This review is of the Brupaks Insulated 30liter Mash Tun (http://www.homebrewwest.ie/brupaks-insulated-mash-tun-30-litres-3086-p.asp).
It Costs €99.95 from HomeBrewWest, less a fiver with your NHC members' discount code.
(http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt234/eoinlayton/Beer/02122013838_zps146eea96.jpg)
I've done 2 brews with this now and both thimes I was impressed with it. So.. let's get into the details :)
First of all, it arrived well packaged - boxed up and padded, with instructions on how to do different mashes and containing a few recipes.
After unpacking it, I was confused about how to get the lid off because it has a convenient little locking mechanism that works depending on the direction of the handle.
The mash tune is very solid, and I was even able to lift it full of water without any strain on the handle.
It's built with a 30liter Campingaz cooler which will easily mash 10kilos of grain at a time.
It's insulated well all around and in the lid which fits easily and tightly to the body.
I stuck my STC100 probe into yesterday's mash to record the temperature over 90 minutes and was amazed.
It started off at 65.5C and 90minutes later it was still at 65.5C. It didn't drop by even 0.1C!!
(http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt234/eoinlayton/Beer/Capture_zps71a91dad.jpg)
The 'integral wort seperator' is also very high quality, made of stainless mesh connected to a copper T-fitting and then a PVC pipe to the tap.
I had no problems with it getting clogged at any stage and it let no bits through at all.
It was also very easy to clean afterwards.
(http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt234/eoinlayton/Beer/02122013839_zps1af2d2ce.jpg)
(http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt234/eoinlayton/Beer/02122013841_zps6c01987e.jpg)
The tap is pre-assembled, so there's no drilling or fitting needed.
It's solid and sensitive, with no leaks or drips at all.
My only gripe with the tap is that it's hard to see the writing on it, but that was sorted easily with a permanent marker brushed over the raised lettering.
(http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt234/eoinlayton/Beer/02122013837_zpse2dcb87f.jpg)
Also, it's a perfect size for sterilizing everything in afterwards, even the lids for my FVs fit in there for a soak.
Final Verdict:
Overall, I think that this is an excellent Mash Tun.
Every part of it works exactly as intended and it holds it's temperature like a boss (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NisCkxU544c).
You are paying a bit more than if you built your own, but:
- All the work is done for you (you cant mess it up with drilling etc)
- The tap is solid, responsive and drains well.
- The mesh strainer is faultless, very well constructed with stainless mesh and quality fittings.
- It is excellent at holding temperature (no drop over 90 minutes)
- It's light, strong and sturdy
- Insulated, lockable lid
- All-grain beginner friendly.
Nice pics that's a reasonable price considering the size, I bought a Coleman extreme for 60 stg delivered and by the time I bought the bits it was heading that way,
Consider modding with a square H in either copper or qualpex with slots or drilled holes facing down to avoid channeling and stuck mashes, the wort separator will come in handy for your kettle so it won't be wasted.
What diameter is the pipe of the valve, plastic valves aren't great v's metal lever ones in case you get grain crud in them but will do the job.
Ps can you tell I like equipment modding more than brewing beer
I love modding stuff too, but honestly I think that this is pretty perfect the way it is.
I'll spend my modding time building a drip-sparge to fit on top.
And anyway, you're right.. If you were to build it yourself , by the time all the bits come together you're getting pretty close to the price of the whole unit.
In this case though I think that the unit is more than the sum of its parts.
My vernier calipers have gone missing, but a quick measure with a litle plastic ruler shows the intake to the tap to be 20mm or 3/4 inch.
Quote from: LordEoin on December 02, 2013, 10:42:57 PM
My vernier calipers have gone missing, but a quick measure with a litle plastic ruler shows the intake to the tap to be 20mm or 3/4 inch.
Oh that's big, I was thinking of Damos 1/2 inch tubing to help a get your hot wort into boiler with out sloshing it around and as replacement for the PVC inner
Can get little clamps in hardware shops that should do the job.
This kind like?
(http://telcoantennas.com.au/site/sites/default/files/imagecache/product_full/hose-clamp-o-ring.png)
Industrial/Couplings and Connectors/ Clamps...... download the clamps brochure, near the end
I think the ones you see on the bazooka's come on them already. At least mine did.
They've small packs in halfords I think.