Mash tuns are used to combine milled grain and hot water. The hot water breaks down the grain into sugars to create a malt liquid called wort. Build your own mash tun out of two plastic food barrels and an insulated Styrofoam cooler. Add the grain and hot water and let it sit to create the wort. The tap at the bottom of the barrel is used to empty the liquid wort, while the false bottom of the barrel filters out the remaining grain particles. Add this to my Recipe Box.
Instructions
1. Drill a hole that is the same size as the tap valve on the side of one barrel, 1 inch up from the bottom of the barrel. Insert the plastic drum tap valve into the hole. Use a wrench to tighten the nut of the tap onto the rubber washers and create a seal.
2. Draw a grid of dots that are 1-inch apart across the bottom of the second plastic food barrel with a black marker. Drill a series of 1/8-inch holes on the marks through the bottom of the second barrel to create the false bottom or screen for the tun. Remove any plastic bits that remain in the holes. Insert the false bottom bucket into the first bucket with the tap.
3. Cut a slot that is wide enough for the tap spigot to fit down the side of the Styrofoam cooler with a box knife. Insert the barrel tun into the cooler. Attach a plastic food grade hose to the tap to finish making the tun.
Tags: bottom barrel, false bottom, plastic food, bottom second, grain water