If I mini-mash grains in an aluminum pot will it impart any off flavors in the wort/final product?
If not, what’s the best way to clean and sanitize the pot before mashing in? I typically just use PBW for a cleanser and Star San for a sanitizer.
I want to do a mini mash in my aluminum stock pot, and transfer and sparge, into my stainless boil kettle. I know that it will probably lose heat over time from what I have read, but I don’t so much mind that. It’s just a matter of reheating it to the proper mash temp if it falls over the period the grains are supposed to be mashed, correct?
Looks like the aluminum stock pot has some discoloration on the inside walls of the pot, but just from general use before hand.
Aluminum is fine. You DO want that discoloration in an aluminum pot. That’s oxidation, which is good. I’m not sure about PBW and aluminum, but you do NOT want to use oxyclean. It will strip off that oxidized layer. That’s NOT good. To get the oxidized layer back, all you need to do is fill it most of the way with water and boil for 30-60min. The gray layer will come back.
Star san is fine, but since you’re going to boil the wort afterwards, it’s not necessary.
Also, there are ways to keep your mash pot up to or close to your mash in temp. Some people use a sleeping bag or blankets. If it fits in your stove, you can turn your stove on warm. Then when you mash in, turn the stove off an put your pot in there. I’ve done that in the past and it works great. Now I brew outside and do this to keep my mash temp steady over the 60min.
[quote=“dobe12”]Aluminum is fine. You DO want that discoloration in an aluminum pot. That’s oxidation, which is good. I’m not sure about PBW and aluminum, but you do NOT want to use oxyclean. It will strip off that oxidized layer. That’s NOT good. To get the oxidized layer back, all you need to do is fill it most of the way with water and boil for 30-60min. The gray layer will come back.
Star san is fine, but since you’re going to boil the wort afterwards, it’s not necessary.
Also, there are ways to keep your mash pot up to or close to your mash in temp. Some people use a sleeping bag or blankets. If it fits in your stove, you can turn your stove on warm. Then when you mash in, turn the stove off an put your pot in there. I’ve done that in the past and it works great. Now I brew outside and do this to keep my mash temp steady over the 60min.
[attachment=0]photo.jpg[/attachment][/quote]
Did you know that the R-value on Reflectix doesn’t increase when you layer it? I’m a distributor. If you have a airspace you will gain alittle. But when its layer on top of its self there is no added benefit. Just FYI. You would think that there would be but I have spoke to there technicians and there is not.
[quote=“GoldenChild”][quote=“dobe12”]Aluminum is fine. You DO want that discoloration in an aluminum pot. That’s oxidation, which is good. I’m not sure about PBW and aluminum, but you do NOT want to use oxyclean. It will strip off that oxidized layer. That’s NOT good. To get the oxidized layer back, all you need to do is fill it most of the way with water and boil for 30-60min. The gray layer will come back.
Star san is fine, but since you’re going to boil the wort afterwards, it’s not necessary.
Also, there are ways to keep your mash pot up to or close to your mash in temp. Some people use a sleeping bag or blankets. If it fits in your stove, you can turn your stove on warm. Then when you mash in, turn the stove off an put your pot in there. I’ve done that in the past and it works great. Now I brew outside and do this to keep my mash temp steady over the 60min.
[attachment=0]photo.jpg[/attachment][/quote]
Did you know that the R-value on Reflectix doesn’t increase when you layer it? I’m a distributor. If you have a airspace you will gain alittle. But when its layer on top of its self there is no added benefit. Just FYI. You would think that there would be but I have spoke to there technicians and there is not.[/quote]
I did not know that. Interesting! Oh well. It’s already constructed. But good to know that if I need to remove an outside layer for some reason, I’m still good.
