I just got into homebrewing a few months ago and I received the PicoBrew Model C as a gift. At first I wasn’t sure if I would use it as I’ve got all the equipment to brew 10 gallon all grain batches. But, as soon as I started my first brew I fell in love. I’ll be brewing my 7th batch today, so, needless to say, I’m hooked.
Synopsis:
- PicoBrew automates the wort making process, making it super easy to brew beer
- Both experienced and inexperienced homebrewers will love how fun and easy it is to brew small batches of YOUR own beer
- If you are wanting to get into homebrewing, don’t hesitate to buy this, you’ll love it, it inspired a new hobby for me
Pros:
- Easy to clean, automated brewing
- Monitoring the brewing process via the website on your phone is just plain cool!
- Still get that great grain and hops brewing smell (If you like beer, you’ll fall in love with the smell of brewing)
- Beers come out consistently good
Cons:
- Small batches (this can actually be a pro in some cases)
- Limited ability to customize your brews
- PicoPaks can be hard to find and a bit expensive (Pro tip: You can get them at your local Best Buy)
- No PicoPak in the box (order one with your Pico or you’ll be disappointed if you want to brew the same day you setup your Pico)
Details:
I love the PicoBrew as it lets me easily experiment with different styles of beer as well as getting to try beers from breweries I wouldn’t otherwise have the chance to try. I have to admit I was a little skeptical about the latter, as I really didn’t think that I, or this machine, could brew a beer like the big guys. I was wrong, with the PicoBrew, you really can.
If you’ve ever homebrewed, you know that it basically consists of watching water boil and sanitizing. It’s a multi-hour process, and while rewarding in the end, is really time consuming. It requires constant monitoring, I have 2 kids and I have to have my wife watch them while I brew on the 10 gallon setup. The PicoBrew automates the wort making process. You don’t have to constantly monitor temperatures and the open flames of the burner, etc. You don’t even have to be there while it’s brewing, you can monitor progress on your phone or PC via their website (which is one of the coolest things about it). No babysitter needed when brewing with the Pico! As I mentioned above, once you smell the grains and hops boiling, you’ll love it. Though, if you or your house mates don’t like that smell, put it in the garage and avoid conflict.
I mention above that one of the cons is limited ability to customize your brews. If you’ve never brewed beer, that’s probably not a big deal to you. If you have, you’ll feel a bit limited. However, one of the most delightful things is that you can customize your own PicoPaks online, from the grains, to the hops, to the yeast. Once you get a little more experienced, I highly recommend making your own PicoPak. I was amazed that they took the time to etch the name of the beer I made into the PicoPak! See the pics in this review for examples.
PicoPaks can be hard to find and they are expensive. Watch for sales on their website. I looked forever to find them locally, turns out you can get them at Best Buy of all places.
At this point I’ve always got a batch of PicoBrew beer and my own homebrew on draft. If you’ve got a kegerator, invest in one of the Pico Pro kegs (or buy a 1.75 gallon ball lock keg). In my opinion, kegging beer and carbonating with CO2 makes a better brew and it’s much faster from ferment to drinking. Even if you don’t, just using the included keg is fine. You might also considering the bottling kit, makes it much easier to share your brews, which is one of the most fun parts about home brewing.
For me, I got so into it, that I ended up buying a kegerator so I could more quickly enjoy my own brews.
I’m actually homebrewing more on my 10 gallon setup as a result of trying new things on the Pico. I love having the easy quick batches from the Pico to compliment my big batches. If you are thinking about buying the PicoBrew, just do it, you’ll love it, and maybe you’ll have a new hobby as well.