Brewmaster's Delight

All Grown Up The Device, at left, has grown up into the NanoBrewMaster. We couldn't be prouder. John B. Carnett/NanoBrewTech

The only thing better than beer is more beer. And the only thing better than more beer is more beer you make yourself—it saves you a trip to the store. Thus, the NanoBrewMaster—an all-in-one, computer-controlled brewing system that takes your beer from wort boil to frosty pour. It’s the creation of PopSci staff photographer and resident crazy-project-builder John Carnett, who dreamt and built a first iteration of the device that we covered in the magazine last year.

Carnett projects are typically eccentric one-offs—witness our motorized skateboard, 500 lb arcade table or his current obsession, the jet-turbine-powered ATV—but he got so many enthusiastic letters about the brewing machine, he partnered with a local Philadelphia businessman and set about completely redesigning the machine for public sale.

What was once an industrial-looking, hand-welded system that used water-cooled jackets and a thick aluminum coldplate for temperature-control, and a series of manual valves to move the beer between stages, has morphed into a fully-automated, glycol-chilled, 15-gallon fountain of brew that looks so modern your wife might even let you keep it in the house.

Because, really, why should the kids have to go all the way to the garage to fill daddy’s mug?

Price is as yet unreleased, but let’s just say you can either be the guy with the Lexus and no liver damage, or the most popular Hyundai-owner on the block. Hit Carnett’s site at nanobrewingtech.com for more details and to get your name on the waiting list.

And check out the gallery for every angle of beer-brewing goodness.