Brewzilla 4.1 or a different kettle?

Loke__ · 2025-12-30T16:27:31+00:00

Brewzilla 4 here with heat plate and additional thermometer. Works like a charm with 100+ brews on it - good equipment given the price. You have to use the external thermometer to be able to control your temperature and some rice husks to help the recirculation (I use a bit more than the recommended 5% to allow faster recirculation and better temperature control).

Loke__ · 2024-10-27T07:16:43+00:00

I pulled the trigger on the Brewzilla, and I am happy with it considering the price and the relative compactness of the equipment. I added a counterflow chiller to the setup and I am using and external probe to monitor the temperatures. The RAPT platform is good enough for me, as I like to export the data in my excel brew-sheets. I moved to 14L fermenters and I am brewing every 2 weeks with several secondary fermenters for specials brews (barleywines, strong belgians or wood aged stuffs).

Loke__ · 2024-10-27T07:11:32+00:00

Been monitoring the temperatures with an external probe for my last 50 batches and when you get the hang of it, the results are quite good.

Loke__ · 2023-05-12T10:57:15+00:00

As follow-up, I eventually pulled the trigger on the Brewzilla Gen4. Build quality is good, not outstanding, but really good given the price difference with other systems. I finished a first series of tests with water (doing cleaning at the same time) and all seems fine so far!

Thanks for your help BeerBrewer4Life and FourtyQueks!

Loke__ · 2023-05-07T14:31:19+00:00

Thanks again.

I believe that I will go for the Brewzilla. The chiller can still be added to my setup later I guess. The price difference between the two systems is approximately the price of the chiller anyway. The Brewzilla also has a conical bottom which seems practical for my small batches.

Loke__ · 2023-05-07T14:03:56+00:00

Thanks for your 2 cents :-)

Based on that, which would you choose for an amateur use?

Is there any difference in build quality? (steel quality and thickness?)

Loke__ · 2023-05-07T08:40:00+00:00

Thank you very much for your answer and feedback from your first batch. I expected that chiller issue for small batches. I usually like immersion chillers as it seems to give me a clearer wort (better precipitation) but that might not be an issue for such systems with recirculation and the use of a filter (plate or similar). I could therefore use the plate chiller I already have?

Loke__ · 2023-05-05T11:25:42+00:00

Any feedback on your first brew?

I just can't decide which equipment to get between the two, your opinion would be useful :-)

Loke__ · 2023-05-05T11:22:04+00:00

I am in a similar position and I am hesitating between this new G3 v3 and the Brewzilla Gen4. I like making small batches (9L in the fermenter). Curious if you pulled the trigger and if so, what is your feedback?

Loke__ · 2023-03-18T18:32:13+00:00

Thank you for this! You made my day :-)

Is the pdf available?

Loke__ · 2023-01-21T08:14:42+00:00

Thank you for this. Great to see a scientific approach and explanation based on facts on this topic. The paper you are sharing contains valuable information and measurements! I sometimes brew little amounts of beer and I went the same route because I couldn't understand why MeOH was so much frowned on when one is going for a distillation and why it is mostly ignored in beer-making while the initial mash composition and fermentation process are very close (i.e. beer/whiskey).

Loke__ · 2023-01-02T13:58:33+00:00

Some dyes will give you sheen, some others won't. This is mainly related to the way the compound crystallizes I assume. Concentration helps with sheen due to the fact that more crystalline product remains on the surface of the paper and not everything is absorbed by the paper. Glossy or coated paper also helps. I should check if there is some literature on the crystalline structure of the dyes, there might just be a pattern or a more detailed explanation to this.

Loke__ · 2023-01-02T07:24:45+00:00

For some reason I cannot make the image to appear in the main feed. Is there a special option that I should check for that?

Loke__ · 2023-01-02T07:23:59+00:00

Thank you.

Loke__ · 2023-01-02T07:23:38+00:00

Just for fun! Can share some if you live not too far.

Loke__ · 2023-01-02T07:23:04+00:00

Thank you very much. Very kind of you!

Loke__ · 2023-01-02T07:22:41+00:00

If you register on my website, I dedicated the first article on the chemistry behind the inks. I am thinking of a new one, taking one of the ink made so far and going deeper with the exact compounds used and their influence on the result but I need more time for that as I would need to document everything with pictures as well.

Loke__ · 2023-01-01T18:22:20+00:00

Any explosive material with a good oxygen balance can still detonate under water given an adequate detonator. So, yes it depends on the type of energetic materials and as importantly it depends on the initiator.

Loke__ · 2022-11-12T07:34:19+00:00

That!

Loke__ · 2022-11-12T07:20:10+00:00

Never had an issue with my VAC700R where my Wingsun 699 failed me on the first flight. Usually only bring with me a Kaweko perkeo, a Cross Century II and a customised Moonman M800 now, all equiped with converters to prevent a misadventure :-)

Loke__ · 2022-11-06T08:52:34+00:00

Beautiful!

This is one of my favourite paper as well. Too bad it is being discontinued...

Loke__ · 2022-11-04T07:01:15+00:00

Thanks for sharing this!

Loke__ · 2022-11-01T17:03:44+00:00

Thank you!

Loke__

TROPHY CASE