Kettle as Mash Tun

[ccurran149]

I currently have a cooler style mashtun w/false bottom. I have seen a lot of (what I would call more elegant) brew setups that use a kettle as a mash tun. I was wondering what advantages/disadvantage to using a kettle as a mashtun? Right now I have a megapot 1.2 that I use as my kettle, and I would either invest in another one w/a false bottom or switch up to another premium brand if I did get another kettle. Any feedback would be great

 

[Jaybird]

I REALLY like kettles and false bottoms...

Just sayn'

big fan of the BrewBuilt system put out by B3. If you want a full set up with false bottom hit me up. I'll hook you up.



Cheers
Jay

 

[JayDog]

Advantage would be looks in my opinion. That's about it. Plus you have to insulate it to hold your temps. Unless you plan on recirculating (rims or herms). I love my cooler, I use a 10 gallon Rubbermaid with a false bottom.

 

[z-bob]

One advantage is you can heat it if you need to; undershoot the strike temperature or it loses heat before the mash is done.

 

[jpakstis]

You could just get a BIAB bag for the second kettle if you wanted. The big issue I had with using a kettle as a mash tun is not being able to keep mash temps. I've switched over to a cooler mash tun but when I used to do full volume BIAB in my kettle (Megapot 1.2 10g) I would lose at least 10-15 degrees of mash temp throughout the mash. Even in the height of summer, it'd still lose about 10 degrees. The beers always came out fine, but it seems that using an non-insulated vessel as a mash tun is more hassle than its worth.

I don't know why using another kettle as a mash tun would be more "elegant" unless all you're concerned about is looks. I guess you could use something like the SS Brewtech mash tun or the Chapman one.

 

[oujens]

Maintain temps in a kettle is actually not that bad. A reflectix jacket can be made for cheap and provides adequate insulation. I lose 2-3F over an hour for full volume BIAB. Add a sleeping bag for extra insurance. I've retired my cooler mash tun.

I think the biggest reason a person uses kettles as a mash tun in a traditional setup is to provide the ability to recirculate wort and add heat through elements or fire to maintain temps. Perhaps using a stainless kettle is more sanitary? Sometimes I worry about wort that might slip in the cooler walls. That's not an issue with a kettle.

If you are simply doing an infusion mash, I'm not sure a kettle would add any significant benefit but I also would say it's not a bad thing to switch. Probably more of a personal preference.

 

[eric19312]

I use one of Jaybird's false bottoms in a Bayou Classic 15.5 gallon kettle. Added a home-made dip tube, some valves and a Blichmann Autosparge. I control mash temperatures using a direct fire RIMS with a home built controller running a solenoid controlled valve natural gas. Based the controller design off the Blichmann Tower of Power.

One advantage for me is my mash tun sits right next to my brew kettle on my brew stand. After the stand was built, before I got my mash tun ordered and assembled, I did a few batches with my cooler sitting where the mash tun would go. The heat from the boil kettle burner was not kind to my cooler. It lasted a few batches but I was happy to retire that guy.

I think a kettle mash tun with a full false bottom is helpful for a recirculating stystem. My grain bed just never compacts, even pulling 2 GPM through the mash is not a problem. I put a rotometer on my pump to watch mash flow rates and run 1 GPM during rests and 2 GPM during steps and 0.25 GPM during lautering.

I'm not sure those sort of flow rates are really practical in a cooler. Maybe they are not so necessary in a cooler either. Anyway I do like the bling factor you get with the shiny kettles.

 

[GPP33]

I do absolutely nothing to insulate my keg-turned-mash-tun and have only ever seen a single (yes 1) degree drop in mash temp. This includes numerous mid winter sub freezing brew days. I brew in a garage with a heater so maybe 50 degree air temp during the mash but the doors are open while the strike water is warming, heater doesn't go on until the flame goes out. I can't imagine what you would have to do to drop the temp a significant amount.

 

[Lefou]

One advantage is you can heat it if you need to; undershoot the strike temperature or it loses heat before the mash is done.

I bought a 7.5gal ANVIL kettle and installed the false bottom from my Igloo 10gal cooler. This allows me to do stovetop step mashing. It has a precision thermometer and ball valve assembly with gaskets included.
Very efficient, if expensive, and I can use my old 5gal stockpot on the side for decoctions, a hot liquor tun, or alternate boil kettle.
When the mash is finished, I insert a nylon barb and 3/8" hose, drain the wort by gravity feed, prep the hops, and get my yeast starter going before the boil.

With a bit of extra investment, a kit to convert the boil kettle into a fermentor can be purchased. You basically get a rubber gasket seal for the lid, an airlock, and the airlock grommet. I didn't bother because I use glass carboys so I can keep an eye on the brew without cracking lids or seals.