Braid, Manifold, or False Bottom

[Jonnio]

I only do 5 gallon batches. You can get by with a 5 gallon cooler, but, you will never be able to do a big beer.

Example: I just did an IPA that will be about 8.5%ABV. I mashed 13lbs of grain that used about 7 gallons of the 10 gallon capacity.

You can always mash in a bigger cooler and sparge in your 5 gallon one if those cases are few and far between.

 

[impatient]

You can always mash in a bigger cooler and sparge in your 5 gallon one if those cases are few and far between.

But this dude is asking what he should buy???????????????????

 

[Jonnio]

But this dude is asking what he should buy???????????????????

Actually he was asking about what type of drain device to get for partial mashing....I am sorry if you disagree, but a 10g cooler is big to efficiently partial mash on and it is not useless on 5 gal batches like everyone is making it out to be.

 

[impatient]

I want to convert a 5g cooler to a mash tun for partial mashes (figure I'll eventually go AG so I might as well use 5g instead of 3g). As far as draining wort w/ a braid, manifold, or false bottom...are all of these pretty much subject to debate as to which works better...or is there a clear winner? I was eventually going to buy a kewler conversion peice...but then I came across Fly Guy's post...great post btw!

IMHO

Ok, for a partial mash, I would use a grain bag right in the kettle. When you decide to go AG, don't waste your money on a 5 gallon cooler. Go straight for the 10 gallon cooler or you will eventually end up with both.

 

[JesseRC]

I have a square Chest that I use, it's 8 gallons. I just did a 13.5 lb grain bill for an abbey with about 6.5 -7%ABV. I would say it was pretty close to to top of the rim. Square ice chest are cheaper than a 5g or 10g round one. Is there any reason why most folks dont just use square ice chest?

 

[impatient]

I have a square Chest that I use, it's 8 gallons. I just did a 13.5 lb grain bill for an abbey with about 6.5 -7%ABV. I would say it was pretty close to to top of the rim. Square ice chest are cheaper than a 5g or 10g round one. Is there any reason why most folks dont just use square ice chest?

More money.

 

[planenut]

I use a round braid in a 10 gallon round cooler and get around 80 % efficiency fly sparging. I used a T and connected the braid to each end.

However, I'm thinking of a false bottom because I was only able to flow .5 quarts a minute today. It was a small grain bill 8.5 lb stout. It seems to be getting sloooooower with each use.

 

[JesseRC]

More money.

sorry I dont understand that. You can get a 10 gal square ice chest for cheaper than a 5gal round. So why not just go with square. I guess for the false bottom folks , round is the way to go. But for braid and copper, square ice chest are cheaper. And comon... who doesnt have an old ice chest? and I bet its bigger than 5 gal.

 

[impatient]

sorry I dont understand that. You can get a 10 gal square ice chest for cheaper than a 5gal round. So why not just go with square. I guess for the false bottom folks , round is the way to go. But for braid and copper, square ice chest are cheaper. And comon... who doesnt have an old ice chest? and I bet its bigger than 5 gal.

More money to spend/

 

[JesseRC]

so you're saying you want to spend more money cuz you can. Ok I guess nothing wrong with that. Send some money my way

 

[BearsWickedBrew]

Thanks for all the posts. Its actually just a matter of space for me. I would gladly fork over the extra 10bux...but I just don't have the room for a big cooler. Plus- I dont see myself living somewhere with outdoor space in the near future- so I think I will be doing alot of partial mashes...in a 5 gallon cooler...with a false bottom...boiling about 3 gallons on the stove...and then topping off in order to get to a 5g batch of brew.

 

[BearsWickedBrew]

I might as well just throw another question out there: Given the system I just described (5 gallon cooler...false bottom...partial mash...used for a 5 gallon batch)....whats the best way to sparge?...keeping additional equipment to a minimum of course. & if you tell me to PM on the stove with a grain bag and then sparge by dipping the bag in another pot....all my planning on converting a cooler to a mash tun will be a big ole waste.

 

[JesseRC]

i partial mash on the stove. You can do either, however I still think my 8gallon square cooler takes up as much space as a 5gal round cooler. Just my opinion. Its also easier to stir with mash paddle.

 

[dontman]

I might as well just throw another question out there: Given the system I just described (5 gallon cooler...false bottom...partial mash...used for a 5 gallon batch)....whats the best way to sparge?...keeping additional equipment to a minimum of course. & if you tell me to PM on the stove with a grain bag and then sparge by dipping the bag in another pot....all my planning on converting a cooler to a mash tun will be a big ole waste.

