Brew Kettle False Bottom

[zackattack784]

I've tried searching but none of the threads answer my exact question. I'm considering going all grain after a few extract brews. I need a larger kettle and I'm trying to figure out what purpose a false bottom would serve?

I'm currently leaning towards a 10 gallon cooler mash tun and 10 gallon HLT. I have an immersion chiller for cooling. Will a false bottom help filter when emptying my kettle into the fermenter or is it not really a necessity?

 

[Ski12568]

It acts like a strainer to keep the grains from clogging the valve and hose so you only get wort.

 

[zackattack784]

It acts like a strainer to keep the grains from clogging the valve and hose so you only get wort.

I don't plan on mashing in my kettle though.

 

[McKnuckle]

Then you won't need one in your kettle. You need something to keep the grain out of the runnings that you will boil. You'll need a false bottom, manifold, or bag (BIAB) in your mash tun - whether it's a kettle or a cooler. Sounds like you're planning to use a cooler, so that's where it will go. No need for another one.

 

[zackattack784]

Then you won't need one in your kettle. You need something to keep the grain out of the runnings that you will boil. You'll need a false bottom, manifold, or bag (BIAB) in your mash tun - whether it's a kettle or a cooler. Sounds like you're planning to use a cooler, so that's where it will go. No need for another one.

Yea my mash tun will have a false bottom. I was just wondering if there was any other reason to have one in your kettle. At this point I can't justify that extra expenses but maybe I'm missing something?

 

[McKnuckle]

You're not missing anything.

 

[zackattack784]

You're not missing anything.

Thanks

 

[zippybasher]

You will want one in the kettle if you use whole hops during the boil... I much prefer it to the bazooka tube. But either work fine. Useless for pellet hops.

 

[WI_Wino]

You will want one in the kettle if you use whole hops during the boil... I much prefer it to the bazooka tube. But either work fine. Useless for pellet hops.

IME, a false bottom does help keep out break and pellet hop gunk. I use one in my kettle.

 

[Roadie]

Make/buy a hop spider for your BK if you are worried about hop debris.

 

[McKnuckle]

Agreed about hop pellet trub... And cold break trub is pretty much impossible to filter. I have a 75 micron screen filter and even that doesn't work. Don't bother with a kettle false bottom unless you'll use whole hops.

 

[WI_Wino]

I'll have to take a picture of all the crap my fb catches next brew day.

 

[pablosbrewing]

False bottom is for the mash tun. Not needed for the kettle.

 

[Natdavis777]

I use a stainless hop spider in the BK and it keeps all the hop matter out of the finished product, as well as the plate chiller.

 

[WI_Wino]

I'll have to take a picture of all the crap my fb catches next brew day.

Brewed up a Vienna lager tonight. 13 lbs of grain, full volume biab, and 2.5 ozs of pellet hops. Here's what the kettle looked like after draining to my fermenting bucket. Second picture shows the gunk after I scraped it away with my spoon.

View attachment 1423456245635.jpg

View attachment 1423456262713.jpg

 

[bbenesh]

Thanks for the pics.

I've been debating getting one for my bk as well!