Bru Heat Thorne Electrim Mashing Bucket

[booosh]

Just wanted to ask everyone's opinion on this piece of kit.

http://www.wineworks.co.uk/product/brew-heat-bucket/

I'm wanting to get into BIAB brewing and am thinking this would be quite handy for mashing in the bag and then boiling from there. Apparently it heats to 100 degrees. Quite cheap too.

 

[Fil]

cant see the volume? it looks like a converted fermentation bucket so about 30l? if so its adiquate, but a larger volume would be more comfortable when u take grain absorption into account, most my beers start with a starting volume close to 30l sometimes a little more...

Also it only has the one element, i use 2 kettle elements in my boiler, while one will maintain the boil 2 gets there faster allowing u to run on one once the boil is rolling along, and if needed up the evaporation rate to help hit target if ive oversparged

with a few diy skills and tools i think u could build something bigger with more power and a better controller such as an stc1000 (circa £15 on ebay).

starting a boil with a very full vessel can turn very messy very soon if u get a boil over...
and hot sticky wort is a real pita to mop up n throw away after mashing it all morning..

IM sure u can make beer in it. but i think after one use the size and power limitations may start to bug u?
my first biab attempt was in a just too small a boiler i used it once...

 

[booosh]

Apparently the volume is 5 gallons. So yeah, would probably need to quite a bit bigger for a full 5 gallon batch after evaporation etc.

The single element wouldn't really be an issue for me (I say that now, with no experience).

Really appreciate your reply, I will certainly be looking around a bit more and perhaps attempt to make my own.

 

[Fil]

if in your shoes i would consider a 40l buffalo boiler, 40l is a comfortable volume and should contain all beers circa 23l final volume.. you may need to fix it so it wont cut out mid boil, but thats pretty well documented. and it will retain its value, if u dont like it, u shouldnt loose much more than 20 quid?? (guessing) selling it on 2nd hand. especially if u list it in here..

 

[Jeltz]

Its what I use. It does the job well enough here is a fully documented brewday using MaxiBIAB.
viewtopic.php?f=21&t=35278
I have refined my technique a little but its still basically the same.

 

[booosh]

Thanks guys. The buffalo boiler looks good apart from the reports that it cuts out before boiling. Wouldn't really want to be messing about fiddling to override the thermostat.

I reckon I'll be looking for a plastic boiler with an increased volume.

 

[Jeltz]

Actually if you can get larger bucket then these elements look as though they would be good.

The electrim uses this tap.

The temperature controller isn't necessary in fact mine died in today's brew.

 

[Tankboi]

I've got a similar one which I got from one of the sponsors with one element but if its the same sort of element which I assume it is then its about twice the size of a standard kettle element. Mine heats from room temp to boil in about 15 mins. Only worrying bit I had is that the plastic gets very hot and squeezable.. So if you decoded on it then think ahead, you don't want to be moving it once its heating up.

 

[booosh]

I've got a similar one which I got from one of the sponsors with one element but if its the same sort of element which I assume it is then its about twice the size of a standard kettle element. Mine heats from room temp to boil in about 15 mins. Only worrying bit I had is that the plastic gets very hot and squeezable.. So if you decoded on it then think ahead, you don't want to be moving it once its heating up.

Thanks for that, mate. Quite an impressive boil time that!

I guess if it's designed to boil stuff then it has to be fit for purpose. I imagine moving a pliable plastic bucket full of boiling hot liquid to be difficult though, appreciate the advice.

 

[Jeltz]

I don't move mine while its hot, no real need.