heat stick

[smeggedup]

hi all

Just toying with the idea of adding a heat stick/cartidge to my mash tun so i can do stepped mashes, or hold the temp better than the current insulation provides.

my system is all 15mm copper pipe, i have so 28mm also, so would like to house the heat stick in that is if could, i'm guessing a nipple (screw treaded) heat stick would be best, but how could i secure the heat stick inside the 28mm ?

also are the temperature pockets used for dial type thermometers ideal for the probe for a temperature probe like the atc 100/ tc 100 ?


happy brewing

[lancsSteve]

Hey up,

If you want to do step mashes it's WAY easier to start with a thick mash (1.5 - 2l / kg) then infuse boiling water to end up with a thin mash. A lot of stepped-mash recipes are European and traditionally use a thinner mash, the calculations are easier etc. Use BrewPal infusion steps or BrewMath for the calculations - with your setup that'd be easy.

The problem with heating IN the mash tun is burning the grains and you need to keep stirring while heating so it's a bit of a PITA really. To avoid burning you either add heat with water, heat a bit of the mash or engineer a solution:

Infusions = easy

Decoctions = complex but another way of getting there (and great flavours)

Engineering = RIMS or HERMS

Direct Heating = stir, stir and stir more and hope you don't burn the mash...

Depends on what you want to make and why you want to step infuse... Very good idea for wheat beers, cereal mashes really help a wit, good idea for some lagers (go on you KNOW you want to go there! no not Brit lager but a proper malty octoberfest or schwartzbier) but otherwise not usually needed.