2 Vessel Monte

[J.W. Stillwater]

Hello everybody, I’m putting together an equipment list for my first attempt at all grain brewing. The plan is to get three 10 gallon kettles for a E–Herms system.

But I’m wondering about the necessity for a dedicated boil kettle. Couldn’t you mash/sparge in 2 kettles, drain the wort into a bucket or two, clean the mash tun, remove the false bottom, slide in the element and [presto change-o] a ready made boil kettle?

Am I missing something? What’s the downside? Other than the extra time to clean the MT?

 

[IslandLizard]

3 vessel systems become quite elaborate, quickly. There are many alternatives, especially for smaller (5 or 10 gallon) batches. How often do you brew?

• You can do it with one kettle and a holding bucket, or 2, sure.
• Have you looked into BIAB?
• Or a boil kettle and a converted cooler as mash tun. That's what I use, mostly.
  I batch sparge. Simple, fast, and good mash efficiency (80-85%).

 

[ba-brewer]

When I was using propane I had a single kettle, cooler mash tun and a couple buckets. I did batch sparges into bucket then moved to the kettle when the last sparge was made.

Make your hot liquor tank and boil kettle the same vessel then you don't need to instantly clean the mash tun to continue.

 

[IslandLizard]

Make your hot liquor tank and boil kettle the same vessel then you don't need to instantly clean the mash tun to continue.

When I need/want to do step mashes (not very often) I use my boil kettle (with a thick insulation layer) for the mash. Stir well and turning it over while heating to get the whole mash to the next rest step temp and prevent scorching the bottom. After mashing out, I transfer the mash to the cooler mash tun for lautering, and rinse out the kettle briefly to accept the clear wort for the boil.

 

[ba-brewer]

Many a way to skin the homebrewing cat.

 

[Bobby_M]

Hello everybody, I’m putting together an equipment list for my first attempt at all grain brewing. The plan is to get three 10 gallon kettles for a E–Herms system.

But I’m wondering about the necessity for a dedicated boil kettle. Couldn’t you mash/sparge in 2 kettles, drain the wort into a bucket or two, clean the mash tun, remove the false bottom, slide in the element and [presto change-o] a ready made boil kettle?

Am I missing something? What’s the downside? Other than the extra time to clean the MT?

Horrible idea in my opinion. A three vessel E-Herms is not exactly what I would recommend for a first run at all grain. Ok so you run off all your wort to buckets, and if your'e fly sparging that means the collection process takes you about 45 minutes. Now the wort is cooling off while you wait and clean the mash tun. Then you'll splash the hell out of the wort going into your new boil kettle tranformation and have to wait for the ramp up. With a dedicated boil kettle, you can fire the element as soon as you have enough wort in there to cover it. That took a typical 3 vessel brew day of 5 or so hours and added another hour.

All that said. E-BIAB is the best of all worlds. No need for HERMS, the element is in the kettle with the mash. No need for a hot liquor tank, no sparging. 4 hour brew day. No compromises.