Flat bottomed pot.....

[TipsySaint]

So i have a flat bottomed pot....100qt 22" diameter.

I am trying to figure out the best way to drain this thing. If my dip tube is even a small amount off the bottom, i leave behind a gallon or so of wort. I just don't want to have to deal with buying extra grain for this level of planned loss.

So....i am thinking of warming it up and slowly tapping it down into a supporting mold and giving it a dimple on the bottom that i can drain towards and put my dip tube above. (it's an aluminum pot btw).

So 2 questions.

1. Any reason that this is a bad plan?
2. Do you have a better/different suggestion?

Thanks111

Teh

:fro::rockin:

 

[Nmnbrewer]

You're looking at a little more than a gallon per inch. If your dip tube is 1/2-1/4 inch off the bottom you'll lose maybe 1/4-1/2 gallon at most. Tip it if you want more.

 

[TipsySaint]

Tipping doesn't work that great, I've got the dip tube as short as possible with a 90 degree turn and it's still a good 2" from the wall of the pot so when i tip it still not hitting the dip tube because the pot is so wide.

 

[max384]

Are you trying to avoid pulling up trub? If so. I don't think creating a dimple will help, as the trub left behind is not tightly packet enough. If you're not, why not just tip your kettle?

Personally, I just plan bigger batches. I do five gallon batches. I usually leave about 3/4 to 1 gallon in the kettle, and transfer six in the fermenter. Then I transfer five gallons to the keg. Sure I lose some beer along the way, but the extra grain bill costs me about the price of a commercial brew or two (just to put it in perspective). I'm okay with that.

 

[beermanpete]

I doubt you need to heat the aluminum for what y ou describe. Just push it down and stretch it into the mold. Do you have a plan for how to set the pot on your burner with the convexed bottom?

 

[TipsySaint]

I doubt you need to heat the aluminum for what y ou describe. Just push it down and stretch it into the mold. Do you have a plan for how to set the pot on your burner with the convexed bottom?

I am looking at a small dimple and my pot already hangs over the sides of my burner a bit so i'm hoping i can just set the dimple in front of the burner.

But a dimple will really only work if the whole bottom slopes towards it right???

hmmm

 

[wilserbrewer]

Your dip tube could be fashioned to be very close to the bottom of the kettle, say 1/8 - 1/4", and you will be leaving behaving almost nothing besides hops and break.

Doesn't seem worth the effort to install a bottom drain imo.

What size batches are you planning to brew with such a large kettle?

 

[TipsySaint]

Are you trying to avoid pulling up trub? If so. I don't think creating a dimple will help, as the trub left behind is not tightly packet enough. If you're not, why not just tip your kettle?

Personally, I just plan bigger batches. I do five gallon batches. I usually leave about 3/4 to 1 gallon in the kettle, and transfer six in the fermenter. Then I transfer five gallons to the keg. Sure I lose some beer along the way, but the extra grain bill costs me about the price of a commercial brew or two (just to put it in perspective). I'm okay with that.

The pot is setup to allow for whirlpooling and yeah i'm hoping to avoid pulling trub. I throw my hops into a mesh basket (which i often debate the wisdom of) just to avoid clogging the dip tube as it has such a small amount of clearance that damn near anything will clog it.

 

[beermanpete]

You could punt the bottom and then put the dip tube near the perimiter of the kettle at a height that leaves most of the trub behind in the lower area. Fit-up with the burner could be a problem however and may force adding a grate large enough to span the entire kettle.

 

[TipsySaint]

It's a 2 tier bayou burner setup so the kettle is not locked in place and the burner set is pretty forgiving. I like the punt idea...very interesting....