This is the Ultimate 2024 Review of the ANVIL FOUNDRY Electric Boiler Kettle Brewing System
What can you get for a few hundred bucks?
Usually, beginners at this price point for their budget resort to getting a set containing a cooler kit, a burner, and a pot to start off their all-grain brewing journey.
Electric systems were premium upgrades meant for the more knowledgeable homebrewer.
But that’s a thing of the past now.
Today, you sure as heck can get your very own electric all-in-one brewing system at an entry-level price point while you’re still exploring the realms of all-grain homebrewing with the ANVIL FOUNDRY Electric 6.5 Gallon Electric Boiler Kettle system.
In this comprehensive review, we’ll cover:
- Anvil Foundry home brewing system’s solid stainless steel built;
- Its very own recirculating pump and wort immersion chiller;
- Perfectly adjustable controls;
- Lots more…
So whether you’re looking to get an electric brew system for your very own first all-grain beer or you’ve just graduated from using extracts, this review is for you!
So take out your tall boys and put your feet up.
You’ll be drinking homebrew before you know it.
Let’s dive right in.
ANVIL FOUNDRY Electric Kettle Brewing
- Capacity: 6.5 gallon
- Dimensions: 27 x 17 x 17 inches
- Temperature: 152-156 degrees Fahrenheit boiling point for mash
- Power / Voltage: Dual Voltage Capable 120v and 240v Switchable (220v Requires Pigtail)
- Manufacturer: Blichmann
Overall Score:
86
The Bottom Line:
An all in one brewing system that gives you full control over your brew with additional features such as the delay timer as well as all the necessary equipment, all at a very affordable price.What’s Good
- Affordable price
Stainless steel material is excellent and not of cheap quality - Dual voltage capable (120V and 240V)
- Unit is insulated for faster heating and energy-efficient brewing
- Has a delay timer for up to 24 hours
- The digital control panel is very easy to use
What’s Bad
- The silicon ring around the lid is loose and curls up during brewing
Our Verdict: ANVIL FOUNDRY Electric Boiler Kettle For all-grain Brewing
Clean, neat, and straightforward are the words to describe this stainless steel unit from Anvil Foundry. Nothing flashy so using it sure felt like making beer traditionally.
I don’t know about you, but as a beginner I preferred to start simple and basic.
That said…
This Anvil Foundry 6.5 Gallon electric boiler isn’t without its share of advanced features and attachments, because, well, that’s what an all in one brewing system is for, right?
Aside from a free wort chiller and grain pipe, it also comes with a high flow grain basket with not just 100% more perforations but 150% to ensure that no mashed grains can get stuck in the holes and disrupt the brewing process.
And finally, it comes with its very own recirculation pump kit, as well.
Also available in 10.5 gallon, I got this 6.5 gallon one to use whenever I want to brew small batches.
Simple and traditional it may seem, the Anvil Foundry brewing system has a nice linear digital power control that’s very intuitive and easy to use.
What’s interesting…
…is how the digital control panel was positioned. Because most brew systems have their control panels at the very foot of the unit, it’s a bit hard to crouch down just to be able to touch it as most big systems are made to rest on the floor.
With this Anvil Foundry unit, I didn’t have to crouch down while fine tuning my mash because the control panel was positioned higher up near the vessel’s rim.
Now that’s just a peek at the great Blichmann engineering!
The control panel gives you an option to set your own desired mash temps and power output and dial back again once you reach your desired temperature.
And I almost forgot..
It also gives you the option of fine tuning your boil so that’s maximized customization right there.
Now let’s talk about the low watt density triple heating elements because it’s not everyday you encounter such features.
While most all in one homebrewing system have just a couple of heating elements located at the base of the unit in the form of rings, this one has not just two but three heating elements.
What’s so cool about 3 dual voltage heaters?
Well, since the heat is split into 3 power outputs, each heating element doesn’t get too hot so I eventually stopped worrying and fretting about scorching my grains.
And believe me, scorching still happens to seasoned brewer’s too…more often than I’ve expected, yep.
And it doesn’t end there.
This Anvil Foundry baby is also switchable between 120V 1600W and 240V with 2800W and you can also switch between Fahrenheit and Celsius as well!
I found the switchable power and low watt density triple element very energy-efficient as I was able to control almost all variables down to the power and temperature adjustments.
And it didn’t hurt that this unit is quite fast to come to a vigorous boil that I didn’t have to wait very long.
While some people still use a neoprene jacket to maintain the mash temperature, I found that I didn’t really need it this time thanks to its high capacity double wall insulation.
The wall insulation keeps the much needed heat constant inside the vessel while your wort is brewing.
Now here’s where we get down and dirty.
Well, not dirty but here’s where you’ll have to do most of the work in the whole brewing process…and it’s not really that hard because the equipment and attachments needed are all included with the brewing system.
Because the heating elements and the thermostat are located in the bottom of the vessel, the overall temperature of your brew may not be constant and well-distributed.
I’ve seen this before in almost all of the brewing systems I’ve tried and it’s nothing new. Also, it’s a workable flaw.
Fortunately…
This brewer comes with a recirculation pump kit with hoses fittings ready for usage for any pumping needs (including chilling your wort).
You can also stir constantly using a long stirrer but that’d take ages.
Before recirculating, my thermometer read 150F at the top and 157F at the bottom.
See the inconsistency?
But after using the recirculating pump, the temperature held out for the whole of the vessel, just deviating 2 notches up and down occasionally.
It also comes with a plate with not 100% but 150% more perforations to virtually eliminate any stuck mashes in the holes while I poured out sparge water.
