I have a 10 gallon Igloo cooler I use for a mash tun. I also have an extra keg in the garage that I haven't decided what I want to use for, (HLT, mash tun or fermenter). It doesn't have any holes drilled in it yet.
The quad I'm getting ready to brew is a 5.5 gallon recipe that uses 23 pounds of grain and I was hoping to try something different besides the usual single infusion mash; like a decoction or a step mash.
I was actually planning to do a decoction with the 10 gallon igloo. I've never done one and while doing some quick calculations it looks like a 10 gallon vessel could get a little crowded.
So I was thinking about how I could use the keg for the mash, which would also give me the option to direct fire it if I decide. But without a valve installed or a false bottom I couldn't use it for lautering.
I know it wouldn't cost much to get it set up as a mash tun, but again, I'm not sure I want to use it for a mash tun. I have a couple 1/2" SS valves laying around and a box of 1/2" SS fittings so I could do weldless install right now, (but again, I'm also not sure if I want to do weldless). The ingredients for this brew are going to run me almost $60. I wasn't planning on buying any equipment this week so I really don't want to add a false bottom and pick-up tube onto what the beer is already costing to brew.
If I can use the keg as a mash tun the way it is and then transfer to the igloo, I might try that. Has anyone tried that?
The quad I'm getting ready to brew is a 5.5 gallon recipe that uses 23 pounds of grain and I was hoping to try something different besides the usual single infusion mash; like a decoction or a step mash.
I was actually planning to do a decoction with the 10 gallon igloo. I've never done one and while doing some quick calculations it looks like a 10 gallon vessel could get a little crowded.
So I was thinking about how I could use the keg for the mash, which would also give me the option to direct fire it if I decide. But without a valve installed or a false bottom I couldn't use it for lautering.
I know it wouldn't cost much to get it set up as a mash tun, but again, I'm not sure I want to use it for a mash tun. I have a couple 1/2" SS valves laying around and a box of 1/2" SS fittings so I could do weldless install right now, (but again, I'm also not sure if I want to do weldless). The ingredients for this brew are going to run me almost $60. I wasn't planning on buying any equipment this week so I really don't want to add a false bottom and pick-up tube onto what the beer is already costing to brew.
If I can use the keg as a mash tun the way it is and then transfer to the igloo, I might try that. Has anyone tried that?
