Will a 5 gallon MLT be sufficient?

[benzy4010]

So I can do high gravity in my 42 quart mast run and ten gallon turkey fryer?

 

[benzy4010]

I just built my all grain system but havnt brewed yet

 

[pearlbeer]

Thanks for the replies. I think I will get a 10 gallon from home depot when I prepare to switch. I already understand that I will probably need a second kettle for AG, would you suggest a cooler for a HLT as well? Does it need to be as big as the MLT or can it be smaller?

I started out with a 5G AND a 10G Rubbermaid. I used the 5G as a HLT. ...and invented a cool fly sparing system. My system has since evolved...as yours will, but it is a pretty cool solution.

Shoal Creek Brewing: Fly Sparging - A new invention?

 

[benzy4010]

I just built my all grain system but havnt brewed yet

 

[HexKrak]

As Revvy has illustrated you can use a 5 gallon cooler with great results. That said I love my 10g cooler.

 

[mlyday]

The one nice thing about the 5 Gallon ones, is with 11-12 lbs of grain and 3-4 gallons of water there is really no headspace, so you can hold temps a little better. For the most part all the beers I brew can be done in the 5 gallon. Heftier brew can still be done, just with smaller batch sizes.

 

[Donosaurus]

I started out with a 5G AND a 10G Rubbermaid. I used the 5G as a HLT. ...and invented a cool fly sparing system. My system has since evolved...as yours will, but it is a pretty cool solution.

Shoal Creek Brewing: Fly Sparging - A new invention?

This is what I was thinking about doing. Not the flipping upside down and putting holes in the lid (great idea btw) but using a 5 gallon for the HLT. I just wasn't sure how big the HLT would need to be for 5 gallon batches with a 10 gallon MLT.

 

[bja]

With a given recipe if you increase the amount of grain and make the same volume of wort you should have a higher OG but your efficiency will be lower. The same could be accomplished by reducing the size of the wort and keeping the amount of grain constant. Is this not correct?

If you do this, you end up with less beer.

 

[PoppinCaps]

Yes, but a higher gravity beer

 

[idigg]

Skarekrough should clean out the sand in his JJ. Anyway..

Donosaurus, I live in Milwaukee (West Allis) and frequent Northern Brewer weekly. I have a 12 gallon cooler and a 7.5 gallon turkey fryer kettle ( I batch sparge). You're more than welcome to participate in a brew session with me so you can see if a 12 gallon MLT would work for you. I got the 48 quart (12gal) cooler from sears for $20.


justin

 

[DSmith]

Similar situation. 2 batches of extract & specialty grains (5-6 gal, partial boil in 5 gallon pot). I built a 5 gallon MLT with the intent to start partial mashing and decided to do 3 gallon, all grain, full boil brewing and ferment in a 5 gallon carboy. For me, less beer, more variety and more brewing is ok. That MLT should be able to make big beers at the 3 gallon end of boil volume. Making 5-6 gallons would be a significant equipment investment and relocation out of the kitchen.

Here are upgrades that will keep your mash temp to 1F drop in 60 minutes:

Preheat with water 15F more than what you need to get your grain to your mash temp for about 30 minutes. Overshoot your temperature and stir to cool a few degrees to the desired mash temp.

Wrap the cooler in a blanket.

Use spray foam inside the hollow lid.

Cut a styrofoam disk the same diameter as your cooler and put it in a food grade bag (turkey cooking bag) to reduce your air space above the mash. Use R5-R10 (1"-2") thick styrofoam. You can probably skip the spray foam inside the lid if you do this step because no heat will get past this. I throw away the turkey bag or crock pot liner after each use and the styrofoam stays clean and dry.