6 Best Homebrew Mash Tuns Reviews
Brewing your own beer sounds like an exciting adventure. It doesn’t just give you the chance to get with the actual involvement of beer making, but also make you appreciate the drink more because you will have a good understanding of all the processes involved before the beer finally hits your mug.
As you begin the process of home brewing, you will probably start brewing with extracts, but as time goes by, you may be interested in more exciting and complex approaches which may compel you to upgrade to an all-grain setup.
It should be noted that brewing with extracts is slightly different from all-grain brewing. With all-grain brewing, more labor will be required due to the additional steps, and this implies you that you will also need to get some additional equipment.
For example, you will have to go through a process known as mashing, where you will be obtaining flavor, starches, and color from grains instead of using malt extract syrup as is always the case when brewing from extracts.
To aid the process of mashing, a homebrew mash tun will be necessary. A mash tun is simply a vessel where all the ingredients responsible for converting starches into sugar are housed. It provides the perfect environment for this conversion to take place.
Buying Guide for Home Brew Mash Tuns
You will find the process of making beer fun if you actually enjoy doing it. As you already know, mashing is one of the crucial and important aspects of home brewing. If the mashing was done well, then you can be assured of a great beer, and if it was done poorly, then you can also expect the quality of the beer to be degraded.
This is why it is necessary that you be very careful when choosing your mash tun because it will make all the difference in your home brewing. In as much as there are different kinds of mash tun in the market today, it is not a guarantee that all of them are of the same quality, and irrespective of the one you choose, you will still be guaranteed of a great beer.
For an excellent mash process, there are certain features that the mash tun must have, and these are some of the things you have consider when you out shopping for a homebrew mash tun. Here is a brief look at some of the features you have to consider when buying shopping for mash tuns -
1.Heat Maintenance capabilities
The heat maintenance capabilities of the mash tun are important because the mashing process is effective when it takes place at certain temperatures. A good mash tun, therefore, should have the capability to keep the same temperatures for at least one hour. While shopping, check how long the tun can retain heat, and whether or not an external source of heat to maintain the desired temperatures.
2. Durability
Check the thickness of the wall since this will signify how durable the tun will be and also will give an indication of its ability to stop the brew from leaking out.
3. False bottom
A good tun should have a false bottom so that you don’t struggle with separating the container for lautering process.
5. Thermometer
A thermometer is of absolute importance in the brewing process. Never buy a tun without one.
6. Gauges
You also need a turn with markings for measurements on the inside. This is to help you tell the volume of the liquid without the need to separate the instrument.
Top Rated Mash Tuns in 2019
1. Learn To Brew Mash Tun - Igloo Ton with Stainless Steel False Bottom & Valve, 10 gallon
This is a colorful and easy-on-eyes mash tun you will find in the market today. Igloo has made a name for itself for providing quality coolers since the 1960s, and they are not about to stop any time soon if the quality and the features of this mash tun is anything to go by. This cooler is specially designed for brewing, with the ability to keep the mash at the same temperature for at least one hour. It is fitted with a thermometer to help you monitor the temperature without breaking a sweat.
The cooler also has a false bottom and this makes it both a lauter tun and a mash tun. With this feature, there will be no need for you to consider using another vessel when extracting the wort. The volume capacity of this tun is 10 gallons – about 37.85 liters. As such, it is sufficient for anyone to embark on all-grain brewing, especially if you are a beginner and you feel that you still need to learn the ropes about all-grain brewing. However, if you consider yourself an expert, and you need larger batches, then you may opt for other types of coolers with larger capacities.
Pros
• The large capacity of up to 10 gallons
• False bottom
• Fitted with thermometer
• All the metal is stainless steel
• Airtight steel ball valve
Cons
• Lack of proper assembly instructions
• You have to assemble it on your own
2. Brewer's Edge Mash and Boil
If you are in the market looking for the best stainless steel mash tun, then this Brewer’s Edge Mash and Boil is one of the best you will ever find. It is always a sign of progress to upgrade to stainless steel mash tuns, and this particular choice will give you the confidence that you are indeed making some steps in your home brewing journey.
The design of the tun completely features stainless steel, including the lid, valve, body, handles, a spigot, and a false bottom. Though the entire construction with stainless steel may make it a challenge to handle when in use, its quality is guaranteed, and you can use it for a lifetime if you take good care of it.
The turn also comes with a built-in thermometer so that you will not have to keep opening the lid to check the temperature of the content inside. Though the reading of the temperature may not be accurate all the time, unless you are a very meticulous person, it will suffice for most of your needs.
The tun can mash up to 16lb of malt, and this gives it a pretty decent capacity to satisfy the home brewing needs of most users. Its double walls also guarantee proper insulation, and the tight lid further ensures that you will not have to worry about your brew leaking.
