All-in-one brewing systems are more sophisticated than ever. Automation, mobile apps, integrated thermometers and pumps have made these handy pieces of equipment serious considerations for amateur homebrewers and experienced beer makers alike.
Not all systems are the same, though, but there’s surely one to meet your expectations. If you’re a hard-core three-tier brewer with a semi-professional setup, you might find that these systems are not as reliable or customizable as the real deal. On the other hand, even professional brewers can see in these sets a convenient ‘set and forget’ system for small batches, and that’s fun!
Here are some of the most popular all-in-one brewing systems, their pros and cons. See if one of them sings to you. They might be what you’re looking for to take your brewing game to the next level.
Don’t have time? Pick one of those:
The best if you’re a total beginner: BeerDroid
The best if you’re on a budget: Brewer’s Edge Mash and Boil
The best if you’re a serious homebrewer: Grainfather G30
Comparison of the products
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Ok, now let’s go into details.
Grainfather G30 All-In-One Home Beer Brewing System
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Grainfather is one of the most engaging brewing communities for both first-timers and seasoned enthusiasts.
Their learning resources are worth checking out on their website, but you know you want to know more about their all-in-one brewing system.
User-friendly, this 8-gallon (30 liters) system is a plug-and-go smart tun with a 20-minute heat up. The expandable grain basket gives you versatility; it holds anywhere between 4.5 and 9 kilos of grain.
The mashing and delayed heating are remotely programmable, and a pretty accessible digital display allows you to set your brewing up with just a few buttons.
The counterflow chiller in this kit allows you to seamlessly transfer your wort into your fermenter at the right temperature. Although you can’t ferment the beer in the G30, you can combine it with the Grainfather’s conical fermenter or any other you have in hand.
The Connect App allows you to set up your brews and connects you with an enthusiastic community. This system works nicely and makes brewing day fun.
Pros:
- BIAB technology.
- Capacity: 8 gallons (30 liters).
- Programmable start timer.
- A double-wall construction keeps temperatures stable.
- Convenient and easy to use.
- Connect App to control everything remotely via Bluetooth, program strike water temperature.
- Fast cooling with counterflow chiller (20 min).
- Takes around 20 minutes to reach boil temperature.
- 3-year warranty.
- Large community.
Cons:
- High price
- Fermenter and tubing not included.
- Hard to get the seals to stay on the mesh screen when inserting into the basket.
- The filter can clog.
- The sparge water heater and the insulating blanket are not included.
- Several customers are complaining about the non-responsive customer service.
Brewer’s Edge Mash and Boil
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Brewer’s Edge is a committed California company, and its Mash and Boil All-In-One unit is their pride and joy. There’s no need for burners or three-pot systems; mash and boil in the same vessel from extract or grain, fast and easy. Brew up to 7.5 gallons (28 liters) of beer with this unit’s 16-pound (7.25kg) malt capacity.
A more sophisticated model includes a built-in pump for mash recirculation.
This is a solid piece of equipment any seasoned brewer will enjoy, even if having more complete systems in hand. It’s handy for experimental batches and can add versatility to any operation.
Although multifunctional, this is not a stand-alone piece of equipment; you still need to heat the sparge water, chill the wort and ferment the beer in a separate container.
With the proper setup, this mash and boil system can be a time saver.
Pros:
- Good value for money.
- Convenient and easy to use.
- Brew in a Bag (BIAB) technology.
- A double-wall construction keeps temperatures stable.
- Two-Year Warranty.
- 20-40 minutes to get strike water to 162° F (72° C).
- Thermometer hole in the lid to check mash temperature.
- You can cool the wort through your external chiller.
- Adjustable thermostat.
- Programmable start timer.
- You can use it for batches as small as 4 gallons (15 liters).
- Easy to clean.
Cons:
- You still need to heat 3 gallons (11.3 liters) of sparge water to 167° F (75° C) in a separate pot.
- Wort chiller not included.
- You can’t use the system to ferment.
- Mashing temperature can vary, so use your own thermometer.
- Boil overs are likely to happen for 5-gallon batches.
- You can’t filter/whirlpool your wort after the boil.
BeerDroid Fully Automated Beer Brewing System
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Welcome to the future. Brew Art’s fully automated personal brewer allows for brewing 10 liters (2.6 gallons) of beer with a state-of-the-art temperature-controlled system that’s as pretty as it is functional.
Suitable for beginners, or homebrewers without space for a full-grown brewing system, this handy appliance is more than a party trick; the beer is actually good!
There are several downsides, though, the brewing capacity is small, and you’ll have a hard time customizing your recipes.
If you’re genuinely enthusiastic about brewing beer, this is a lovely starting point, but you’ll outgrow it soon.
This system is a fantastic gift that will get anyone excited about brewing beer at home for the first time. For a seasoned brewer, though, it might just not be powerful enough.
Pros:
- The easiest and simplest way to make (good) beer.
- Accessible to beginners.
- Require minimal space and looks nice.
- Everything is automatic. Just add water and ingredients (malt extract, yeast and dry hop if you wish), then press the start button.
