WilliamsWarn Brewkeg system

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maoriboy

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#298754 13-Jul-2022 15:29

Does anyone have experience with the WilliamsWarn brewkeg system? I would be interested to hear your feedback as I'm looking into purchasing one myself. I've found I just don't have time these days to go through the brew process and the brewkeg system speeds things up significantly. Looking into it the beer produced is, by all accounts, bloody good and there are heaps of recipes/resources online to create your own brews (obviously not as flexible as full grain). So yeah, any thoughts?

JonnyCam

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#2949985 3-Aug-2022 08:14

I've never used it, but have heard the beer is good.

Is it just a pressure fermenter with kit & kilo (well, enhancers) fermented warm, and then whatever clarifier they use?

I'd like to try the beer, but for the money, I'd go for wort packs from a brewery, skip the brewing, but get quality craft wort and use a regular fermenter or a fermzilla if you want it carbonated / pressure fermented.

I use Brewtopia in Petone, but there must be others offering this. http://shop.brewtopia.net.nz/index.php?cPath=75&osCsid=lqoeuc7nsomco2vn7rmf43tsr5

Only one option currently (APA) , I think the brewer there just got his 800L brewhouse set up so will be producing more. He was the head brewer / founder at Te Aro.

Another shop in Petone doing fresh wort

https://baylands.beer/collections/fresh-wort-packs

Handsomedan

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#2949986 3-Aug-2022 08:29

Had one at the office a few years ago and we used to take it in turns to make a brew each month as a team.

We created a few good brews and they really do come out like a proper beer, not a manky home-brew with aftertaste and weird results.

It's not quite set and forget, but I think it's about as close as you'll ever get when making beer at home.

It's the first time I had ever tasted a non-commercial lager that tasted like lager.

I'd recommend it 100%. It's still some work, but a lot less than the old homebrew way.

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Wheelbarrow01

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#2950487 4-Aug-2022 00:16

I did a bit of research a couple of years ago as making my own beer was something that appealed to me, and I thought I might be able to save a few bucks using this system over buying beer.

However after running the numbers on cost of the system + cost of buying the ingredients measured against the volume produced, then litre for litre it worked out quite a bit cheaper to continue buying my Steinlager Pure by the dozen from the supermarket, even when amortising the capital cost of the system over 5 or 10 years.

I can't remember the exact figures now, but I'm pretty sure that from memory, even if I got the system for free, the cost of the ingredients to make a simple lager was still marginally more than bottled beer at standard pricing. Add the time and hassle to prep it, cleaning/sterilising equipment, and the cost of buying all the incidental things like reusable bottles, bottle capping devices and the myriad of other tools you don't initially think of, and I eventually lost interest.

For someone with expensive taste in craft beer or just an interest in experimenting with different flavours it may be ideal, but for anyone who drinks mass produced p1ss water like i do, and likes to easily grab a dozen coldies from the fridge when they leave the house for a day out on the boat with mates, there appears to be zero economic or logistical benefit.

maoriboy

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#2950544 4-Aug-2022 10:03

@wheelbarrow01 - yeah I'm one of those guys who loves a craft beer and trying out different styles, hops combinations etc. I've also done a fair bit of home brewing in my time. It's just that I don't have a lot of free time these days to take on a whole brew process so this looks ideal for me. As someone who can easily spend $50 a week to get some craft beers, it wouldn't take too long for this system to pay for itself. I also like the process of creating and experimenting with my own brews (my chili ginger beer is great!) so money is less of a concern, more convenience.

@jonnycam yeah it's a pressure fermenter system. I like the idea that you can ferment and serve from the same keg, without the mess and fuss of having to transfer to another vessel. They have a heap of recipes online for creating your own brews using your own hops and wort so you aren't just limited to WW products or kit n kilo so there is definitely scope for experimentation.

itxtme

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#2950545 4-Aug-2022 10:03

Wheelbarrow01:

However after running the numbers on cost of the system + cost of buying the ingredients measured against the volume produced, then litre for litre it worked out quite a bit cheaper to continue buying my Steinlager Pure by the dozen from the supermarket, even when amortising the capital cost of the system over 5 or 10 years.