Pros
Double walls for good insulation
Excellent capacity
Inbuilt thermometer
Can be plugged into standard wall outlets
Cons
Requires assembly
3. Igloo 5-Gallon Heavy-Duty Beverage Cooler, Orange & Ultimate Drip Catcher Set
This Igloo – Gallon beverage cooler is another incredibly popular tun that those interested in insulated mash tuns usually go for. It is almost similar to Learn to Brew mash tuns, and it comes with a set of features that will make your home brewing process quite interesting.
One of the notable features of this pleasantly orange tun is the stainless steel bottom and valve fitted with a spigot gasket to reduce the instances of leaking. The stainless steel bottom will be of immense help when you are extracting the wort since you won’t need to have an additional third container to complete the process.
It should also be pointed out that this tun can comfortably maintain the temperature of the contents therein for about one hour, and to help you monitor the temperature, the tun comes with a thermometer. The insulation of the tun is also something to admire, as well as the tight lid that will keep it closed and prevent the brew from leaking.
Pros
• Has very good insulation
• It is durable and lightweight
• Tight Lid
Cons
• The spigot may sometimes leak
• Requires assembly
4. BrewTech Infusion Mash Tun – 10gal
This is an insulated, stainless steel mash tun that is designed to bring you all the convenience you need in your home brewing. It comes with amazing heat retention abilities owing to the double wall with a layer of good insulation in between. Unlike most of the plastic coolers, this mash tun is designed and constructed with food-safe stainless steel, and you don’t have to worry about any health concerns arising from the effects of heat on plastic.
The tun has a capacity of 10 gallons with internal volume markers to allow for precise measurement and monitoring of the brew. It also comes with a recirculation bulkhead, thermowell, foam insulated lid and foam insulated dual wall to reduce heat loss and a precision thermometer for measuring the temperature.
Pros
• Very good insulation
• Fitted with a thermometer
• Good capacity of 10 gallons
Cons
• Requires assembly
5. Northern Brewer - Fermenter's Favorites 10 Gallon Insulated Cooler Essential All Grain Beer Brewing Equipment Starter Kit With Hot Liquor Tank & Mash Tun
It is being marketed as the fermenter’s favorite, and a look at its features will soon confirm that it is indeed one of the best mash tuns you will find around today. The 10-gallon cooler has more brewing space than most of the coolers you will find in the market today. And it is not just the brewing space alone that makes it qualify as the fermenter’s favorite.
With its size, it comes with additional flexibilities, including the ability to add water for adjusting the temperature without any troubles. Its upgraded tight seal is a guarantee that no leakages will be expected during operations, including all the grain particles being kept away from the wort.
At a capacity of 10 gallons, it gives you the convenience to brew slightly more than what the other tuns normally offer. The actual capacity of the tun, however, is 11.7 gallons, meaning you just got additional volume for your brew.
Also worth noting is the newly redesigned smooth edge of the false bottom that you will find to be extremely efficient in clearing wort as the solid grain settle down on the bed. As such, you are likely to get very high mash yields without necessarily scratching the cooler walls so that your system can stay in a pristine condition for long.
Pros
• Easy to use
• Has a siphon sprayer and tubing
• Comes with a hot liquor tank
Cons
• Requires assembly
• Doesn’t have tubing clamps
• A bit expensive
6. Bayou Classic Stainless Steel Brew Kettle 1530
The Bayou Classic is a premium ten-gallon brew kettle featuring a 6-piece set that has been specifically designed for those who want to take their all-grain home brewer to the next level. The premium kettle comes fitted with a tri-ply bottom as well as a spigot with a ball valve, a side-mount brew thermometer, a dome lid, a false stainless bottom, and a tube-shaped filter screen. For ease of attaching the thermometer and the spigot, the kettle comes with a water-tight bulkhead fitting.
Also featured for the convenience of measuring the volume of the content is a side calibration meticulously done on the gallon to allow for more accurate level setting. The tri-ply bottom is also instrumental in allowing the contents of the kettle to heat evenly and also to stop them from scorching.
The other design feature worth mentioning is the narrow diameter and the high side walls which have been so designed to stop any instances of boil overs. Additionally, the false bottom is designed to fit tightly on the side indentation to reduce the chances of particles as well as grains from accessing the spigot chamber.
And just like with most of the homebrew mash tuns, this particular model comes with a metal screen to help with filtering the wort, though the set also comes with an additional strainer that can be easily attached to the spigot.
Pros
• Good heat regulation
• Additional spigot strainer
• Fixed thermometer
Cons
• Not insulated
Final Verdict
Making your beer at home can be both an art and a hobby, depending on your inspiration. Irrespective of what motivates you, you will want to improve your skills as well as the results you get. This calls for not just knowing more about the mashing process but also investing in the right equipment.
When you are just starting, you don’t have to go heavy on the big tuns, but again, you want to ensure that you have a decent tun that will give you a good experience. Ultimately, you are the one who knows exactly what they desire to have for their home brewing, and we hope that the buying guide, as well as our top picks of the best mash tuns above, will be of some help to you.
