Partial Mash in a Cooler

[pjhurl]

Hi...

I found one thread on the topic on search, with a few responses, but thought I'd follow up with an additional question if the mods and everyone else doesn't mind :cross:

Here's the thread I found: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f36/partial-mash-using-mash-tun-instead-bag-309952/

Situation: I just built a ten gallon cooler mash tun (set up with a braid for batch sparging for now).

I've got a NB Surly Bitter Brewer Mash Kit to brew and then I'm going to try my hand at my first AG. My previous Partial Mash I did also with an NB kit, according to their instructions (in a bag, x gallons at 169 for the mash and then a rinse-the-bag type sparge with a few more quarts). It came out fine, if a bit weak (but it was a weak beer by its nature, so not sure I can blame my technique -- an american cream ale).

I wanted to try out my new mash tun and skip the whole bag step. The grain bill is pretty tiny, however (it's a low OG beer!), just slightly over 3 lbs. The recipe calls for a single gallon of mash strike water. Two quarts for sparging.

Question is, if I just skip the bag and do this in my 10 gallon cooler, and I going to have such a ridiculous amount of headspace that bad things are going to happen? Or should I just go ahead and try it, per directions, only using my cooler instead of mashing in my kettle in a warm oven?

 

[BradleyBrew]

I don't thing bad things will happen but it will be slightly more difficult to control you temperatures with that much headspace... the cooler would almost be 90% empty.

 

[Iceman2197]

I've used a 5 gallon water cooler many times for partial mash, never had an issue. I fly sparge so I have to make sure and not stir up the grain in the process. I wouldn't worry about badies your gonna boil it in a hr or so, temp could be an issue, I would try it just watch your temp and adjust if needed.