Mash tun question

[Assoc]

I purchased a 20 gallon mash tun based on the fact I brew almost exclusively 10 to 15 gallon batches. However if I wanted to do a 5 gallon batch I find that grain bed is too shallow. Any reason I couldn't wrap a few bricks in foil and place them around the outside of the false bottom. Thereby decreasing the volume of the mash tun and allowing a deeper drain bed?
Any idea if this would work?

 

[cyberbrew]

This seems like a pretty good solution to me. Let us know how it works out for you.

Cheers!

 

[Bowtiebrewery]

Not sure if it would work, also I'm fairly certain that the wort, would work its way under the foil at some point.. You could and I'm just spit-balling here.. but why not just have a small "igloo cooler" type MT for your 5G batches? Or do BIAB for those?

 

[Assoc]

Good point about the foil. Also a good point about the igloo. However I didn't want to purchase a new false bottom and all the connections if I can find a solution that worked with my 20 gallon mash ton

 

[Gibberoni]

Go out and buy a 10 gallon paint strainer, or a brew bag. Then you can use the other mash tun, but keep the grains in the bag for BIAB.

 

[Assoc]

Yep, that would be the easiest solution.
My current setup is a single tier three vessel herms system. I'm comfortable with my setup and wanted to utilize my existing system if possible.

 

[wilserbrewer]

Rather than wrapping bricks in foil, just throw an extra pound of grain at the problem and take the hit in efficiency like a gentleman. Or just batch sparge a smaller batch and get a reasonable efficiency.

Sorry, but when one is contemplating bricks in the MT, it's time to take a step back.

Or perhaps heat the bricks and make a steinbeer perhaps even a step mash idk.

Cheers

 

[day_trippr]

How 'bout 5 gallons of marbles?

 

[aeviaanah]

Rather than wrapping bricks in foil, just throw an extra pound of grain at the problem and take the hit in efficiency like a gentleman. Or just batch sparge a smaller batch and get a reasonable efficiency.

Sorry, but when one is contemplating bricks in the MT, it's time to take a step back.

Or perhaps heat the bricks and make a steinbeer perhaps even a step mash idk.

Cheers

Haha stein beer!!

 

[dlovin]

Take it from me , bricks have a tendency to explode when thermal shocked in wort , and some slates like to explode in fire sending bullet like shrapnel out , no fun... View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1449820897.396757.jpgbut greywacke and granite make a good steinbier