5 gallon kettle, 3 gal water, 8 lb grain?

[Grumpybumpy]

This weekend I'm going to attempt my first partial mash but I may have set myself up for a disaster. I've done a half-a** search of the forums and haven't found anything on my dilemma.

I have a 5+ gallon pot and 8 pounds of grain. Without actually putting everything together, I don't know if 3 gallons + 8 lbs = overflow or clumpy grains.

The plan is to strike with 3 gallons, sparge with 1, add another 4.5 lb of LME (it's a big beer) then top off.

Any thoughts?

 

[Hoppylikerabbits]

Even if you did an All grain it will work in there.. 8lbs of grain with a Water/Grain ratio of 1.5 will be 12qts equaling 3gal of sparge/strike water. you should be fine. Ive never done a partial mash before. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Grumpybumpy]

I forgot to mention that I'll be mashing in the 5 gallon pot at 150*, sparging in another pot (a 10 min soak at 165), then combining. The grain/strike water ratio should be fine, I'm more worried about overflow

 

[emetcalf]

8 lbs of grain and 3 gallons of water will take up about 3.64 gallons of space. You won't have any overflow issues.

 

[gestyr]

+1. I used a 5 gallon cooler to mash in for several years and it would hold 12 to 14 lbs of grain and the mash liquor without any problems.

 

[Grumpybumpy]

Thanks yall

8 lbs of grain and 3 gallons of water will take up about 3.64 gallons of space. You won't have any overflow issues.

How did you calculate that out?

 

[smokewater]

Useful calculators:

http://www.rackers.org/calcs.shtml

http://www.gregstiffler.com/biabcalc/

 

[jamesmp]

After watching some of the numbers go past I've been contemplating doing a stovetop all grain BIAB partial boil. 8lbs of grain is enough for a relatively modest gravity, right? It seems obvious in retrospect, but it seems revelatory to think that with a little modification I could be doing all grain. Most of the all grain discussions I've seen have involved large pots, outdoor burners, etc etc. Am I missing anything in thinking that the process at https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f39/easy-partial-mash-brewing-pics-75231/ could apply just as well to an all grain brew?

 

[emetcalf]

Thanks yall

How did you calculate that out?

Useful calculators:

http://www.rackers.org/calcs.shtml

http://www.gregstiffler.com/biabcalc/

I used the top link. Down near the bottom there is a "Can I Mash It?" calculator. You plug in how many pounds of grain, and the qts/lb of water and it tells you approximate volume.

After watching some of the numbers go past I've been contemplating doing a stovetop all grain BIAB partial boil. 8lbs of grain is enough for a relatively modest gravity, right? It seems obvious in retrospect, but it seems revelatory to think that with a little modification I could be doing all grain. Most of the all grain discussions I've seen have involved large pots, outdoor burners, etc etc. Am I missing anything in thinking that the process at https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f39/easy-partial-mash-brewing-pics-75231/ could apply just as well to an all grain brew?

You can definitely do all-grain like that. You should be able to mash ~12 lbs of grain in your 5 gallon pot without and major problems, which can definitely get you up to a decent strength 5 gallon batch. And if you drop your batch size down to 3 gallons you have lots of options.

 

[tripkings]

And if you drop your batch size down to 3 gallons you have lots of options.

This is exactly what I'm working on as standard practice.

3-4 gallon AG batches on the stovetop. There are lots of advantages along with one disadvantage (less beer). For me it's the way to go vs. partial boil 5's.