keg as mash tun ?

bigbadMF · 04-13-2009, 11:12 PM

Hey all,

Quick perhaps easy question here, but I just gotta know.

I have a 15.5 gal keg with top cut out that I would like to use to make the switch to all grain. Ball valve already tapped into the bottom, but even as low as it is, it is a couple inches above the bottom of the keg. If I used a stainless braid as a manifold to drain it, what do I do about the 1.5 gal or so at the bottom of the keg?

Will it siphon up and out the ball valve? Should I connect a piece of pipe and a 45 before I install the manifold? Other solutions that I haven't thought of?

Thanks for helping me along the path....

**Dr_Deathweed** · 04-13-2009, 11:16 PM

You can throw an elbow joint at the end of your tube, and create a dip tibe that reaches down to the bottom of the keg. Stainless steel braids work great, but IMHO getting a full false bottom will be your best option, as it will allow you to directly fire your mash tun with less risk of scorching.

GunnerMan · 04-13-2009, 11:21 PM

I want to know where everyone gets these 15.5 gal kegs. I want some to build a brewery capable of 10 gal batches but I don't want to spend the hundreds on a pre-cut one from a shop.

As for your issue yeah false bottom sounds good that way you can have an elbow from your valve down to the bottom where you can siphon it all out. Or just plan ahead for the 1.5 gal deadspace.

MgMt_Home_Brew · 04-13-2009, 11:46 PM

Yeah if I were you I would do a false bottom...

Quote:

Originally Posted by GunnerMan

I want to know where everyone gets these 15.5 gal kegs. I want some to build a brewery capable of 10 gal batches but I don't want to spend the hundreds on a pre-cut one from a shop.

Yeah i have been looking for them as well, CL is a good place to look. I tried scrap metal yards but they say they don't take them since people would try to scrap the kegs instead of taking them back.

Also I live in Burlington VT where magic hat is but they don't own their kegs. Micro star owns them and they sell them to some guy who then sells then for a couple hundred beans.

bigbadMF · 04-14-2009, 12:02 AM

craigslist for kegs. gotta keep watch, but I often see them at around $25-$45. like 1 or 2 every other week. Easy enough to do the work yourself and you're in for less than $100.

Deathweed, could you elaborate please? Elbow on the valve end or the other end, and what do you mean by a dip tube?

Ok, so enlighten me, false bottom. Stainless or plastic disc with loads of holes drilled in it right? Elbow coming off the high point in the center goes to ball valve right? keeps the grains off the bottom.

Same problem, I've got 3-4 inches of liquid below the level of the valve. how do I move this out to brew pot?

New to the idea of manifolds, always thought false bottom was the only answer, but <$10 in parts is pretty attractive compared to $40 for a stainless false bottom.

Can mash by adding hot water to tun, not firing burner correct? Then just drain and sparge, either fly or batch.....

Sorry if im asking basic questions, trying to get my legs under me....

Thanks!

**Denny's Evil Concoctions** · 04-14-2009, 12:24 AM

You can direct fire with a manifold, you just have to stir a lot during temperature step ups.

You can also build a false bottom from Alum door screen and some sort of SS frame or copper frame. You can bend some copper tubing into a 15" circle as a frame. Adding some cross pieces will help support the door screen. Alternately find a cheap SS bowl and using an angle grinder to cut out the edge for a frame.

SS false bottom is nice, but I'm having trouble finding perforated SS locally. Seems a couple of metal fabricators have gone out of business due to the economy.

I used a copper manifold for several years, and as long as you stir it a fair bit you should avoid scorching. When I added a pump to recirculate the mash I did not want to stir so I changed to a false bottom.

Diptube is the tube that picks up the liquid. Your tube should come from the inside wall of the keg and then bend down (elbow) to the bottom.

have you checked out How to Brew - By John Palmer - Brewing Your First All-Grain Beer

**Lil' Sparky** · 04-14-2009, 12:53 AM

Here's the inside of my sanke MLT. My dip tube is a bent SS tube, but my BK and HLT have copper tubing w/ a 90 degree elbow instead. They go all the way to the bottom and only leave a few ounces of liquid behind.

I've got another buddy who's got a SS braid as a filter and it works great. He's got a T on the bottom of his dip tube with the braid in a ring on the bottom connecting to both sides of the T.

dmbnpj · 04-14-2009, 01:07 AM

You can just tilt it when you only have that little bit underneath the spigot (which we measured to be about 2.3 gallons!). If you are using it as the mash tun it wont heat up enough to be hot so you can just tilt it when you are done. Of course you wont get all of it because the grains eat up a lot of the wort but just plan for a little more water in the beginning and tilting it will get you most of it.

bigbadMF · 04-14-2009, 01:53 AM

Awesome guys! Thanks for the prolific and timely responses. Sparky, thanks for the photos, makes it all more clear! Time to get into the shop!

**Denny's Evil Concoctions** · 04-14-2009, 03:52 AM

Hey Sparky, did you make your own false bottom or is that store bought? Wondering how much the metal to make that would cost.