I know I know

[Backwoodsbrewing]

I know I know. I should do a search ,which I have.but cannot find a straight answer so I am going to ask straight up. is an 8 gallon mash tun big enough to do most all grain brewing,

 

[Backwoodsbrewing]

I'm talking 5 gallon batches

 

[BigFloyd]

It's big enough, but you may not be able to do recipes with a heavier grain bill. I used a 50qt cooler (now doing E-BIAB) and had plenty of room.

You may want to look at double batch sparging if things are a bit tight. That will let you divide your sparge water into two equal amounts.

 

[Bradyfumbled]

Yes.

"Most" being the key word, you'll only run into trouble on extra high-gravity brews, I've had to do a "modified" batch sparge once or twice when I couldn't get all the water in.... Not a huge deal.

 

[Rugrad02]

I would say plenty big. Unless you're doing huge beers with 15-20 pounds of grains, an 8-gallon tun should be fine. With most of my beers, I'm mashing with roughly 4 gallons of water. Do you plan on fly or batch sparging?

 

[Backwoodsbrewing]

I would say plenty big. Unless you're doing huge beers with 15-20 pounds of grains, an 8-gallon tun should be fine. With most of my beers, I'm mashing with roughly 4 gallons of water. Do you plan on fly or batch sparging?

Not sure at this point. It would seem fly sparging is my best bet but. I suppose a split batch sparge could work as well. Does an Ipa or imperial Ipa qualify as a big beer.

 

[eltorrente]

8 gallons is plenty big enough. You can easily fit 15lbs of grains in there - which is a big beer. You can always add DME to your batches to add even more gravity - but you'll be fine for most beers you'll ever make.

 

[MedicMang]

What is holding you back from going bigger? Free cooler to use? For what it's worth, I have a 17.5 gal Coleman Xtreme. Love it. Allows me to do huge 5 gallon batches AND moderate 10 gallon batches.

 

[hans7451]

Here's a chart that I saw posted here somewhere.... (sorry I'm not sure who posted it or I'd give you credit.)

 

[bigbeergeek]

I say go a big as you can from the start. I started with 12.5 gallons, and I couldn't be happier. I've knocked out a few 15 gallon batches of IPA, 5ers of wheat beer and everything else in between in that thing.

 

[snaps10]

Personally I'd go as big as you can. Like BBG said. I use a 60qt and wish I had a bigger one for 12 gallon high gravity brews.

 

[pmcint01]

I bought a 20 gallon kettle and I'm only doing 5 gallon batches. I want to keep my options open if I want to do 10 gallon batches.

 

[Backwoodsbrewing]

I say go a big as you can from the start. I started with 12.5 gallons, and I couldn't be happier. I've knocked out a few 15 gallon batches of IPA, 5ers of wheat beer and everything else in between in that thing.

Right now, I am operating on a slim budget. I will upsize when I can. I am saving up to start a rims set up so most of my budget will be saved for for that.

 

[KepowOb]

Right now, I am operating on a slim budget. I will upsize when I can. I am saving up to start a rims set up so most of my budget will be saved for for that.

Often larger sizes don't add that much to the price. I know one place I was looking had their 10 gallon mash tun (both their standard cooler and their fully converted one) at only $20 more than their 5 gallon one.

I know you want to save money to save up... but if the price difference is small enough, it might be worth biting the bullet.

 

[NathPowe]

+1 to going bigger now. You'll likely want/need to upgrade later - and then you end up buying twice. My 10 gallon tun works great 5 gallon batches. Even with that size though, I sometimes wish I would've gone bigger so I could experiment with no sparge.

Just my two cents. Good luck with your setup and enjoy the brew.

 

[Backwoodsbrewing]

Well I took your advice and opted for a bigger mash tun. I went out and bought a 17.5 gallon cooler which I will convert with a copper manifold and ball valve.Now I have two mash tuns one for smaller beers and a larger one.All Ineed now is a 10 or 15 gallon hot liquor tank and another burner

 

[kh54s10]

I have the 10 gallon Rubbermaid water cooler conversion. It does most with room to spare but I nearly filled it with a Wee Heavy. It would have been to the rim on an 8 gallon.