5, or 10 gallon rubbermaid circular for 5 gallon batches - Page 2

**ShortSnoutBrewing** · 08-25-2009, 02:55 PM

Get both...To say you can't do 5 gallon batches with a 5 gallon cooler is incorrect. You can't do Big beers with a 5 gallon, but you totally can do your normal, everyday batches. I find that I use my 5 gallon more often then my 10. Rather have a full 5 gallon than a half full 10 gallon...

That said, if you get a 5 gallon you will at some point be wanting a 10 gallon or larger depending on what you brew.

TheH2 · 08-25-2009, 03:10 PM

I do 5 gallon batches in a 5 gallon cooler and would recommend getting 10 gallon. It is doable, I've made beer up to a little over 8 percent, could increase that a little, but would be nice to do one sparge instead of two and have a little more space, etc.

Sigafoos · 08-25-2009, 03:10 PM

I use a 5 as my HLT. Thinking about it, though, I should switch them around if I'm doing a smaller beer; I have the same parts (Flyguy's conversion) so I'd just have to move my braid over.

So, to conclude, get a 10.

Synovia · 08-25-2009, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kilted Brewer

Get both...To say you can't do 5 gallon batches with a 5 gallon cooler is incorrect. You can't do Big beers with a 5 gallon, but you totally can do your normal, everyday batches. I find that I use my 5 gallon more often then my 10. Rather have a full 5 gallon than a half full 10 gallon...

That said, if you get a 5 gallon you will at some point be wanting a 10 gallon or larger depending on what you brew.

With my 5 gallon cooler, at 80% efficiency, I'm about maxed around 1.060. At that point I'm splashing water out of the MLT when I try to stir the grain.

I'd rather have the half full 10, simply because I won't have to worry about spilling.

Arkador · 08-25-2009, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobby_M

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.

Bobby M Quote FTW

BuckBros · 08-25-2009, 08:39 PM

I bought a 5, then a 10. Do the right thing the first time, it is cheaper.

**spin02** · 08-25-2009, 11:11 PM

I started with a 10, then ended up getting a 5 too. Both work great. Temperature lose on the 10 isn't bad at all, but it's not quiet as efficient when it's only half full. Anything over 12 pounds of grains goes into the 10, anything under works well in the 5, IMO.

stevea1210 · 08-25-2009, 11:25 PM

I also have both a 5 and 10. 90% of my batches go in my 5. I have always had better efficiency in my 5. I'm not sure why, but it is the case.

I have brewed og's up to 1.067 in the 5. Bigger than that and it goes in the 10. I couldn't imagine doing my 1.035 british mild in the 10, my 5 seems empty.

I like the option of using whichever fits that brew better. For me it works.

VTBrewer · 08-26-2009, 02:35 AM

I have a 5 gallon set up and every now and then I get tempted to move up, but the fact of the matter is most of my grain bills are at or under 12 pounds. When they over 12, I simply convert part of the base malt to LME and do a partial mash..."partial" being the 12 pounds in the mashtun and then maybe a 3-4 lb late addition of LME.

Works for me.

HotbreakHotel · 08-26-2009, 03:27 AM

I have a 5 gallon and I say get a 10. Whenever my OG is over 1.065 I have to either make a 3 gallon batch or cheat with extract. I wish I had a 10 gallon, but I now I have to wait until I have the money.