Brewing what is rims

What are the benefits of RIMS? Which is better? With RIMS there is a risk of scorching the wort if the pump is stopped for even a short period of time seconds , ruining the entire batch.

This makes the beer taste like an ashtray. It is not a subtle smoky flavour like in a rauchbier a type of beer with a distinctive smoke flavour. It is not something that can be fixed. If this happens the batch has to be dumped. Even better would be some sort of flow interlock as the pump head may be clogged or the pump valve closed. In other words, use a flow valve to check if wort is flowing before you allow the RIMS element to be on. You can't run the RIMS element at the same time as the HLT element on a standard 30 amp dryer circuit so a larger amp circuit is required, increasing cost.

The mash always follows the HLT temperature so it's only natural to use one element to heat both. Controlling them separately has no benefit. With RIMS the non-gentle heating of the wort may deactivate the enzymes due to overheating. Note that this is generally considered one of the lower risks with RIMS given that alpha amylase the primary enzyme in conversion of the malt starches to sugars begins to break down at temperatures above about F and evidence shows that it takes a considerable period of time before a significant portion of the enzymes are compromised.

The relatively short period of time the wort is at a high temperature is probably not a problem. RIMS is more expensive, more complex, and requires more parts. RIMS requires a third element and in most cases will require more than 30 amps so a larger control panel with more parts is required. A tube or chamber of some sort to hold the RIMS element is also required. This RIMS tube needs to be safely mounted somewhere. Given that the tube must be cleaned after each use it's often held together by quick release Tri-Clamp Tri-Clover fittings, further increasing the cost.

A separate HLT is still required to heat up water, including the sparge water. Because the mash temperature and HLT temperature are always in sync, it makes sense to combine instead of having separate vessels. RIMS is more difficult to clean. As wort flows through the coil, heat is transferred from the hot water, through the metal tubing, and into the wort. But brewers who have the welding and electrical skills to build one will no doubt be rewarded, while those with deep pockets can purchase a ready-made system from many suppliers.

And the improvements in repeatability and control are significant. The choice of one over the other is largely one of personal preference. To make this type of system work the coil length needs to be long enough or internally wide enough to ensure the wort spends enough time in the coil to heat to the desired temperature. Recirculating Infusion Mash System RIMS basically works by using direct heat on a tube or within a tube or vessel to heat the wort as it is recirculated through the tube or over the heat source within a vessel.

The heat source can be an electric element or gas, but the wort is heated as it passes through a tube or over an element within a tube or vessel as it is pumped during re-circulation. The pump keeps the wort moving at a steady rate to avoid scorching it. The pump must run continuously during the mash when heating, though the heater itself is often cycled on and off to control temperature.