# Looking for automated brewery **URL:** \ **Category:** Brewing Processes\ **Created:** [April 1, 2019, 8:42pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/looking-for-automated-brewery/28653 "2019-04-01T20:42:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MerlinBrewer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3e96dc/32.png) [@MerlinBrewer](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/MerlinBrewer)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2019, 7:26pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/looking-for-automated-brewery/28653/21 "2019-04-03T19:26:38Z")
> [@](#): > > Oxidation because there is apparently no way to separate trub before fermentation,  and because you will be bottling just as you would with a bucket.  Some day there will probably be a system that ferments, carbonates, and packages all in a closed system.  If it separated trub, you could have very fresh beer. > > Yes it is temperature controlled.  But you then have to wait for a batch to be bottled before brewing the next, since it’s all in one piece of equipment.  For a lot less money, you could get a system (automated or not) to produce your wort, and also multiple,  temperature controlled fermenters, or a temperature controlled fermentation chamber. Wait a moment! Trub - you mean “the layer of sediment that appears at the bottom of the fermenter after yeast has completed the bulk of the fermentation”? (taken from Wiktionary). As I know, the modern yeasts don’t require the secondary fermentation. I always implemented a single stage fermentation and always made a perfect beer. I tried once a two-stage fermentation, and didn’t notice any difference. About bottling. What I learned on their site, the beer is bottled after the primary (and single) fermenting is completed. For ales it’s about one week or may be longer. Then I need to condition the beer in bottles or kegs, usually at room temp. So, likely the weekly batch is real. Regarding the bottling. I don’t know for sure, but I think that the apparatus will allow me to dispense the brewed and cooled beer for further fermenting in external fermenter, if needed. And immediately I can start new batch. ---
**Author:** ![MerlinBrewer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3e96dc/32.png) [@MerlinBrewer](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/MerlinBrewer)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2019, 7:31pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/looking-for-automated-brewery/28653/22 "2019-04-03T19:31:10Z")
> [@MattyAHA](#): > > Hey Merlin, just curious why are ready to give up? I really like home-made beer and want to have it in my cottage. But homebrewing as a process seems to me too boring. ---
**Author:** ![denny](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/denny/32/13092_2.png) [@denny](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/denny)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2019, 7:31pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/looking-for-automated-brewery/28653/23 "2019-04-03T19:31:36Z")
I guess in a way the Z is close becasue you can ferment in the keg you brew in.  But you still need to control fermentation temp and do something about packaging/serving. ---
**Author:** ![Robertestein05\_gmail.com](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c4cdca/32.png) [@Robertestein05\_gmail.com](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/Robertestein05_gmail.com)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2019, 7:32pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/looking-for-automated-brewery/28653/24 "2019-04-03T19:32:19Z")
> [@MerlinBrewer](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > Oxidation because there is apparently no way to separate trub before fermentation,  and because you will be bottling just as you would with a bucket.  Some day there will probably be a system that ferments, carbonates, and packages all in a closed system.  If it separated trub, you could have very fresh beer. > > > > Yes it is temperature controlled.  But you then have to wait for a batch to be bottled before brewing the next, since it’s all in one piece of equipment.  For a lot less money, you could get a system (automated or not) to produce your wort, and also multiple,  temperature controlled fermenters, or a temperature controlled fermentation chamber. > > Wait a moment! Trub - you mean “the layer of sediment that appears at the bottom of the fermenter after yeast has completed the bulk of the fermentation”? (taken from Wiktionary). As I know, the modern yeasts don’t require the secondary fermentation. I always implemented a single stage fermentation and always made a perfect beer. I tried once a two-stage fermentation, and didn’t notice any difference. > About bottling. What I learned on their site, the beer is bottled after the primary (and single) fermenting is completed. For ales it’s about one week or may be longer. Then I need to condition the beer in bottles or kegs, usually at room temp. So, likely the weekly batch is real. > Regarding the bottling. I don’t know for sure, but I think that the apparatus will allow me to dispense the brewed and cooled beer for further fermenting in external fermenter, if needed. And immediately I can start new batch. Dont know about Wiktionary.  Trub is the material precipitated during the boil.  It contains large amounts of lipids.  These are major factors in oxidative staling, and since the system doesn’t ferment and package in a closed manner, oxidation will be greatly accelerated.  If you’re going to use this just for brewing and ferment separately (and I recommend fermenting in  a dedicated system,) then, as others mention, there are surely superior brewing systems available to you. ---
**Author:** ![denny](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/denny/32/13092_2.png) [@denny](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/denny)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2019, 7:32pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/looking-for-automated-brewery/28653/25 "2019-04-03T19:32:39Z")
> [@MerlinBrewer](#): > > > [@MattyAHA](#): > > > > Hey Merlin, just curious why are ready to give up? > > I really like home-made beer and want to have it in my cottage. But homebrewing as a process seems to me too boring. Too boring?  Not sure I understand.  What do find boring about it?  Maybe if we know that we can zero in on something that may fit your needs. ---
