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The Brewzilla Gen 4 might very well be the best affordable all grain brewing system on the market right now. It's loaded with features including an onboard pump, a Wifi enabled digital temperature controller, and quality design throughout.
Below we will break down what makes the Brewzilla Gen 4 110V all-in-one all grain brewing system great for both beginner homebrewers as well as the seasoned expert.
How Much Does the Brewzilla Gen 4 110V Cost?
The Brewzilla Gen 4 110V 35L retails here in the US at time of writing for $599.99 at MoreBeer. This includes all the onboard features that we will dig into later in the article, but it also includes an immersion wort chiller in the price. For all that you get, and the quality of the system, this is a great price. If you're able to pick it up on a sale you can save up to 20% (this is the deal I was able to land on Black Friday).
If you want to upgrade to the 65L Brewzilla Gen 4 (good for 10 gallon batches, the 35L is good for 5 gallon batches) then you need to make sure you have a plug that can handle 220V. They don't currently offer a Brewzilla Gen 4 110V version in the 65L.
What's the Difference Between the 110V and 220V Brewzilla Gen 4?
Both of the units are functionally the same, the difference has to do with the power that it is able to handle. The 110V can only be used with normal household outlets here in the US. This is convenient because that means you can brew anywhere you have an outlet, but it is pulling less power so it takes longer to heat up than the 220V unit. It's recommended for this reason that you get the Brewzilla Gen 4 Neoprene Jacket. In my experience, this cuts down the time to boil by at least 10 minutes, it's very effective.
The 220V Brewzilla Gen 4 is the preferred option for those with the appropriate plugs to handle the increased voltage of the unit. It has more power and the boil is apparently more vigorous. I can't speak to that because I bought the 110V and the boil has been fine for me.
The RAPT WiFi Controller on Brewzilla Gen 4
The controller is a major upgrade on the Brewzilla Gen 4 in comparison to the Gen 3. First of all, it can be tilted up on the unit so that it is easily visible, but it can also be removed from the unit and placed somewhere else within length of the cable.
The coolest feature is that you can connect the unit to your WiFi network, and then you can remotely control the Brewzilla Gen 4 from you computer or phone via the web app. You can start/stop heating and the pump, and you can also view the temperature trends over time. Within the app, you can setup temperature profiles so you can have your whole brew day planned ahead of time.
This functionality is pretty awesome, but the web app is pretty basic. The temperature curve constantly is off and the page needs to refresh often to show the correct data. However, having the capability is well worth dealing with the shortcomings of the web app.
In general, being able to control temperature to the level that is available with this controller is a game changer for someone coming from a cooler mash tun. Temperature control is one of the hardest parts to get right while homebrewing and this just takes the difficulty out of it.
Brewzilla Gen 4 On-Board Pump
The Brewzilla Gen 4 has an on-board pump hidden from view at the bottom of the unit. This pump allows for multiple uses during the brewday including mash recirculation, whirpool, and transferring to the fermenter. This is something that as a cooler 3 vessel system guy for many years changed the game for me - having a pump makes life so much easier.
The recirculation arm comes standard with the Brewzilla, but the Whirpool Arm is an extra attachment for $19.99 that I highly recommend. It gives you a nice tight whirpool using the pump, cools your boil down much faster, and sure beats stirring while trying to make your whirpool hop additions.
Brewzilla Gen 4 All-In-One System - Mash Tun, Boil Kettle
One of the best things about the Brewzilla Gen 4 and just all-in-one brewing systems in general is that your mash tun sits inside of your boil kettle. The mash tun or "malt pipe" conveniently lifts out to let the grain bed drain into your boil kettle in a fast, contained "vorlauf" of sorts. There are two separate levels you can rest the malt pipe on to let it drain and do your sparging.
This all-in-one capability is a lifesaver because it drastically reduces the cleaning you have to do at the end of your brew day. The only external equipment you need is a fermenter, and somehow to boil the water you need for the sparge. No more having to scrub multiple coolers and boil kettles, etc.
Brewzilla Gen 4 Review Conclusion
The Brewzilla Gen 4 offers incredible bang for your buck as an all-in-one brewing system, especially if you can catch it on sale. Between the WiFi controller, onboard pump, and convenient all-in-one mashing/boil configuration, the Brewzilla Gen 4 has it all. It also just has a quality feel to it - you get the feeling that it will still be kicking after 100 quality brews have passed through it.
Whether you are an extract brewer, all grain brewer, or just recently upgraded to the Brewzilla Gen 4, everyone needs a place to store their recipes and make those important brewday calculations. Brewgr is a free online homebrew community that allows you to do just that - signup for Brewgr today and get brewing!