I have a five gallon cooler mash/lauter tun and I've been looking at some recipes that call for 15 pounds of grain. How much grain can I realistically mash with my current set up?
At 1.25 qt/lb of grain, ~12 lbs is your limit. I used to mash up to 15 lbs in a 7 gallon stock pot.
12 pounds is about the practical maximum. Some go for 14 pounds, but that is pushing it IMHO. I only go up to 11 pounds, myself. If my gravity comes out light, I add a dab of DME or corn sugar.
I have allergies to DME and LME so that is pretty much out of the question. I'm not sure what that's all about. But my LHBS said that they sometimes use lemon juice or citric acid to preserve them. And yeah, I'm allergic to lemon and lime juice.
If I mashed 15 pounds in a stock pot how would I lauter? Slowly transfer it into my 5 gallon cooler while collecting the wort?
If I mashed 15 pounds in a stock pot how would I lauter? Slowly transfer it into my 5 gallon cooler while collecting the wort?
SO I have a five gallon MLT too...lets say I wanted to do a 15 lb grain bill: Could I do 12 lbs of the grain in my MLT and do the other three in a normal cooler, then after the first runnings of the MLT pour the liquid and grain from the "normal cooler" (like a small picnic cooler) into the MLT. The grains and water will now fit because we already took our first runnings. Drain that ....then sparge? I may have to tripple batch or fly sparge...but it beats buying new equipment since I only do high gravity beers one or twice a year.
I really don't see any holes in that theory...
Am I wrong?
Just take 3 or 4 lbs and steep 'em in a straining bag like specialty grains when you're extract brewing. Basically, heat 1.5 quarts/lb to 152, throw the bag of grains in, let it steep for an hour while your mashing the rest in your MLT. Make sure you include that in your total volume of wort you collect. You don't even need the bag.......but it is easier. You could just put the water and grains directly in the pan......then pour it through a strainer when you're done.
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