Mash tun — ferment on the grain?

[The Booze Pipe]

Hey just looking for some feedback on this 30 gallon mashtun to be used as a fermenter? It’ll hold 50 pounds of grain and 20 gallons of water.

I’ll pair it with a 26 gallon milk can boiler, and boom, one and done!

I’m thinking it might be just the trick with the false bottom for corn/whisky mash. It’s from Stout Tanks & Kettles

https://conical-fermenter.com/30-Gallon ... ml?cat=302

[greggn]

Hey just looking for some feedback on this 30 gallon mashtun to be used as a fermenter?

Well, it's a beast. So is the cost.

I took a peek at their "Team" and saw a Warehouse Manager, and a Shipping Manager but no Manufacturing Manager. That tells me they're a distributor/re-seller. So you might be able to dig and find their actual manufacturer.

[The Booze Pipe]

Right on thanks for the thought. I’m sure their manufacturer is in China, which can come with hefty freight cost.
Found this one, half the price but out of stock
https://www.brewershardware.com/30-Gall ... -Port.html

[Deplorable]

SSBrewtech has better prices on 30 gallon kettles. Check them out as well. (I have no affiliation)

[Stags]

My only thought since I’ve been looking at similar vessels is I think you’ll need a bigger pot to comfortably fill a 26 gallon still. If I went this road I’d be looking at the 75 gallon to allow grains to expand and allow ample headspace

[Stonecutter]

Dude that price is outrageous!! Before you buy, check this one out. I think it qualifies for free shipping.
30 gallon setup is what I use. I’m very happy with it. Spike is top notch
https://spikebrewing.com/products/the-og-kettle-new

[Deplorable]

Dude that price is outrageous!! Before you buy, check this one out. I think it qualifies for free shipping.
30 gallon setup is what I use. I’m very happy with it. Spike is top notch
https://spikebrewing.com/products/the-og-kettle-new

Ohhh. Daddy like!

[Stonecutter]

It’s legit. The false bottom was a no go the first time I used it. It clogged right up. I was mashing an all Barley recipe which is tough on any kind filter pre ferment. After scooping out 50 lbs of grist I’ve been too chicken to try it out again. However, the dump valve without the screen lets everything out. Save some sparge water to help get all the grain out and ferment on the grain. Personally I have not tried this but you could probably ferment in the tun if you were so inclined.

[Deplorable]

It’s legit. The false bottom was a no go the first time I used it. It clogged right up. I was mashing an all Barley recipe which is tough on any kind filter pre ferment. After scooping out 50 lbs of grist I’ve been too chicken to try it out again. However, the dump valve without the screen lets everything out. Save some sparge water to help get all the grain out and ferment on the grain. Personally I have not tried this but you could probably ferment in the tun if you were so inclined.

My thought was to cook the corn in that with a mixer and the HT amylaseon my work bench, then dump it into the fermenter, add cold water to hit 150, then add my malts.

[Stonecutter]

My thought was to cook the corn in that with a mixer and the HT amylaseon my work bench, then dump it into the fermenter, add cold water to hit 150, then add my malts.

Chicken dinner.

[The Booze Pipe]

My only thought since I’ve been looking at similar vessels is I think you’ll need a bigger pot to comfortably fill a 26 gallon still. If I went this road I’d be looking at the 75 gallon to allow grains to expand and allow ample headspace

For sure! I’m looking at a 50 gallon size at this point. That way I can ferment one 40 gallon batch, strip twice in a 26 gallon pot, and have the low wines for a spirit run.

[The Booze Pipe]

Dude that price is outrageous!! Before you buy, check this one out. I think it qualifies for free shipping.
30 gallon setup is what I use. I’m very happy with it. Spike is top notch
https://spikebrewing.com/products/the-og-kettle-new

Nice find! Pretty much same thing but better price. I’m planning on using the Easy Large Batch Mashing method and fermenting on the grain viewtopic.php?t=65703&start=150

So in your experience , without the false bottom, all the grain/meal/flour will flush out the valve? That would make things easy.

[Homebrewer11777]

Stout is a well regarded company. I love their stainless counterflow wort chiller it is key part of my beer brewing kit. Here is what they say about where their equipment is made:

Where is our equipment made?
All of our brewing equipment is designed in the United States. Our electro-mechanical equipment is all manufactured in North America and is listed with UL (Underwriters Laboratories) and CSA. Most local governments in the US require electrical equipment to be UL listed in order to pass inspection. We manufacture our stainless steel tanks and kettles at one of our global manufacturing partners, in China and Italy. We have long-standing relationships with all of our manufacturing partners, and can therefore guarantee the quality of the materials and workmanship. Our long term supply partnerships mean that you will get quality products, in the best time frame, without having to worry about the complexities of international trade.

