Great discussion recently about kettles and sparging. If I understand correctly, an aluminum kettle will transfer heat quicker thus getting to a boil faster. I'm not sure of the exact time savings (pending some experiments with wall thickness, volume, burner, and pot shape) but it appears to balance out with the quicker clean up of stainless steel noted by some. Cost savings are pretty good on al. I too have been shopping for a new "system". Currently, I'm favoring the Lincoln Wear-Ever 40 qt aluminum for $65 (Hockenbergs on Kasota Ave) with the lid for another $15. A variety of bulkhead fittings are available ($30) for my drain and hooking up whatever screens and or devices I choose. If you want top notch aluminum, check out the Vollrath Beauty. $144 On the fastmashquicksparge process, sounds good for domestic malt. Is there consensus on a basic process with temps and times and water/malt ratio? Lastly, did anyone catch the sidebar on page 41 of the latest Zymurgy? In an old book review by Fred Eckhardt, he notes that Charlie P won the first International Homebrew Competition in Minneapolis in April. ?1980? Anyone have more info on this historical event? Mike Moranz MHBA