Denny said:I got that one at Costco. About $70 IIRC, but it was a while back so I could be wrong.
Seen one at Sam's Club today for $70. What's the smallest batch you've mashed in it?
Denny said:I got that one at Costco. About $70 IIRC, but it was a while back so I could be wrong.
Seen one at Sam's Club today for $70. What's the smallest batch you've mashed in it?
Denny said:IIRC, we've only used it for 10 gal. of 1.100 BW. 70-75 lb. of grain. I have no idea what the minimum size would be.
Hey Hoppy. It depends on the level of efficiency the brewing strategy obtains per mash tun volume. The greater efficiency a method gets per volume of mash tun, the greater the abv potential for that size mash tun. In my experience, I've had good results with BIAB, but that method requires a higher water to grain ratio than the other methods which reduces the abv potential (assuming equal batch sizes).HoppyMcHopster said:How do different brewing strategies affect the amount a MLT can hold? For example does a BIAB strategy require more or less space? Batch? Fly?
Cheers
Hey Hoppy. It depends on the level of efficiency the brewing strategy obtains per mash tun volume. The greater efficiency a method gets per volume of mash tun, the greater the abv potential for that size mash tun. In my experience, I've had good results with BIAB, but that method requires a higher water to grain ratio than the other methods which reduces the abv potential (assuming equal batch sizes).
All that aside, I'm pleased with my 10 gallon round cooler and I currently use a 7.5 gal. brew kettle for BIAB. If I want to brew a really high gravity beer. I'll simply reduce my batch size to fit my equipment which is real easy to do using brewing software. The software also tells you if your recipe will fit in your equipment and this calculation becomes more accurate once you have your setup and software dialed in.
I'm planning to get into all grain and I was wondering what would make sense if I like to brew 5 gallon higher gravity beers.? 6% will probably be the lowest I would ever go. The chart shows that a 10 gallon MLT can handle up to around ~11 percent but is that super tight?
How do different brewing strategies affect the amount a MLT can hold? For example does a BIAB strategy require more or less space? Batch? Fly?
Cheers
HoppyMcHopster said:Say for 5 gallon batches I want something near 6.5 gallons of wort to compensate for boil off. How does this change any of the calculations or is it all the same because the extra water boils off leaving the sugar?
Looking to make my first mash tun and take the AG plunge, I did a partial mash last weekend and now I'm hooked!
I see a lot of people on this thread concerned with buying a cooler that it too small for their needs; I have the opposite problem. There is currently a great deal on Amazon for a 70qt Coleman Xtreme for $36.86 and free shipping. I'm considering this because it is actually a little cheaper that a 10 gallon round Igloo cooler and would allow me to do larger batches.
I currently do 5 gallon batches, but I'm sure I'll want to do 10gal or larger in the future. I also have never done anything with an OG of over 1.080. My question is, if I buy the 70qt rectangular Coleman, will it just be too big for 5 gallon AG brewing?
Thanks!
(link to the 70qt: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000G64I1A/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20)
70qts seems excessive no? I'm only looking to do 5 gallons of max 10%ABV
SpottedDogBrewing said:<img src="https://www.homebrewtalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=55353"/>
150qt Extreme cooler at WalMart for $64!
<img src="https://www.homebrewtalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=55354"/>
Made it home
joety said:How big of batches are you making? I have a similar cooler; but it's used to transport two cornies and plenty of ice to parties.
SpottedDogBrewing said:I brew 30 gallons most of the time when I do 10-15 gallons I use a 48qt cooler
joety said:Good God, man, do you throw a lot of parties?
SpottedDogBrewing said:Brew with a few buddies, we split!
fish2night said:I have a similar question. New to brewing, have done 4 extract kits. Now interested in all grain. Just purchased a Coleman Extreme 70 quart cooler. Is that over kill? I only have a 5 gallon set up. But just did an imperial and love it!
fish2night said:I have a similar question. New to brewing, have done 4 extract kits. Now interested in all grain. Just purchased a Coleman Extreme 70 quart cooler. Is that over kill? I only have a 5 gallon set up. But just did an imperial and love it!
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./QUOTE]
I think rectangular coolers are much easier to use, but it's your choice.
reason being?
also, does this chart/information factor in the volume dispersion of a false bottom or a manifold? i really would prefer a round cooler because i think it will hold temps better just based on the physics of it, BUT....a false bottom in a 10 gallon cooler will take up some room......is that accounted for in this chart?
Larger opening. Easier to stir and clean.
Trade off is a higher amount of dead space though that can effect efficiency.
Trade off is a higher amount of dead space though that can effect efficiency.
70 Quart Cooler... going to probably just brew-up a 5 gallon batch... Is the cooler too big? Will I have a problem with the grain bed?
No problem if you batch sparge.
najel said:So when batch sparging, all the stuff you read about the grain bed being at least so many inches and no more than so many inches does not matter?
I'm asking because I have a 48 qt rectangular cooler that is very clean that I could use to build a lauter tun, but I am afraid that it will be too large since I am only planning on 5 gallon batches with OGs in the 40s to 50s.
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