Cooler mash tun without manifold?

[paraordnance]

I plan to move to AG soon, have a couple extract batches behind my back and most of equipment for AG except mash tun, which should be easy to do. But before I dive in AG I was thinking to brew couple PM batches or BINAB sort of thing. I will buy 50 qt Cooleman Extreme and jumbo grain bag like 24"x32" and mash my grains inside of cooler but in a bag for easy clean up. I was also thinking to build copper manifold early next year and just use for now cooler's drain plug to collect my wort. Is it possible to do couple batches without braided line or manifold?

 

[wilserbrewer]

Sure you can mash in a bag and batch sparge in a cooler...IMO there are better solutions, but I must say that I started AG before this bag thing became trendy. You can also do a very simple cooler conversion like this: lots of options...i prefer a braid, but if your set on copper...ok.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/ten-minute-cooler-mash-tun-conversion-125108/

 

[Anubis]

I never had luck with the braid, look into bazooka tube. I hear you can later use them as a hop strainer/filter later when you build your manifold.

 

[ILuvIPA]

I was leaning the same direction as you (copper manifold) but went cpvc for ease of cleaning. The cpvc fittings will press fit & stay in place. Pops apart to clean and goes right back together. It's also really easy to see if the inside is clean (white interior.)

I'm happy with the cpvc choice but no matter what you use you'll still get beer. As far as waiting to build, cpvc is quick - built on a Saturday, brewed on a Sunday. Stainless braid would be even quicker.