This is actually exactly what I was going to recommend after reading your above post. PM is a great way to go and the only way to go if you do not plan to do full boils = minimum 6-7 gals.

I did Deathbrewer's PM method for years with a minimum of fuss and excellent results. I only switched to coolers when I went AG a while back.

 

[Buford]

When you decide to go AG, don't waste your money on a 5 gallon cooler. Go straight for the 10 gallon cooler or you will eventually end up with both.

I used to use a 5 gallon cooler I won in a raffle two years ago, until I replaced it with a 10 gallon one that I incidentally got for free

There's nothing wrong with a 5 gallon unless you want to use a grain bill over 14 lbs or so, but batch sparging takes a little longer due to the limited capacity vs. the amount of total water needed (plus the grain already in there).

I still have the 5 gallon one, but I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it yet.

 

[Buford]

Thanks for all the posts. Its actually just a matter of space for me. I would gladly fork over the extra 10bux...but I just don't have the room for a big cooler. Plus- I dont see myself living somewhere with outdoor space in the near future- so I think I will be doing alot of partial mashes...in a 5 gallon cooler...with a false bottom...boiling about 3 gallons on the stove...and then topping off in order to get to a 5g batch of brew.

I'm also a kitchen brewer (I really don't want to have to be outside!), but I use a 10 gallon pot, a 10 gallon cooler, and I just got another 10 gallon one to use as a HLT. With all of this crap set up with a March pump and plate chiller and tubing running everywhere the kitchen looks like some kind of industrial disaster, but there's still room to work. Granted, the space over the kitchen cabinets between brewdays looks like Fred Sanford's garage due to the amount and size of all my gear, but I can fit all my junk up there except one of the coolers which has to go in a closet.

Little wooden folding TV tray tables are my best friend - even with all the counter space I still use at least two of those besides to hold crap.

Just saying it can be done.

 

[madewithchicken]

I used to use my 5 gallon cooler (i already had it otherwise i would have bought a 10) with a paint strainer bag in it. That works great and is really cheap.

I just added a ss braid this week, but i have not used it yet.

It is almost time to step up and buy a 10 gallon cooler.

 

[ArcaneXor]

I use a SS braid in a 5-gal Home Depot/Igloo cooler, and have gotten good results. I can't compare it to the other setups though. Ultimately, it's probably a matter of preference.

Before that, I used a grain bag in an unmodified 2-gal cooler.

 

[Lil' Sparky]

My FB is can beat up your braid or manifold!

I was going to say something like "you're a nazi if you use a braid or manifold", but I think that violates some law we have around here and could possibly get the thread locked.

And if you're going to go w/ a 10 gal cooler, you might as well make it a 15.5 gal keg and step up to the plate w/ the big boys. You know you can't make "real" beer w/ that 5 gal cooler.

 

[mmb]

I did the braid thing and ended up switching to a false bottom. I'm too hamfisted and kept stirring and crushing the braid.

 

[Yambor44]

I was just saying that i thought most folks using 10 gallon cooler for their MT where probably doing 10 gallon batches. I did not mean that it was or should only be used for 10 gallon batches. Square coolers are WAY cheaper than round ones and I have never seen a 10 gallon round cooler only $10 more than a 5 gallon round one unless it was at a yard sale.

I agree that if round is your thing (like it was for some reason for me) then go with a 10 as like someone said, thats where you will end up anyway. If I had it to do all over again I would have just bought a Sabco and saved a lot of money!!

 

[Lil' Sparky]

I might as well just throw another question out there: Given the system I just described (5 gallon cooler...false bottom...partial mash...used for a 5 gallon batch)....whats the best way to sparge?...keeping additional equipment to a minimum of course. & if you tell me to PM on the stove with a grain bag and then sparge by dipping the bag in another pot....all my planning on converting a cooler to a mash tun will be a big ole waste.

Wow, let's roll from one religious topic to the next.

See, the thing is, there's no best. There's no best cooler, no best filter mechanism, no best sparge technique, the list goes on...

Just pick some equipment and a technique that you know works and roll with it. If someone uses a grain bag for their PMs and it works for them, they may suggest that you are actually wasting your time and $$ by converting a 5 gal cooler.