I have a 4 gallon ceramic covered pot that i use on an electric stove. I got a chip in the ceramic which i tihnk is a problem. I am not sure i can still use it so i have been looking on ebay for pots and maybe even a propane burner. I am a poor college student and i have found some 7.5 gallon pots with propane burners for around $40 dollars after shipping that i really like. However they are all aluminum. I really can not afford to buy a new stainless steel pot so i guess my choices are 4 gallon ceramic with a chip on an elctric stove or a 7.5 gallon aluminum on a burner. Which should i do? is almuminum that bad?
Is aluminum really bad?
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Torchiest
Well-Known Member
This has been argued about for a long time. I did a quick search, and I think this thread has a pretty good summary of both sides. Hope that helps. FWIW, I will only use stainless steel. Once I move into a house, I'll be buying a larger pot. Right now I make due with a 20qt stainless steel.
Regardless of the chemical/toxic arguments just think about the hygiene side. What do hospitals use exclusively?
That's enough for me.
That's enough for me.
Genghis77
Well-Known Member
You should be able to repair the chipped ceramic easily using ceramic sink repair available at nearly any hardware store. Ceramic though works as an insulator. You're lucky to get a boil on an electric stove.
I recently listened to the FAQ episode with John Palmer (or maybe it was the lagering episode) of Basic Brewing Network. Anyway, John Palmer even claims that brewing with aluminum is not a health issue. He did, however, talk about some sort of film or layer that develops on aluminum. As long as this layer/film is present, there is no problem.
That being said - I use stainless.
[edit] - ooops . . . that link posted by Torchy has better info about what John Palmer has to say.
That being said - I use stainless.
[edit] - ooops . . . that link posted by Torchy has better info about what John Palmer has to say.
![Craft A Brew - Safale S-04 Dry Yeast - Fermentis - English Ale Dry Yeast - For English and American Ales and Hard Apple Ciders - Ingredients for Home Brewing - Beer Making Supplies - [1 Pack]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41fVGNh6JfL._SL500_.jpg)
I'll give my two cents also...I stick with stainless. Again, as others have said, there seems to be a growing concensus that aluminum is not dangerous, but there has been enough doubt raised for me to go exclusively with SS. A lot of people that advocate aluminum use will say that if you've ever eaten in a restaurant, your food was cooked in aluminum. If you feel comfortable with that, go with aluminum. I prefer not to chance it.
Besides, if you can get your hands on an empty half barrell, you'll have yourself a 15.5 gallon SS boil kettle with a few modifications. I got mine for $12. And, I'm not a handy man by any stretch of the imagination, and never worked with metal before. Yet, I managed to drill all the necessary holes and add the fittings, with very little difficulty. So, if you go this route, you'll get a bigger SS kettle, for less money, than you could buy an aluminum pot for.
Besides, if you can get your hands on an empty half barrell, you'll have yourself a 15.5 gallon SS boil kettle with a few modifications. I got mine for $12. And, I'm not a handy man by any stretch of the imagination, and never worked with metal before. Yet, I managed to drill all the necessary holes and add the fittings, with very little difficulty. So, if you go this route, you'll get a bigger SS kettle, for less money, than you could buy an aluminum pot for.
From my reading, the only reasn aluminum isn't used in more places is that the caustic cleaners mandated for them will eat up the Al. Like, commercial breweries, or hospital. But then, you are not supposed to soak SS in chlorine either. That's why breweries don't use bleach as a sanitiser, but that's another thread.
I was just researching aluminum pots the other day myself.
This point was raised in another thread.
"Actually, in the real world of cooking, the heat capacity of your brew kettle is a very big concern. Why is cast iron so much better for cooking soup than aluminum? No hot spots...less chance of scorching. There is a reason that you don't see aluminum pots in professional kitchens."
The heat capacity of the bottom of a pot depends not only on the material characteristics, but also on the thickness of the material. If you make the aluminum thick enough, it will have a greater heat capacity than the SS.
I recently found an aluminum pot I liked because of its size. Prior to this I never gave aluminum a second thought. I did a bunch of research, including the health risks (of which there are NONE) and the pots for my brewing sculpture are going to be ALUMINUM.
Aluminum pots are much less expensive than SS. They conduct heat better. If cared for properly they will make just as good beer. They are not an inferior product.
Here is what one guy said about using a large aluminum pot versus a keg. And he now has a keg.
