sivdrinks
Well-Known Member
Is a 150 quart(37.5gallon) too big for a mash tun? Only do 5 gallon batches.
Cooler too big?
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Schnitzengiggle
Well-Known Member
Yes.
I have a 70qt, and a 52 qt, I think the 52qt is an ideal size for 5 gal batches especially if you wanna brew some 8-9% beers.
The 70 qt is just my camping cooler, but I can convert it real quick if I wanted to do a partigyle.
You could proabably do a triple partigyle with a 150 qt MLT.
Check out this thread by Bobby_M:
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/how-big-your-mash-tun-needs-123585/
I have a 70qt, and a 52 qt, I think the 52qt is an ideal size for 5 gal batches especially if you wanna brew some 8-9% beers.
The 70 qt is just my camping cooler, but I can convert it real quick if I wanted to do a partigyle.
You could proabably do a triple partigyle with a 150 qt MLT.
Check out this thread by Bobby_M:
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/how-big-your-mash-tun-needs-123585/
Golddiggie
Well-Known Member
The 150qt cooler would be great when you're making over 10 gallon batches... You could easily mash about 90# of grain in that thing (that's a LOT of grain)...
For most 5 gallon batches a 40-52qt cooler would be a good size. Once you start looking to make either really big brews, or move to 10 gallon batches, then the ~70qt cooler mash tun makes a lot of sense. I think that the grain bill for a 5 gallon batch, even a barley wine, would get lost in a 150qt cooler.
I started with a 70qt cooler, but have since also picked up a 10 gallon (round, RubberMaid) cooler to use too. Now I can minimize the dead space in the cooler, above the grain bed, for any batch I'll make over the next several years. I have the flexibility to make any OG 5 gallon batch, as well as 10 gallon batch (the 70qt can hold over 40# of grain), that I'll want to. Hell, I can even mash for a moderate OG 20 gallon batch with the 70qt cooler (about 5.6% ABV batch)...
If you already have the 150qt cooler, I would hold onto it for later. I would look at how you're brewing now, and when you think you'll get into 10 gallon batches (or larger) or want/need to mash 25#+ of grain... If that's a long way off, then go with a 40-52qt cooler mash tun... Keep in mind, you can make a BIG barley wine (5 gallon batch) with that much grain...
For most 5 gallon batches a 40-52qt cooler would be a good size. Once you start looking to make either really big brews, or move to 10 gallon batches, then the ~70qt cooler mash tun makes a lot of sense. I think that the grain bill for a 5 gallon batch, even a barley wine, would get lost in a 150qt cooler.
I started with a 70qt cooler, but have since also picked up a 10 gallon (round, RubberMaid) cooler to use too. Now I can minimize the dead space in the cooler, above the grain bed, for any batch I'll make over the next several years. I have the flexibility to make any OG 5 gallon batch, as well as 10 gallon batch (the 70qt can hold over 40# of grain), that I'll want to. Hell, I can even mash for a moderate OG 20 gallon batch with the 70qt cooler (about 5.6% ABV batch)...
If you already have the 150qt cooler, I would hold onto it for later. I would look at how you're brewing now, and when you think you'll get into 10 gallon batches (or larger) or want/need to mash 25#+ of grain... If that's a long way off, then go with a 40-52qt cooler mash tun... Keep in mind, you can make a BIG barley wine (5 gallon batch) with that much grain...
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