Brewer’s Edge Mash and Boil is an all-grain brewing system that makes your homebrew fast, easy, and convenient. A solidly-built unit made of double-wall stainless steel, it is rugged enough for most home brewing applications.
The unit comes with most everything you need to accomplish brewing-related tasks. No additional fixtures are necessary, and it works with pretty much any mains power source at 110 volts.
With its comprehensive features, the Brewer’s Edge appeals to first-time brewers that don’t want to spend a lot of time or money on customizations and add-ons.
And as you will see from the rest of this Brewer’s Edge review, this unit will continue to come in handy even as your needs expand.
Brewer’s Edge Mash and Boil: Highlights
Getting started with this equipment is about as easy as it gets. As the name implies, you can perform most every step of the all grain brewing process with this single unit.
Unlike other systems that require you to invest in a separate burner or brewing stand, this one is pretty much ready to go out the box.
We especially like the fact that the unit runs on 110 volts, which means that you can power it off any household outlet.
In contrast, other devices require 220 volts of power, which means that you will have to modify your home electrical circuitry in order to make it work.
Some would argue that 220 volts is necessary to achieve faster heating and boiling–and they would have a point. In actual use however, we found that this is more than capable of quickly getting up to boiling temperatures.
Considering the convenience of being able to plug this device anywhere without any special requirements, we think that the reduced power capability is an acceptable tradeoff.
The Mash and Boil unit features two heating elements that are switchable to 600-watt, 1000-watt, and 1600-watt settings. There is an adjustable thermostat that can be set to either Fahrenheit or Celsius.
This thermostat control can be adjusted to run for 3 ½ hours, so there is no risk of over-boiling.
There is even a delayed timer setting, which you can set 24 hours in advance.
Theoretically, you can simply load up the equipment with water when you go to bed, and have it hot and ready to go when you get up in the morning.
The unit also comes with a sparging basket that allows you to mash and boil right in the same vessel.
Unlike other brewing systems in its price range however, it does not have a dedicated pump. Recirculating wort will therefore require an extra step or two.
That being said, there is a spigot valve built in to the bottom of the unit. This makes it a fairly 
easy task to transfer the wort, so you can recirculate your beer mash.
Mash brewing will within the recommended temperature range is certainly a lot easier with this unit than with other machines.
Furthermore, this mash brewing system seems like a perfect fit for most standard chillers, so cooling your beer and getting it ready for drinking is a lot more convenient as well.
Pros
- Convenient all-in-one unit
- Accurate temperature control
- Will fit into most standard-sized chillers
- Durable enough for regular use
Any Shortfalls?
Depending on what model you get, you may or may get a pump included. However, this may not necessarily be a bad thing as the omission of a pump also means fewer parts to clean, so it really isn’t a big issue.
One thing you do have to look out for is overflow during the boiling process. It never really gets up to a strong, rolling boil, rather a gentle boil that you should be able to walk away from for a few minutes without mishap.
As you get close to the boiling point however–which should take about 45 minutes to an hour–it is a good idea to take the lid off to avoid making a mess.
Cons
- No recirculating pump included
- Could boil over if left unattended
Brewer’s Edge Mash & Boil: Is It Worth Buying?
Home brewing technology has advanced to such a degree that you could get a pretty capable brewing system for not a lot of money.
Even with other great units at this price point however, the Brewer’s Edge Mash and Boil stands apart for its convenience, flexibility, and durability.
We really like how this device enables you to produce quality brews each and every time, with very little effort.
The delayed timer setting is especially convenient, and the control over temperature is as precise as it comes.
If you are looking for a homebrew system that will continue to provide reliable service for a long time to come, Mash and Boil should be at the top of your list.