MLT from Rubbermaid cooler

**apparatus** · 04-01-2007, 01:47 AM

I have a 5 gallon Rubbermaid round cooler. Is this too small to make into a MLT for brewing 5 gal. batches?

djamwolfe · 04-01-2007, 02:05 AM

not too small as long as your not doing high grav beers. Ive done many AG's in my 5gal SS braid setup.

The Pol · 04-01-2007, 02:08 AM

Naw that will work great... used one for a year b4 going to 10 gallon

**apparatus** · 04-01-2007, 02:15 AM

Great! Thanks for the replies.

CBBaron · 04-01-2007, 03:16 AM

A 1.050 beer fits pretty well in a 5 gallon cooler. A 1.060 gets pretty tight. Anything larger you can always add extract.
Craig

**BierMuncher** · 04-01-2007, 03:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apparatus

I have a 5 gallon Rubbermaid round cooler. Is this too small to make into a MLT for brewing 5 gal. batches?

I've gotten as much as 13 pounds (porter) in my 5 gallon rubbermaid. I use it all the time for my 5 gallon batches.

See AG link below

**Bernie Brewer** · 04-01-2007, 03:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Pol

Naw that will work great... used one for a year b4 going to 10 gallon

Yet more testimony on why not to mess with the five gallon. You're going to get the big one eventually anyway, so why wait? Just get the big one now and you won't wind up with a big five gallon planter a year from now cluttering up your beer room.

boo boo · 04-01-2007, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bernie Brewer

Yet more testimony on why not to mess with the five gallon. You're going to get the big one eventually anyway, so why wait? Just get the big one now and you won't wind up with a big five gallon planter a year from now cluttering up your beer room.

Couldn't agree more. I wish I had the foresight to do just that when I first started. I have since aquired for free another 5 gallon gott type if I need the extra space, but it still is a pain to use.
And I'm too cheap/frugal to get another just yet.

Flyin' Lion · 04-01-2007, 11:09 AM

It does seem like the general consensus is to go bigger, but what about someone who eventually plans to do full 10 gallon boils? Will a 10 gallon cooler be big enough, or do you fall into the realm of converting a second keggle as a mash tun?

I only want to start with partial mashes for now and eventually do full boils, moving up to full 10 gallon boils. I don't want to be doing PM's in a 20 gallon cooler in the kitchen.

What a dilemma.

boo boo · 04-01-2007, 11:43 AM

Then you regulate yourself to the fact that you will be doing normal gravity batches. Higher gravity batches will need the space you won't get from a 10 gallon cooler doing 10 gallon batches.
No one has all the answers to all what if questions. A little knowledge helps make educated decisions. Know the limits to what you buy.