The Device: Homebrew Homebrew Beer Maker
Take a look at "The Device"—this is what a real all-in-one beer making and serving machine looks like, no matter what sort of lies those "Brew in your fridge!" contraptions may sell you. A custom-built machine by John Carnett, The Device has equipment for automating all three stages of the homebrew process, from boiling the wort, fermenting (with the all-too-critical temperature control), as well as a kegging system with a cold plate chiller that serves up the beer on tap at the optimal temperature for each style.
The Device cost $4,300 to build, but really does look to do it all. The video on Pop Sci shows the first stage of boiling and chilling the wort, but that's the easy part, really. I'd like to know more about that cold plate-equipped tap.
The Ultimate All-in-One Beer Brewing Machine [PopSci.com via Core77]
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It does all the steps as long as you're using malt extract and not all-grain brewing. There doesn't appear to be a mash tun for converting the starches in malted barley to sugars.
Just realized my first comment could come off as being a little snarky.
This machine is an amazing piece of work and I am insanely jealous. Great job by John Carnett - I hope someday I can build something equally awesome.
Yeah, but all grain is really sort of a pain in the ass. (Although worth it if you know what you're doing; I don't.) They could almost do a separate machine just for the mashing and sparging.
Single stage fermenting tastes like ass unless you only brew stuff that is ready to go into the kegs after like 3-5 weeks. I'd add a 2nd stage. Aside from needing a pump, it seems like a small add.
well, there are two kegs there. He could rack into the first for secondary, then use a jumper cable to rack directly into the second for serving. So, even the bigger beers are a possibility. If you time it to coincide with the ferment of a smaller bitter or english mild single-stage beer, you can even fill both taps after you finish the secondary.
That is a pretty sweet looking machine.
I have no doubt that it works. It is impressive. I'd love to make something like this, but, you don't really need all that to brew beer.
It's amazing to me how many different ways there are to brew beer. Albeit a kitchen stove or "The Device" you can make excellent beer.
Wow!