Oliver Weatherbee
One of the most persistent questions that I have seen asked and one I found myself asking not too long ago, concerns the use of aluminum, specifically aluminum pots,in brewing. The question is usually in the form: Are aluminum brewpots safe or is it true that it leads to high levels of aluminum intake which is linked to Alzheimer's disease? Usually people ask this when they begin to look at the differences in costs of large 8 - 10 gallon aluminum and stainless steel kettles.
You will find many people on both sides of this issue so I can only give you my opinion and share some of the data I found in researching the topic. This opinionis that yes, Al. Brewpots are fine, many homebrewers use them.
Aluminum has NOT been linked to Alzheimer's disease. The following is taken from"Frequently Asked Questions About Neurological Problems" at The Department of Neurological Surgery of The Cleveland Clinic Foundation (http://www.neus.ccf.org/patients/faq.html):
"There is little support for the theory that aluminum causes Alzheimer's disease, the most common cause of dementia in the United States. The exact cause of this disease is unknown, although the risk of Alzheimer's is higher when there is a family history of this disease."
This document goes on to report that "(w)orkers exposed to high levels of aluminum in industrial environments have no increased incidence of Alzheimer's disease. Furthermore, careful studies to date have not shown an increased aluminum concentration in the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients."
And that "(s)ince there is no convincing evidence linking aluminum toxicity withAlzheimer's disease, you need not worry about exposure to aluminum in cooking utensils."
Furthermore, Brewing Techniques (Jan/Feb '95) had an article on a parallel brew experiment using an aluminum brewpot and a stainless. Laboratory analysis showedthat there was no significant difference in trace aluminum levels between batches. They also pointed out that most of the Al you digest is from your unprocessed food and water. And for that matter, many medical people consider copper a bigger health risk.
As for off flavors, IF this happens (hearsay IMO), it is probably the result of the brewer scrubbing the oxidation layer off the pot during cleaning. Don't scrub, use a soft cloth or sponge and non-abrasive cleaner. This is one of the reasons Al is not used much commercially, its not caustic cleaner friendly.