**Author:** ![MattyAHA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b3f665/32.png) [@MattyAHA](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/MattyAHA)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2019, 7:37pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/looking-for-automated-brewery/28653/26 "2019-04-03T19:37:16Z")
> [@MerlinBrewer](#): > > > [@MattyAHA](#): > > > > Hey Merlin, just curious why are ready to give up? > > I really like home-made beer and want to have it in my cottage. But homebrewing as a process seems to me too boring. how about getting a larger system so you dont have to brew often but still have beer, again just trying to help and if you do not like brewing beer larger batches will allow you not to brew often, or how about extract brewing you will have good beer and its almost like making a pot of soup in terms of process ---
**Author:** ![MerlinBrewer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3e96dc/32.png) [@MerlinBrewer](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/MerlinBrewer)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2019, 7:40pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/looking-for-automated-brewery/28653/27 "2019-04-03T19:40:56Z")
> [@denny](#): > > > [@MerlinBrewer](#): > > > > > [@MattyAHA](#): > > > > > > Hey Merlin, just curious why are ready to give up? > > > > I really like home-made beer and want to have it in my cottage. But homebrewing as a process seems to me too boring. > > Too boring?  Not sure I understand.  What do find boring about it?  Maybe if we know that we can zero in on something that may fit your needs. Ok. Let me say in another words. I’m too busy and I’m too lazy. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Robertestein05\_gmail.com](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c4cdca/32.png) [@Robertestein05\_gmail.com](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/Robertestein05_gmail.com)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2019, 7:51pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/looking-for-automated-brewery/28653/28 "2019-04-03T19:51:27Z")
Denny, isn’t one of the targets of the Z restaurants, who want to serve their own product, but without having a dedicated brewing staff devoting a lot of time and attention?  If I’m remembering right, that sounds a lot like the goal of the OP.  Does most of the work on brew day, you just run it into a fermenter,  pitch the yeast, and wait, right? And how about that Brew Jacket or whatever it’s called you’ve been using?  Might the combination do the trick? ---
**Author:** ![narcout](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/narcout/32/7683_2.png) [@narcout](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/narcout)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2019, 7:54pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/looking-for-automated-brewery/28653/29 "2019-04-03T19:54:11Z")
> [@denny](#): > > I guess in a way the Z is close becasue you can ferment in the keg you brew in.  But you still need to control fermentation temp and do something about packaging/serving. Pico Z for wort production into a Vessi for fermentation/carbonation/serving? ---
**Author:** ![denny](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/denny/32/13092_2.png) [@denny](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/denny)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2019, 8:09pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/looking-for-automated-brewery/28653/30 "2019-04-03T20:09:33Z")
> [@](#): > > Denny, isn’t one of the targets of the Z restaurants, who want to serve their own product, but without having a dedicated brewing staff devoting a lot of time and attention?  If I’m remembering right, that sounds a lot like the goal of the OP.  Does most of the work on brew day, you just run it into a fermenter,  pitch the yeast, and wait, right? > > And how about that Brew Jacket or whatever it’s called you’ve been using?  Might the combination do the trick? Yep, correct on all counts.  A Z and a Brewjacket would be a perfect, fast, easy combination. ETA:  Robert, that is a genius idea and I hadn’t even thought of it.  Brewjacket sent me a drilled corny lid for the rod and I haven’t used it yet.  Both that and the Z will be getting a trial run this week. ---
**Author:** ![denny](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/denny/32/13092_2.png) [@denny](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/denny)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2019, 8:10pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/looking-for-automated-brewery/28653/31 "2019-04-03T20:10:37Z")
> [@narcout](#): > > > [@denny](#): > > > > I guess in a way the Z is close becasue you can ferment in the keg you brew in.  But you still need to control fermentation temp and do something about packaging/serving. > > Pico Z for wort production into a Vessi for fermentation/carbonation/serving? Don’t think the Vessi is around any more.  We talked about it in the new book, but when we tried to contact them just before publication we got crickets. ---
**Author:** ![BrewBama](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/brewbama/32/21184_2.png) [@BrewBama](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/BrewBama)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2019, 4:23pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/looking-for-automated-brewery/28653/32 "2019-04-04T16:23:05Z")
Though I am not in the market and they don’t send me kits to evaluate, it seems there are some fairly unhappy customers that should be considered if approaching the Picobrew Z: > **[Picobrew Z](https://www.homebrewtalk.com/threads/picobrew-z.645332/)** > > With the launch/announcement of the new picobrew product I figured we would need a new thread as there have been discussions between various other Threads. > > There currently is a promotion that if you use another individual's code who has purchased a... ---
**Author:** ![ehall11\_cox.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/65b543/32.png) [@ehall11\_cox.net](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/ehall11_cox.net)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2019, 4:26pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/looking-for-automated-brewery/28653/33 "2019-04-04T16:26:36Z")
> [@MerlinBrewer](#): > > > [@denny](#): > > > > > [@MerlinBrewer](#): > > > > > > > [@MattyAHA](#): > > > > > > > > Hey Merlin, just curious why are ready to give up? > > > > > > I really like home-made beer and want to have it in my cottage. But homebrewing as a process seems to me too boring. > > > > Too boring?  Not sure I understand.  What do find boring about it?  Maybe if we know that we can zero in on something that may fit your needs. > > Ok. Let me say in another words. I’m too busy and I’m too lazy. 🙂 then I would suggest you just give up the idea. homebrewing is not for the lazy, you’ll end up being disappointed in your results. ---