"In many ways I liked it better than my keg. Slightly more volume. Way lighter to carry. Much better heat transfer because of the alu."
http://www.bodensatz.com/forum/viewtopic.php?forum=12&showtopic=6700
I am going to use my kegs as fermenters and kegs and buy aluminum pots for my brewing structure.
This point was raised in another thread.
"Actually, in the real world of cooking, the heat capacity of your brew kettle is a very big concern. Why is cast iron so much better for cooking soup than aluminum? No hot spots...less chance of scorching. There is a reason that you don't see aluminum pots in professional kitchens."
The heat capacity of the bottom of a pot depends not only on the material characteristics, but also on the thickness of the material. If you make the aluminum thick enough, it will have a greater heat capacity than the SS.
I recently found an aluminum pot I liked because of its size. Prior to this I never gave aluminum a second thought. I did a bunch of research, including the health risks (of which there are NONE) and the pots for my brewing sculpture are going to be ALUMINUM.
Aluminum pots are much less expensive than SS. They conduct heat better. If cared for properly they will make just as good beer. They are not an inferior product.
Here is what one guy said about using a large aluminum pot versus a keg. And he now has a keg.
"In many ways I liked it better than my keg. Slightly more volume. Way lighter to carry. Much better heat transfer because of the alu."
http://www.bodensatz.com/forum/viewtopic.php?forum=12&showtopic=6700
I am going to use my kegs as fermenters and kegs and buy aluminum pots for my brewing structure.
67coupe390
Well-Known Member
Thank you!! AL develops a "protective film" on it BUT it can easily be taken off by just the movment of the wort boiling. AL has not been proven to do any damage to the humam body in small amounts but who wants to find out later that the same scientists we all beat up in high school were wrong.orfy said:
Oh well I think I'll RDWHAHB now.
"Regardless of the chemical/toxic arguments just think about the hygiene side. What do hospitals use exclusively?"
Hospitals autoclave everything ! It wouldn't matter if their stuff was aluminum or SS, it would get sterilized. The next time a human life is on the line when I brew, I'll surely get a SS pot. Until then, either SS or aluminum will do.
SS is probably used because of its strength and manufacturing characteristics more than anything.
I'm not going to waste my time arguing the health side of this.
Something I really find ironic is that people are afraid to brew beer in an aluminum pot and yet they will drink beer stored in an aluminum can. And take anti acid pills and use anti perspirants.
"Due to certain additives, processed cheese and cornbread are two major contributors to high aluminum exposures in the American diet. With regard to pharmaceuticals, some common over-the-counter medications such as antacids and buffered aspirin contain aluminum to increase the daily intake significantly."
Ironic that doctors perscribe daily aspirin for people predisposed to heart problems.
http://ehso.com/ehshome/alzheimers.htm
Hospitals autoclave everything ! It wouldn't matter if their stuff was aluminum or SS, it would get sterilized. The next time a human life is on the line when I brew, I'll surely get a SS pot. Until then, either SS or aluminum will do.
SS is probably used because of its strength and manufacturing characteristics more than anything.
I'm not going to waste my time arguing the health side of this.
Something I really find ironic is that people are afraid to brew beer in an aluminum pot and yet they will drink beer stored in an aluminum can. And take anti acid pills and use anti perspirants.
"Due to certain additives, processed cheese and cornbread are two major contributors to high aluminum exposures in the American diet. With regard to pharmaceuticals, some common over-the-counter medications such as antacids and buffered aspirin contain aluminum to increase the daily intake significantly."
Ironic that doctors perscribe daily aspirin for people predisposed to heart problems.
http://ehso.com/ehshome/alzheimers.htm
Shop around. 30QT SS pots and fryers can be had for around $50.
Here's mine:
http://www.academy.com/index.php?pa...ls/fryers&start=0&selectedSKU=0267-40037-0626
Here's mine:
http://www.academy.com/index.php?pa...ls/fryers&start=0&selectedSKU=0267-40037-0626
flippindiscs
Active Member
I just like how SS seems more durable then aluminum. When I accidently dropped my empty aluminum pot it dented pretty bad, thus I needed to spend $ to get a new pot. Now that I have SS, it seems as if I could throw it at the wall and it wouldn't dent like the aluminum one did. That's my $0.02. (by the way I don't recommend actually throwing your brewpot against a wall to test this theory)
DeadYetiBrew
Well-Known Member
Ask your LHBS if he has any, then maybe go to pottery barn, garden ridge, and hobby shops... The guy at my LHBS buys his 22qt SS pots, from those places for 5 dollars and then turns around and sells them for 10...
