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Beer/Building a lauter tun

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Expert: - 3/18/2004


Question
Lautering being simply rinsing the converted
sugar from the grain seems not quite so simple when thinking about building a lauter tun.

 Isn't  there a simpler way To do this efficiently ?

              Thank You    Woody Wilson


Answer
Woody,

As with anything simple is a matter of practice and experience.  What is simple for one is hard for another.

For example, when I was 26 it was simple for me to jump out of an airplane, parachute into an enemy, meet them, make new friends and then kill them.(Retired Army 75th Ranger)   Now my wife says I can not do that.   (Husband, father, home front permanent.)

Okay, so that may not be the most likeable example.  But what I mean is simple is a matter of definition.  For me to put 10 lbs of grain into an igloo fitted with a false bottom  and wait 60 minutes while I drink a beer or two seems simple.  In fact to me all grain is more simple than partial grain or extract.

To answer your question the simplest lauter tun is a food grad plastic bucket with a holes punched in it inside of an other bucket with a spigot.   Place grain in top bucket add water and wait 60 minutes.  Open drain and let out water.  Collect and pour over grain again.

To be honest I started with two igloo 5 gallon coolers, a false bottom and a sparage arm.

<http://www.clanward.com/brewery_files/breweryimages/rig.jpg
That an a boil pot is all you need.  

There may be a simple way but I have no idea what is would be.  Please take this as it is meant, with humor.  Seriously time and age says this is the simplest way.

Yours in brewing,
Alan

Beer

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Alan Ward

Expertise

I am a home brewer who has been brewing since 2000. For us brewing is a family activity with everyone helping in some small way. We brew mostly all grain batches, but we do some kits. I have built all of our equipment. We bottle and keg. Drop us an line, we will be glad to assist with answer or help you find where the answer is. In October 2008 we opened the Brigadoon Brewery & Brew School at the Texas Renaisance Festival. This is a unique brewpub and teaching facility located on the grounds of the Texas Renaissance Festival in Plantersville, Texas. To our knowledge we are the only functioning brewpub located on the grounds of a renaissance festival brewing using both period specific equipment and modern equipment to brew hand crafted ale and then serving it back to the public. Where we offer hands on training and live period appropriate all grain brewing through out the day. Drop by and we will be glad to answer any question you have. You can checkout the brewery at www.brigadoonbrewery.com or follow on twitter@brewschool.

Experience

Home brewing since 2000. Started with a Mr. Beer kit and worked our way up to all grain.

Former chemistry and physics teacher.

Education:
Bachelors Arts Teaching; Master Instructional Technology
Currently the Managing Member and Brewmaster for Brigadoon Brewery & Brew School.

Organizations
Master Brewers Associaiton of America Texas Craft Brewers Guild American Home Brewers Association Brewers Association

Education/Credentials
Bachelors in Sports Medine from Sam Houston State University Masters in Instructional Technology from American Intercontinental University

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