GrogTag
It is currently Thu May 23, 2013 10:25 am

All times are UTC - 8 hours





Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 8 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: Why a burner under the mash tun?
PostPosted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 11:42 pm 
User avatar
 WWW  Profile

Joined: Tue Apr 28, 2009 2:03 am
Posts: 56
Location: Portland, OR
I am building my first gravity system for 10 gallon batches. I have a 8 gallon HLT, a 10 gallon cooler for the mash tun, and a 15 gallon kettle for the boiler. I have two camp chef 60000 BTU burners. One burner for the HLT and one for the boiler.

I have seen many systems that have a kettle or keg for a mash tun and a burner under that. How does that work? Is the mash tun burner just to heat the strike water and then turned off or is the burner actually running during the 60 minute+ that the grain is mixing with the sparge water? It seems like it would be just as easy to drain the HLT for sparge water unless the center burner could be used to keep a perfect temp during the mash.

Any input on my core question or the setup I am building would be appreciated.


Top
 

 Post subject: Re: Why a burner under the mash tun?
PostPosted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 12:04 am 
Global Moderator
User avatar
 YIM  Profile

Joined: Tue Oct 09, 2007 10:50 pm
Posts: 4715
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Medals: 1
Drunk of the Week (1)
It's called a "direct fire mash". It's what Lonnie put on his original brutus. Using it during the mash requires a recirculation, so that you don't scorch the mash, and to keep things somewhat even. Given a decent flow rate, it's probably a cheaper and faster way to do step mashes vs. a RIMS or HERMS. Many people are a little wigged out by them and prefer a slower, indirect (safer?) method of step mashing. To each, his own.

And yes, you could use it for strike water, too - but that's not its primary purpose.


Mylo

_________________
"Life is too short to bottle homebrew." - Me

"HEINEKEN? Fuck that shit! Pabst Blue Ribbon!!!" - Dennis Hopper, in Blue Velvet


Top
 

 Post subject: Re: Why a burner under the mash tun?
PostPosted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 1:18 am 
User avatar
 WWW  Profile

Joined: Tue Apr 28, 2009 2:03 am
Posts: 56
Location: Portland, OR
Thanks much Mylo! That has always been a question for me. I think I am ok with batch sparging... at least as far as I understand. I am trying to go from a PBR drinker to a ten gallon batch brewer in one jump so while I build my system I want to try to understand as much as I can.

P.S. As I have read this forum your avatar/thumbnail has always left a strong impression.

Freddyk


Top
 

 Post subject: Re: Why a burner under the mash tun?
PostPosted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 7:25 pm 
User avatar
 WWW  Profile

Joined: Sat Jan 21, 2006 10:04 pm
Posts: 1300
Location: Behind the Orange Curtain
I have the direct fired mash tin on my Brutus. I love it! I don't think I'll even build another system without one.

_________________
"I feel sorry for those who don't drink because when they get up in the morning that's as good as they're going to feel all day."
— Frank Sinatra


Top
 

 Post subject: Re: Why a burner under the mash tun?
PostPosted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 8:02 pm 
User avatar
 WWW  Profile

Joined: Tue Apr 28, 2009 2:03 am
Posts: 56
Location: Portland, OR
Hi Lars

Once I get some experience under my belt I might have to try setting up a recirculating system. I am a gadget nut and I figure it is just a short mater of time before I go and over engineer my system.


Top
 

 Post subject: Re: Why a burner under the mash tun?
PostPosted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 8:36 pm 
User avatar
 WWW  Profile

Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2007 7:50 pm
Posts: 299
Location: Palm Desert, Ca.
Also had a burner under my mash on my brutus build and loved it, Now its a electrical element and love it even more.

_________________
Corporal in Desert Division of The BN Army

ON TAP / BOTTLED:   

FERMENTING: 

ON DECK:    Barrel Aged Barley Wine,  IPA, Pumpkin Ale, Flanders Red


Top
 

 Post subject: Re: Why a burner under the mash tun?
PostPosted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 11:33 pm 
User avatar
 WWW  Profile

Joined: Tue Apr 28, 2009 2:03 am
Posts: 56
Location: Portland, OR
Hey SoCalBrewer

The electrical element thing has always fascinated me for two reasons. For on it would make it possible to brew indoors which would be super cool. The other reason is that you would not need to refill propane tanks.

If I understand Mylo and Lars correctly a recirculating mash would make it less likely for your heating element to burn the mash. SoCalBrewer could you post a link to the element you are using? Can it handle a 10 gallon boil?

Thanks all for the input!

Fred


Top
 

 Post subject: Re: Why a burner under the mash tun?
PostPosted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 1:06 pm 
 Profile

Joined: Fri Jul 03, 2009 1:03 pm
Posts: 11
Location: Pennsylvania
SoCalBrewer wrote:
Also had a burner under my mash on my brutus build and loved it, Now its a electrical element and love it even more.

how does your setup work? do you have the element directly in the wort or do you pump it to some sort of heat exchanger? i'm kicking around ideas for an all electric rig, but don't know if scorching the wort with the heating element is an issue or not


Top
 

Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 8 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 8 hours



Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  

Powered by phpBB © 2009 phpBB Group