44 replies to this topic

[No Party JKor]

I'm thinking about adding a motorized mash paddle to my next mash tun to keep temps even throughout the system. I would probably couple it with one or two electric elements for temp control and direct heat mash steps.Just curious if anyone else is doing this, or has any thoughts on it.

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

I'm thinking about adding a motorized mash paddle to my next mash tun to keep temps even throughout the system. I would probably couple it with one or two electric elements for temp control and direct heat mash steps.Just curious if anyone else is doing this, or has any thoughts on it.

my thoughts...Too fancy for me. I like having the simplest possible brew setup. I figure it's less stuff to break. You do your thing though - good luck!

[No Party JKor]

mmmmmm...me likey fancy...

[jayb151]

my thoughts...Too fancy for me. I like having the simplest possible brew setup. I figure it's less stuff to break. You do your thing though - good luck!

I agree, my system is still man powered. Nothing like Heavy lifting to really work up an appetite for beer! Really, I think pumps and all that are cool and convienient, but I'm just too broke to afford any of that. I think an automatic mash paddle is abit much for me too, unless you are brewing a massive amount of beer at once.Sounds cool though

[Deerslyr]

I'm thinking about adding a motorized mash paddle to my next mash tun to keep temps even throughout the system. I would probably couple it with one or two electric elements for temp control and direct heat mash steps.Just curious if anyone else is doing this, or has any thoughts on it.

I guess I like fancy too... but since I'm going with propane...I applaud you and hope you find the answer to what you are looking for. In the vein of "set it and forget it", I've got my pump hooked up to a float switch. It's all good fun though... or maybe I'm addicted to spending money on equipment I don't "really" need.Too bad they don't make Ice Cream makers for 15 gallon pots! That would solve part of your problem.

[No Party JKor]

I don't see the motorized mash paddle as a really fancy upgrade, I mean, it's pretty much just a stick attached to a motor. It isn't very common among homebrewers, though, I agree. I know I've seen some pictures of homebrewers doing it here and there.I'm looking for control and ease of use from my system, not simplicity.jayb, the less time I spend heavy lifting, the more time I have to drink the beer!

[djinkc]

.............I'm looking for control and ease of use from my system, not simplicity.........

A HERMS will basically accomplish the same thing. But don't let me stop you

[No Party JKor]

A HERMS will basically accomplish the same thing. But don't let me stop you

I've done the HERMS thing, I've done the RIMS thing. I think I want to do the direct heat thing now. I may go back to the HERMS, I'm not sure yet.

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

I've done the HERMS thing, I've done the RIMS thing. I think I want to do the direct heat thing now. I may go back to the HERMS, I'm not sure yet.

as you're ripping through equipment make sure to let me know if you have stuff you want to get rid of

[tag]

I've done the HERMS thing, I've done the RIMS thing. I think I want to do the direct heat thing now. I may go back to the HERMS, I'm not sure yet.

I do the poor man's RIMS with propane. I mash in a converted keg with a full-width false bottom from SABCO. I recirculate with a pump and can turn on the burner to raise the temperature.

[No Party JKor]

Here's an old BT article on fabricating a motorized mash paddle: LINK

[davelew]

Here's a link to the most insane homebrew mash-stirring system I've ever seen:Wilbur and Orville

[ncbeerbrewer]

Here's a link to the most insane homebrew mash-stirring system I've ever seen:Wilbur and Orville

Nice looking MT with some fancy smancy pieces and parts. Hey thats the beauty of this hobby. You can go any direction you want and be happy. I choose to keep mine simple and invest in ingredients and keep on brewing.

[No Party JKor]

That's plain 'ol wacky!

[MolBasser]

A HERMS will basically accomplish the same thing. But don't let me stop you

No, it won't.HERMS and RIMS systems circulate the wort in the mash, they do not stir the mash.It is a big difference in my opinion.I'm willing to gamble that a stired mash system will get better extraction efficiency than any recirculating mash system. Unless you are recurculating the entire mash and not just the wort.I say go for it. The system that I am designing in my head has a stired mash tun.BrewBasser

[djinkc]

I did say basically, and on a home brewing level, well....... it's not going to do much IMHO. Denny get's 85% with a simple batch sparge.Anyway the OP was talking about temp control and direct heat mash steps. I'm about the last one to tell someone not to make a new toy. I just don't think it will help much on our size batches. But if JK wants to, go for it and report back.I'm not sure what you mean about recirculating the whole mash. I recirc my initial infusion and then fly sparge after that. Water is moving but not the grain, I'm sure moving both will help but it really would be diminishing returns for the small batches we do. At least that's my take.

[No Party JKor]

The main advantage for the stirring is mash uniformity. When you know your mash is uniform, temperature control is is more effective. A recirculating system is defintiely more uniform than a simple cooler, but there are still temperature gradients in a recirculating system.Stirred > recirc > cooler.The continuously stirred method may not be a huge advantage over recirc, but since I'm designing the system from the ground up I figure I might as well go with the best method. Now, if it cost was 3x over a recirc system, I'd probably stick with recirc, but I think the costs are comparable.

[stangbat]

Keep in mind that is this coming from a guy that fiddles and messes with things and has a setup that is probably over the top by a lot of people's standards. But to me the effort outweighs the advantages in a typical homebrewing situation. But like DJ said, I'm certainly not going to discourage new toys. It is all fun and a learning process.When it comes back up, check out the following site. His mash setup is automated and that is the main focus of the site, but he is stirring and direct heating. If I remember the details correctly that is, Wired linked to his site and his bandwidth limit is currently exceeded.https://www.halfluck.com/

[No Party JKor]

Do you guys really see it as that much more effort than a HERMS? To me, it seems like it's on the same level.

[ChefLamont]

I love gadgets just as much as the next guy and I have often built gadgets for the sake of building gadgets or the science/experience of doing so. However, for my homebrewing, I've kind of gotten to the point with my brew rig that I often ask the question WHY do I want to consider an improvement and what benefit should I expect in my beer or in the process.With that, I look at a stirred mash (and yes I have considered building it) and think that the only thing I hope to accomplish is a greater efficiency. I use a cooler that is preheated, so while there may be a very small temperature gradient across the bed, I think it is pretty negligible. (This is my estimation. That would be an interesting thing to experiment with and measure.) If someone was using a Sanke or other minimally insulated container, then yea, temp might be a reason to stir, but recirc could also help in that case.So, in my mind efficiency is the only really compelling reason to stir that I can think of and on the homebrew scale it just doesnt seem worth it. Just my $1/50 FWIW