Induction Top for Just the Decoction Step

[philm63]

Is anyone using an induction cooktop for doing a decoction? I'm asking about just the decoction step, not heating the entire mash.

I'm building (still) an all electric 3-vessel HERMS system with the EBC-330 controller for my new basement brewery and was thinking that, if and when it comes time to do a decoction mash, I'll no longer have my kitchen stove top at my side for the decoction step, unless I want to walk upstairs with a warm pot of thick mash, then back downstairs with a very hot pot of thick mash, which I don't.

I'm looking at induction cooktops and a 12-qt. pot to round out my basement decoction needs - items are sitting in my Amazon cart just waiting for me to pull the trigger; I'd like to hear from some of you folks who can provide insight into this process. Again, not full mashing, but rather heating with an induction cooktop only the thick mash pulled for the decoction.

I brew 5-gallon batches and I will assume, at least at this point, that my mashes should not exceed 75% of the capacity in my tun, which is a 10-gallon kettle. If I'm going higher in gravity, I just reduce the batch size. I don't decoct a lot, in fact I've done it only once before with good success on a gas stove but again, I'm in the basement now so induction it is! At 75% of a 10-G kettle, that'd be 7.5 gallons of mash. 1/3 of that would be 2.5 gallons of mash for the decoction step. The 3-gallon pot I've selected has a 6010-clad bottom plate suitable for induction cookers and the capacity should fit the bill for now. The cooktop I'm looking at is an 1800 W unit so it'd work fine on one of the 20 A 120 V circuits I have in the basement now.

Just looking for any insight and perhaps a reality check - so if anyone is doing this and can offer some advice, I'm all ears. Does it look like this will work, or...?

 

[Nemanach]

I’m moving to an indoor electric system as well and was just thinking about the same thing. Can you post links of what you were looking at? I’m interested in hear how this goes for you.

 

[philm63]

Duxtop 9600LS 1800 W Portable Induction Cooktop – $94.99 at Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01FLR0ET8/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A2EPN08Z0FPLG4&psc=1

Stainless Steel 12 Qt. Pot - $35.38 at Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M7RNBZA/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

 

[nsurround]

Duxtop 9600LS 1800 W Portable Induction Cooktop – $94.99 at Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01FLR0ET8/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A2EPN08Z0FPLG4&psc=1

Stainless Steel 12 Qt. Pot - $35.38 at Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M7RNBZA/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

Did you purchase the 1800 W induction cooktop? Not sure it could bring 8 -10 qts of decoction mash to boil starting from the mid 140s degrees.

 

[doug293cz]

Did you purchase the 1800 W induction cooktop? Not sure it could bring 8 -10 qts of decoction mash to boil starting from the mid 140s degrees.

I can boil ~6 gal of liquid with less than 1600W. Heat up is quite slow, but it does get there. With 1/3 - 1/2 the volume, and 200W+ more power, it will probably work ok.

Brew on

 

[Bobby_M]

I use the 240v 3500 induction and it rips! Too bad all the decoction batches were terrible.

 

[nsurround]

I use the 240v 3500 induction and it rips! Too bad all the decoction batches were terrible.

Was hoping to get away with an 1800W 120V induction stovetop but seems it may not have enough power to move 2-3 gal of 'decoction mash' up to boiling without taking a long rise time. Could you give me some info on your experience using the 3500W induction cooktop for decoctions?

 

[Bobby_M]

 

[quantumguy]

I use the 240v 3500 induction and it rips! Too bad all the decoction batches were terrible.

Do you have a companion video that assesses the resulting beer? While a super long brew day, things seem to go well in the video you posted above.

 

[IslandLizard]

Could you give me some info on your experience using the 3500W induction cooktop for decoctions?

Since 2013 I've been using that same model induction plate @Bobby_M is using: the Avantco IC3500.
It's used for full 5 or 10 gallon batch boils, decoctions, and cereal mashes.

I often do decoctions and cereal mashes, using my 10 gallon thick triple-ply bottomed kettle.
You can use it at relatively high power as such, as long as you keep scraping the bottom continuously and thoroughly to prevent caking and potential scorching.

Webstaurant.com has always had a good deal on them. They're $170 with free shipping:
https://www.webstaurantstore.com/av...on-range-cooker-208-240v-3500w/177IC3500.html
I'm buying another one...

 

[Bobby_M]

Do you have a companion video that assesses the resulting beer? While a super long brew day, things seem to go well in the video you posted above.

The beer kinda sucked to be honest. The smaller portion that I fermented took a short turn for the better and got a bronze in a competition, but Larry dumped his share. We think it got oxidized. It ended up having a vegetal and almost gamey character.

 

[quantumguy]

The beer kinda sucked to be honest. The smaller portion that I fermented took a short turn for the better and got a bronze in a competition, but Larry dumped his share. We think it got oxidized. It ended up having a vegetal and almost gamey character.

That does suck after such a long brew day. Anything you might do differently next time (besides just not doing it again) ?

 

[Bobby_M]

That does suck after such a long brew day. Anything you might do differently next time (besides just not doing it again) ?

We both agreed that neither of us have made any beer better by decocting it. We've both slayed comps with German lagers so it's hard to justify the extra time. Other than building a system that can pump the thick mash to a boil kettle with a stirring system installed, not much comes to mind.

 

[nsurround]

This thread now has answered my question about going back to decoction mashing. Was thinking of getting a induction cooktop (probably the IC3500) to do the decoctions in the basement electric system. But I think for all the effort, time and expense, just does not seem worth it. Will stick with step mashes and maybe use a small amount of melanoidin malt in some cases. Decoctions may add something if just using essentially 100% base malt for certain styles but I usually add some specialty malts for taste and color etc. I guess YMMV