Author: Paul Amico

Like many homebrewers who have been at it for awhile, I’ve experimented with several different setups and approaches to streamline my process. After years of using a cumbersome 3-vessel system powered by propane, I gradually converted to a single-vessel brew-in-a-bag (BIAB) setup with natural gas as my heating source, which was a big step toward the simplicity I’d been seeking. While I tinkered with the idea of converting to electric years ago, my buddy’s electric heat exchange recirculating mash system (HERMS) intimidated me, it just seemed really complicated to me at the time.

My interest in electric brewing recently spiked due to the number of new single-vessel systems I noticed hitting the market in the last couple of years. Admittedly envious of my friends who were bragging about how their eBrewing rigs simplified their brew day, I began looking into outfitting my garage with a 240v circuit, which I quickly realized wouldn’t be as easy or cheap as I originally thought. As such, I shelved that idea and considered other options, namely those that wouldn’t require an electrician. It was right around this time the folks from Clawhammer Supply reached out seeking a review of their 120v Electric Home Brewing System, a single-vessel rig modeled after the BIAB approach that can be powered with a standard electrical outlet.





I was initially skeptical, having bought into the notion that you would grow old waiting for water and wort to heat on a 120v system– my aim was to reduce my total brewing time, not extend it. So, I hit the web and found a bunch of videos on Clawhammer Supply’s YouTube channel showing the unit performed rather well, certainly better than I expected. Intrigued by what I saw, I agreed to put the 120v Electric Home Brewing System through the paces and provide a thorough review.

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.

A couple of days after I said I’d take the leap, I got a shipment tracking email from Clawhammer saying that the system was on its way. A single box arrived a few days later.

I opened it up to find 3 tidy and well packed boxes that contained the various brewing components.

So I set about unpacking everything and figuring out what I had.

Assembly

With the unit fully unpacked, I set my mind on putting it all together. Clawhammer sent me the insulation kit they highly recommended, and installing it was the first thing I focused on.

I then laid out all of the included parts, which was initially a bit intimidating, but the easy-to-understand instructions assuaged my fears.

I took my time to make sure everything was installed properly, including the 1650w element, which took only about 45 minutes to complete.

Next, I cut the ½” ID silicone tubing to the lengths recommended in the instructions then attached the female quick disconnect fittings to match the male fittings on the kettle, pump, and chiller (scrap 2×4 sold separately).

Having fully assembled the kettle, I shifted my focus to the brains of the system, a simple yet well-designed 120v Proportional, Integral, Derivative (PID) controller. This required little setup, and the instructions regarding how to use it were clear and simple.

At this point, the unit was ready for use!

System Performance

Immediately after assembling the eBrewing system, I filled the kettle with 7.5 gallons/28 liters of tap water, which the etched volume markings made very easy.

I let the water sit in the kettle overnight to ensure no leaks before firing up the controller for some timed heating tests. With the controller set at 100% and a starting temperature of 79°F/26°C, it took 58 minutes for the water to hit 152°F/67°C, then another 50 minutes for it to reach a rolling boil. Not too shabby for a fire-free plug-and-play solution! My next order of business was brewing a few batches of beer to get a good feel for the system.

For each batch brewed, I turned the controller first thing in the morning then proceeded to take care of other duties without fear of burning my house down. It’s during this time I weigh out and mill the grain directly into the included stainless mesh basket.

When the mash is fully incorporated, I set the controller to maintain my target temperature and turn the included pump on to recirculate the wort throughout the rest. The unit comes with a fitting on the lid through which the wort gets pushed and gently sprayed back into the mash.

Following the mash step, the grain basket gets lifted out and set on the included clips, which have to put in place by hand, then allowed to drain. These work just fine, but since I already had a pulley setup in my brewing area, I use that instead. Next, the controller is set to bring the wort to a boil. Due to the unit being 120v, Clawhammer recommends keeping the lid in place in order to maintain a rolling. While evidence suggests this doesn’t lead to feared DMS formation, with the included hop spider in place, there’s just enough of an opening to allow steam to escape.

Maintaining a rolling boil is quite easy– once a boil is reached, just set the PID controller to 75% power, put the lid on, and let it rip. When the boil is finished, simply turn the power to the element off, get water flowing to the included plate chiller, open up the racking valve on the kettle, and engage the pump to transfer wort through the chiller into an awaiting fermentation vessel. I’ve consistently been able to chill 5.5 gallons/21 liters of near-boling wort to under 80°F/27°C in right around 7 minutes, which is pretty good considering Fresno groundwater temperature during the summer months.

All that’s left to do at this point is clean-up, which I do by first giving the kettle a good rinse before recirculating hot PBW through the pump, chiller, and tubing. After recirculating some clean water, everything is set out to dry and await the next batch.

| The Verdict |

Having had my mind set on a 240v electric brewing system for the last couple years, I was fairly convinced I’d be dissatisfied with the Clawhammer Supply 120v system, as I figured it would lead to long brew sessions. Turns out my expectations, driven primarily by the din of homebrewer bias, were quite a bit off. While heating times may have taken a little longer due to the lower voltage, the overall ease of brewing on the Clawhammer electric system is difficult for me to fully articulate. Suffice to say, I’ve brewed numerous batches on this unit and find myself appreciating it more each time. The small footprint alone is badass, I can fit the entire thing on a small rolling cart!

Indeed, the biggest drawback of this system is its lack of power, but considering it can be used with a standard outlet to make perfectly good beer in about the same amount of time as other gas setups, I’m not complaining. Another issue those concerned with hot-side aeration may have is the spray nozzle attached to the lid that wort gets pumped through during the mash. The simple fix here is to just not recirculate during the mash. The only other thing I can see people complaining about is the fact most of the fittings for the Clawhammer system are threaded, which is a bit more difficult to keep clean than tri-clamp fittings. Again, nothing I’m terribly concerned about, as I’ve only ever used threaded fittings on the hot-side.

At $900 for the base model, the Clawhammer Supply 120v Electric Home Brewing System is competitively priced and does exactly what it’s supposed to– make great beer. Being able to plug the unit into a standard outlet makes it ideal for apartment brewers, renters, or anyone who doesn’t feel up to running high voltage circuits. The all-in-one approach means less complicated brew days without sacrificing quality, and all of the included accessories work beautifully. Moreover, Clawhammer Supply provides ample resources on both their website and YouTube channel, both of which I’ve referenced numerous times, plus their customer service is tip-top.

The Clawhammer 120v Electric Home Brewing System is currently available for purchase at ClawhammerSupply.com. If you have any questions or thoughts about this product, please leave them in the comments section below!

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