aluminum pot

[SunkenBier]

I was looking at a new kettle for decotion mashes. Does anyone know if there would be an imapct on the beer using an aluminum pot rather than a SS one.

[Bugeater]

The only impact would be on your pocketbook.

Wayne
Bugeater Brewing Company

[SoCalBrewer]

I would try and stay away from aluminum pots

[DannyW]

OH NO HERE WE GO AGAIN! Run! Run away! Aaaaaaaaaa!!!!!

[Lufah]

You'll be fine. Just make sure to boil water in it for a while before you brew in it. That builds up an oxide layer.


Travis

[Bugeater]

The only way an aluminum pot will affect the taste of your beer is if you scrub the oxide layer off to expose bare aluminum. By boiling some water in the pot, you will create a new oxide layer. Be sure to dump that water rather than use it in a beer. The oxide layer is much harder than the underlying aluminum so you don't need to worry about scratching it during your brew. When done brewing hose the thing out good and use some mild detergent and a non-scratching nylon scrubbie to get out stubborn spots.

An aluminum pot has a lower cost than a comparable SS pot. It also transmits heat more readily and distributes it more evenly across the bottom of the pot. A cheap stainless steel pot will have hot spots where the flame hits the bottom and will scorch your wort.

The old argument against aluminum pots was that the trace amounts of aluminum would cause Alzheimer's disease. This has been long since debunked. Take a look in any commercial kitchen (I am a chef and have worked in many of them over the years) and you will see mostly aluminum pots for the reasons I mentioned above as well as lighter weight. We would not be allowed to cook for the public in these things if there was any problem with them. As a side note, a single Tums tablet will give you more aluminum in your system (it contains an aluminum salt as a major ingredient) than what you would pick up from eating foods cooked in aluminum for several years.

I hope this is the last we hear of this aluminum vs stainless argument, but I know it won't be. It's an urban legend that won't go away.

Wayne
Bugeater Brewing Company

[johnc66]

I love my aluminum kettle, cheap light and easy to clean. Cost wise you can't beat them and like Bugeater said, all commercial kitchens use them and the heat transfer is better.

[beer_bear]

I can say I use aluminum with no effects.......who are you and why isn't my diaper changed yet? I like mush....birds look like rats with big toes.....



Wait, I'm too young for the effects of the "aluminum issues". I think of it this way, beer only gets up to 212F. Turkey oil goes over 350F. How many people worry about aluminum pots when it comes to turkeys? None. We are the only ones still affraid of this stuff. Use it, love it and it'll save more money for more batches. Besides, no one that has alzhiemers seems to think it's a bad thing.