mash tun se tup reccomendatios

[demetman]

I decided to make the move from extract to all grain, and I would like to pick your brains to develop my set up. I have a 10gal igloo cooler (yellow and red commercial model) and a 10gal megapot with bulkhead and thermometer. Batch sparging makes the most sense to me with the equipment I have. The biggest question is what to outfit my mash tun with for sparging? False bottom, screen, copper manifold etc. I have already read the pros and cons from how to brew, but i'm still questioning the best method for what I have. False bottom seems to be the most universal for batch and fly sparging, but comes with a price of potential stuck sparges. The circular braid option seems like a great set up for batch sparging but would not work so well for fly sparging. I will be brewing 5gal batches. Your opinions are always appreciated
Demetrios

 

[charliethebum]

I was using the braid until it started collapsing and I had some stuck sparges. Using a bazooka screen now and it works great.

 

[demetman]

ok, Mike Karnowski recommends fly sparging in 10gal cooler with a false bottom so that it is. Gotta respect!

 

[RM-MN]

Line your cooler with Swiss voille curtain material. When the mash period is done, drain the tun and as the flow slows down, gather the material to form a bag and lift it a bit to let the rest of the wort drain out of it. Then close the drain, drape the material over the edge of the cooler again and add your sparge water and stir it up, then repeat the process to do the drain. You won't have to worry about a stuck sparge and you won't have spent a fortune on a system that can get you a stuck sparge or collapse during the drain like a braid will. I would never suggest a fly sparge unless you like to spend an extra hour to gain very little efficiency and may lose efficiency if you don't do it right.

 

[IslandLizard]

+1 on the voile curtain, MIAB (Mash in a bag). The round coolers are very well suited for that.

I made a CPVC manifold for my rectangular cooler and that's what I'm using. It was like $8 in materials, aside from the bulkhead.

 

[demetman]

Line your cooler with Swiss voille curtain material. When the mash period is done, drain the tun and as the flow slows down, gather the material to form a bag and lift it a bit to let the rest of the wort drain out of it. Then close the drain, drape the material over the edge of the cooler again and add your sparge water and stir it up, then repeat the process to do the drain. You won't have to worry about a stuck sparge and you won't have spent a fortune on a system that can get you a stuck sparge or collapse during the drain like a braid will. I would never suggest a fly sparge unless you like to spend an extra hour to gain very little efficiency and may lose efficiency if you don't do it right.

Interesting method! I do have a 26"x26" grain bag that will come up to the top of my mash tun cooler. I was even considering using my cooler for a HLT and mashing in my 10gal brew pot. My thought behind that was being able to perform decoction mashing methods and mashout. I'm just starting out, so obviously techniques for down the road. My problem is that I tend to over think my options in an attempt to make the wisest decisions. I'd rather spend a little more up front rather than needing to upgrade in the near future.
Are there any brewers out there that mash in a kettle and find a huge advantage in doing so? I brew in in my kitchen on a fairly powerful gas stove. Thanks for sharing ideas and recommendations.

 

[Stillraining]

I attended a All grain class at my LHBS a while back and they use a Bazooka screen even for fly sparging in exactly your cooler. There is a ton of years brewing in that store and they sell false bottoms. They have come full circle to KISS.....your splitting hairs in efficiency with most methods. Good is Good enough.

Personally, with your set up Id do Batch sparging with a bazooka screen.. You will shave 1> hour off your brew days and its less to monkey with in all areas including messing about with a mesh screen of some sort and cleaning that as well as lifting and draining grains.

If your the OCD type this probably insist going to be satisfactory to you and you will strive for every possible gram of efficiency.

Bottom line you can make brewing as simple or as complex as you want..Have fun and enjoy yourself regardless of how many dollars you spend on the hobby. Money invested or gadgets bought in and of itself doesn't make good beer.

Carry on.

 

[RM-MN]

Interesting method! I do have a 26"x26" grain bag that will come up to the top of my mash tun cooler. I was even considering using my cooler for a HLT and mashing in my 10gal brew pot. My thought behind that was being able to perform decoction mashing methods and mashout. I'm just starting out, so obviously techniques for down the road. My problem is that I tend to over think my options in an attempt to make the wisest decisions. I'd rather spend a little more up front rather than needing to upgrade in the near future.
Are there any brewers out there that mash in a kettle and find a huge advantage in doing so? I brew in in my kitchen on a fairly powerful gas stove. Thanks for sharing ideas and recommendations.

Yes but I have a smaller kettle and can get by with a 5 gallon paint strainer bag. By milling my grain very fine with my Corona style mill I can expect about 85% efficeincy with sparging to volume. I do pull the bag out of the kettle and set it in a collander to drain and sparge so I have to clean up another vessel but part of that is due to mashing on the stove with a vent hood right above so I can't use a pulley and just let the bag hang there to dry. Some of those who have the space above their kettle will let the bag hang there to drip out, perhaps do a pour over sparge, and be heating the collected wort to boil. Very easy cleanup with only the boil kettle and a bag of grains to dump out and rinse.