chiller
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I've just finished my brewday and figured a report on Aluminium kettles wouldn't go astray.
They are the best thing since sliced bread
I have 3 x 50 litre kettles in my setup HLT, Heated [nasa] mash tun and boiler.
Before you use an Aluminium kettle fill it with water and boil it for 10 minutes then empty it and dry it out, this will start the oxidation of the Aluminium metal which is the barrier between whatever is in the pot and the raw Aluminium itself. The kettle will show a change of colour from bright and shiny to dull and eventually grey.
Dull and grey is what you want.
Myth: They are hard to clean.
When your brew is finished one squirt of dishwashing detergent, about a cup of water and a scourer spounge is all you need.
GENTLY rub the hops etc stuck to the kettle and that is it.
Sometimes you will get a brown deposit on the base of the kettle and all you need is either neat phosphoric acid [observe ALL safety requirements] or undiluted one shot - sling shot or terminator. As long as they are phosphoric based they will not harm the kettle. About 1 - 2 minutes is all you need to move even the most stubborn build up.
Do not use any caustic products on the Aluminium as they will corrode the metal. Chlorine is also a no no.
Myth: They are not durable.
If you are a ham fisted, careless, brutal type of person. Steal a SS keg.
Everyone else, Aluminium kettles are fine.
Myth: They scorch the wort.
Exactly the opposite, as Aluminium has a far better heat transfer than SS and as such allows higher heat [nasa] applied to the kettle and gives amazingly quick boils.
Myth: You can taste the Aluminium.
CRAP. See point above about preparation before boiling. And don't scrub shiny.
Myth: They are legal.
Now this one is true ..... You can have a totally legit brewery.
Finally they are very versatile as they can be used for all aspects of the process.
And this is not a post to bait SS owners -- everyone uses what is best for them.
Steve.
They are the best thing since sliced bread
I have 3 x 50 litre kettles in my setup HLT, Heated [nasa] mash tun and boiler.
Before you use an Aluminium kettle fill it with water and boil it for 10 minutes then empty it and dry it out, this will start the oxidation of the Aluminium metal which is the barrier between whatever is in the pot and the raw Aluminium itself. The kettle will show a change of colour from bright and shiny to dull and eventually grey.
Dull and grey is what you want.
Myth: They are hard to clean.
When your brew is finished one squirt of dishwashing detergent, about a cup of water and a scourer spounge is all you need.
GENTLY rub the hops etc stuck to the kettle and that is it.
Sometimes you will get a brown deposit on the base of the kettle and all you need is either neat phosphoric acid [observe ALL safety requirements] or undiluted one shot - sling shot or terminator. As long as they are phosphoric based they will not harm the kettle. About 1 - 2 minutes is all you need to move even the most stubborn build up.
Do not use any caustic products on the Aluminium as they will corrode the metal. Chlorine is also a no no.
Myth: They are not durable.
If you are a ham fisted, careless, brutal type of person. Steal a SS keg.
Everyone else, Aluminium kettles are fine.
Myth: They scorch the wort.
Exactly the opposite, as Aluminium has a far better heat transfer than SS and as such allows higher heat [nasa] applied to the kettle and gives amazingly quick boils.
Myth: You can taste the Aluminium.
CRAP. See point above about preparation before boiling. And don't scrub shiny.
Myth: They are legal.
Now this one is true ..... You can have a totally legit brewery.
Finally they are very versatile as they can be used for all aspects of the process.
And this is not a post to bait SS owners -- everyone uses what is best for them.
Steve.