Brewpilot
Well-Known Member
Sure you can "score" a 20-30 qt SS kettle for $50, but who can utilize that size of a kettle?? For any all grain brewer you will need at a minimum 40qts to meet the needs of larger brews and to do serious full wort boils that sometimes begin at 7 gallons. "Scoring" one of those is much more difficult.
Brewpilot
Brewpilot
Why not convert a keg. It's easy to do.
alemonkey
Well-Known Member
I have 2 converted SS kegs for a HLT and Kettle, and an aluminum false bottom in my mash tun. I go with what's cheap & available. The expanded metal for the mash tun was $30 shipped for aluminum, but would have been over $70 in SS.
Aluminum is much softer and can't handle corrosive cleaners. Most professional systems use a CIP system with caustic chemicals to clean the equipment so that they don't have to use elbow grease. Aluminum wouldn't last in that environment.
I figure if aluminum was really a health risk it would be banned for cooking by big brother. Besides, I'm probably doing a lot more damage to my brain with my homebrew than with trace amounts of aluminum.
Aluminum is much softer and can't handle corrosive cleaners. Most professional systems use a CIP system with caustic chemicals to clean the equipment so that they don't have to use elbow grease. Aluminum wouldn't last in that environment.
I figure if aluminum was really a health risk it would be banned for cooking by big brother. Besides, I'm probably doing a lot more damage to my brain with my homebrew than with trace amounts of aluminum.
67coupe390
Well-Known Member
By Brewman- " The next time a human life is on the line when I brew, I'll surely get a SS pot. Until then, either SS or aluminum will do."
This has got to be hands down the best line on this thread!!!LOL
Cheers to that Brewman!!!
This has got to be hands down the best line on this thread!!!LOL
Cheers to that Brewman!!!
*laughs Thanks guys.
The other ironic thing about the hospital using SS instruments is that they operate at room temperature, whereas we use our kettles to boil our wort and thus there is about zero chance of a contaminated kettle contaminating our wort. After all, when was the last time you sanitized your kettle ?
I'd go SS if the price differential wasn't so great and if I could find the right sized kettle. I want 20 gallon kettles so I can have 14 gallons coming out of the boil. I can save $100 to $150 per kettle using aluminum versus SS. I can spend those savings on other parts of my brew setup.
I'll let everyone know how it turns out.
The other ironic thing about the hospital using SS instruments is that they operate at room temperature, whereas we use our kettles to boil our wort and thus there is about zero chance of a contaminated kettle contaminating our wort. After all, when was the last time you sanitized your kettle ?
I'd go SS if the price differential wasn't so great and if I could find the right sized kettle. I want 20 gallon kettles so I can have 14 gallons coming out of the boil. I can save $100 to $150 per kettle using aluminum versus SS. I can spend those savings on other parts of my brew setup.
I'll let everyone know how it turns out.
You pays your $$$$$ and takes you're choice.
If I only had Aluminum available, guess what....It wouldn't stop me brewing.
I would never suggest that anyone doesn't use Aluminium but I know what I'd rather use. Given a choice between the two then I think most people would go for stainless steel. Sure the $$$ comes into it but any one suggesting that SS isn't the best option is gonna have a tough debate.
If I only had Aluminum available, guess what....It wouldn't stop me brewing.
I would never suggest that anyone doesn't use Aluminium but I know what I'd rather use. Given a choice between the two then I think most people would go for stainless steel. Sure the $$$ comes into it but any one suggesting that SS isn't the best option is gonna have a tough debate.
So what exactly is better about SS ? Its a harder metal, meaning it doesn't scratch as easily and its more chemically resistant to some cleaners. What else ?
Lets remember that we are talking about a boil kettle here and people have done boils in plastic pails ! (Me for one.)
One could argue that other metals are even better than SS, like tungsten or copper for example. So why aren't we running out and buying tungsten boil kettles ? Because SS and aluminum and in some cases plastic, THEY GET THE JOB DONE.
Its not about the equipment, ITS ABOUT THE BEER.
The only think about the equipment that matters is how hard or easy it makes it to make good beer. I've brewed in the kitchen and then in the basement and finally in the garage with a HERM system and every time I upgraded equipment, my brewing got easier, more convenient and better. Those criteria are the only ones that matter for me when selecting equipment. I fail to see how selecting a SS pot over an aluminum pot would make my brewing easier, more convenient or better. Tell me how it would and maybe I will change my mind.
While we are at it, where does economics fit into this ? I can save $110 per pot using 20 gallon aluminum pots over 20 gallon SS pots. $220 will buy me a spun SS metal hopper for a conical fermentor. So what would create more convenience in my brewing operations, SS brew pots or a conical fermentor ?
