I want to try a 5 gallon batch of the Copperhead Red Ale in the recipe section here, but I'm worried now that my pot may not be big enough for a full volume mash. (I'm still learning my tools as well)
I have an 11 pound grain bill and an 8 gallon pot. I think that Beersmith is telling me that I need 8.41 gallons for mash. Can someone give me a sanity check before I start? Not really enough money at the moment for a bigger pot, especially before Christmas.
Thanks.
You don't need that much water. I'm going to assume you will squeeze the bag. Really give it a good squeeze or allow it to drain. Start with 6.5 gallons of water and dough in. It will fit. Just.
When you're done with your mash, pull the bag, squeeze it/drain it. Not hard to do. Twist the bag like you do when your putting out the garbage, cinching it ever tighter. You will lose ~0.6 gallons to absorption.
If you can, place the well and truly squeezed bag in a colander over your pot and slowly pour more water (hot water if you want) over the grain-bag combo till you hit your planned preboil volume. (1.1 gallons approx)
~7 gallons preboil is a decent starting point.
I'll assume 1 gallon boil-off 1/4 gallon lost to trub/hops etc, 1/4 gallon shrinkage
Gives you 5.5 gallons to the FV
8 gallon pot can work for 5.5 gallon batches.
Don't let beer smith or anyone (myself included) tell you what volumes to use. You tell Beersmith. It's the tool not you. Above is just approximates that I would use for a 60 minute boil, 11b grain-bill and an 8 gallon kettle.
As a comparable example. Here's a recent mash in my 11 gallon pot. Just 1.625lbs more and less water needed and I do 90 minute boils typically.
12.625lbs and 8.1 gallons of water. (~9.2 gallon total volume)