How to Use Aluminum Stock Pots for Brewing

Aluminum stock pots have thermal properties that allow the metal pot to heat evenly. It is softer than stainless steel, so acidic foods can cause the aluminum to pit over time. If you would like to use an aluminum pot to brew homemade beer, do not use the pot for everyday cooking. Only use the pot for brewing to prevent damage than can affect the beer's taste.

Things You'll Need

• 20 quart aluminum stock pot
• Spoon with long handle
• Mild dish detergent
• 1 tbsp. bleach
• 1 gallon water
• 10 gallon plastic pail with lid
• Baking soda
• 10 liters cold water
• 40 oz. malt extract
• 7 cups sugar
• Thermometer
• 1 tsp. brewer's yeast
• Hydrometer
• Funnel
• 24 tsp. sugar
• 12 2-liter bottles
• Newspaper
• 5/16-inch siphon hose with a clamp

Instructions

Sanitize and Clean Equipment

1. Wash the aluminum stock pot and a spoon with a long handle with mild dish detergent in warm water. Rinse well.

2. Mix 1 tbsp. bleach with one gallon of water. Sanitize the pot and spoon with the bleach mixture.

3. Wash a 10 gallon plastic pail with water and baking soda. Rinse well.

Brewing

1. Pour 10 liters of cold water into the plastic pail.

2. Boil 7 liters of water in the aluminum stock pot. Pour 40 oz. of malt extract into the boiling water and stir with the spoon. Allow it to boil for 20 minutes.

3. Add 7 cups sugar to the boiling mixture and stir until the sugar dissolves completely. Pour the mixture into the water in the plastic pail. Test the temperature of the mixture with a thermometer. Add bottled water until the mixture is room temperature, which is generally a little more than half full.

4. Add 1 tsp. brewer's yeast and stir. Place the lid over the pail loosely. Do not place the lid on tightly, or the mixture will explode.

5. Allow the pail to remain covered for six to 10 days. Remove the lid and place a hydrometer in the beer and spin it around one time to remove bubbles sticking to it. The mixture is ready to bottle when the hydrometer reading is 1.008 for a dark beer or 1.010 to 1.015 for light beer. If you do not have a hydrometer, taste the beer to determine readiness.

Bottle the Beer

1. Use a funnel to pour 2 tsp. of sugar into 12 2-liter bottles. Place the bottles on the floor on sheets of newspaper.

2. Siphon the beer out of the pail and into the bottles with a 5/16-inch siphon hose with a clamp. Close the clamp when moving the siphon hose to the next bottle to prevent spills. Fill all 12 bottles, leaving an airspace at the top of each bottle. Screw the caps on tightly.

3. Turn the bottles upside down and shake well to dissolve the sugar. Place the bottles in a warm area for two to three days, then store the beer in a dark, cool spot.

References

• Home Brewer Supply: Brew Pots
• Home Brewer Supply: Basic Brewing Instructions
• Earth Easy: Simplest Homemade Beer
• Cornell's Hardware: How to Brew Beer