Ss Brewtech Kettle to Mash tun conversion

[BlurryEyed]

Hi folks,

Wanted to get some opinions on ideas I have for converting a Ss Brewtech 15 gal kettle into a mash tun.

I want to use this locline recirculation arm:

I am not sure which false bottom to go with, and could use some advice:

Norcal Brewing Solutions Jaybird:

OR

Fermenters Favorite 15" Titan:

Already got my camlock fittings and 6" thermometer. Any other suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Bowtiebrewery]

People seem to like Jaybird's products. I would say thats a good place to start. Can't really go wrong there. You still do need to figure out if the pickup tube will work with it.

As far as the locline... If thats what you want to do then fine, but you can do just as well with a length of silicon hose resting on top of the grain bed. Kal does this, so does Tony Yates. Alot of brewers do. Sparge arms really are only useful (in my opinion) for Mash out... not recirculating.

 

[BlurryEyed]

People seem to like Jaybird's products. I would say thats a good place to start. Can't really go wrong there. You still do need to figure out if the pickup tube will work with it.

As far as the locline... If thats what you want to do then fine, but you can do just as well with a length of silicon hose resting on top of the grain bed. Kal does this, so does Tony Yates. Alot of brewers do. Sparge arms really are only useful (in my opinion) for Mash out... not recirculating.

Appreciate the recommendation on the Jaybird. The Jaybird for the Ss Brewtech kettles has a built in port for the dip tube, so I assumed I could just use the stock pick up tube with trub dam. Should I go a different route? Bubba screen perhaps?

As for the silicon tube idea, I know it is common, but folks usually have to disperse the liquor over a saucepan or something right? I'm looking for something a little more aesthetically pleasing. The locline being adjustable seems like an easy solution, but I've only seen it in play a couple of places.

 

[Bowtiebrewery]

I can't comment on the Jay bird screen and recommend the dip tube, but I imagine if you reach out to him he can help guide you.

The Silicon tube works without any kind of distribution pan... you just put it in there like this:

 

[BlurryEyed]

Curious - are you recirculating during the whole mash? What type of false bottom do you have?

 

[augiedoggy]

Curious - are you recirculating during the whole mash? What type of false bottom do you have?

Well I can say I do it for better more evenly controlled mash temps as well as better exposure and rinsing effect of the starches from the grain. think about it.. even a percolator or coffee maker uses this type of effect ... Even dunking a tea bag in and out of the hot water performs this function...

I dont even need to perform any type of traditional sparge with my setup this way to hit my numbers... just a quick rinse at the end with some sparge water rinsing the grain in the mash tun does the trick fine.

Not to mention using a rims in this configuration allows step mashing or on the fly adjustments.

 

[BlurryEyed]

Awesome - my thoughts exactly, just validates my logic by reading someone else doing it haha

 

[augiedoggy]

I have built a 15.5 gallon mashtun thats similiar to this using locline and a false bottom and it works well, I did add a second and even third finer level of filtration under my false botton though since I use small 24v dc pumps and recirculate at 2 gallons per minute with it. they plug easily so I had to keep all the grain out of them. the side effect is totally clear non cloudy wort
There are pics in my build thread below if your interested..

 

[BlurryEyed]

Thanks to all who contributed to this thread. I am keeping the sparge/recirculation simple at this point, might upgrade it later on but I think this will work for now.

 

[hornet303]

Hey BlurryEyed,

I'm in the process of designing a MLT upgrade, and have a 20G SsBrewtech kettle that I dont really use yet. Your build comes very close to one of the ideas I am conteplating. I'd love to hear about the pros and cons that you've encountered in the 2+ years that you've been running this solution. In particular, Im curious about the following:

- Mash Temps, is it hard to direct fire without over shooting your target temps?
- Deadspace w/ Jaybird's False bottom?
- Any scorching?
- Are you batch or fly sparging with this solution?
- Step mashing, is this possible/successful?

I'd love to hear back!