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Q&As since 1989


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Is making beer in aluminum cookware safe?

I recently began making my own beer at home, with quite satisfactory results. Recently a friend, who introduced me to this little hobby, remarked with surprise that I was using an aluminum pot to boil my wort (which is the raw ingredients of beer boiled in water). He questioned whether it was safe or not? I passed it off as something of a personal opinion or superstition. But the most recent beer making ingredients kit I purchased, has a warning on the top of its instructions..."CAUTION:USE ONLY STAINLESS SEEL OR ENAMEL COOKWARE BOR BREWING! SANITATION IS ONE OF THE KEYS TO GREAT BEER! ALL EQUIPMENT MUST BE SANITIZED."
My question is: Is an aluminum pot safe boil food with for about an hour or so? In essence, can I use my aluminum pot to cook my wort safely?

Joseph Burk
consumer - Petaluma, Calif., USA
2007

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The warning doesn't seem to have to do with safety, but with taste, Joseph. They claimed you couldn't make "great" beer in aluminum, not that couldn't make "safe" beer.

Of course, half of the world's beer is sold in aluminum cans. And I've also heard that once a glass has been used for milk it can never again serve a decent beer. These things are partially myth, partially a question of how fastidious the taster is, but somewhat the trappings of the art.

So I would put it this way: if you are pursuing a hobby, part of the joy of the idea is upholding the traditions and trappings of the art. Cooking the wort in aluminum is apparently an offense that is slapping your fellow enthusiasts in the face -- so don't do it :-)

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2007

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"beer is sold in aluminum cans"

Not really. Those cans are lined. It might be more accurate to say "beer is sold in plastic cans supported by an aluminum shell". :-)

Jeffrey Holmes, CEF
Spartanburg, South Carolina
2007

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Or, as Jeffrey seems to be implying, boil your wort in a plastic bag supported by an aluminum pot if you're not into art :-)

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2007

I think you can't use aluminum pots for beermaking -- aluminum beer cans are specially pretreated (conversion coating+clearcoat). If you want to use glass beer bottles,they are enough thick for pressure (or champagne bottles -- ordinary bottle can explode), and you must clean them well. Hope it helps and good luck (beer)!

Goran Budija
- Cerovski vrh Croatia
2007