new mash tun.

[hal]

Returning to brewing after a break of 15 years. I have decided to replace the now broken mash tun with a newer version. Previously I only brewed uk style beers, single step infusion mash. But now wish to brew other beers as well, using stepped temperature mashing. Now the problem, my idea is to use 2 stainless steel pots, one inside the other, the smaller one will be drilled with small holes in the base to act as a malt screen, and suspended above an immersion heater, say 50mm or so, which will be in the larger pot. Circulating pump from bottom of big pot to the top of the smaller one, temperature controlled with a PID. I have seen some stainless pots advertised ranging from 33 to 50 to 70 to 100L. The diameter difference between each pot size is 5cms, Therefore this will leave a gap slightly less than 25mm around the walls of the pots. Brewing 50L at a time, or 20L for new brews. Does this idea sound OK? If anyone knows a better way please tell me. Thanks in advance for any help.

[alix101]

It looks a solid idea but it also sounds like an expensive brew in the bag...have you looked at just using a bag.

[darkonnis]

A bag is certainly how i'd go about this, atleast to start with, might you consider just using a false bottom or cake tin? sit that over the bottom, cut a hole in the side for the element.... Not saying its an ideal solution but it'd certainly be cheaper than buying a 70L pot just to perforate.

[Goulders]

I think kev888 is/was doing something similar (ie a braumeister type thing). Have a look in the equipment section.

[Fil]

i agree it seems like a lots of work for an elaborate biab set up.. but if its what u wanna build go for it

kev's diy single vessel in SS is a good read, his plan incorporates a reverse flow for the recirculation, and details his learning to weld SS.. viewtopic.php?f=6&t=47323&p=497668&hili ... el#p497668

how are you planning on lifting out the grain? or are you thinking of dropping the boiler from below the grain? its going to be heavy when brewing a 50l batch

However i too am very interested in more complex mash profiles, im currently mashing in a coldbox, and am considering 3 options:

Firstly a partial volume herms, pumping tun run off thru a small heat exchanger and recirculating. Secondly . A full volume herms using a 2nd coldbox with pump submerged, under the tap of the grain tun recirculating the run off back thru the heat exchanger back to the grain box.

And thirdly a full volume rims, using the boiler as the heating and full volume storage, pumping back thru the coldbox (grain box) from a submerged pump with tun and boiler taps connected and open, maintaining mash consistancy by adjusting the height of the coldbox tun utilising equilibrium of liquid levels.

all 3 seem viable, but i bet there are a heap of gotchas waiting for me

a small heat exchanger , vessel, element, and a couple of meters of microbore coiled was easy to knock up and proved very accurate temp wise when controlled by a sestos pid unit no temp overshoot at all when tested heating water for sous viede.



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