48qt. Cube cooler

[Cubslover]

I had the wife pick up a 48qt Igloo Ice Cube for me to make a MLT from.

Opening it up, I can't see how 10-12lb of Grain for a std. 5gal batch will give an adequate grain bed. It's a 13x13" base.

I have read that no one really has any issues with theirs. I guess I just want a big of reassurance before I drill/cut.

 

[weirdboy]

Grain bed depth? This isn't the 1950's.

Use a stainless steel braid and batch sparge. It works great. I have been using one for years.

 

[Cubslover]

Ok, thanks. Obviously this is new to me. Palmer preached about bed depth so I was worried about that.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

Grain bed depth sounds like quite a silly concept to me. I don't know of a single person who worries or even thinks about that

The importance in MLT size and how much you can fit in there has to do with the water-to-grain ratio. I usually stick around 1.5 +/- 0.2 qt/lb.

And 48qt is waaaaaaaaaaay more than you need for 10-12 lbs... not saying it won't work it's just that you can fit much much more than that.

With 12# of grain at a ratio of 2.0 qt/lb you would only need a MLT that can hold ~7 gallons (28qt.)

Hell, at a ratio of 1.5 qt/lb you can use up to 26# of grain.

 

[Beezy]

I use this one. It is working great. I just did a 7 pound grain bill in it and actually extracted too much sugar. The reason I wanted it big is so I could eventually do barley wine or 10 gallon batches or whatever. I have seen so many pics of 36 qt tun with liquid all the way to the rim. I know some folks that have to add DME because the tun is just not big enough so yeah I would do the 48 over again. It holds temp like a champ too.