I need a bigger MLT (mine is only a 9gallon stainless) and after getting over the shock from the cost of stainless 'tuns (not to mention those big round coolers -boy are they PROUD of their product!) I ran across some (very) large aluminum cooking pots that my local 'mostly mexican' grocery store keeps in stock -these things are pretty inexpensive and built LARGE (I guess their clientele must have some really large families, or they cook for a lot of people).
I know the ongoing debate about aluminum boil kettles (and I've never had a problem with them, I used to use one until I get a keg converted) -but a mash tun could be an animal of a different color. My interest in the pots is that they are a bit wider than the usual converted keg -so the mash wouldn't be as deep, and I'd expect it would have a more even consistency in the mash (and a bit easier to clean) -but I know mash PH tends to get down to just above 5, which is reasonably acidic -and wondered if that might cause my beer to have a 'metallic' flavoring -which I don't find desirable in the slightest). Has anyone made their MLT out of aluminum? If you did, how did it work out? My rig is an HERMIS so no direct heat to the mash tun, but the water recirculates continuously. My heat exchanger is in my HLT, and all the piping is (as usual) copper with brass fittings.
The false bottom would probably be made from stainless, however. But before pricing that out, I wanted some advice regarding the 'tun.
I know the ongoing debate about aluminum boil kettles (and I've never had a problem with them, I used to use one until I get a keg converted) -but a mash tun could be an animal of a different color. My interest in the pots is that they are a bit wider than the usual converted keg -so the mash wouldn't be as deep, and I'd expect it would have a more even consistency in the mash (and a bit easier to clean) -but I know mash PH tends to get down to just above 5, which is reasonably acidic -and wondered if that might cause my beer to have a 'metallic' flavoring -which I don't find desirable in the slightest). Has anyone made their MLT out of aluminum? If you did, how did it work out? My rig is an HERMIS so no direct heat to the mash tun, but the water recirculates continuously. My heat exchanger is in my HLT, and all the piping is (as usual) copper with brass fittings.
The false bottom would probably be made from stainless, however. But before pricing that out, I wanted some advice regarding the 'tun.