I guess I haven’t had problems it just seems counter intuitive not to actually boil. I would prefer the hops be included in the boil and I guess you could do that with whole hops. Overall I really like the machine and have recommended it to other local brewers and breweries. But like every system out there it has its pros and cons.
I’m excited to see the changed they incorporate in the Z.
Boiling is so last century! :) 207 is well above both isomerization and pasteurization temps. Due to the constant circulation, there’s no need for a rolling boil. Yeah, it’s freaky at first, but when you stop to think about it it makes more sense.
Based on that logic, would it makes sense for us that are still using 20th century propane burners out on the Big Deck to simply heat to just less than a boil?
The key to the Zymatic being able to do it is the constant circulation that mimics a rolling boil. If you can do that, maybe it would be fine on other systems.
I’ve gone to barley a simmer for no more than 45 minutes, lid almost all the way on, getting barely 4% volume reduction. I brew in a 10 gal stockpot over two burners on the stove, and with slightly different heat on each burner I get vigorous circulation of the wort. The wort breaks readily, hop extraction is fantastic, and the wort quality is superior to anything I made before (beer too.) I bet you COULD get good circulation on a propane burner. I think my uneven heat really helps (I know big breweries sometimes use mechanical agitators to get circulation where their heat is very even.) Maybe you could put a copper flame tamer under half the BK, or disable a few of the burner elements on one side. Low intensity is the way to go.
I’m also interested in purchasing a Pico Z to allow me to get serious about brewing. At the moment, I live in an apartment and having a full 5 gallon setup is impossible. I love the idea of 2.5 gallon batches but with the ability to increase volume in the future. I have thought about the Pico C and the Pico Pro but I don’t like how limited you are with volume. Plus, you have to use Pico packs which limits experimentation.
I’m curious if anyone has actually seen a prototype and has any first-hand thoughts?
If you are interested in purchasing one as well, feel free to use my code (KZ6MX) http://z.picobrew.com?kid=KZ6MX to save $50. Full disclosure, it also helps me save some money too.
This is the only machine I have ever brewed on. Great way to start you can do anything any other homebrewer can with this machine. Love it .
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Yes that is done all the time. The new format is modular so you can set up in increments of 2.5 gallons but for me, I have always brewed on the zymatic which is 2.5. I upgraded and am staying at the 2.5 size but again I can double and ferment 5 gallons. (I’d rather brew different recipes and run multiple 2.5 gallon taps).
Again link below will give you (and me) a discount.
Re: your comment on the hops just drop them into the brew keg at the appropriate time and don’t use the hop cages. I do this for flameout and whirlpool and use the cages for bitter and late addition hops. Flameout and whirlpool was the answer to my hop flavor(that and getting the water chem right).
Discount available with this link.