Brewing is a bit like cycling where you get the tech heads that obsess over the equipment, striving for the ultimate, saving 3 grams here, etc. Meanwhile the people that are in it for the sport don't have the lightest bikes and such, but they seem to win races. As far as I am concerned, I'll use whatever equipment makes my brewing easy, convenient and good.
Lets remember that we are talking about a boil kettle here and people have done boils in plastic pails ! (Me for one.)
One could argue that other metals are even better than SS, like tungsten or copper for example. So why aren't we running out and buying tungsten boil kettles ? Because SS and aluminum and in some cases plastic, THEY GET THE JOB DONE.
Its not about the equipment, ITS ABOUT THE BEER.
The only think about the equipment that matters is how hard or easy it makes it to make good beer. I've brewed in the kitchen and then in the basement and finally in the garage with a HERM system and every time I upgraded equipment, my brewing got easier, more convenient and better. Those criteria are the only ones that matter for me when selecting equipment. I fail to see how selecting a SS pot over an aluminum pot would make my brewing easier, more convenient or better. Tell me how it would and maybe I will change my mind.
While we are at it, where does economics fit into this ? I can save $110 per pot using 20 gallon aluminum pots over 20 gallon SS pots. $220 will buy me a spun SS metal hopper for a conical fermentor. So what would create more convenience in my brewing operations, SS brew pots or a conical fermentor ?
Brewing is a bit like cycling where you get the tech heads that obsess over the equipment, striving for the ultimate, saving 3 grams here, etc. Meanwhile the people that are in it for the sport don't have the lightest bikes and such, but they seem to win races. As far as I am concerned, I'll use whatever equipment makes my brewing easy, convenient and good.
Hey, I agree with you. Use what you want. There's probably not a lot in it.
I know new for new price is a big difference but I got my kegs at $16.
SS reacts with less chemical, is easier to clean, and you don't have to worry what cleaner you use as much as with Aluminium. And I don't have to worry if the theories on Alzheimer's and Aluminium are true or not.
It's a debate that is not going to be settled on this forum.
Each to their own and It's up to the individual to make their own mind up.
I have plastic kit. I have a plastic HLT.
I know new for new price is a big difference but I got my kegs at $16.
SS reacts with less chemical, is easier to clean, and you don't have to worry what cleaner you use as much as with Aluminium. And I don't have to worry if the theories on Alzheimer's and Aluminium are true or not.
It's a debate that is not going to be settled on this forum.
Each to their own and It's up to the individual to make their own mind up.
I have plastic kit. I have a plastic HLT.
67coupe390
Well-Known Member
And they didn't have SS in Egypt when the beer brewing started. Its like Orfy said "Each to their own" Well put!! Lets brew beer!!!!!:rockin:
And hence the big debate again...
I personally don't have a problem with using aluminum, but my kettles are stainless because they are more durable, they are easier to clean without worrying about a protective oxide layer, and I can weld stainless pipe fittings to them.
One thing that hasn't been mentioned is the potential off flavors and oxidation that rust can cause when the enamel/ceramic coating has been chipped off of a coated stock pot. Throw the old one away and go with the metal kettle of your choice that fits your budget.
I personally don't have a problem with using aluminum, but my kettles are stainless because they are more durable, they are easier to clean without worrying about a protective oxide layer, and I can weld stainless pipe fittings to them.
One thing that hasn't been mentioned is the potential off flavors and oxidation that rust can cause when the enamel/ceramic coating has been chipped off of a coated stock pot. Throw the old one away and go with the metal kettle of your choice that fits your budget.
Tony
Well-Known Member
brewman ! said:
How the heck do you boil in plastic pails?
67coupe390
Well-Known Member
Ha-HaTony said:How the heck do you boil in plastic pails?
Thats funny I didn't even catch that!!! My plastic boil kettle melts every time I try to use it.i went ahead and and ordered a burner and aluminum pot of of ebay. its a 30qt pot that i got w/ the burner for $25 including shipping. I hav a keg(after all i am a college student) shell so i will probably use that. I am gonna do two identical boils in my aluminum pot and my keg and see if there is a difference.
Actually you can do it with an immersion heater or "heat stick" as long as the plastic is rated to withstand temperatures above 212 F.Tony said:How the heck do you boil in plastic pails?
Tony
Well-Known Member
Yuri_Rage said:
Ahhhhhh! I see said the blind man! I forgot about the immersion heaters. Thanks!
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