Man I find that hard to comprehend. A 25L recipe pack will cost you $36 for a simple one (thats hops, grain and yeast). That should make you 19ishL of product or 19000mls. That's 57 bottles of beer. You can get Pure for what $40 for a 24 pack on a good day.

What I would agree with you is that just wanting to make it doesn't mean it will taste good. Beer is difficult to get right, but it is 100% cheaper to make your own.

outdoorsnz

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#2950554 4-Aug-2022 10:24

itxtme:

Man I find that hard to comprehend. A 25L recipe pack will cost you $36 for a simple one (thats hops, grain and yeast). That should make you 19ishL of product or 19000mls. That's 57 bottles of beer. You can get Pure for what $40 for a 24 pack on a good day.

What I would agree with you is that just wanting to make it doesn't mean it will taste good. Beer is difficult to get right, but it is 100% cheaper to make your own.

@Wheelbarrow01 is probably referring to the upfront cost factored in. Not currently brewing, but did kits, malt extract brews and all grain brewing. Do plan on getting back into it.

The key to good beers, what ever method you are doing, is clean clean and sanitize every thing. Then quality ingredients and critical brewing temperature control. You could have a fancy brewing system, but have dirty hands and a dirty spoon, and it will taste terrible.

itxtme

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#2950620 4-Aug-2022 11:04

I only commented because he said specifically even if he got the system for free. But nobody in the craft does it for cheaper piss, well maybe a few do. Its a ton of work! Personally I only do spirits, so the beers I make are becoming whiskey, and that makes life a hell of a lot easier than making beer, beer :D!

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outdoorsnz

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#2950655 4-Aug-2022 12:45

itxtme:

I only commented because he said specifically even if he got the system for free. But nobody in the craft does it for cheaper piss, well maybe a few do. Its a ton of work! Personally I only do spirits, so the beers I make are becoming whiskey, and that makes life a hell of a lot easier than making beer, beer :D!

I think if you are doing it for cheap, then you won't be that fussed on the output! Yuk just the thought of drinking a bad brew... But agree it takes plenty of time to do a good brew, but well worth it.

Handsomedan

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#2950656 4-Aug-2022 12:48

outdoorsnz:

itxtme:

I only commented because he said specifically even if he got the system for free. But nobody in the craft does it for cheaper piss, well maybe a few do. Its a ton of work! Personally I only do spirits, so the beers I make are becoming whiskey, and that makes life a hell of a lot easier than making beer, beer :D!

I think if you are doing it for cheap, then you won't be that fussed on the output! Yuk just the thought of drinking a bad brew... But agree it takes plenty of time to do a good brew, but well worth it.

We found that even a bad or botched brew with one of these systems still came out better than the old fashioned 1980's homebrew rubbish I endured as a youth.

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JonnyCam

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#2950676 4-Aug-2022 14:21

outdoorsnz:

itxtme:

I only commented because he said specifically even if he got the system for free. But nobody in the craft does it for cheaper piss, well maybe a few do. Its a ton of work! Personally I only do spirits, so the beers I make are becoming whiskey, and that makes life a hell of a lot easier than making beer, beer :D!

I think if you are doing it for cheap, then you won't be that fussed on the output! Yuk just the thought of drinking a bad brew... But agree it takes plenty of time to do a good brew, but well worth it.

quick / good quality / cheap - pick 2 :)

The wort packs are the easiest to go with, and they aren't concentrates and have decent hops & yeast with them, 30 - 60 mins active time - about $80 to $100 for 23L

all grain takes me about 5 hours incl cleanup, but cost me $ 20 - $70 for ingredients (those hazy / neipa take a lot of expensive jops near the end of the boil) for the same 23L

I brew more beer than I drink myself, as I enjoy the process, but I've got quite a few kegs so don't have hours of bottling & bottle cleaning. Neighbors & footy team help me with the drinking.