Mash paddle decision

[hilljack13]

Finally have everything I need to get some brews going, or so I thought. I realized I don't have a mash paddle...duh.

Just curious if there are preferences for SS/wood and size. I'm using GF G40. I thought about a giant whisk as well.

 

[Stikius]

Congrats to the setup!

Anything with a good grip (and appropriate size) should do the trick. It easily gets pretty heavy, especially if you don't do full volume mashes. If you're really lazy get a cement mixer you attach to a drill

 

[Broken Crow]

I'm glad you brought that up! A couple years ago there was a thread on here with a link to a large whisk on amazon that a number of folk swore by. Unfortunately I've lost the bookmark and have been meaning to order one myself as all I currently have is a large plastic paddle that really doesn't do the job very well. I hope someone using it can come in here with a link for it.

 

[PCABrewing]

Finally have everything I need to get some brews going, or so I thought. I realized I don't have a mash paddle...duh.

Just curious if there are preferences for SS/wood and size. I'm using GF G40. I thought about a giant whisk as well.

I made mine out of hard maple.
It looks a lot like the commercially available wood paddles and does the job.
I can see the advantage of SS over wood for sanitation, but that's part of the reason I chose the tight grain and pores of maple. Everything it touches gets boiled anyhow.

 

[day_trippr]

fwiw, I used my hard maple mash paddle for years, but once I started underletting the strike the paddle has become a brewery ornament. No dough balls to break up, I just give the mash one good stirring with a big spoon to even the temperature out and it's good to go...

Cheers!

 

[pvpeacock]

+ Cordless drill.

 

[tracer bullet]

I have a giant whisk and a giant SS spoon, and use both. I could live with just one or the other and I'm sure they are pretty interchangeable, but yeah, as mentioned I use both.

I know that wood is OK, one pretty much only uses it before boiling. But I have SS just in case I forget and dip that charismatic thing into cooled wort and then wonder if I'll have an issue afterwards.

 

[DonT]

I know that wood is OK, one pretty much only uses it before boiling. But I have SS just in case I forget and dip that charismatic thing into cooled wort and then wonder if I'll have an issue afterwards.

I have a wood paddle too, but switched to a SS long spoon for this reason. Now it hangs on the wall as a decoration.

 

[d40dave]

There was a thread a while back about using a whisk. They recommended this one. It works really good for me.

Winco Stainless Steel French Whip, 24-Inch, 1​

 

[hilljack13]

There was a thread a while back about using a whisk. They recommended this one. It works really good for me.

Winco Stainless Steel French Whip, 24-Inch, 1​

I did see this one. Nice pricetag as well

 

[MaxStout]

The big French whip.

 

[fluketamer]

i am still deciding also on a mash paddle. i have used a whisk before in the past for smaller biab and it works very well. the extra long handle ones tend to be expensive but as an aside the whisk is also the best for dissolving those stubborn clumps of dme when extract brewing. so maybe its worth the investment if you do both

 

[passedpawn]

The big French whip.

I have that exact one. Works great in my 5 gallon AIO. I previously brewed in 15g keggles. With those, I used a large teak paddle that I cut myself. Not sure if the whisk would have moved through some of those phat grain beds.

 

[sibelman]

There's some lovely paddles and whips out there - wait, that didn't come out quite right.

Anyway, my stainless BBQ spoon does the job.

 

[MaxStout]

I have that exact one. Works great in my 5 gallon AIO. I previously brewed in 15g keggles. With those, I used a large teak paddle that I cut myself. Not sure if the whisk would have moved through some of those phat grain beds.

It breaks up dough balls better than anything else I've used. I've had good luck with it in 10 gallon batches, but I suppose it has its limits.

 

[MaxStout]

There's some lovely paddles and whips out there - wait, that didn't come out quite right.

 

[OakIslandBrewery]

It breaks up dough balls better than anything else I've used. I've had good luck with it in 10 gallon batches, but I suppose it has its limits.

On Amazon it says "works great with eggs". I can picture it now, a mash tun full of scrambled eggs! Yummy!

 

[Whisky River]

On Amazon it says "works great with eggs". I can picture it now, a mash tun full of scrambled eggs! Yummy!