I also love Spike. I mash my beer worts in a 20 gallon Spike kettle with a false bottom (using full recirculation) and boil the wort in their 30 gallon kettle and then ferment in their conical fermentor.

When I started distilling and focusing on bourbon mashes I tried mashing in the Spike kettle. Yep no way. 5 min recirculation plugged the false bottom even with enzymes. Tried using it to filter solids from mash post ferment and that was also more or less a fail. I'm now mashing in that 30 gallon kettle. Built a mixer drill so I can keep it stirring when heating. Did a successful ferment in the kettle but garage is now too cold for that so scooping to a 32 gallon brute trash can in my fermentation chamber. Separate the solids post ferment with a siphon and hop spider.

When making beer (for beer) the Spike mash tun was able to manage grain bills that included some (I did up to 10%) corn just fine. Getting the right crush on the grain is big part of making these false bottom recirculating mash tuns work well...too fine a crush can be a real challenge with or without gummy adjuncts like corn and rye. I will absolutely use the Spike system all the way to the conical if I start a single malt project.

[Stonecutter]

Nice find! Pretty much same thing but better price. I’m planning on using the Easy Large Batch Mashing method and fermenting on the grain viewtopic.php?t=65703&start=150

So in your experience , without the false bottom, all the grain/meal/flour will flush out the valve? That would make things easy.

Yes, that spike setup will dump AG batches all day. I’ve done unmalted Barley and whiskey beers in it and it works great. The false bottom with pickup tube gets clogged pretty easily so I just use the dump valve now YMMV

[The Booze Pipe]

When I started distilling and focusing on bourbon mashes I tried mashing in the Spike kettle. Yep no way. 5 min recirculation plugged the false bottom even with enzymes. Tried using it to filter solids from mash post ferment and that was also more or less a fail. I'm now mashing in that 30 gallon kettle. Built a mixer drill so I can keep it stirring when heating. Did a successful ferment in the kettle but garage is now too cold for that so scooping to a 32 gallon brute trash can in my fermentation chamber. Separate the solids post ferment with a siphon and hop spider.
.

Thanks for your input. Do you have some pictures and description of your mixer setup ? I ferment in my garage during winter myself. I get away with it by wrapping the Brute can in reflectix and a blanket on top and bottom, with an aquarium heater submerged directly into the mash/wash. And I’ve successfully used the Ass Press for squeezing out the grains post ferment.

I’m looking to upgrade my setup, without the trial-and-error. Plastic trash cans are fine, but I want something nicer and is more efficient to use.

[The Booze Pipe]

Nice find! Pretty much same thing but better price. I’m planning on using the Easy Large Batch Mashing method and fermenting on the grain viewtopic.php?t=65703&start=150

So in your experience , without the false bottom, all the grain/meal/flour will flush out the valve? That would make things easy.

Yes, that spike setup will dump AG batches all day. I’ve done unmalted Barley and whiskey beers in it and it works great. The false bottom with pickup tube gets clogged pretty easily so I just use the dump valve now YMMV

Have you tried the pick-up tube without the false bottom? Their description says that valve is at the 1 gallon mark. Does that leave all that mash behind? I imagine you would have to tip the container over to get that last bit?

[Homebrewer11777]

When I started distilling and focusing on bourbon mashes I tried mashing in the Spike kettle. Yep no way. 5 min recirculation plugged the false bottom even with enzymes. Tried using it to filter solids from mash post ferment and that was also more or less a fail. I'm now mashing in that 30 gallon kettle. Built a mixer drill so I can keep it stirring when heating. Did a successful ferment in the kettle but garage is now too cold for that so scooping to a 32 gallon brute trash can in my fermentation chamber. Separate the solids post ferment with a siphon and hop spider.
.

Thanks for your input. Do you have some pictures and description of your mixer setup ? I ferment in my garage during winter myself. I get away with it by wrapping the Brute can in reflectix and a blanket on top and bottom, with an aquarium heater submerged directly into the mash/wash. And I’ve successfully used the Ass Press for squeezing out the grains post ferment.

I’m looking to upgrade my setup, without the trial-and-error. Plastic trash cans are fine, but I want something nicer and is more efficient to use.

It is version of the one on YouTube...here is a pic..



Oh and yeah the hop spider just wasn't cutting it yesterday so I got the Rubbermaid mop wringer bucket. Now I know what other posters means by the custard...

[The Booze Pipe]

Next question: I set my fermenter on a bench/pedestal I was thinking I would transfer boiling water with a transfer pump instead of trying to pail it or set the fermenter on the ground under the hot water heater spigot. 1/2 hp pump with cast iron body, unsure if the seals will hold up to boiling water. Any other concerns or ideas?? I might need to post this else where
https://www.harborfreight.com/12-hp-cas ... 63316.html