Authors: Matt Del Fiacco

I began using the Bräu Supply Unibräu V2 eBIAB systems a couple years ago and published a thorough review in mid-2017. Relying on a pair of 1600W elements and an EZBoil controller, the Unibräu served as my introduction to electric brewing and has allowed me to make great beer using a standard 120V outlet. Since publishing my review, I’ve recommended the unit to many others, as my experience with it has been very positive. However, Bräu Supply recently announced that they were working on a new version.

The Unibräu V3 All-In-One Electric Brew System offers brewers various updates intended to streamline the brewing process even more. For example, the dual-elements of the V2 were swapped for a single 1650W element and the grain basket is larger with a screen only at the bottom to force wort through the grains, both changes seemingly influenced by thoughtful consideration of the user experience.

We were informed by Bräu Supply awhile back that they were working on the Unibräu V3 and, given I’d put the V2 through its paces, asked if I’d be willing to do the same with the new version once it was ready to hit the market. With only the most minor complaints about the system I was using, the updates to the V3 sounded pretty cool, so I agreed to give it a go.

The product reviewed for this article was provided by the manufacturer in exchange for an honest review; no other compensation was provided. The opinions expressed in the article are solely those of the author and a concerted effort was made to approach the review from an unbiased perspective.

The Unibräu V3 arrived in solid packaging that adequately protected the gear it contained.

Using the provided instructions, assembling the V3 was quite simple and only took about 20 minutes. Once the unit was together, I gave it a good cleaning and passivation, after which it was ready for use.

ETC Controller

There are two controller options when purchasing a Unibräu V3. While I’d been using the EZboil with my V2, I was interested to see how it would compare to the ETC controller that came with the V3. Unlike the EZboil, the ETC controller has an “off” option, a huge plus because it allows one to easily cut the power to the element without unplugging the connection at the kettle. I also appreciate that the heating element is not hardwired into the controller, which makes for easier storage and replacement of the power cord should it ever break.

One thing I miss is the ability to regulate the power sent to the element during the boil, as with the ETC controller, the element is either fully on or off. That said, running the 120V Unibräu V3 with its 1650W element at full blast leads to a boil of moderate intensity, so it’s really not a huge issue. While I personally prefer having a little more control over such things, the ETC controller is well-built, elegant in its simplicity, and certainly gets the job done well.

Stainless Kettle

The Unibräu V3 kettle is made of durable 304 stainless steel and has a 10.5 gallon/40 liter capacity, as indicated by internal markings.

It features 3 welded tri-clamp ferrules for the heating element, thermometer probe, and pump. Some may think they’re a bit overkill for homebrewing setups, but I love tri-clamp fittings, not only because they’re incredibly easy to clean compared to threaded fittings, but they also allow for more customization options.

Compared to the previous version, the Unibräu V3 kettle seems a bit heavier with a sturdier bottom and it also has rubber coated handles, all definitely improvements in my book.

Pump

The Unibräu V3 comes with a magnetic drive 120V pump that, unlike the V2, has a stainless steel head rated to withstand temperatures up to 248°F/120°C. The polysulphone impeller is capable of pumping as much as 5 gallons/19 liters per minute, and the flow of liquid can be restricted via the included stainless steel ball valve.

The pump pulls wort from the bottom of the kettle during the mash and recirculates it back to the mash basket, where liquid is returned to the mash via a length of silicone tubing. The pump is strong enough that restricting the flow is essentially necessary to avoid dry firing the element. With that in mind, being magnetic driven and having a valve on the outlet of the pump are big benefits.

Electric Element

The 120v Unibräu V3 system comes with a single 1650W element that connects to kettle with a tri-clamp and is more than enough to heat water to strike temperatures, though it does take some time.

Brau supply offers an element upgrade kit that includes an additional 1600W element, which connects to the kettle via twist-lock and runs directly to another 120V circuit, one option for those looking for more power. I’ve used the single element to brew many batches in my garage and, regardless of the season, it works just fine. Covering a portion of the kettle with the lid helps to regulate the boil, and I’ve never had issues with off-flavors from doing this.

Note: Bräu Supply does offer a 240V Unibräu V3 option with a 4000 watt element.

Thermometer Probe

The Unbräu V3 comes with a temperature probe that, when properly attached, results in the probe resting beneath the grain basket.

I found this placement leads to slight inconsistencies in mash temperature readings. One solution is to place the thermometer probe on a tri-clamp tee at the outlet of the pump, which can be done with the aforementioned element upgrade kit.

Since making this change, my mash temperature readings have been spot on.

Stainless Grain Basket

One of the more noticeable differences between the Unibräu V2 and V3 is in regards to the design of the grain basket. Whereas the prior version’s was almost entirely mesh, the basket on the V3 is closed around the sides.

After years of using the older basket, which allowed liquid to escape through the sides, I’d begun to wonder about the effectiveness of the grain bed as a filter. The enclosed basket that comes with the V3 effectively forces the liquid to flow through the grain when lautering. It also has its own set of rubber coated handles, which adds to the ease removing it after the mash is complete.

The large rim at the top of the basket rests on the lip of the kettle, holding it off of the element on the bottom of the kettle while also providing a place to rest the recirculation tube. The holes at the bottom of the basket are a bit large and can allow a small amount of grain through into the wort, though I haven’t noticed any negative impact from this.

Cleaning the basket couldn’t be simpler– dump the grains, spray it out to remove any remaining material, then scrub it with your cleaner of choice. If you’re neurotic like me, you can soak the grain basket in hot cleaning solution in the kettle, or even use a CIP spray ball attached to the tri clamp fitting in the basket.

Wort Chiller

A new addition to the Unibräu V3 is the included plate chiller, which is constructed of copper plate surrounded by stainless steel. The welded tri-clamp fittings allow for very easy connection of the recirculation tube so that the wort can be pumped through the chiller.

The chiller is quite effective, particularly during the winter months when my groundwater is very cold. I ended up attaching a ball valve to the outlet, which allows me to restrict the flow of wort during warmer weather. One drawback to plate chillers is being unable to see the inside, as it’s impossible to know for certain how clean it is. For this reason, I recirculate hot PBW through mine between each batch, usually at the same time I’m cleaning my grain basket and kettle.

| THE VERDICT |

I can say with confidence that not only is the Unibräu V3 All-In-One 120V Electric Brew System a step up from the previous version, it is an excellent option for brewers considering jumping into electric brewing. Of all the positives, many of which I detailed above, the one I really want to reinforce is the modularity of the system. In the unlikely event the heating element dies, a replacement is relatively cheap and very easy to swap out. If the controller breaks, you can replace or re-adjust however you’d like. The tri-clamp compatibility opens up a ton of accessory options so that brewers can brew how they please.

A point of consideration for anyone looking at this system is that, due to the size of the mash tun/kettle, some concessions have to be made when brewing higher OG beers. For a full 5 gallon/19 liter batch, I’ve found the limit is right around 1.075 OG. Of course, there are ways to account for this, one of the easiest being to reduce the batch size bit.

Overall, I’m beyond satisfied with the Unibräu V3 and feel it hits all the marks for a 5 gallon/19 liter 120V electric brewing system. While unnecessary, the numerous accessories offered by Bräu Supply can contribute to brew day convenience, and their customer service is great to boot. The Unibräu V3 is just as great for the brewer looking to simply their process as it is for those who like to tweak and fine tune.

If you have any experience using a Unibräu V3 Electric Brewing System or questions about the unit, please share in the comments section below!

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