Wed Jul 03, 2013 7:08 am
You can definitely get away with an aluminum pot.
Aluminium Pros:
Fun to add the 'i' and say aluminium
cheap
better heat transfer than stainless
- Many nicer stainless pots have aluminum clad bottoms somewhat negating this fact
- This effect overall is a minor concern
more easily modified (drilling holes for ball valves and such is much easier)
cheap
Aluminum Cons:
Stainless is more pretty
Stainless will last longer as aluminum is somewhat soft
Aluminum is less inert than stainless
- aluminum oxidizes very easily making it safe to use (just boil some water in it before you use an aluminum pot the first time. If you do this correctly, you will create some very easy to read fill lines)
- aluminum is more prone to leaching
- for example, it is not safe to leave PBW or star san in aluminum for extended periods
If you have the money, you may be happier with stainless. My cheap ass likes my aluminum pots. I can afford them, which means I can still buy ingredients. I would buy more of them. I do not use clean in place, or let shit sit in the aluminum for extended periods. If I were wealthy, though, I would likely buy stainless. Alternatively, once the wort touches yeast, The only metal I let my beer touch is stainless (lower pH, longer contact times, leeching microorganisms).
Beer. Bikes. Cosmic B-fields.