All grain setup question

[jim_reaper1066]

Im looking to switch to all grain using a simple 5-10 gal cooler mash tun. But I live in a apartment with no access to a decent outdoor propane burner. Can anyone recommend a setup to do 5 gallon batches in an apartment with a small electric stove?

 

[maida7]

what's a "small" stove? I've done full sized boils on a "regular" electric stove. It takes a loooong time to get boiling but it can be done.

 

[Scooby_Brew]

I don't think it's possible. I've tried doing 5 gal batches on a big gas stove, and it's nearly impossible. At this point I would say it's much better to stick with extract w/grains and partial mashes.
You can brew excellent beers with partial mashes. To lower the cost you could find a LHBS who sells their own LME in plastic containers, it's much cheaper this way.

 

[Dave258]

Do a search for heat sticks. I have never used one, but people around here like them.

 

[pnj]

do a search for apartment brewing as well. There are a number of threads about it.

I do full boil, all grain on a small and CHEAP stove. I use two kettles. I keep a fire exstingisher near me when I do it because the stove top gets FREAKIN HOT. I think this is why the last stove broke....

 

[chriswilkes33]

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f39/easy-stovetop-all-grain-brewing-pics-90132/

 

[bmellis]

Go with the heat stick. I live in a tiny apartment with one of those smaller sized gas stoves. I have a 15 gallon kettle and I have pushed over 11 gallons of water from 40 degrees to a boil in under an hour using the burners on the stove in addition to the heat stick.

 

[jim_reaper1066]

Thanks for the heat stick idea, I might have to build one like the ceadercreek website design. The problem with my apartment isn't the power of the stove, I have no doubt I could boil 5-6 gallons along with a heat stick, its the hood over top. I don't know if there's enough clearance for a large kettle to sit on the stove, and still be accessible for stirring and adding grains in a partial mash. I could easily take it off, but I would rather get my damage deposit back instead.
However to go all grain and simply have to boil the wort it might be possible, what size kettle should be used for a regular 5 gallon batch, with the possibility of scaling up to 6 gallon batches, about a 8 gallon kettle?

 

[maida7]

8 gallons is a good size for making 5-5.5 gallons of finished beer. You may even squeeze 6 gallons of finished beer out of a 8 gallon pot but it would depend on how much boil off you have and if your willing to top of with water, post boil.

 

[Bobby_M]

You're a good candidate for running two smaller pots and splitting the boil 50/50. Two 4-5 gallon pots would be fine.

 

[ReverseApacheMaster]

Use your superman heat vision.

 

[bmellis]

Definitely go all grain and build a mash lauter tun out of water cooler. Then you'll just have to boil your wort and hot water on the stove. I never did partial mash, but it seems much more complicated without the same results.

You can also find pots in all shapes and sizes. My 15 gallon pot is fat, about 18", and only 14" tall. I'm sure you could find a pot that fits comfortably under your hood. And like you said, you could remove the hood. I'm sure you could do it in such a way that you could reattach it later without any damage.

 

[jim_reaper1066]

I haven't read anything about split boil's yet. Is it as easy as collecting all the wort from the mash and sparge in a single container, splitting it evenly between 2 kettles and boiling down to xx volume before recombining in the primary?

 

[buckeyebrew]

good question was considering doing the same thing split 50/50

 

[jppostKW]

+1 on the heat stick or consider smaller batches to do the full boil BYO has a article about small space brewing in the nov 09 issue

 

[Pops]

Here ya go
http://www.byo.com/stories/article/indices/20-build-it-yourself/1987-countertop-brewing-system

 

[jim_reaper1066]

Here ya go
http://www.byo.com/stories/article/indices/20-build-it-yourself/1987-countertop-brewing-system

I have this issue and really liked the set up, only 3 gallons is a little small for me and the 500 price tag is a little too much for a student. I actully just found this article tho and it looks too easy not to try

http://www.byo.com/component/resource/article/511-countertop-partial-mashing

If I can find a supercheap cooler I'll make a braided steel cable false bottom which could then be removed and used on a larger mash tun once I upgrade.

 

[whatisitgoodfor]

You're in pretty much the same situation that I am. My stovetop isn't quite up to snuff for boiling 5 gallons.

I ended up getting an aluminum Tamale Steamer from target (8 gallon kettle for $20) and installing a 1500W 120V hot water heater element from Lowes in it. As long as you're careful with the hole saw you can get a water tight seal. Mine will give me a nice rolling boil with the stove set on 5 (of 10) and a rocket burn 3 gallons an hour set on 9.

As far as using the stainless braid for your mash tun, it works... but not that well. One wrong move with your mash paddle and you will stretch the holes in it and start letting grain through. Easier and cheaper IMO would be to use a grain bag inside the cooler. I've checked with my 5 gal round cooler and I can fit a large grain bag from AHS in there with the excess hanging over the sides and still screw the lid on.

 

[manticle]

You could buy an electric immersion element or make smaller batches. Here's a thread on easy BIAB (Brew in a Bag) for 10L batches which might suit: http://www.aussiehomebrewer.com/forum//index.php?showtopic=38674&hl=

Otherwise I used to do split boils (before making a 50 L keggle and buying a proper 4 ring gas burner). This was due to small pots and made my brewday twice as long. A definite pain but also definitely possible.

 

[Bobby_M]

You're in pretty much the same situation that I am. My stovetop isn't quite up to snuff for boiling 5 gallons.

I ended up getting an aluminum Tamale Steamer from target (8 gallon kettle for $20) and installing a 1500W 120V hot water heater element from Lowes in it. As long as you're careful with the hole saw you can get a water tight seal. Mine will give me a nice rolling boil with the stove set on 5 (of 10) and a rocket burn 3 gallons an hour set on 9.

As far as using the stainless braid for your mash tun, it works... but not that well. One wrong move with your mash paddle and you will stretch the holes in it and start letting grain through. Easier and cheaper IMO would be to use a grain bag inside the cooler. I've checked with my 5 gal round cooler and I can fit a large grain bag from AHS in there with the excess hanging over the sides and still screw the lid on.

IMO, the stainless braid is fine. If you want something a little more sturdy, the water heater supply is twice the diameter as the sink supply. For even more piece of mind, make a spring coil out of some copper wire and insert into the braid.

 

[jkarp]

I have this issue and really liked the set up, only 3 gallons is a little small for me and the 500 price tag is a little too much for a student.

I wrote that article. The system can actually do 4 gallon batches easily. I normally brew 3.5 gals because I ferment in Vittles Vaults to maximize space in my fermentation fridge and 4 gal just about fills the buggers up.

A full 5 gallon batch indoors is a tall order. To get 5 gallons of finished beer you really need 5.5 out of the kettle to cover break and trub losses. To get 5.5 means 6.5-7 gallons pre-boil. That's beyond the reach of just about any residential stove as well as 120V water heater elements unless you want to mess with separate 20A circuits. You'll also want to go with a 10 gallon cooler. Anything less and you WILL be upgrading later, I promise.

$500 is definitely a big hit for anyone, but I assure you, you'll spend a lot more over time in this hobby. Break it down into parts. Do you have 240V in your place? If so, you're ready to rock. You can build a 240V kettle out of a 8 gal tamale cooker for about $50. Another $50-60 for a 10 gal cooler fitted with a stainless braid and you'd have everything you need to do no-sparge 5 gallon batches.