Mash tun size
  • BenvarineBenvarine
    Posts: 1,606
    I want to know what size cooler mash tun to build for 10g batches using keggles for liquor tank and kettle. I see two other builds on here for 5 gallons, is that enough? Would a 10g cooler be better if you are starting from scratch? And by they way, coolers are not cheap, $40 at best, up to $100.
  • FuzzyFuzzy
    Posts: 49,777
    the 5 gallon coolers are barely big enough to do 5 gallons of higher gravity beer.

    check out garage sales, clearance racks, etc and grab a cheapo rolling cooler. this is the one i plan on using.

    image

    it's a little pricey for that type of cooler, but it's very well insulated and i didn't buy it. it was a gift. i'm sure you can get one that's pretty cheap.
    The pinnacle of lame and awesome in one singular moment. -Lake
  • ceanntceannt
    Posts: 53,828
    10 gallons is pushing it.... 15 or 20 would be better.
    Never attribute to malice, that which can adequately be explained by stupidity.
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 122,569
    15 gallons is a good size for a 10 gallon batch size. Larger is always better,because it gives you more flexibilty, but I don't have any trouble getting 10 gallons of 1.080 out of my 15.5 gal keggle.
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • jlwjlw
    Posts: 16,454
    I use a 10 gallon Igloo water cooler as a mash tun with a stainless steel false bottom. Like this one...

    You would be able to fo low to medium garvity beers in 10 gallon batches. If it where me I would go bigger if you think you will want to do high gravity 10 gallon batches.

    image
  • BenvarineBenvarine
    Posts: 1,606
    Lakewood said:

    15 gallons is a good size for a 10 gallon batch size. Larger is always better,because it gives you more flexibilty, but I don't have any trouble getting 10 gallons of 1.080 out of my 15.5 gal keggle.



    Lake, you are using a keggle as your mash tun? Are you using three keggles for your brew system?
  • FuzzyFuzzy
    Posts: 49,777
    Benvarine said:

    Lakewood said:

    15 gallons is a good size for a 10 gallon batch size. Larger is always better,because it gives you more flexibilty, but I don't have any trouble getting 10 gallons of 1.080 out of my 15.5 gal keggle.



    Lake, you are using a keggle as your mash tun? Are you using three keggles for your brew system?


    yes he is.
    The pinnacle of lame and awesome in one singular moment. -Lake
  • LothosLothos
    Posts: 2,146
    FromZwolle said:

    Benvarine said:

    Lakewood said:

    15 gallons is a good size for a 10 gallon batch size. Larger is always better,because it gives you more flexibilty, but I don't have any trouble getting 10 gallons of 1.080 out of my 15.5 gal keggle.



    Lake, you are using a keggle as your mash tun? Are you using three keggles for your brew system?


    yes he is.


    i use keggles for my system also 3 of them
    Ain't that a Bitch
  • BenvarineBenvarine
    Posts: 1,606
    Do you wrap the mash tun in something to keep it insulated, or keep heat on it? I'm not doIng AG yet, but trying to ease into it one piece of equip at a time. I have a keggle, trying to arrange pickup of another, then will need a third sounds like if I don't use a cooler.
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 122,569
    Benvarine said:

    Do you wrap the mash tun in something to keep it insulated, or keep heat on it? I'm not doIng AG yet, but trying to ease into it one piece of equip at a time. I have a keggle, trying to arrange pickup of another, then will need a third sounds like if I don't use a cooler.



    I'm actually only running two keggles --- i don't have an HLT, i use an electric inline heater for sparge water.

    And yes, i insulated the MLT using foam bed-roll (the stuff you use when backpacking). I will eventually replace the bed-roll material with a purpose built insulation. for now this work pretty well. The MLT is not fired at all, so i will be putting spray foam insulation all around it. Thats basically the same insulation used in the igloos.
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • JayrizzleJayrizzle
    Posts: 90,648
    If I recall; I can fit exactly 13.5lb of grain in my 5gal. That's a thick mash, with not much room to stir, but it works.
    so a ten gal would work for 27lbs (with a similar manifold)
    If you get about 28 pt per lb that's 756pt/10gal= 1.0756OG. If you want higher gravity you could always make a smaller batch, say 8 gal.
    I like the proportions of the round drink coolers (just wish they made a cheap 20gal one), but people get very good results with the chest coolers.
    image
  • jlwjlw
    Posts: 16,454
    Dr_Jerryrigger said:

    If I recall; I can fit exactly 13.5lb of grain in my 5gal. That's a thick mash, with not much room to stir, but it works.
    so a ten gal would work for 27lbs (with a similar manifold)
    If you get about 28 pt per lb that's 756pt/10gal= 1.0756OG. If you want higher gravity you could always make a smaller batch, say 8 gal.
    I like the proportions of the round drink coolers (just wish they made a cheap 20gal one), but people get very good results with the chest coolers.



