This is how big your Mash Tun needs to be

**Bobby_M** · 06-12-2009, 04:06 PM

There seems to be a huge uprising in the number of new all grain brewers and the persistent question is "how big of a tun do I need?" It depends on what your batch size, efficiency, and desired OG is. Here's the easy way for you to decide based on your needs.

Keep in mind that even if you think you might want to do both 5 and 10 gallon batches, odds are your really high gravity beers will be 5 gallon batches. Who needs 10 gallons of barleywine?

Just for example, a 10 gallon mash tun can do 5 gallons of 1.118 barleywine (~11% ABV) and 10 gallon batches of 1.060 IPA (~6% ABV). I personally think something in the 50-60qt range is most flexible in that regard if you don't mind a square/rectangular cooler.

If you want to figure for larger or smaller batch sizes, take the number in the "Max Gravity Units" column and divide that by your desired batch size.

McKBrew · 06-12-2009, 04:07 PM

Excellent chart Bobby. I will repost this from now on when answering that question.

Boerderij_Kabouter · 06-12-2009, 04:44 PM

sticky vote!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

**Bernie Brewer** · 06-12-2009, 04:44 PM

Nice chart, Bobby. I'd like to add that new AG brewers should think ahead. You may THINK that all you need is a 5 gallon tun, but are you going to outgrow it??? If there is even a small possibility that you may indeed outgrow it, get the bigger one right way. It'll save you $$ in the long run.

wildwest450 · 06-12-2009, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bernie Brewer

Nice chart, Bobby. I'd like to add that new AG brewers should think ahead. You may THINK that all you need is a 5 gallon tun, but are you going to outgrow it??? If there is even a small possibility that you may indeed outgrow it, get the bigger one right way. It'll save you $$ in the long run.

+1, 52 qt ftw!!

TheMan · 06-12-2009, 06:08 PM

I'm very new to the all grain thing, I have only started reading about it a couple days ago and I'm trying to figure out equipment and all. Can you help explain what you mean by

Quote:

If you want to figure for larger or smaller batch sizes, take the number in the "Max Gravity Units" column and divide that by your desired batch size.

If I want to do a 15 gallon batch of 80% efficiency with 1.105 OG I then take 1054/15 which equals 70.26. So I need at least a 70 qt tun for this? I am a bit confused and don't think I am doing it right.

Edit: After checking some of my numbers against the chart numbers I am certain I'm doing it wrong...

AJ_in_HD · 06-12-2009, 06:20 PM

subscribed. thanks.

Tonedef131 · 06-12-2009, 06:27 PM

I need ten gallons of barleywine

**Bobby_M** · 06-12-2009, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobby_M

If you want to figure for larger or smaller batch sizes, take the number in the "Max Gravity Units" column and divide that by your desired batch size.

Sorry, to clarify, a 52qt, assuming 80% eff. is good for 1054 total gravity points. In 15 gallons, that's about 1.70 max OG. (1054/15 = 70).

If you know your expected efficiency, you can try this. To calculate for mash tun size requirement in quarts (80% efficiency of course), it's (Desired OG x Batch Size)/17 = mash tun size

Let's say you want 1.088 x 15 gallons, it's (88 x 15)/17= 77 quart tun.

If you're going to be doing regular high gravity beers at 15 gallons, go with a 100qt.

Baja_Brewer · 06-12-2009, 07:07 PM

Good post, there have been alot of questions about this here recently.

Prost!