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A mash tun is a vital component when it comes to all-grain brewing. This insulated chamber helps combine water with crushed grain to convert the starch in the grains into sugars. The best mash tun will also help maintain a consistent temperature over a specific duration.
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My Top Mash Tun Recommendations
There are many factors you need to consider when choosing what kind of set-up will work best – from tun type and size down to ingredient choice. For instance, the best mash tun will have a false bottom design that can reduce the wastage of the wort.
Northern Brewer Mash Tun
The Northern Brewer Mash Tun is a great insulated cooler that can take your home brewing to the next level with its massive capacity of 12 gallons. This mash tun features stainless steel construction with a titan false bottom and proprietary bulkhead that gives it a unique design that can withstand any weather condition.
Although it has the biggest capacity on my list, the external dimensions of 18 x 18 x 28 inches ensure compactness and space efficiency. It comes with an integrated industrial level thermometer that you can set up and calibrate easily.
The extra-thick insulation walls in the mash tun help maintain temperature consistency, so you don’t have to worry about fluctuations in temperature when brewing. The false bottom design in this mash tun minimizes wort loss by sitting almost flush to the floor and leaving very little dead space.
The Northern Brewer mash Tun hardware features steel reinforcement and silicone gaskets that prevent leakages. It comes as a brewing kit that includes all the vital equipment you may need in your sparge, wort collection, mash, and mix fermentation. However, unlike the Klarstein Maishfest Mash Tun, the threaded nipple going through the cooler isn’t long enough.
Pros
- It has the largest capacity on my list, making it ideal for brewing sizeable batches.
- The stainless steel construction is corrosion-resistant, sturdy and durable.
Cons
- The insulation is not enough to maintain consistent temperature for an hour-long mash, and you might need to add your own insulating material.
- With time, the brass fittings starts to corrode, and might even start to leak.
- The completely redesigned mash/lauter tun features thick insulation, a large 12+ gallon capacity and...
- Featuring all stainless steel fittings including our proprietary bulkhead and Titan False Bottom,...
- Everything you need to mash, sparge and collect wort is included so no additional purchases are...
Klarstein Maischfest Mash Tun
If you are looking for a mash tun that won’t affect the taste of the wort or react with it, then the Klarstein Maischfest Mash Tun is the way to go. You will love the versatility of this mash tun, as you can use it as a mash tun and a brew kettle. Simply connect this mash tun to power the power supply and choose from 1000W to 1600W power settings depending on whether you want to keep the wort warm or boil it.
Remember that boiling is a slow process and might take about 20 minutes to boil around six gallons of wort. Once the wort reaches the temperature you desire, the double-walled construction ensures the temperature remains consistent. Whether you are using it as a mash tun or a brew kettle, the 304 stainless steel construction ensures durability.
Unlike the Learn To Brew Mash Tun, the Klarstein Maishfest Mash Tun comes with an LCD screen that displays the temperature and time, allowing you to monitor them easily. Although its 9.2 gallons capacity is smaller than the Northern Brewer Mash Tun, it weighs 27.8 pounds, making it the heaviest on my list.
Pros
- Unlike the Learn To Brew Mash Tun, you can use it as both a mash tun and brew kettle.
- The LCD screen enhances the monitoring of time and temperature.
Cons
- Even with the highest power setting, this mash tun will take around 20 minutes to boil the wort.
- Although it reliably support a 9.2 gallons batch, the grain basket legs seem flimsy.
- VERSATILE: Whether you prefer light or dark, top or bottom fermented, wheat or pilsner, with the...
- COMFORTABLE: Whether you are a beginner or an experienced hobby brewer, the mash kettle provides a...
- INTUITIVE OPERATION: A clearly arranged touch panel with LCD display makes it possible to set the...
Learn to Brew Mash Tun
The Learn to Brew Mash Tun is one of the most high-quality coolers in the market. This mash tun features an insulated top cover and thick foam insulation on the walls, which helps to sustain consistent mash temperature for around one hour.
Although its capacity is smaller than the Northern Brewer Mash Tun, the 10 gallon capacity in this mash tun is still enough for beginning and intermediate brewers. The 10.58 pounds weight and large easy to grip handles in this mash tun allow you to move it easily without the need for extra help. This mash tun doesn’t have complicated electrical parts when it comes to usability, and you don’t need extra skills to use it.
