Yet another mash tun size question

[pig140]

Here's my requirements/situation. I only started brewing to supply my home bar. It's a 2 tap kegerator built into my bar (many times I'll have commercial on one side).

So...

1. I will never do more than a 5 gallon batch - it's just not practical for me.
2. Batch sparge.
3. Bazooka screen.
4. Mostly planning ales and stouts. I can't foresee doing anything over 6-7%abv (and that's a stretch).
5. Kegging only - no bottling.

Available around here: 5 gallon igloo round, 25 qt igloo marine cooler, and a 30 qt "contour". I'm open to any others in that price range tho.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[govner1]

I'd urge you to find a Rubbermaid 7 or 10 gal MLT. You can get the best $$$ on one from HD. Sometimes you'll find them on HBT or Craigslist. They'll often already have a ball valve installed.


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[jtratcliff]

Got a 10 Gallon Kettle? Go BIAB and don't worry about a mash tun

 

[pig140]

I do have a 10 gallon kettle and I thought about going BIAB but I'm just not a fan of the struggle to maintain mash temps in the kettle. I'm more of a mash-in-a-bag....

The 10 gallon round pre-made MLT's are way out of my price range. I haven't heard of a 7 gallon round. I'm cool with a rectangle tho if a 5 gallon round won't fit my specs....?

 

[govner1]

Look for specials @ HD & Lowes on the 10 gal. Sometimes you'll find them under $40.
The 7 gal are harder to find but I got one one HBT for $35 delivered & new!
If you only get one I'd search for a deal on a 10 g.
I do six gal batches and frequently fill
my 10 g almost to the top. Especially when sparging.
It's always better to have a little too much room.


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[smccarter]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000C1ZHL/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

You won't regret it.

 

[pig140]

$80 without fittings... Definitely not in the price range. I really like that 7 gallon but I just can't go that high.

 

[NTXBrauer]

I would also recommend the 10 gallon. You will get close to filling this one up with your grain bill for 5 gallons of a 6-7% abv beer. You can get a new one from HD for around $45 and should be able to buy all the fittings required for a total under the $80 amount quoted for the 7 gallon alone.

If you haven't seen this thread yet, it is a good place to start. Cheers!

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/cheap-easy-10-gallon-rubbermaid-mlt-conversion-23008/

 

[Bensiff]

Get the 10 gallon because one day you will want to do a big beer or work or family will get in the way of brewing and you will realize keeping beer in tap means brewing 10 gallons of your favorite lower gravity brew. While I prefer 5 gallon brews so I can experiment, years of experience told me it's not always practical which is why I bought 20 gallon stout kettles, their diameter lets me do 5 gallon batches but I can easily knock out a high gravity 10 gallon if I desire.

 

[govner1]

I would also recommend the 10 gallon. You will get close to filling this one up with your grain bill for 5 gallons of a 6-7% abv beer. You can get a new one from HD for around $45 and should be able to buy all the fittings required for a total under the $80 amount quoted for the 7 gallon alone.

If you haven't seen this thread yet, it is a good place to start. Cheers!

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/cheap-easy-10-gallon-rubbermaid-mlt-conversion-23008/

^^^this, but I'd go w/ SS washers, ball valve, etc. longer lasting & no corrosion.


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[RM-MN]

I do have a 10 gallon kettle and I thought about going BIAB but I'm just not a fan of the struggle to maintain mash temps in the kettle. I'm more of a mash-in-a-bag....

The 10 gallon round pre-made MLT's are way out of my price range. I haven't heard of a 7 gallon round. I'm cool with a rectangle tho if a 5 gallon round won't fit my specs....?

Which struggle? I wrap a towel around my kettle and only lose about 1 degree in an hour long mash. Is that a struggle?:cross:

 

[jcoxen]

Coleman Xtreme 52 qt. cooler - $42.00

http://www.kmart.com/coleman-52-qua...W014013110001P?prdNo=5&blockNo=5&blockType=G5

Add ball valves, etc. from your local DIY store or Amazon (look for plumbing parts, not homebrew parts - you'll save money). Instead of a false bottom or copper manifold, I used the braid from a washing machine hose with a spring inside it to keep it from collapsing.

What I built was a variation on Croy9000's build here - https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/my-coleman-xtreme-bulkhead-build-138013/

My parts list from Amazon:
Ball valve - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0081LIGRY/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20
Spring - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002P4VR92/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20
1/2" barb - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000LNPNVM/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20
Pipe nipple - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003PDNH4U/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20
Locknut - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004ZLBN6K/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20
1/2" coupling - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000LWXB44/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20
Hose w/Stainless braid - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002OGL5ZC/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

Hope this helps.

 

[pig140]

Which struggle? I wrap a towel around my kettle and only lose about 1 degree in an hour long mash. Is that a struggle?:cross:

I did that on my last batch with good results - but it was a partial mash in a 5 gallon pot in my kitchen. I used a sleeping bag, a heating pad on top, and a cast iron heat diffuser sandwiched between pot holders on bottom. Didn't loose a single degree! Not sure I can pull that off in a 10 gallon pot.

Incidentally, the diffuser worked great! I always use it on stock pots on my gas stove to prevent burning. It holds heat so I added it to the bottom of my mash bundle with a pot holder between it and the pot to prevent it heating my mash higher. This thing...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00KHQIK0Y/ref=redir_mdp_mobile

 

[erick0619]

Target sells a 53 quart igloo rectangular cooler for around 22 dollars. you should shop around their site. with the added cost of the bulk head ball valve assembly and bazooka screen it cost me less than 60 If I remember correctly.


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Where do you place your probe?

 

[pig140]

50+ qts just sounds way too big. My recipe grain bills don't usually go over 11 lbs. I am surprised to see how many people still suggest the round cooler for 5 gallon batch sparge brews.

 

[Bensiff]

50+ qts just sounds way too big. My recipe grain bills don't usually go over 11 lbs. I am surprised to see how many people still suggest the round cooler for 5 gallon batch sparge brews.

It all depends on surface area as that is what dictates grain bed depth. I have a 20 gallon (80qt) Stout MLT that I regularly do 5 gallon batches in. I think the reliance on the 5 gallon igloo coolers is just old school thinking sticking around, like secondaries. That is what I used a decade ago, it was too small and I regularly went right to the top, quite a problem if you don't hit your temp. The nice thing about using a rectangular cooler is that you can easily make a copper manifold that will give you really even draw on the grain bed.