Is a false bottom needed in my boil keg for extract kits?

[dae06]

I have an old 1/2 barrel keg that I would like to convert to a boil keg with a drain valve on the bottom. Is it worth the effort, time and cost to get a false bottom if all I do are extract kits? I know all the slug is on the bottom on my current 3-1/2 gallon pot, so is the bottom drain even a good idea? Is there a better solution?

Thanks

 

[Clonefan94]

Nope, false bottoms are for mashing and keeping the grains off the bottom of your kettle. Absolutely no need for one doing extracts. It also won't do anything to keep the sludge off the bottom anyways, they are strictly for your mash ton.

 

[kh54s10]

IMO you don't need a false bottom in your boil kettle no matter what type of brewing you do. Certainly not with extract kits. You might want a hop spider, but there are a lot of people who just dump the hops in the boil.

How are you planning to heat this? If you are planning on using propane you cannot have the valve on the bottom.

I would prefer the valve on the side so you can drain off the wort and leave the sludge if you want to. It is not necessary. The sludge will compact on the bottom of your fermenter.

 

[dae06]

Sorry, when I said bottom, I meant the lower part of the side of the keg.
I just saw something called a bazooka (drain screen). That might be what I need.

 

[specharka]

Sorry, when I said bottom, I meant the lower part of the side of the keg.

I just saw something called a bazooka (drain screen). That might be what I need.

They are pretty useful, especially to filter dry hop sediment from your keg. You can either leave the bazooka screen in your keg or filter your dry hops as you rack into the keg.

EDIT: Just noticed you were talking about the boil, not the carb. You will still get some sediment, but the bazooka screens filter about as well as a strainer. So yeah, it is a pretty good option even for extract brews.

 

[ncbrewer]

It's not at all certain that trub removal is necessary or beneficial. See this link for exbeeriment results: http://brulosophy.com/2014/06/02/the-great-trub-exbeeriment-results-are-in/
I wouldn't (don't) worry about screening it out.

 

[pshankstar]

I just turned an old keg into a brew pot for extract brewing. I thought about the bazooka screen but decided against it since many people said it clogs easy. Instead I was directed to purchase a pickup tube that attaches to the ball valve I installed. Below are pictures to see what I'm talking about. It worked great and I had hardly any sediment go into my fermenter, but it leaves a little over a gallon of wort behind. But that wasn't an issue b/c I did a full boil and still had 5 full gallons of wort go into the fermenter. Congrats and good luck!

 

[dae06]

It's not at all certain that trub removal is necessary or beneficial. See this link for exbeeriment results: http://brulosophy.com/2014/06/02/the-great-trub-exbeeriment-results-are-in/
I wouldn't (don't) worry about screening it out.

Thanks, real nice article. I now don't feel the need to worry about the trub.

pshankstar- Nice, that's a good idea. Is your OG ok since you used more water in you boil? Also, could you lower the end of the pickup tube to get more wort out?

Thanks

 

[cyanmonkey]

Another vote for pick up tube. You can bend them however you want, but you need to be careful not to kink it. You can make one, if you feel crafty enough. Part of the enjoyment I get from this hobby is building my equipment.

 

[RavensSRQ]

+1 for the pickup tube. Additionally, you can make one of these for your hop additions. Just get a pvc reducer- I used a 4 to 3, a paint strainer bag, a hose clamp and a garment hook for the side of your brew kettle. Use all stainless steel and cpvc if you can. It works great for me.

 

[pshankstar]

Thanks, real nice article. I now don't feel the need to worry about the trub.



pshankstar- Nice, that's a good idea. Is your OG ok since you used more water in you boil? Also, could you lower the end of the pickup tube to get more wort out?



Thanks

I'm not sure about the OG b/c I've only brewed one batch since I built this and the recipe didn't list an OG & FG.

Yes the pickup tube can be angled up or down or even parallel with the ball valve. If you would like I can snap a few pictures for you tomorrow to see what I'm talking about.