oregonmike

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At this point I am new to All Grain and slowly building/buying up the equipment necessary to brew up standard size batched.

Was at Home Depot today looking and water/drink coolers... They had 5 gallon ones for $19 or 10 gallon for $40.

Which is more economical at this point, the 5 or 10 gallon? As I don't think I would be doing the quantity necessary for larger batches anytime soon could I get away with the smaller 5 gallon or should I be looking long term? I believe I would be able to get a larger one easily down the line if needed...

Thanks,
Mike

The Pol

Recipes 

You will want a 10 gallon cooler for a 5 gallon batch.

TheAleMaster

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I had the same question when I started looking around. Many said that a 5 gallon would do if you planned on keeping your brews under a 1.060 OG. But if you plan on ever going above that, a 5 gallon will not support the grain bill and water necessary. So I went with a 10 gallon and have been quite satisfied.

The Pol

Recipes 

Also, aside from high gravity beers, if you are considering batch sparging, you will want the space.

andy777

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Third calculator down from the top.
Green Bay Rackers--Mash Calculators

Munsoned

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Check out this sticky:

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/how-big-your-mash-tun-needs-123585/

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oregonmike

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Thanks, I'll take a look.

TwoHeadsBrewing

Recipes 

In short:

5 gallon batches - 10g+ Mash Tun
10 gallon batches - 15-20g Mash Tun

Doing 10 gallon batches doesn't really save you money, only time. I started doing 10g batches because I figured I was brewing for 3+ hours anyway, might as well end up with twice as much beer. That being said, if you are going to get a cooler/ice chest as your mash tun, just go with a bigger one. The cost difference between a small and large cooler is not that much, so you might as well get one that will work for 5 or 10g batches.

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Ohio-Ed

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By the time you "Trick Out" your cooler with a false bottom, bulkhead and valve, siteglass and/or temp probe bulkhead you will have more money invested in hardware than the cooler.

If you choose to upgrade to a larger cooler later, some hardware may be undersized and you will have likely ruined the smaller one for other purposes.

Bottom line... Get the 10 gallon.

timmystank

Recipes 

Id def go with the 10 gallon. Ive made 2 batches AG and both have been under 1.060 and having to do double sparging pretty much sucks. Noob realizations!!