Best cooler for a mash tun? (Coleman, Igloo, Rubbermaid)

Tankard · 04-09-2008, 10:33 PM

I came THIS close to buying a 50 quart Igloo Ice Cube at Target for $20 the other day.... until I read posts on HBT that stated that the insulation is too thin and it doesn't hold temperature as well as some of the other coolers out there.

So, I guess the only thing to ask is, which one should I get? I've heard a lot of good things about the Coleman Xtreme (which advertises a 5 day ice retention...not bad!) I'm looking for a new cooler anyway since my old one didn't do so well on my last camping trip.

Anybody have any experience with multiple cooler brands? Which one do you recommend and why? Thanks in advance.

**EdWort** · 04-09-2008, 10:58 PM

The Igloo 10 gallon water cooler from Home Depot with a stainless braid for a manifold works great. They go for $39 and work great for 5 or 10 gallon batches of regular beer. Preheated, they hold the temp for 60 minutes without dropping.

**the_bird** · 04-09-2008, 10:59 PM

I have the Coleman Xtreme (36 quart) and couldn't be happier. Holds heat great, effectively zero deadspace. Unless you might fly sparge in the future and therefore want a cylindrical cooler, I'd highly recommend the Xtreme.

Got Trub? · 04-10-2008, 04:01 AM

I have 2 rubbermaids that I use. The smaller one I use for session beers, it doesn't hold temp as well but that is a thermal mass problem, the 48q one losses at most a degree in 60 minutes.

GT

SuperiorBrew · 04-10-2008, 04:33 AM

Coleman extreme 70 here.

Blender · 04-10-2008, 04:38 AM

I have an 52 qt. Igloo Marine cooler that has been working great for me.

Cookiebaggs · 04-10-2008, 05:12 AM

Coleman 10 gallon drink cooler here. I love it and for 20 dollars shipped on ebay, it was a steal.

Matt Foley · 04-10-2008, 05:22 AM

I was shopping for this very item today. It appears that the drink coolers are more expensive. I have an igloo ice cube with the wheels already that I could probably convert. Is anyone using one of these? Should I spring for something else?

Jack · 04-10-2008, 05:59 AM

Not to hijack the thread (as I usually do), but should I be concerned about this?

I was planning on getting a 5 gallon rubbermaid beverage cooler with dimensions 19.25" H x 13" D. It's tall and skinny, which would work great for my braided hose manifold. However, while I wasn't looking rubbermaid discontinued this model and replaced it with a short, fat one. Its dimensions are 15.4" H x 16" D.

Because the base is broader, I would always leave more liquid at the bottom of my mash tun after lautering/sparging, right?

bigben · 04-10-2008, 01:06 PM

I got 2 of those 50 qt ice cubes at target. Then I did a little research. I ended up taking them back and I got a 70 qt coleman xtreme at walmart for $38.

I haven't used it yet but its supposed to be good. I also have a 5 gallon cylindrical cooler and that holds temps without any probs.