Which Mash Tun

[olmarcruse]

I consider myself to be a non-technical brewer, - ie I just enjoy brewing from grain and drinking it. Touch wood, I've never had an undrinkable brew - but I probably don’t have very high standards!

Just recently, I've come to realise that my mashing isn't very efficient. I use an old Bruheat Boiler with the grain suspended in a grain bag, which I then lift out and sparge before boiling. The problem is that it's very difficult to get a consistent temperature throughout the grain, when all you're really doing is heating the liquor that surrounds it. So constant stirring and attention is necessary.

So, I'm now wondering about forking out for the H&G Insulated Mash Tun (http://www.hopandgrape.co.uk/catalog/de ... HA20225648). As I understand it, this simply contains the mash at a constant (but obviously declining) temperature for a period, after which it can be sparged and drained into a boiler.

I’d be really interested to know what other members’ experience of this equipment is.

• What’s the best way of getting the mash to the correct temperature to start with?
• That must involve heating the water to a given temperature first, then dumping the grain in. What’s that initial water temperature?
• How long does the temperature of the mash remain in the right range – and how long does a good mash take?
• Is it worth £47 – or is there something better/cost effective available?

Any help will be much appreciated and reciprocated in the usual way! Thanks in anticipation.

[tatlock]

i have been using a cool box mash tun for years and i love it.
even though i only make small batches now thats the one piece of gear i have hung onto.
it keeps a reasonably constant temp. and i get a decent clear runoff when sparging.
i just place a bit of tim foil over the grains with some small holes in and it works fine.
horse for courses i suppose!

[Scooby]

Good advice, most cool boxes need extra insulation, including the one you mention which is at the low end imo. As you already have a grain bag a well insulated fermenter, don't forget the lid and base, is cheaper end more efficient.

Edit, From Chris, and yes it is HFC

[olmarcruse]

That's helpful. I guess what we're saying is that it is better to insulate the Bruheat Boiler really well, rather than fannying around trying to get the liquor temperature constant by fiddling with the thermostat dial. In other words, heat water to 73, dump the grain (in the grain bag) and leave it.

I love the idea of wrapping the Bruheat in the duvet, just not sure if the wife will be that happy with me brewing in the bedroom instead of the garage. Still, so long as she's out, she'll never know. And what a great smell at bedtime. (joke!)

[towser]

I've just ordered one of these after it was recommended to me:

http://www.rubbermaid.com/rubbermaid/pr ... Prod150114