Now I wonder if someone is going to try and sous vide their scrambled eggs in an all-in-one system?

 

[JAReeves]

I'm just going to pull this out of the ServSafe certification and suggest that if you are using your whips and paddles for anything other than beer production, a bleach water soak is required for compliance prior to mashing in.

 

[SonomaBrewer]

I love my wooden paddle. But Homebrew Finds posted this 2 ft wisk for $10 today:

Amazon.com

 

[kurds_2408]

I've been using one of these for a few years and really like it. I do 5gal BIAB with it. It's probably 2.5-3ft long. could easily cut down the wooden handle if wanted.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Wal-Board-Tools-6-in-x-6-1-2-in-Hand-Mixer-42-002/100390184

 

[Kornssj]

I just use a SS Large Spoon.

Wood is porous so for me, its not good for long term use.

I've had my large SS spoon for almost a decade now. looks pretty much brand new still.

 

[passedpawn]

I just use a SS Large Spoon.

Wood is porous so for me, its not good for long term use.

I've had my large SS spoon for almost a decade now. looks pretty much brand new still.

View attachment 838958

I started with one of those, but it kept bending when I had a lot of grain.

Brewers long ago WANTED the porous wood for their paddles. That's how they transferred yeast from batch to batch. Of course, they did not know about yeast back then, so they just called the magic in the mash paddle "godisgood". (not sure how the yeast survived the mash, or the boil; not sure what I'm even talking about actually LOL).

 

[day_trippr]

That's my spoon. I've had it since 2004 and it still works

Cheers!

 

[Kornssj]

I started with one of those, but it kept bending when I had a lot of grain.

Brewers long ago WANTED the porous wood for their paddles. That's how they transferred yeast from batch to batch. Of course, they did not know about yeast back then, so they just called the magic in the mash paddle "godisgood". (not sure how the yeast survived the mash, or the boil; not sure what I'm even talking about actually LOL).

That's really interesting to hear. Yeast is very resilient, so I could see it being suspended in the solidified parts of the pores and reactivated when the paddle hits another batch.

Although I'm unsure about how much yeast would be transferred over (perhaps would take a while to build itself back up for proper fermentation?) and as you stated when it hits boiling it may not survive. Perhaps if they "happen" to use a different spoon during cooling where the wort had cooled down enough. So they used the "Magic Spoon" during the "Magic Time" and got beer.

Would love to see any type of historical reference for this though if you happen to have it.

 

[passedpawn]

That's really interesting to hear. Yeast is very resilient, so I could see it being suspended in the solidified parts of the pores and reactivated when the paddle hits another batch.

Although I'm unsure about how much yeast would be transferred over (perhaps would take a while to build itself back up for proper fermentation?) and as you stated when it hits boiling it may not survive. Perhaps if they "happen" to use a different spoon during cooling where the wort had cooled down enough. So they used the "Magic Spoon" during the "Magic Time" and got beer.

Would love to see any type of historical reference for this though if you happen to have it.

I read that a long time ago, no idea where. I'm sure a quick search on godisgood (probably the german spelling) would result in something.

[edit]

https://allaboutbeer.net/article/god-is-good/

 

[Dancy]

I’ve got one similar to post #5 and love it. My daughter gave it to me at Christmas maybe 5 years ago so that’s 1/2 the reason I like it. The finish is great — very tight grain and cleans up nicely with a hot water rinse.

 

[OakIslandBrewery]

I’ve got one similar to post #5 and love it. My daughter gave it to me at Christmas maybe 5 years ago so that’s 1/2 the reason I like it. The finish is great — very tight grain and cleans up nicely with a hot water rinse.View attachment 838976

I got the same exact paddle that I love too!

I have a SS paddle too, Bayou classic or something like that with a bottle opener on the end. I've never used the opener though but I'm ready should I miss place the dozen others I have.

 

[Spartan1979]

Here's my mash paddle. Made out of cherry. I was afraid I made the handle too narrow, but it's 12 years old so I guess I'm okay. This one came from half the board so I could make another.

 

[hilljack13]

I love my wooden paddle. But Homebrew Finds posted this 2 ft wisk for $10 today:

Amazon.com

It will be here Tuesday