Clawhammer BIAB System After 3 Years, How is it Holding Up? System Comparison!

[@tylereisaman6839]

I’m a new brewer that has been dragging my feet to purchase a BIAB system for well over a year. I wanted to skip extract and go straight to all-grain. I’m happy to say that based off your recommendation and spreadsheet (along with a few other KZbinrs recommendations) I finally purchased the Clawhammer this past weekend! From one Michigander to another, thank you for your videos!

[@TroubleBrewing]

Im really happy with it, happy you found the spreadsheet useful! Cheers!

[@ColSaint]

Great run down and review. And OBTW, I love, love, LOVED you in Harry Potter!

[@martinshaw1099]

HI Matt! I just purchased my system and I have been missing my expected OG by 12-13 points on each brew. I use Brewfather to create recipes and use the default equipment profile for the 120V Clawhammer system. Its expecting an efficiency of about 70%, does that seem to high and possibly the reason for missing my OG by the same measured amount? Im really stumped on this. Otherwise love the system!

[@TroubleBrewing]

Hello, was it a one time miss or are you consistently under by that much? Missing OG can be caused by a ton of factors but there are some things that may be able to help. 1: double crush grains, BIAB allows for that. 2: Sparge instead of doing full water volume in mash. (I have a video on sparging) 3: Account for the volume loss and use either less water or more grain when planning 4: Take pre-boil gravity readings and adjust with DME until you can get more data.

[@martinshaw1099]

@@TroubleBrewing so far i have been missing consistently about the same amount. I will try double crushing next time to see if that helps as i have read for a no sparge BIAB, double crushing helps a lot. I will look to keep some dme on hand going forward to be safe as well because if I used any less water, I wouldnt hit my batch volume. Thanks for the response

[@CanadianBrewingChannel]

I purchased the 20 gallon 230vac system 4 years ago. I gave up on using the brewing basket as mashing was too inaccurate. Temps would be out by 5f. Also way to heavy to lift and drain when doing 20 pounds of grain. I now use a separate mash kettle and I fly sparge. Also I don't use the kettle anymore because I had to purchase a Spike condensation lid because my new brew space has no window to exhaust the steam. The condensation lid is 1/4" to big to fit on the Claw hammer kettle - Not happy about that! This forced me to buy a 20 gallon Spike Kettle. I still use the pump and controller built by Claw Hammer and love it. If I could do it all over, I would purchase the Claw Hammer controller and build the system to surround it. Cheers!

[@edmunddavis2585]

Hey - the Clawhammer continues to crank out enjoyable brews! Looking forward to my next sampling of your creations.

[@njpmn]

Hi Matt, don't know why I missed this system update when you published, but just watched it. I run both the 120V & 240V systems and have both the 10gal and 20 gal kettles. Just one note about the discoloration on the baskets. I have only done this a couple times over the 50 or so batches I have created, but if you set up for circulation at 140F with a PBW concentration of about 2 oz/gal with enough volume to cover the stained part of the basket, it will come out looking new. Or it least it has for me. There may be a point beyond which it works, but it can make a big difference. Also has benefit of a good clean of the pump, chiller and hoses, though the hoses remain yellowed.

[@TroubleBrewing]

Oh very cool! I may give this a try at some point but good to know that can probably be reduced! Cheers!

[@ricardogamboa4334]

Great video. Thanks

[@capOlllllOable]

Thanks for the long term update! This system is on my list. Confused on upgrading to 240V system by changing out only the element. What about the relay, receptacle, power cord, breaker and wiring to handle 240V. I think you are mistaken on upgrading the output capacity of the controller. Not trying to troll you, but there’s more to it than that.

[@TroubleBrewing]

Hey Kcmoto, sorry for the confusion if I made it seem that you just have to swap the element. There is alot more to it then just swapping out the element. If it was just the element im sure everyone would be doing it since elements cost almost nothing.

[@justhomebrew]

I don’t own a claw hammer system, but I’m always curious other homebrew systems. Nice overview.

[@thehoppyhour6297]

Great video braj!

[@chilecayenne]

If you have the extra money to burn...would you consider the Spike system? It looks quite a bit more sturdy and overbuilt that the clawhammer system..... Thoughts?

[@TroubleBrewing]

Hello! Not sure if you have seen this but I have a video comparing all electric biab systems: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kJiln5KIn7WKeqM But to answer your question, personally no. The system is $600 more expensive and does not include a chiller. There are nicer systems available at a higher price point but personally I dont think the spike system is worth it IMO.

[@johnnyzsalt5374]

@@TroubleBrewing CH has a chiller? I couldn't find that anywhere and it was the factor in me buying one. Might have to indulge.

[@TroubleBrewing]

@@johnnyzsalt5374 Yea it comes with a plate chiller! Works awesome!

[@johnnyzsalt5374]

@@TroubleBrewing I guess the only thing left is actually learning how to brew beer. Just a simple golden lager like Coors to start and then maybe I will try to get cute. I'm hoping I can get good so I can have a decent retirement gig. Its either that or becoming a janitor.

[@codebowl]

You're lucky I had to have my pump replaced after my 2nd brew day. I got everything ready and went to do my 3rd and my pump would not power on even when directly plugged into an outlet. Clawhammer replaced it without any issues and then I went to do my 6th brew day and my pump would not turn on for some reason, it took 3 times plugging it in to actually get it to work at all but it did start working again so no need to have it replaced. My local Home Depot didn't have any pumps that were all stainless and I didn't dare use one with a plastic internals as they were not heat rated. I have yet to do a review but I have only done about 7 batches on mine so far. I agree with you on the hop basket should be a bit larger in diameter. The one thing I don't like is that my grain basket seems to have some metal spurs on the upper edge so when I clean it sometimes I end up with small holes in my fingers :D All in all I am loving my Clawhammer system and the support provided by the team there has been awesome! Awesome review and I cannot wait for my next brew day! Modularity is the main reason I went with the Clawhammer system since I can buy just about everything locally (when in stock)

[@TroubleBrewing]

Sorry to hear about your pump, sounds light a nightmare.

[@codebowl]

@@TroubleBrewing It was actually a pleasant experience as Clawhammer made it quite easy by sending me a replacement at no cost since it was only a few weeks after my initial purchase of the system,. Their support has been awesome!

[@brewingbadTN]

Stupid question here: You mentioned the hop spider being too small for the CH system. Is there anything preventing a user from emptying the grain basket after the mash, rinsing it out and reinserting it for the boil and using is as the hop spider?

[@TroubleBrewing]

Hey definitely not a stupid question! I cant remember who, I want to say Short Circuited Brewer did a brew day were he tried that and I believe the hops really clogged that basket up causing flow issues. I could be wrong but I do remember there was a reason not to do that, just cant remember.

[@deckerhand12]

I am sorry for what you have to spend on this system you shouldn’t be having any issues you are having. I got my mash and boil about the same time and I have 0 issues

[@TroubleBrewing]

I cant remember what I said in this video but overall I really do enjoy the system!

[@melkyriakou1555]

Do they have brewzillas and grainfathers where you are? Brewzilla gen 4 pretty ridiculous value and very upgradeable. Clawhammer looks cooler though. Grainfather G40 pretty awesome too but more expensive.

[@TroubleBrewing]

Hey Mel! Yea there are alot of systems out there which I go over in my BIAB comparison video. When looking at direct comparisons I was comparing fully modular systems (systems that can be hooked up via triclamp/npt). There are definitely systems that are much cheaper then $1000 that are great systems. Anvil/BrewZilla/Grainfathers/etc...