Mash Tun vs Lauter Tun

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Mash tun vs Lauter tun is an excellent debate within the brewing world and has been for some time. There are many factors to consider when choosing which type of tun to use for your brewing process, and each has its pros and cons that differ from brewer to brewer.

Mash Tun vs Lauter Tun General Overview

Proper brewing requires mashing, lautering, and boiling the wort before fermentation. Mashing is mixing the crushed malt or grain with hot water to produce a mash, while lautering separates the solid particles from the liquid wort. Boiling the wort helps sanitize it and provides time for the hops to be added for flavor.

All these steps require a vessel in which to take place, and that is where the mash tun and lauter tun come into play. As a brewer, you need to understand what each tun does and how it can impact your brewing process and the final product. You don’t want to decide which tun to use without fully understanding the ramifications it could have down the line.

These two vessels have different purposes and therefore have different designs. What one does, the other cannot, and vice versa. To make an educated decision on which tun is best for your brewing needs, you must first check how each work and the similarities and differences between the two.

A copper steel tank placed on a cemented floor near fresh plants in a brewery

Mash Tun

A mash tun is a brewing vessel used to mash the grain during brewing. The mashing process helps break down the complex carbohydrates in the grain into simple sugars that can be easily fermented by yeast. The vessel is fitted with a level shower that allows hot water to be sprayed evenly over the grain bed and keeps the mash at a consistent temperature.

Within the floor of this tun, there is a false bottom or perforated plate that separates the mash from the wort. The false bottom has small holes that allow the sweet wort to pass through while keeping the solid grain particles in the tun. The vessel is also equipped with a strong stirring mechanism called a rake that helps to keep the mash moving and prevents clumping.

Most of the time, the tun is made of stainless steel because it is durable and easy to clean. Some breweries will use a copper tun because it is a good conductor of heat and helps regulate the mash’s temperature.

Advantages

  • It is easy to use and is less likely to get clogged than a lauter tun.
  • The false bottom does an excellent job of separating the mash from the wort.
  • The stirring mechanism helps to keep the mash moving and prevents clumping.
  • The stainless material is easy to clean and is less likely to corrode.
  • It has good heat conductivity, which helps regulate the mash’s temperature.

Disadvantages

  • The false bottom can be difficult to clean and is susceptible to clogging.
  • The mash can become stuck on the false bottom, making it difficult to remove all the wort from the tun.
  • It is sometimes difficult to evenly distribute the hot water over the grain bed if the shower is not properly designed.

Lauter Tun

A lauter tun is a brewing vessel that separates the sweet wort from the grain after mashing. The vessel is fitted with a thin false bottom containing slits or holes that allow the wort to flow through while keeping the solid grain particles in the tun. The vessel is also equipped with rotating rake arms that help to keep the grain bed moving and prevent clumping.

The number of rake arms will depend on the size of the tun. The range is between two and six arms, with four being the most common. The rake arms are driven by a motor controlled by the brewer. Each rake arm has a flap that can be raised or lowered automatically or by the brewer to push the spent grains out of the way and prevent them from clogging the slits in the false bottom.

Lauter tuns are also made of stainless steel, with a conical bottom to help the brewer extract as much of the wort as possible. The cone also allows for easy cleaning of the tun.

Advantages

  • The tun can be used for both mash and lauter processes.
  • It has a large surface area for heat exchange. This is important for mashing as it allows the mash to reach the desired temperature quickly and evenly.
  • It is easy to clean and doesn’t require much water to clean.

Disadvantages

  • The false bottom can be difficult to clean and is susceptible to clogging.
  • The rake arms can be difficult to control and may not work properly if they are not well maintained.
  • You must be careful not to extract too much of the wort, as this will make the beer too thin.
Stainless steel tank with a blue and purple hose was placed on yellow tiles inside a brewery

Comparison Between the Two

The two vessels are essential when it comes to brewing beer. They also have differences and similarities that every brewer should be aware of. Here is a quick comparison:

Similarities

  • Both are used in the brewing process to separate the wort from the grain.
  • Both have a false bottom with holes that allow the wort to pass through while keeping the solid grain particles in the tun.
  • Both have some type of stirring mechanism to help prevent clumping and stuck grain.
  • Both vessels are made of stainless steel, making them durable and easy to clean.

Differences

  • A mashing tun is used to mash the grain and extract the sugars, while a lauter tun separates the wort from the grain after mashing.
  • A mash tun has a false bottom with a hole in the center for the wort to pass through, while a lautering tun has a false bottom with slits or holes that allow the wort to pass through.
  • A mashing tun is equipped with a paddle or stirrer to help keep the mash moving, while a lauter tun is equipped with rake arms that help keep the grain bed moving.
  • A mash tun has good heat conductivity, which helps regulate the mash’s temperature, while a lauter tun doesn’t have this feature.

Major Distinguishing Factor

The primary distinguishing factor between the two is their purpose in the brewing process. Mash tuns are used to mash the grain and extract the sugars, while lauter tuns are used to separate the wort from the grain after mashing.

This means that mashing tuns need to be good at regulating the mash’s temperature, while lauter tuns must be good at separating the wort from the grain.

When to Use Mash Tun

The best time to use a mash tun is when you want to extract the maximum amount of sugar from your grain. This is because the tun can mash the grain and extract the sugars. It also has good heat conductivity, which helps regulate the mash’s temperature.

When to Use Lauter Tun

The best time to use a lauter tun is when you want to separate the wort from the grain. This is because the tun can separate the wort from the grain. It also has good separation capabilities, which helps prevent the wort from becoming too thin.

Which Is Better: Mash Tun or Lauter Tun?

The better option here is the mash tun. This is because it can be used for both mashing and extracting sugars. It also has good heat conductivity, which helps regulate the mash’s temperature. So, if you want to extract the maximum sugar from your grain, this tun is the better option.

Having a pure wort free from Suspended Solids is the main objective in brewing beer. The two methods of separation are Lautering and Mashing. When you have these two vessels, you are sure of an effective process that will save you time and extract the necessary fermentable from your grains.