Grainfather brewing upgrades guide

[@dongraham8236]

I enjoy your videos and have made nearly all the mods you've recommended...ie - brew paddle, Robobrew false bottom, hop spider, GF wort paddle etc. I don't need to mod the GF filter because of the RB false bottom. I haven't really had to worry about the wort temp thus far but may add the GF wortometer for my digital thermometer. Thank you for your tips and community R&D sharing and keep up the great service!

[@DavidHeathHomebrew]

Many thanks Don, great to hear :)

[@johnpearce7479]

I have drilled a few holes in the cover around the reset button at the base, hopefully it will allow some cooling in the cavity and maybe drainage.

[@DavidHeathHomebrew]

You should not need to do this really :)

[@johnpearce7479]

@@DavidHeathHomebrew technically I agree however I had a boil over and beer got into cavity and got onto the earth connection of the element. The terminal became rusted so I replace 4mm screw and drilled holes to prevent this happening again.

[@DavidHeathHomebrew]

Ok, that seems to suggest a fault. You should raise it with your supplier.

[@oledognes]

Hi David, after watching through you're videos i decided to buy a Grainfather a sparge water heater now that there was a campaign in Norway. Will definitely look into these upgrades from the start, Thank you for the good videos, Ole

[@DavidHeathHomebrew]

Thanks Ole, glad you are finding my videos useful :)

[@MarkWilson-bx9gg]

Very handy for me as ive just started. The filter upgrade was good for me in particular as ive just fired mine for first time and thought it looked a little flimsy. Still a little confused about stainless steel sheeting you fitted but going to search on eBay now to see if i can find any

[@DavidHeathHomebrew]

Great to hear Mark. You should be able to find the stainless steel mesh easy enough. 2 other key upgrades for the Grainfather have their own videos on my channel. Check out "Grainfather false bottom" and "Grainfather camlock conversion" in KZbin search.

[@ryanwallace84]

David, great video and i think a subject matter that certainly deserves future parts/episodes as they come up. Eg, alot of users build custom stands and The blichmann hop rocket modification is certainly a worthy mention! All the best, Ryan

[@DavidHeathHomebrew]

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[@NoGlockTrucker]

Another video with good useful info, thanks. I will be putting some of these mods of yours to use as I just ordered a grainfather. I’m looking forward to my first brew day with it. Now I just have to decide what beer I want to make first.

[@DavidHeathHomebrew]

Great, thanks for the feedback. As for your first beer I would pick something that is fast to be ready to drink. So session beers that are either hoppy, wheat beers or stouts.

[@NoGlockTrucker]

David Heath thanks for response. Would a ordinary bitter be another one that is fast to be ready to drink?

[@DavidHeathHomebrew]

Yes they can be pretty fast also :)

[@NoGlockTrucker]

David Heath Great that will be my first grainfather brew than.

[@DavidHeathHomebrew]

I do love a bitter. This recipe here being my favorite:- kzbin.info/www/bejne/e3uZeo13nMmSq9U

[@djuanesg2756]

Hi David ! Great video, very useful for new grainfather users. Keep it up !!

[@DavidHeathHomebrew]

Many thanks David :)

[@100amps]

All good stuff! One note though, some of the stainless steel hose clamps (rings) that I’ve bought over the years had parts inside (the screw itself, maybe more) that were not stainless steel and those parts eventually rusted. Something to be cognizant of.

[@DavidHeathHomebrew]

Yes. You need to be careful with such things. Look out for 100% stainless steel versions for sure.

[@accesv]

Thank you. I did a few of your mod. I even got a longer hose from the grandfather to the chiller. Easier for me.

[@18centwood]

Steven Guertin Are you saying grainfather sent you a longer version of their hose or you supplemented a hose from somewhere else?

[@accesv]

No I replace mind,

[@DavidHeathHomebrew]

Just add on to the existing hose Scott. My Thrumometer is between the two hoses but you could use a connector.

[@jhecoolness]

The thermometer comes in 2 sizes. Which is appropriate for the grandfather tubing? Love the movies!!!

[@jhecoolness]

sorry... just watched movie again..... 3/8 inch.

[@jy8597]

Hi David - I was curious if you have any plans on creating a video re: harvesting yeast w the conical. Thanks for the videos.

[@DavidHeathHomebrew]

That I could certainly arrange :)

[@ChristianMercadoAcevedo]

This is such a helpful video. Thanks!

[@DavidHeathHomebrew]

Great to hear 🍻 Cheers 🍻

[@johnsikking4891]

I love the new 4K, it makes the video look like we are in the same room together. Thanks for all of the hard work and I’d love to know how or of you re venter your Grainfather when brewing indoors.

[@DavidHeathHomebrew]

Thanks John :) The area I brew in is a basement and has vents that I can open.

[@dongraham8236]

Another great mod is a rolling plant stand...my first one wasn't great as it was acrylic and didn't fit quite right. I got a perfect metal one at Wal Mart for under $20 CDN with a big reset switch access hole.

[@dagooglenet]

Can you share a link please to the rolling plant stand??

[@DavidHeathHomebrew]

Try these:- www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.gardenista.com/posts/5-favorites-rolling-plant-stands/amp/

[@andrearosato3676]

Useful and great video, if I ask, where do you bought your wonderful wodden mash paddle? Thanks

[@DavidHeathHomebrew]

From a local homebrew store in Norway. You can find nice ones all over the world though :)

[@aresjoflot2562]

Hello David, Again thank you for many interesting videos. I have tried to find a sink strainer like the one you show in your Grainfather upgrade video, but no luck. Where did you find yours ? I live in Oslo.

