No matter how much space we all have to brew in, it never seems like enough. I can fully relate even with my large brew space. I'm currently reorganizing and even gave some old equipment away recently to move things around.

I noticed they also changed one of the hops. It makes me wonder though as I've seen breweries share recipes that I knew for a fact weren't the same as what they were using at the Brewery. As for this recipe it is a bit older but it appears to be licensed from Russian River with their blessing so it has to be either a slightly older version or their recommended version. Personally I still need to try the real thing, but until then, I'm truly enjoying this clone.

Thanks, and I think I can handle the clear wort camera shot next time around. I've been working to get some local home brewers from two local (one is about an hour away) home brew clubs to come over and brew, just to get their perspectives for the viewers.

@@BitterRealityBrewing Looking forward to it!

It was one of those old DR pH Meters from Amazon, sadly they don't sell it anymore and I'm having a bit of an issue locating what they replaced it with. Here is a really old link to the exact one I am using which was only $27.40 delivered back in 2020. amzn.to/48MsQeR

Smart man! If she is 21 or older, she can try it but most ladies don't seem to care for the really bitter and strong IPAs but there are always exceptions.

@@BitterRealityBrewing she got me the kit for Christmas now I’m rewatching this to see how the hop schedule is first time doing an ipa

I think the kit you are thinking has a pig on the label. I can't remember the name either. Whole hops might be my new go to for mash hops as they seem to work really well for that. If I lived in the North West, I could get and grow some fresh hops to use.

Out of the gate on a large brew, 69% which was pretty good for a first attempt with a larger batch. I think it is a great system, but it is also a more hands on compared to an Anvil Foundry. With an Anvil Foundry, you can walk away during many parts of the brew, but I would recommend it with this system as I felt it needed a bit more attention, especially as it was my first brew. I'll probably change my attitude, once I get used to the system and work with it more. Balancing the liquid in the top and bottom during my mash and dialing in my temps was the hardest parts on the maiden brew day.

I prefer to sparge because I've always done it and when someone tells you not to, it is a hard habit to break. For a 10 gallon batch and not able to lift it, can be a hard one. I would say for 10 gallon batches, I would consider the Anvil Foundry 18 Gallon system for best bang for the buck for a 10 gallon system. The BrewZilla Gen 4 65 liter is nice but you have to buy a few extras that I feel should be included like the heat exchanger, the jacket, and supposedly the add-on temp probe according to friends of mine that have the 35 L version. Other option for something a bit fancier and a lot of fun to brew on would be the Spike Solo 20 Gallon system, it is really nice but considerably more money compared to the other two. As for not able to lift, you could consider a pully system for all of the systems. (The Spike has two handles but a pully system could still help with the weight of the lift.)

Follow the directions and think of your grains as making the base of a soup and the hops as additional spices adding at certain times. This recipe does have a "Mash hop" which means it is adding with the grains, but no other hops can be added until you mash out. A great way to think about hops is anything 90 minutes to 30 minutes is all about the bitter, 30 to 10 minutes is flavor, and 10 to 0, including dry hops is all about aroma. (This isn't written in stone, but it is a good guideline.) Good Luck.

@@BitterRealityBrewing that’s what I was referring to the mash hops.

Compared to an Anvil Foundry, G40, or BrewZilla, it is a lot more hands on. It is essentially a 3 kettle type system that only uses 2 kettles by allowing one to be a dual purpose kettle. There are fair amount of pros, but the complexity does make it a bit more working mainly during the mash process. The boil is about as straight forward as any system.

I told Blichmann, I would recommend it to intermediate to advanced brewers, but I wouldn't recommend it to someone new to brewing as it could be overwhelming.

I moved from a DIY BIAB system with recirculating pump & PID to a G40 mainly to speed up the setting up and taking down part of the brew day. Set up is now five minutes, roll the G40 out from the store room, pull out the mash basket which has all my brewing gear stored in, fill the vessel with my water and set it to heat up whilst I measure out my grains. I guess the Blichmann suits a permanent brew space more, like the brewtools ones. Too many parts to put together and take apart if you have to get it out and pack it all away again.

I wouldn't recommend to anyone new to brewing. It is really for the advanced brewer that loves to have a 3 kettle system but doesn't have the space or possibly the finances.