my larger system - 30g HLT 45g MT 30g Kettle 2 x 15g Converts
hop dryer
100lb grist hopper/stir paddle
Nice setup. What are the blue tanks made of?
Those are 55 gallon HPDE plastic drums… food grade, cut the tops off.
Really nice equipment. I like looking at beer making and processing equipment, it gives me ideas on bettering my process. Thanks for sharing. 8)
So the grist hopper/stirrer is for mashing in and stirring the mash, right? Does the converted plastic drum MLT hold temperature during the mash pretty well, or do you use a RIMS or HERMS?
Yes, I start the motor on the stir paddle that mixes the hot mash water at 7 RPM then I open up the bottom drawer on the hopper to let the grist trickle out at whatever rate looks good… I use a insulated aluminum bubble blanket (not shown) you can get at the hardware stores around the mash tun once I mash in… It can only go on once the hopper is removed. I can hit the usual mash temps (140’s to 150’s) and it holds there pretty good for up to 2 hours… I think it might drop 1-2 degs over 90 mins with 100lbs of grain in there (lot of thermal mass)
I made the hopper because mashing in 100 lbs by hand is a lot of work and you loose a lot of temperature… I have a split lid which is not shown… it covers the mash tun when it is mixing so I don’t loose too much heat… it is made out of plywood and covered with oak vineer. It usually takes 30 mins to mash in and I don’t get any large dough balls.
I can do a step mash with boiling water infusions, but it is hit or miss with this system so I usually stick with single temp which is great for ales… I also do this for lagers and they seem pretty decent also.
The most I have ever done in that tun was 120lbs of grain.