**Author:** ![denny](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/denny/32/13092_2.png) [@denny](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/denny)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2019, 5:11pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/looking-for-automated-brewery/28653/34 "2019-04-04T17:11:03Z")
> [@BrewBama](#): > > Though I am not in the market and they don’t send me kits to evaluate, it seems there are some fairly unhappy customers that should be considered if approaching the Picobrew Z: > [https://www.homebrewtalk.com/forum/index.php?threads/Picobrew-Z.645332/](https://www.homebrewtalk.com/forum/index.php?threads/Picobrew-Z.645332/) > > Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Did you read the whole thread  Looks like the people who have actually used it like it  The ones who are posting negatives are speculating.  Can you point out an unhappy customer I may have missed? ---
**Author:** ![MattyAHA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b3f665/32.png) [@MattyAHA](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/MattyAHA)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2019, 5:45pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/looking-for-automated-brewery/28653/35 "2019-04-04T17:45:17Z")
> [@](#): > > > [@MerlinBrewer](#): > > > > > [@denny](#): > > > > > > > [@MerlinBrewer](#): > > > > > > > > > [@MattyAHA](#): > > > > > > > > > > Hey Merlin, just curious why are ready to give up? > > > > > > > > I really like home-made beer and want to have it in my cottage. But homebrewing as a process seems to me too boring. > > > > > > Too boring?  Not sure I understand.  What do find boring about it?  Maybe if we know that we can zero in on something that may fit your needs. > > > > Ok. Let me say in another words. I’m too busy and I’m too lazy. 🙂 > > then I would suggest you just give up the idea. homebrewing is not for the lazy, you’ll end up being disappointed in your results. or he can just brew extract like i mentioned, brew day is maybe 45 mins to an hour minus clean up and obviously fermentation, if i was in his shoes i would just brew extract ---
**Author:** ![a10t2](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/a10t2/32/6257_2.png) [@a10t2](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/a10t2)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2019, 5:45pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/looking-for-automated-brewery/28653/36 "2019-04-04T17:45:34Z")
> [@MerlinBrewer](#): > > I really like home-made beer and want to have it in my cottage. But homebrewing as a process seems to me too boring. Any (good) home brewing friends? I’d jump at the chance the brew, say, 10 gal batches and trade 5 gal to a friend in exchange for all the ingredients. (Or if it’s legal in your country you could just buy the beer outright.) Depending on how often you’re planning on brewing that could easily be less expensive than an all-in-one system. ---
**Author:** ![BrewBama](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/brewbama/32/21184_2.png) [@BrewBama](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/BrewBama)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2019, 5:49pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/looking-for-automated-brewery/28653/37 "2019-04-04T17:49:02Z")
Admittedly I didn’t read every word because I’m only remotely interested in these automated systems. I am simply attempting to help the OP ck out any recommendations, saw that and pointed it out. Maybe it’s just me but when one guy asked for his money back and another guy answers saying the other folks that asked for their money back received it quickly it means multiple people have asked for a refund. Normally, around here when someone wants their money back they are considered unhappy. ---
**Author:** ![denny](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/denny/32/13092_2.png) [@denny](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/denny)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2019, 6:08pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/looking-for-automated-brewery/28653/38 "2019-04-04T18:08:48Z")
> [@BrewBama](#): > > Admittedly I didn’t read every word because I’m only remotely interested in these automated systems. I am simply attempting to help the OP ck out any recommendations, saw that and pointed it out. > > Maybe it’s just me but when one guy asked for his money back and another guy answers saying the other folks that asked for their money back received it quickly it means multiple people have asked for a refund. Normally, around here when someone wants their money back they are considered unhappy. > > Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Why did they ask for their money back?  What about the people who are satisfied? ---
**Author:** ![BrewBama](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/brewbama/32/21184_2.png) [@BrewBama](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/BrewBama)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2019, 6:36pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/looking-for-automated-brewery/28653/39 "2019-04-04T18:36:52Z")
I’ll leave those questions for someone either selling or buying those systems. ---
**Author:** ![denny](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/denny/32/13092_2.png) [@denny](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/denny)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2019, 7:37pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/looking-for-automated-brewery/28653/40 "2019-04-04T19:37:01Z")
> [@BrewBama](#): > > I’ll leave those questions for someone either selling or buying those systems. > > Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk It would be nice if you would have done a bit of research before posting, but here’s what it looks like to me.  The most common reason in that thread for people wanting their money back was the length of time it took Pico to deliver.  Also, the comments start 8 years ago, so there may well be little relevance to today.  But that’s a long way in the past.  The Z is shipping and I can tell you from my own experience that it functions as advertised. If you look towrd the end of the thread, there are comments from people who are actually using it.  I and many others are very happy with it. [Previous page](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/looking-for-automated-brewery/28653.md?page=1) [Next page](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/looking-for-automated-brewery/28653.md?page=3)