Brewtools Circulation Manifold: First Look

[@MAR108]

Nice I was just thinking about your channel yesterday and wondered when you would post again, it was quite a surprise today.

[@beeroquoisnation]

That jewel looks to be gentle enough flow. Very nice rig. Cheers.

[@ninkasihomebrewer8226]

Thanks 😊. Did it increase the efficiency?

[@BentGateBrewing]

Looks awesome!

[@pain-and-patience]

This is all very well, but what about those big beers when the top of your mash is just an inch or two from the top of the malt pipe? Even at its highest setting, the manifold is now buried several inches deep and that doesn't sound like it's going to help with efficiency. OK, you could flip the silicone mount up the other way so that the clamp is below the manifold, but you're still some way from the top of your big mash.

[@MasteringHomebrew]

Filling your basket to the brim like that is whats going to kill your efficiency since your grain to water ratio will be way off. All in one systems still have limits and if you’re filling it up that much you need to size up. You can pull the malt pipe up a bit to bring the manifold up to the grain beds top and it works just fine. Overfilling the basket is what kills the numbers on big beers.

[@pain-and-patience]

Many thanks for taking the time to respond@@MasteringHomebrew. The grain to water ratio is still OK with the top of my mash an inch or two below the top of the B40’s malt pipe, perhaps due to rice hulls taking up space but not adding volume, if that makes sense. I actually found that the grain absorption ratio was slightly off and that also didn’t help with big beers and hitting numbers, but that’s another story. Regardless, I did my first brew day using the new recirculation manifold last week and I followed your method of not stirring the mash at all after the mash rest. Surprisingly it didn’t compact / slow down at all, and I still had some room to play at the top of the centre column. This recipe didn’t have a sparge step but I wonder how much quicker that would have played out with the new manifold?

[@andrevangijsel957]

Does a lot of grain get into the kettle when you lift it up to install the manuifold?

[@MasteringHomebrew]

Not that I have noticed

[@flidget1]

Hi Lyndon, is there any chance you could do a video of how you converted the B80 to Butterfly Valves?

[@MasteringHomebrew]

Yep im planning on it really soon! Just have to empty these tanks first then ill shoot it!

[@DrunkPlanetOfficial]

I love the design and idea, but does it worth the extra £££ and work? How much more efficiency you're getting? Cheer 🍻

[@MrSnouf]

I think the best improvment of this tool is to avoid hot side aeration.

[@MasteringHomebrew]

Id say its worth it. Not really getting huge amounts more efficiency but its more to cut down on splashing and give an even rinse and make it easy to move from recirculating to sparging. Just makes life easier. Cleaning is super easy since you sparge through it. Ive been using it for a long time now and think its the best option they have.

[@DrunkPlanetOfficial]

@Mastering Homebrew that's what I love about Brewtools. Constantly improving and making our lives easier. Shame that I just bought the sparge manifold, and I don't mind a little splash.

[@thommylindholm8572]

Are you able to close the lid when you use the Manifold? Would be nice to use it during Mash

[@MasteringHomebrew]

Not completely but i do use the lid. It is slightly ajar but works fine. I have expressed my interest in a slightly domed mash lid before to them. Ill mention it again and see what they say! i would like to be able to put the lid on flush.

[@africantwin173]

Another €€€ Brewtools Lure. And extra parts to clean after a brewday. Is it really worth it?

[@MasteringHomebrew]

Cleaning is very easy. Especially since ypu sparge through it. I normally just toss it in my dish washer. When it comes to the $€£ i think its an excellent investment and upgrade. Up to you whether or not that money is worth the convenience or not.

[@wellyftw]

You're not required to buy any of this stuff. If what you have works for you, then stick with it.

[@Mike-bg2bi]

Nice !

[@marklpaulick]

Perfect video. Very nice design on the product. But I am starting to get a little annoyed with brewtools… sold me the sparge manifold and this makes it obsolete. Will they take a return on the sparge manifold!?? A of course not