying to think of where this fits. Perhaps a person that just wants easy beer with not much hassle and really isn’t into the whole process of brewing. Curious on how the other kits go but I feel this won’t hit the mark for the typical home brewer. Thanks for the honest review. Cheers from Uxbridge.
An expensive way to begin homebrewing. But for the absolute ease and mediocre beer, I can see it might have its place in the market for those who know no better. Great product review.
The temp contole if intriguing. I'd be interested to see you do a side-by-side between this and your conventional method with a simple smash beer. (no dry hop I guess)
This system seems flawed. I could see the interest in the system but if you really want to start homebrewing then just buy some cheap buckets and a stock pot and do it on your stove top. 🍻🍻
Interesting. I must have missed the point of the soda stream canister. If the initial serving pressure is provided by spunding, and thereafter you need to push it out by pumping air, what is the soda stream doing?
The soda stream bottle is supposed to be pushing the beer with CO2 so you don't have to use air. Obviously, as a result you don't oxidize the beer if you're not drinking it in one session. Its just that in this run I couldn't figure out why the machine wasn't pulling from the bottle. Cheers! -Mike
I'm wondering who the target audience for such a "hipster-system" is. Every homebrewer I know is interested in the process (since it is often recreational and sometimes meditative) and handling of the ingredients or doing some manual work. Using this "system" comprises of ripping some plastic bags and throwing its contents into a soulless machine - boring. But thanks for the review. Cheers!
I don't see the point of this at all. Are your friends supposed to be impressed that you "brewed your own beer"? You literally have no control over anything. At some point, you will just lose interest and throw it away, or you will decide to actually go buy real brewing equipment. This is not even a good way to get started though, because you're likely to get frustrated, lose interest, and form bad opinions about hombrewing in general. If you want recipes made for you, there's kits available at every hombrew supplier. At least then you're still learning the process and get some experience that can help you when you decide to try your own recipes. If you guys want sponsors, why not get sponsored by something you would actually use?
I just lost my mind and stopped watching when you said you need an RFID sticker to activate the brew. You guys do great work on this channel, but this thing...
I was shocked after watching this video of the experience you two had as it was the complete opposite of my experience. I had to go grab my empty Pale Ale Kit to read the instructions which are on the back of the packet. I thought Mike forgot to add the priming sugar to the fermentation. I swore it said to add it, but maybe someone from iGulu told me to, I'm not sure as I can't remember that far back. I actually added all three packets of corn sugar to the fermentation and I did release a little excess CO2 a couple of times during fermentation. Once my Pale Ale kit was done and ready for sampling the only issue was a little over carbonation, but the clarity, flavor, and aroma were all amazing for a Pale Ale. We were so shocked at just how an all extract kit could be so amazing, it was shocking. We drank the hell out of it. (I have a pre-production igulu also, so the CO2 valve system was replaced during the main production run.)
I reached out to iGulu and recommended they try brewing it your way (according to the instructions) and the way I brewed it with the corn sugar added to the fermentation and possibly either updating the PRV to a weaker one or purging a few times during fermentation. This way they can compare the outcomes as I honestly think you two should ask for a 2nd kit and try my process as it was one of the best American Pale Ales I'd ever had in comparison to most commercially available ones. Three Floyds Zombie Dust would be an exception of course, but that isn't available here in Florida. (I can only think of a couple Pale Ales I preferred better here in Florida and all of them contain Rye which is why I prefer them.)
I would love to see you make your own wort and ferment it in this to see how it comes out.
Excellent, thorough review. I have several thoughts. Looks impressive on the surface. As for the kits, I'm very troubled by the country-of-origin of the hop extract and yeast. Probably the same place the system was manufactured. That said, it would be no trouble at all to source domestic hop extract and yeast from anywhere except that country. Or better yet do like you said, just use your own ingredients & process and use the iGulu as the delivery system. I love Briess Pale Ale DME. It's 100% pale ale malt, where their Golden Light DME is 99% 2-row and 1% Carapils (Briess website). I use both often, sometimes in combination, like today for instance! My son is a homebrewer as well but he and his wife are career US military and raising children. The iGulu or a similar system (Pinter?) would be ideal for him, or any person looking to brew small batches on a small footprint, whether extract, part mash or all grain. Cheers Dudes!🍺🍻
Very good and honest video.
Well, about as I expected. It’s a neat idea like some other 1 gal set it and forget it systems in past years. I’m sure the cost isnt short money and I’m trying to think of where this fits. Perhaps a person that just wants easy beer with not much hassle and really isn’t into the whole process of brewing. Curious on how the other kits go but I feel this won’t hit the mark for the typical home brewer. Thanks for the honest review. Cheers from Uxbridge.
An expensive way to begin homebrewing. But for the absolute ease and mediocre beer, I can see it might have its place in the market for those who know no better.
Great product review.
The temp contole if intriguing.
I'd be interested to see you do a side-by-side between this and your conventional method with a simple smash beer. (no dry hop I guess)
Um,like a good Canuck review and is that machine recommended ?
This system seems flawed. I could see the interest in the system but if you really want to start homebrewing then just buy some cheap buckets and a stock pot and do it on your stove top. 🍻🍻
Maybe not "flawed" but apparently a luxury item for sophists who like to think highly of themselves...
Interesting. I must have missed the point of the soda stream canister. If the initial serving pressure is provided by spunding, and thereafter you need to push it out by pumping air, what is the soda stream doing?
The soda stream bottle is supposed to be pushing the beer with CO2 so you don't have to use air. Obviously, as a result you don't oxidize the beer if you're not drinking it in one session. Its just that in this run I couldn't figure out why the machine wasn't pulling from the bottle. Cheers! -Mike
🤩 "promo sm"
No thanks! Seems like another gimmicky brew system. 🤮
Watched 2 minutes.. what are you doing mike? Paint by numbers brewing?
I'm wondering who the target audience for such a "hipster-system" is. Every homebrewer I know is interested in the process (since it is often recreational and sometimes meditative) and handling of the ingredients or doing some manual work. Using this "system" comprises of ripping some plastic bags and throwing its contents into a soulless machine - boring. But thanks for the review. Cheers!
I don't see the point of this at all. Are your friends supposed to be impressed that you "brewed your own beer"? You literally have no control over anything. At some point, you will just lose interest and throw it away, or you will decide to actually go buy real brewing equipment. This is not even a good way to get started though, because you're likely to get frustrated, lose interest, and form bad opinions about hombrewing in general. If you want recipes made for you, there's kits available at every hombrew supplier. At least then you're still learning the process and get some experience that can help you when you decide to try your own recipes.
If you guys want sponsors, why not get sponsored by something you would actually use?
I just lost my mind and stopped watching when you said you need an RFID sticker to activate the brew. You guys do great work on this channel, but this thing...