Which of these is a better setup?

[Happydad1689]

I am thinking of making the jump to all grain via BIAB (5 gal batches with poss 10 someday), but I am not certain of what set up to get.

1. I am thinking of using my 44qt cooler as a mash tun with a custom made brew bag. This would help hold temps better. I would then transfer to this pot http://hopdawgs.ca/Equipment/Brewing-kettles?product_id=370&sort=p.price&order=ASC and brew as normal

2. Or use the same pot but just control the temp with the burner. Mash and boil in the same pot.

Either way I need a new pot......whatever set up I go with I will need to get a bag for it, so I want to think it through.

What are your thoughts?

 

[RM-MN]

Mill your grains fine (double mill?) and use that to your advantage and just mash 30 minutes and forget controlling the temperature except for insulating the pot a bit. That gets you just one pot to clean instead of the pot plus the cooler.

 

[ZebulonBrewer]

well, mash and boil in the same pot IS brew-in-a-bag. If you want to use the cooler with the bag that is fine (but is technically a two vessel setup), I have heard using that method aids in cleanup and you'll never have a stuck sparge (bonus!).

 

[Gavin C]

10 gallon pot for 5 gallon batches works like a champ. Stable mash temperatures are achievable. I usually do 60 minute mashes without having to do anything other than insulating the pot.

A double crush is the only change I make to a conventional all-grain setup.

I use a very traditional 1 pot no sparge technique

It's a fun process. See it here in my thread. Might be some equipment you are considering.

 

[wilserbrewer]

I am thinking of making the jump to all grain via BIAB (5 gal batches with poss 10 someday), but I am not certain of what set up to get.

What are your thoughts?

I would suggest a 10 gallon pot for 5 gallon batches, you can get started for 30 bucks...

http://www.staples.com/Supera-AP-40-40-qt-Aluminum-Stock-Pot/product_1115499

5 gal batches with poss 10 someday


Herein lies the problem, there is no pot that does both well IMHO. Getting a 15-20 gallon pot now, what you really need for 10 gallon batches will be inconveniently large for 5 gallon batches, and a pot that is too large will not maintain heat as well during the mash rest.

I offer this given that you said "possibly" 10 someday. To buy a larger kettle now may mean that you brew forever with a pot that is too large. If you decide you would like to move to 10 gallon batches, a 20 gallon pot is the answer, but that is too large for 5 gallon batches IMO....

JMO, but the extra work involved in using a cooler for BIAB, moving the strike water to the cooler, then moving the wort back to the kettle negates any advantage of using the cooler...again JMO, as some love this method, maybe I'm lazy