The 12-inch stainless steel false bottom in this mash tun helps to reduce waste when sparging and mashing. Additionally, the spigot and the false bottom allow you to lauter using the same unit. However, the grains sometimes get stuck, making the spigot clog. With external dimensions of 24 x 16 x 16 inches, this mash tun is smaller than the Northern Brewer mash Tun, making it the option when space is a concern.
Pros
- The robust insulation helps to maintain a consistent temperature, keeping the quality of your homebrew intact.
- The false bottom design helps to reduce waste when sparging and mashing.
Cons
- You will need to tighten the clamps to prevent leakage.
- The grains tends to get stuck beneath the false bottom which clogs the spigot.
- 10 gallon mash ton
- Perfect for 5 and 10 gallon batches
- All metal is stainless steel
Features to Consider in the Best Mash Tun
Mash tuns come in different capacities, build quality, and features. A brewery’s mash tun can either be small enough for just one batch or large enough that it takes several hours before boiling off excess liquid from grains when making wort.
For someone who wants more power in their setup, here are some of the features you should consider:
| Mash Tun | Capacity (Gallons) | Weight (Pounds) | Dimensions (Inches) |
| Northern Brewer | 12 | 15 | 18 x 18 x 28 |
| Klarstein Maischfest | 9.2 | 27.8 | 35.8 x 16.8 x 16.7 |
| Learn to Brew | 10 | 10.58 | 24 x 16 x 16 |
False Bottom
A false bottom is a slotted or perforated piece of metal in a mash tun. It sits at the bottom between the kettle and the outlet. It helps in separating the sweet wort from the crushed grains.
A mash tun with a spigot and a false bottom at the base, such as the Learn to Brew Mash Tun, will help you drain or sparge the wort without requiring an additional container. With this dual purpose, the brewing process will be fast and straightforward.
In-Built Thermometer
The ability to maintain a precise and consistent temperature throughout the mashing process will directly impact the quality of the final brew. A mash tun that comes with an inbuilt thermometer such as the Northern Brewer Mash Tun can help you monitor the internal temperature of the mashing process.
A mash tun such as the Klarstein Maischfest Mash Tun comes with an LCD screen that helps you conveniently monitor the temperature and the time during the mashing process. That means you don’t have to keep opening the container to check the temperature of the wort.
Size
Different mash tuns come in different sizes and capacities, and the size will depend on your brewing needs. Keep in mind that the capacity of a mash tun will also determine how much space it is going to take. For instance, the Northern Brewer Mash Tun has the largest capacity on my list.
In the same way, it takes the most space on my list. Therefore, it is advisable to consider the size of the batches you’re planning to brew and the available floor space, and then choose the size accordingly. However, you can go for a slightly bigger size than the capacity you are planning to brew to avoid the frustration of your wort failing to fit.
Keep in mind that the mash tun size will also determine its market value. That means going for a 20-gallon capacity mash tun when you’re only planning to brew 10-gallon batches is also a waste of resources.
Insulation
One of the key features that you will be looking for in a mash tun is its ability to maintain a consistent temperature throughout the mashing process. However, this will depend on the insulation properties of the mash tun walls.
For instance, the Learn to Brew Mash Tun features foam insulation between the walls, making it excellent at keeping the temperature consistent. If you’re going for a mash tun that features stainless steel construction, it is advisable to check the gauge of the steel.
Typically, the mash tun with thicker stainless steel walls will have better insulation properties. Some models, such as the Klarstein Maischfest Mash Tun, helps to maintain a consistent temperature by allowing you to connect to a power supply.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do a Mash Tun and a Lauter Tun Differ?
The design of Lauter tuns is similar to that of infusion mash tuns, only that they are shallower and wider. However, they still filter like the mash tuns through perforated metallic false bottom supporting the grains. The design of Lauter tuns best suits high adjunct rates.
How Much Water Do I Add in a Mash Tun When Brewing?
The amount of water you should add to the mash tun will depend on the configuration, recipe, sparge water volume, and the amount of mash water infusions. In most cases, water ranges from 1.0 to 1.5 quarts per pound of grain.
Can I Use a Cooler Instead of a Mash Tun?
With only a few tools and parts, it’s possible to convert a cooler into a mash tun. Typically, there is no risk of exposure to toxic substances or bacteria when using plastic coolers. You only need to rinse with hot water before using it.
Final Thoughts
The best mash tun features stainless steel fittings to prevent any effect on beer taste. Although it can be challenging to choose a mash tun of the right capacity, false bottom design, and build quality, you can’t go wrong with any option from this list.
