Dick562

Recipes 

I want to do AG and have a 5 gallon cooler. I am trying to make 5 gallon batches.

strat_thru_marshall

Recipes 

to start with, yes. It wont be large enough for high gravity brews though, you'll eventually want to upgrade to a 10 gallon.

Dick562

Recipes 

what counts as a high gravity brew

strat_thru_marshall

Recipes 

read this:

how big your mash tun needs to be

shamrockdoc

Recipes 

Excellent Bobby comes through again. IMO 5 gal MT is more than adequate for your AG needs. Unless you really want to make 10 -20 gal batches.

__________________
PRIMARY: Quartermaster Bay House Ale,Trunk Monkey Chocolate Milk Stout
SECONDARY:
NEXT UP: Praetorian Smoked IPA
KEGGED: MK Ultra Cascadian Dark Ale, 10 & Everett Wit

If you're in trouble, if no one else can help, and if you can find them....Then maybe you can hire.... THE A TEAM!

Gammon N Beer

Recipes 

I agree. You noted you already have a 5 gallon cooler. Use it for now. Then, if you use a braid you can simply swap it to a larger cooler when that time comes. You will have lost nothing given all parts fit.

I am an advocate of buying equipment one time. Buy your equipment with an eye to your brewing future and possible expansion. You will be fine with your plan.

Welcome to the dark side.

Revvy

Recipes 

I've been using mine for nearly 5 years, rarely do my recipes exceed 12-14 pounds of grain that fit in it.

__________________
Like my snazzy new avatar? Get Sons of Zymurgy swag, here, and brew with the best.

Revvy's one of the cool reverends. He has a Harley and a t-shirt that says on the back "If you can read this, the bitch was Raptured. - Madman

I gotta tell ya, just between us girls, that Revvy is HOT. Very tall, gorgeous grey hair and a terrific smile. He's very good looking in person, with a charismatic personality... he drives like a ****ing maniac! - YooperBrew

SoonerDoc

Recipes 

So is this over-kill (Coleman 70 quart Xtreme Cooler)? It's a good price.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Coleman-70-Quart-Xtreme-Cooler/4807332