Not to mention…
That this pump is an attachment and not built in so there are no nooks and crannies inside the vessel that’ll make it hard to clean afterwards!
Now we come to my favorite part…
…the immersion chiller with hoses!
This high capacity stainless immersion chiller comes in 2 different sizes to fit the 10.5 and 6.5 gallon varieties.
Chilling your wort requires the brew to move around the vessel for faster cooling so once again, I took out the recirculation pump and used it along with the immersion chiller.
What’s cooler…
Is that the chiller has a hook so you can hang it over the rim of your vessel for added convenience.
Because the interior didn’t have any hidden chambers or nooks in it, cleanup of the whole high capacity double wall vessel along with the pump and chiller took only 20 minutes, no disassembly needed!
Do You Want To Explore Other All-In-One Electric Beer Brewing System Options?
If so, click the button below to explore our top 10 favs…
Our Analysis Comparisons and Test Results: Anvil Foundry 6.5 Gallon Electric Boiler System
It’s been an easy and fast brew day for me with Anvil Foundry’s home brewer- faster than you can say value for money!
Below is the roundup of this unit along with 9 other brew systems I’ve tested based on the metrics I’ve set.
Value For Money
Have I already said value for money? ‘Cause if not, let me tell you that Anvil Foundry let me do more than what my $300 would normally allow with all it’s perfectly adjustable settings and options.
Value for money refers to how worthy the product is for the price you paid, whether it delivers just right for the price tag, or it gives more (or less).
Because of the generous features it comes with-including the equipment and attachments (loved the chiller with hoses fittings) – it scores almost perfect in this metric.
How the ANVIL FOUNDRY Electric Kettle Brewing stacks up in the value for money ratings:
Ease of Use
What are brewing systems for? Oh yes, for faster and easier homebrewing.
That said, an electric brewing system should be intuitive and easy to use, with user-friendly power control and attachments. At best, you shouldn’t need a manual to run the unit.
And,
Anvil Foundry’s brewer gave me exactly that. Because of its simplistic engineering, I didn’t even have to see the manual that’s included in the package.
Everything was easy to find and much easier to switch and use.
How the ANVIL FOUNDRY Electric Kettle Brewing stacks up in the ease of use ratings:
Durability
Although I can’t vouch for the quality of its material, the fact that the solid state of the whole unit, along with the immersion chiller, is made of stainless steel, was already a good start as stainless steel is non corrosive.
The perforated plate was a little thin but the vessel wasn’t flimsy and was able to withstand vigorous boils so it’s all okay still.
How the ANVIL FOUNDRY Electric Kettle Brewing stacks up in the durability ratings:
Energy Efficiency
With its dual voltage switch with 120V and 240V options, you can fully customize your power output according to the brewing step you’re in, thus, saving more excess energy in the process.
Thanks to this innovative and thoughtful feature, the Anvil Foundry brewing system tops the chart in terms of energy efficiency.
How the ANVIL FOUNDRY Electric Kettle Brewing stacks up in the energy efficiency ratings:
Features
The Anvil Foundry electric home brewing system comes with a recirculation pump kit, immersion chiller, attachments, and hoses along with great functions such as switchable power output, delay timer, solid base unit, perforated plate, and insulated double wall vessel among many others.
Can’t lie…
I just love a jam-packed product!
It doesn’t have any fancy automations but you can see that you’ve got basically everything you need with all the attachments and features.
How the ANVIL FOUNDRY Electric Kettle Brewing stacks up in the features ratings:
ANVIL FOUNDRY Electric Boiler Kettle FAQs
Does This Come with The Pump Kit Include a perforated Disc?
Yes, this unit comes with a free recirculation pump kit as well as a perforated plate.
Will This Work With The 50’ Copper Chiller?
50’ immersion chillers are usually used for 10-12 gallon batches, which makes it a bit large for the Anvil Foundry brewing system. This unit comes with its own wort chiller anyway and it’s custom-fitted so you can store the chiller inside the vessel when not in use.
Is There any User Manual That Comes With this unit?
There’s a manual included within the package they also have an online manual as well.
Can This Used For Alcohol and Beer?
The Anvil Foundry electric brew system is meant to be used for brewing your own lager, pilsner, or other beer at home.
Our Final Verdict: ANVIL FOUNDRY Electric Boiler Kettle For An All-grain Electric Brew Experience
So there you have it, here’s our last word. We’ve been through component inspection, brewing proper and even taste tests of the end result.
I now present to you the overall performances of the 10 best brew systems on the market and how the Anvil Foundry stands alongside them.
Take your pick!
Conclusion: ANVIL FOUNDRY Electric Boiler Kettle For all-grain Electric Brewing Systems
Aside from being such a treat for beginners and first time all-grain brewers…
…the capacity of this kettle broiler makes it perfect for brewing smaller batches and testing pilot batches. That and the fully adjustable controls of this brewery are the reasons why I’m definitely keeping this on my shelf.
It’s not as glossy and as flashy as the other brew systems on the market and I think I can see why.
Instead of putting their money on many different novelties, it’s clear that Anvil Foundry likes to develop particular features to perfection and I can see this is working out really well for them.
Personally, I’d rather have a few excellently functioning features than countless mediocre ones.
To sum it up…
This Anvil Foundry brewery was a pleasure to use.
Although I had to monitor my brew very closely, brewing took only a little more than a quarter of my day when it usually took more than half the day in the past.
Checking all the boxes for convenience, I’d say it’s more than a bang for your bucks!
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