brew kettle

[stewartj]

I was wondering if anyone could tell me if doing your boil in an aluminum kettle is really that bad.... ive heard some say that it will give the beer an off taste but other people have said that it really doesnt matter when your doing a 5gal batch and only boiling for 60min.......wondering if anyone could give me some insight on this.....

[Homegrown Hops]

I had some really great information regarding this topic but I forget where I put it. Seriously though I made my first 5 batches using an aluminum pot but I cant remember what they were. That myth you may have heard about Aluminum causing memory loss is bullshit, it may or may not affect the flavor of your brew. Even if it does some how change the flavor, I'll bet you wont even know after the first few.

I recently almost tipped out a 5 gallon batch "ala jamil" but I decided to let the beer sit for another week or so and things worked out for the better.

I say that if the aluminum pot is all you have then brew on until you can upgrade to stainless.

Cheers,
HH

[Lufah]

The aluminum will be fine. Just be sure to boil some water in it first. That will build up a oxidation layer. You want a dull grey look to the inside of the pot. You don't want it to shine.

http://www.howtobrew.com/appendices/appendixB.html

Travis

[2DogAle]

I went with the aluminum pot and made 6 batches with it and they were all really good. Do what Lufah tells you and boil water in it a few times. I did it and it turned almost black. Just get as big a pot as you can afford. It will make your life easier.

Now, I did notice the last time I brewed that the pot was getting some sort of pitting in it. With that, I took that weeks grocery money and bought a SS pot from Norther Brewer ( not really, was going to replace it anyway). I just started doing all-grain batches so I'll still be using the aluminum pot for my HLT.

My rule: Use what you can afford, already have or can make yourself and you'll be fine.

Cheers,

Rob

[Chris Vejnovich]

BBR did an interview with Palmer and he was very adamit about the fact that he believed that Al was just fine to use for brewing. He is a metal fab guy by trade. If Al really caused all the problems that people think it does don't you think that there would be some sort of epidemic going on!!! Lots of people who can't afford nice stainless stell cookware for the home use Al pots. With all that said I use a converted keg because I got it for cheap.(legally)

[Steve]

This subject has been on and off the burner for many years. Most of the experts in our field have concluded that aluminum pots are fine for use when brewing beer. Many good points have come up in this discussion such as metal taste, and or minute amounts of aluminum leading to alzheimers syndrom etc. but each of these and several other points were neutered when they were young. Don't worry, aluminum if fine!
Steve