[@DavidHeathHomebrew]

Thanks Are. I live near Drammen but I found mine on ebay :) Try searching for “large sink strainer” some minutes of scrolling may be needed but you should spot one.

[@dongraham8236]

Do you have stores like we have here in Canada, ie. - dollar value or "kroner" stores? They're mostly full of cheap Chinese goods and here I bought a stainless steel sink strainer for $1

[@DavidHeathHomebrew]

Often it is easier to just buy on Ebay. I live close to Oslo myself now and value stores are thin on the ground sadly.

[@dongraham8236]

David et al...you might also consider Ali Baba- the Chinese eBay...most prices are extremely hard to beat...and consider the fact it’s where most of our stuff comes from...

[@dongraham8236]

David et al...you might also consider Ali Baba- the Chinese eBay...most prices are extremely hard to beat...and consider the fact it’s where most of our stuff comes from.

[@room048]

Why does the Sink strainer matter as when you pump into your fermentor the bits of grain will be caught anyway

[@DavidHeathHomebrew]

If you have much grain left when you boil that can lead to off flavours but as explained its really more of a warning system for grain that has been milled too finely.

[@dongraham8236]

Hello David...wondering what camlock pieces/measures are required to convert my GF sparge arm to the Robobrew style...counterflow chiller would also need a match as well...and...since the Robobrew cover fits wouldn’t the Robobrew sparge arm work on the GF? Both are cheap via Alibaba and are reasonable locally...

[@DavidHeathHomebrew]

I have been using this blog for the information:- thethinkhank.blogspot.com/2017/03/camlocks-on-grainfather.html

[@timredd]

All good and useful mods to make the brewing session easier. Did you do any videos for yeast saving, reuse and storage. I recall seeing video's on this, but can't seem to find them! Thanks David.

[@DavidHeathHomebrew]

Sure do, here is some links:- kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y5qqmKupa7adhrs kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z3m5lqGpidiFjsU kzbin.info/www/bejne/iaCydZWgmZd6l7s

[@josephruggieri7902]

Good information and you explain things well.

[@DavidHeathHomebrew]

Great to hear Joseph :) Plenty more on this channel like this if you have just discovered it :)

[@Z33803]

Thanks so much for these vids! Nothing really came up on a search on ebay for 250 micron stainless steel sheeting allot of listings only have a number like 16,20,24 , 30 mesh. Im not sure which on to get. Could you suggest exactly what I should search for on ebay to help me track down the right mesh for using with pellets? Many thanks.

[@DavidHeathHomebrew]

I just searched for stainless steel sheeting and then the micron size. Ive bought from ebay before but a general net search should also work.

[@dongraham8236]

David et al...you might also consider Ali Baba- the Chinese eBay...most prices are extremely hard to beat...and consider the fact it’s where most of our stuff comes from.

[@DavidHeathHomebrew]

Thanks Don, yes I use them alot :)

[@egumit]

Great video, I really like the modification and advise. What kind of equipment do you use to make the videos? Camera, Microphones, software, and camera stands.

[@DavidHeathHomebrew]

Thanks Michael, I will list here:- iMac 5k with Final cut pro, a mix of tripods (mostly cheap unbranded)WF, Viltrox LS 190 lighting stands with L132T lights. Nikon A900 / Iphone 7 plus, DJI Osmo mobile, Blue microphone. The only parts that I am 100% happy with is the computer and software.

[@egumit]

David Heath thank you very much for this valuable information.

[@DavidHeathHomebrew]

No problem :)

[@timshipley1898]

Great video as always, good quality and good information.. Keep it up.

[@DavidHeathHomebrew]

Great, thanks for the feedback Tim :)

[@MultiChef888]

Hi David a very good tips video , thanks Ivan

[@DavidHeathHomebrew]

Thanks for the feedback Ivan, much appreciated :)

[@aarntsen]

Hi, I'm Arnljot. I really enjoy your videos, thank you for sharing your expertise. A few questions still. The ring clamp on the filter, you don't take it off for a thorough clean occasionally either? Also, I've got a problem with the andoid app and continuing brews after power outage. Do you have any experience with that? I'm getting a whirlpool paddle after this video, thank you!

[@DavidHeathHomebrew]

Hi, No I've left mine on since it was fitted. It still gets cleaned after each brew but it is never removed. I do remove the filter itself though. I cannot really advise on the Android app, I have only ever used the iOS version. I would suggest that you contact GF customer service on this one. Many thanks :)

[@mikemiller6503]

I had a power outage (The GF tripped the breaker I had it plugged into) during my last brew. I had to manually complete the step I was on, then start the brew all over from the android app, and skip to the step that was next on the controller.

[@emilio8971]

Thank You ! Very interesting

[@DavidHeathHomebrew]

Great, thanks for the feedback :)

[@knoxovic]

Useful vid as always David, cheers

[@DavidHeathHomebrew]

Great, many thanks :)

[@bowhunterbear1]

Great video

[@DavidHeathHomebrew]

Thanks a lot Bill, much appreciated :)

[@marcruse5359]

Useful stuff as usual.

[@DavidHeathHomebrew]

Thanks for the feedback Marc. This content was based on a great deal of requests. Is there something you would prefer to see?

[@dongraham8236]

Tea infuser balls can be split in two and thus would provide two strainers. It’s crazy how things aren’t available from one place to the next. If it was cheap to send them to Oslo from Canada, I could send a thousand🤔🤡

[@DavidHeathHomebrew]

🍻🍻😎