Right, let's talk about proper brewing setups, shall we? We've all seen those Instagram-worthy home breweries that make us slightly green with envy, but what actually makes a brewing setup brilliant? Today we're having a proper chat with Jon Martin from Marfly Brewing Co., who's built something rather special in his garage.
Jon's not your typical weekend warrior – he's the sort of brewer who plans for two years before buying kit, wins competitions with his first attempts, and somehow makes it all look effortless. Fancy finding out how he did it?
When Family Stories Become Brewing Inspiration
Every brilliant brewing story starts somewhere, and Jon's begins with his grandfather's rather explosive introduction to beer making. Picture this: bottles detonating in the middle of the night like some sort of brewing fireworks display, effectively ending his grandfather's beer-making career in 1978.
Fast forward twenty-five years, and Jon stumbled across an article about brewing that brought those family tales flooding back. "I decided to try making beer for myself, thinking that maybe I could redeem my grandfather's efforts in beer making," Jon recalls. Lovely bit of family redemption, that.
Marfly Brewing Company gets its name from the Martin family – "Everything I do in life is always related to my family," Jon explains. It's the sort of genuine motivation that makes great brewers, isn't it?
The Art of Strategic Brewing: Planning Like a Pro
Here's where Jon's story gets properly interesting. This isn't a bloke who popped down to the homebrew shop and grabbed whatever looked shiny. He spent two full years researching, comparing, and planning his setup with the sort of dedication you'd expect from a military campaign.
His goal was beautifully simple: create a system that could consistently produce any beer style with minimal variation. After evaluating every system available, he kept returning to the G30. "I wanted a system that would allow me to consistently make any style of beer, over and over with little to no differences in taste," Jon explains.
Smart thinking, really – consistency is what separates the wheat from the chaff in brewing, especially when you're aiming for competition success.
Mastering the Brewing Routine: Jon's Championship Approach
Jon's brewing routine is a thing of beauty – methodical, precise, and designed to eliminate variables that could muck up a perfectly good batch. Let's walk through his process, shall we?
The Night Before:
- Check reverse osmosis water tank levels
- Measure and arrange all brewing additives
- Ensure yeast starter is progressing nicely (started 3-5 days prior)
Brewing Day (Sharp 9:00 AM start):
- Pop yeast starter into the fridge for cooling
- Connect iPad to Grainfather controller
- Test pump and heating elements (brilliant preventative measure)
- Follow recipe programming through the system
Fermentation Handover:
- Cool wort using integrated chilling
- Transfer to Conical Fermenter for proper temperature control
- Warm yeast to match wort temperature
- Aerate with oxygen before pitching
Jon's equipment philosophy is spot on: "It's better to find a pump that needs attention before you have hot water in the kettle." Wise words from someone who's clearly learnt this lesson the hard way!
Batch Philosophy and Learning from Disasters
Jon sticks to 5 US gallon (19 L) batches, and his reasoning is sound as a pound. Smaller batches become fiddly for temperature control, whilst larger ones push the G30 beyond its comfort zone. It's that perfect middle ground that experienced brewers learn to appreciate.
What makes Jon's approach refreshing is his honesty about early failures. His first three batches? "Horrible," he admits without a hint of embarrassment. Every accomplished brewer has those early disasters – they're practically a rite of passage.
Style Over Substance: The Philosophy of Proper Brewing
Rather than chasing after commercial clones, Jon focuses on mastering classic beer styles. "I like to make a style of beer, not necessarily a clone of a commercial beer," he tells us. There's something quintessentially British about that approach – respect the tradition, perfect the technique.
His favourite style? Saison. "It's the one beer that is easy to make, and all of my friends seem to enjoy." Sometimes the best brewing choices are the simplest ones – make something that brings people together.
The Importance of Brewing Fellowship
Jon never brews alone, which speaks to the collaborative spirit that makes British brewing culture so special. "It doesn't matter if the brewer has more or less experience than you. You will always learn something from the conversations you have," he observes.
His mentor Chris Humble deserves particular mention – Jon credits him as a primary reason for his brewing improvements. The questions Chris has answered "multiple times" demonstrate the patience required for proper brewing education.
Jon's involvement with the Red Rice Brew Krewe highlights the importance of brewing communities. His advice? Find a local group or start your own. The knowledge shared over a proper pint is worth its weight in gold.
Blueprint for Brewing Success: Jon's Design Philosophy
Fancy building your own brewing paradise? Jon's approach is methodical and thoroughly sensible:
Start with measurement: Know your space inside and out List everything: Equipment specs with exact dimensions Sketch repeatedly: Multiple drawings until it's right Seek opinions: Fellow brewers spot issues you might miss Refine relentlessly: Keep tweaking until it's perfect
"You will need to make several drawings before you get a good working idea of what will work for the space you have," Jon advises. The planning stage might feel tedious, but it prevents expensive cock-ups later.
Competition Success and Future Ambitions
Jon's crowning achievement came with a Munich Dunkle that claimed first in category and third best of show. That's the sort of recognition that validates years of careful brewing and systematic improvement.
His ultimate goal? "First Place Best of Show" – a worthy ambition for any serious brewer. With his complete Grainfather system, Jon reckons the brewing possibilities are endless. Post-retirement plans include a beer garden featuring his own brews alongside other local offerings – sounds rather lovely, doesn't it?
Perfect Pairings and Brewing Wisdom
Jon's ideal pairing combines Porter House steak with cold Saison – a combination that shows his understanding of how proper beer enhances good food.
His final piece of advice cuts right to the heart of brewing improvement: "No matter what level of experience you have in brewing, place your beer in a competition. The lessons you will learn from a seasoned judge are endless."
Competition isn't about winning medals (though that's rather nice) – it's about accelerated learning through expert feedback. Whether you're bottling your first batch or perfecting your hundredth recipe, competitions provide insights you simply can't get elsewhere.
Jon's journey from family brewing tales to competition success demonstrates what's achievable with proper planning, decent kit, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
Grainfather Team