- Full automation.
- App to walk you through the steps and monitor the brewing process.
- Suitable for ales and lagers thanks to the temperature control vessel.
- Around 50 available ingredient kits (BrewPrints) ready to use.
- You can pour in your own wort.
- You can also customize your recipes (extract or all-grain)
- Video resources on the App to help you set up, sterilize, brew, and keg.
- Easy sanitization with sanitizing tablet.
- Straightforward and easy to clean up.
Cons:
- Quite expensive for the capacity.
- You can’t mash or boil in the BrewDroid.
- Reduced capacity.
- The BrewFlo kegging system and temperature-controlled beer dispenser cost extra. (You could still bottle your beer normally.)
Robobrew V3
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The Robobrew V3, basically the same equipment as the game-changing BrewZilla, is a single-vessel home brewing all-grain system with its own pump and cooling coil.
The single vessel has a 9.25-gallon (35 liters) capacity and runs on a single 220-volt plug.
Six-stage programmable temperatures allow for automatic step mashing, giving you complete control of the temperatures during the boil, too.
A big plus is having the ability to program the temperature 23 hours in advance, meaning the water is up and ready on brew day.
The recirculating pump is functional as well; recirculate your wort for a steady extraction and temperature, all in a single tun.
Some users have reported finding the electronics and overall build a bit weak and the lack of compatible mobile app is missed; this is the 21st century, after all.
You’ll also need a neoprene jacket to counter the insufficient insulation and achieve the desired temperature in time.
Having said that, the Robobrew is a trendy model and one of the first all-in-one all-grain brewing systems. Everything from its recirculation system to its glass lid is attractive.
Pros:
- BIAB technology.
- Program your strike water with a Delay Start Timer.
- Recirculation pump included.
- Immersion chiller included.
- False bottom mesh on the bottom and second false ‘bottom’ screen prevent the pump from clogging.
- Easy to clean.
Cons:
- 1-year warranty.
- The temperature on the controller might be slightly higher than it really is due to sensor location. Adjustment of 5-6° F (2-3° C) might be necessary.
- Using a neoprene jacket is strongly suggested.
- Not the most solid build.
- Fermenter and tubing are not included.
Clawhammer Supply Homebrew Beer Brewing System
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The folks at Clawhammer build copper stills from scratch. Now imagine what they can do for homebrewers! The answer is this semi-automated, digital and electric brewing system that works for both all-grain and extract brewing.
There’re 120 and 140-volt setups, both for 10.5 gallons (40 liters) and brew in a bag (BIAB) compatible. The stainless-steel hop baskets and self-draining grain basket make for a hassle-free, smooth brewing.
The digital automated controller is the brain in this thing, a ‘set and forget’ system to control the temperature during the mashing and brewing and even control the built-in pump.
This is no starter kit; it’s equipment built to last, with fine material and reliable tech. It’s nice to see an all-in-one brewing system with its own heavy-duty silicone hosing, tri-camps and fittings.
For a high-volume, heavy-duty setup, this set has it all. You might need an insulation jacket depending on the altitude, and Clawhammer doesn’t offer a smart app, but other than that, this is a solid set.
Clawhammer is also famous for its fun YouTube channel, where they show off their equipment through recipes. Their customer service is reported as very good too.
Pros:
- BIAB technology.
- Capacity: 10.5 gallons (40 liters).
- Quite a small footprint.
- 120v system, but fast to heat the water/wort.
- Takes around 40-60 minutes to reach mash temperature.
- Takes around 20-40 minutes to reach boil temperature.
- Wort cools down fast with the high-efficiency flat plate heat exchanger.
- Endless recipes on their fun YouTube channel.
- Great customer service.
Cons:
- High price.
- Fermenter and tubing are not included.
- Hard to assemble, but they offer helpful videos.
- Insulation kit recommended.
- Fittings are threaded (a bit more challenging to keep clean than tri-clamp fittings.)
Pros & Cons of an All-in-one system
All-in-one brewing systems are here to stay, and they’re better than ever.
At the end of the day, for some of us, home brewing is just a hobby and a fun way of spending our time; for others, it’s the beginning of a professional career.
Some of us might only brew a batch or two every month, while others might brew every day.
As homebrewers, we all have different needs and aspirations; this means brewing systems might or might not work for you. Here are some general pros and cons about these systems.
Are all-in-one systems for you?
Pros:
- Classic brewing is a lot of work; an All-in-one system just makes it easier.
- Allow to brew indoors in the winter (no burners/propane needed).
- Brew in only one kettle (no three-tier system needed).
- No need to lug everything out of the basement or garage.
- Easier to reach a good efficiency (70% and above).
- Easy to use, even for beginners.
Cons:
- Some systems are expensive.
- Some systems have a small capacity.
- Some systems are either hard to clean or have complex electronics that make the equipment more delicate.
- Most systems are not entirely all-in-one. You might need extra equipment to heat the sparging water, cool down the wort, or ferment the beer.
- Too much automation might strip home brewing away from some of home brewing’s charm.
Last update on 2024-11-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
