I have never done all grain, i was looking at various equipment (for the future), and noticed that a number of nice brew kettles have 2 valves, one for the spigot, and one for a thermometer.
What is the purpose of the thermometer on a brew kettle?
Is it for when using a wort chiller that one will know when the wort is cool enough to transfer to the fermentation container?
Is it for using the brew kettle as a mash tun? If so, where do you put the wort you are draining from your nice kettle, into another kettle? Why do it that way, as opposed to using a mash tun made out of a cooler (RubberMaid , Igloo, etc)
If you use a mash tun/liquor tank made from coolers, then I don't see why you need a thermometer on your brew kettle, except for knowing how the cooling is going.
It occurs to me that if doing BIAB (Brewing in a Bag) you could use you brew kettle as a Mash Tun, transferring the first batch of wort into a smaller pot, then after batch sparging, lift the bag out, and pour the contents of the smaller pot (I have a 5 gallon pot I use for Extract brews) back into the big brew kettle.
For doing a 5 gallon all grain brew in a bag (BIAB), would a 9 gallon pot with a ball valve be sufficient, given that I already have a 5 gallon pot?
If you did get a thermometer mounted on your kettle, what type do you use?
AIH 2 inch? 6 inch? Brewmometer? Other? Any suggestions?
(sorry for all the questions)
What is the purpose of the thermometer on a brew kettle?
Is it for when using a wort chiller that one will know when the wort is cool enough to transfer to the fermentation container?
Is it for using the brew kettle as a mash tun? If so, where do you put the wort you are draining from your nice kettle, into another kettle? Why do it that way, as opposed to using a mash tun made out of a cooler (RubberMaid , Igloo, etc)
If you use a mash tun/liquor tank made from coolers, then I don't see why you need a thermometer on your brew kettle, except for knowing how the cooling is going.
It occurs to me that if doing BIAB (Brewing in a Bag) you could use you brew kettle as a Mash Tun, transferring the first batch of wort into a smaller pot, then after batch sparging, lift the bag out, and pour the contents of the smaller pot (I have a 5 gallon pot I use for Extract brews) back into the big brew kettle.
For doing a 5 gallon all grain brew in a bag (BIAB), would a 9 gallon pot with a ball valve be sufficient, given that I already have a 5 gallon pot?
If you did get a thermometer mounted on your kettle, what type do you use?
AIH 2 inch? 6 inch? Brewmometer? Other? Any suggestions?
(sorry for all the questions)