ModlrMike

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I'm moving from all extract to partial mash. I have a mini-mash tun in the works, and I'm looking to add a full size brew kettle so that I can do full volume boils. I'm curious as to which is better... aluminum or stainless? I know that stainless can be much more expensive. I also know that there is anecdotal evidence that aluminum pots have been implicated Alzheimer's disease. All the same, I lean toward aluminum because I want to drill the pot for a spigot and perhaps a thermometer. I see people using converted kegs as brew pots, and they sure look aluminum to me.

RichBrewer

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First off welcome to HBT!

Now. Are you trying to start a riot?
This is a debate that goes on and on. I think aluminum is just fine for brewing but there are folks that swear that it will give you Alzheimer's or something. The argument has been going as long as I've been a member and I think you just stirred it up again.

All kidding aside. I'm glad you became a member and I look forward to hearing about your brews.

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Rich

FlyGuy

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Welcome!

If you want the full spectrum of opinion, this question gets asked a lot here. The search tool is your friend....

Bottom line: both SS and Al are safe. The Alzheimer implication has been retracted by the medical community as bad science.

Aluminum is cheaper and a better material for a brew kettle.

Stainless steel is much more pretty, easier to clean, and will hold up marginally better.

It's all personal preference. I have both types, and prefer aluminum. Having said that, I prefer using my SS keggle because of the size.

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ModlrMike

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I knew it was a passionate issue... but I thought I'd post just the same. I think I'm going with aluminum as I can probably get a 40qt pot at a good price, and get it drilled out at work.

perry

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Back in the day, it was rumored that hop acids reacted with certain aluminum alloys... I don't know if this is true or not (there's some decent beer out there in cans), but that's why I went with ss. -p

david_42

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"I also know that there is anecdotal evidence that aluminum pots have been implicated Alzheimer's disease."

The study this persistent rumor is based on was demonstrated to be grossly contaminated. There is and never was any connection.

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malkore

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I think any more it boils down to SS having a longer lifespan on average than aluminum. i see plenty of seasoned brewers here saying they love their 10 year old aluminum pots, and never noticed any metallic flavors in their finished beers.

aluminum transfers heat really well too...it might be a better material for electric range brewers like myself.

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djflesch

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For me, the main reason I went with SS over Al is because of heat transfer. Aluminum is much better at transfering heat, is lighter and most often much thinner than SS. Because of better heat transfer and thinner walls and bottoms, you can end up scorching the contents of the boil. Sure it's hard to burn water, but it's not that hard to burn the hot and cold breaks that end up near the bottom. That being said, I cannot say that I have actually compared a recipe prepared in a SS versus Al pot. I doubt you could perceive much difference if any. My particular pot is SS and the bottom is aluminum sandwiched in between SS layers so that I get good heat transfer that is much more uniform than Al. One drawback is that my pot weighs close to 60 lbs (it's 25G) and therefore heavy to lift etc. The counter arguement to weight is that with 15+G of wort in there, there is no way that I'm going to lift it in any pot

rdwj

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aluminum or stainless are both fine choices for a kettle...

Wood is a poor one

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ModlrMike

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Thanks for all the help, guys. My treasure hunt has yielded a 48L (12.6 us gal/11 imp gal) aluminum pot for 55 CAD, and a 68000 BTU burner for 45 CAD. I still have a couple of places to check, but that 48L pot sure looks nice. Any tips on drilling out the side for a spigot etc, like one does on the coolers?

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