I have been kicking around some ideas for an improved mash/lauter pot for some time and finally decided to get off my lazy backside and put them all together.
The first picture shows the 35L stainless pot with a wrap of 20mm rockwool for insulation fitted with20mm plywood lid and that thing sitting on top is a 240V barbeque motor that gets used about once a year. This motor drives the mash paddle at the frightening speed of 50 Rev/hour. The motor is replaced by an high speed manual crank for doughing in. The window in the lid was a waste of time as it fogs up instantly, so I turned it into a hatch.
This picture shows inside the pot with 25mm braid ($30.00/metre) and the mash paddle that scrapes the bottom so I can direct heat without making soggy toast.
The motor runs during the entire mash and at the first try, I got a negative iodine test at 45 minutes and an 82% efficiency (using Jayse's formulae).
And the best of all?---The old tun with a full screen bottom would take over an hour to drain twice and would stick every time. Most frustrating. I drained this new one with the motor still running and did this in less than half an hour for two dumps. The runoff is not crystal clear like the old method but the beer (still in CC) doesn't taste like porridge. The paddle blades move gently enough and have sufficient clearance from the braid to leave a filter bed in place while still keeping the grain in suspension.
The first picture shows the 35L stainless pot with a wrap of 20mm rockwool for insulation fitted with20mm plywood lid and that thing sitting on top is a 240V barbeque motor that gets used about once a year. This motor drives the mash paddle at the frightening speed of 50 Rev/hour. The motor is replaced by an high speed manual crank for doughing in. The window in the lid was a waste of time as it fogs up instantly, so I turned it into a hatch.
This picture shows inside the pot with 25mm braid ($30.00/metre) and the mash paddle that scrapes the bottom so I can direct heat without making soggy toast.
The motor runs during the entire mash and at the first try, I got a negative iodine test at 45 minutes and an 82% efficiency (using Jayse's formulae).
And the best of all?---The old tun with a full screen bottom would take over an hour to drain twice and would stick every time. Most frustrating. I drained this new one with the motor still running and did this in less than half an hour for two dumps. The runoff is not crystal clear like the old method but the beer (still in CC) doesn't taste like porridge. The paddle blades move gently enough and have sufficient clearance from the braid to leave a filter bed in place while still keeping the grain in suspension.
