Two Mash Tuns or Convert Sanke?

[ThreeRatBastards]

I like to do big beers, RIS and Barleywines, and I've run into an issue. I currently have a 10gal cooler as my mashtun but my grain limit is 24lbs. The wife has given me the go ahead to build another mash tun and I am wondering if I should just build another cooler mash tun (cost ~$100) or convert a sankey keg I have at the house (cost ~$150).

If I were to choose the 2 cooler route, would there be an concerns splitting my grains up between the two coolers for the same beer?

 

[jeepinjeepin]

Do you want the ability to direct fire your mash tun for step mashes? Advantage sanke. Can you build a bigger mash tun from a rectangular cooler for nearly the same money? That would get you a small tun and a large tun while keeping your sanke intact. I don't see any problem with running two 10 gallon mash tuns though. You would just need to mill grains separately for 2 batches each time to maintain repeatability.

 

[Denny]

Get a 150 qt. rectangular cooler and you're set. In this photo, we ended up using 75. lb. of grain at 1.25 qt./lb. with room to spare.

 

[ThreeRatBastards]

Get a 150 qt. rectangular cooler and you're set. In this photo, we ended up using 75. lb. of grain at 1.25 qt./lb. with room to spare.

Perfect! I think that's what I'll do. What kind of manifold is in that beast?

 

[Denny]

No manifold...don't care foe 'em. I use either hose braid or a Bazooka Screen. Either works fine.