    I have a 10 gallon round igloo cooler and I can handle 24 lbs of grain ad that was it, no more.
  • JayrizzleJayrizzle
    Posts: 90,648
    jlw said:



    I have a 10 gallon round igloo cooler and I can handle 24 lbs of grain ad that was it, no more.



    a false bottom make up for that difference. I use a 1/2" copper manifold in my five.
    image
  • djsethalldjsethall
    Posts: 4,040
    Lothos said:

    FromZwolle said:

    Benvarine said:

    Lakewood said:

    15 gallons is a good size for a 10 gallon batch size. Larger is always better,because it gives you more flexibilty, but I don't have any trouble getting 10 gallons of 1.080 out of my 15.5 gal keggle.



    Lake, you are using a keggle as your mash tun? Are you using three keggles for your brew system?


    yes he is.


    i use keggles for my system also 3 of them


    You only use 3? I got 5 in my brew system and a few more for fermenting.
  • FuzzyFuzzy
    Posts: 49,777
    djsethall said:

    Lothos said:

    FromZwolle said:

    Benvarine said:

    Lakewood said:

    15 gallons is a good size for a 10 gallon batch size. Larger is always better,because it gives you more flexibilty, but I don't have any trouble getting 10 gallons of 1.080 out of my 15.5 gal keggle.



    Lake, you are using a keggle as your mash tun? Are you using three keggles for your brew system?


    yes he is.


    i use keggles for my system also 3 of them


    You only use 3? I got 5 in my brew system and a few more for fermenting.


    and a kitchen sink.
    The pinnacle of lame and awesome in one singular moment. -Lake
  • LothosLothos
    Posts: 2,146
    djsethall said:

    Lothos said:

    FromZwolle said:

    Benvarine said:

    Lakewood said:

    15 gallons is a good size for a 10 gallon batch size. Larger is always better,because it gives you more flexibilty, but I don't have any trouble getting 10 gallons of 1.080 out of my 15.5 gal keggle.



    Lake, you are using a keggle as your mash tun? Are you using three keggles for your brew system?


    yes he is.


    i use keggles for my system also 3 of them


    You only use 3? I got 5 in my brew system and a few more for fermenting.


    thats just for my system i have 3 others for fermenting 12 gal batches
    Ain't that a Bitch
  • FuzzyFuzzy
    Posts: 49,777
    Lothos said:

    djsethall said:

    Lothos said:

    FromZwolle said:

    Benvarine said:

    Lakewood said:

    15 gallons is a good size for a 10 gallon batch size. Larger is always better,because it gives you more flexibilty, but I don't have any trouble getting 10 gallons of 1.080 out of my 15.5 gal keggle.



    Lake, you are using a keggle as your mash tun? Are you using three keggles for your brew system?


    yes he is.


    i use keggles for my system also 3 of them


    You only use 3? I got 5 in my brew system and a few more for fermenting.


    thats just for my system i have 3 others for fermenting 12 gal batches


    how do you package 12 gallons? two corny kegs and bottle the rest?
    The pinnacle of lame and awesome in one singular moment. -Lake
  • LothosLothos
    Posts: 2,146
    yes growlers
    Ain't that a Bitch
  • FuzzyFuzzy
    Posts: 49,777
    Lothos said:

    yes growlers



    naturally carbed?
    The pinnacle of lame and awesome in one singular moment. -Lake
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 122,569
    At that point i would just start short filling sankes for carbonation and serving.
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • LothosLothos
    Posts: 2,146
    in the growler yes in the keg no forced so i always have some left over hiding on the shelf in the growlers
    Ain't that a Bitch
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 122,569
    Lothos said:

    in the growler yes in the keg no forced so i always have some left over hiding on the shelf in the growlers



    My brain just tells me thats more stuff to clean
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • LothosLothos
    Posts: 2,146
    Lakewood said:

    Lothos said:

    in the growler yes in the keg no forced so i always have some left over hiding on the shelf in the growlers



    My brain just tells me thats more stuff to clean


    i put 2 gal in growlers and put them on the back shelf for aging

    Ain't that a Bitch
  • FuzzyFuzzy
    Posts: 49,777
    Lothos said:

    Lakewood said:

    Lothos said:

    in the growler yes in the keg no forced so i always have some left over hiding on the shelf in the growlers



    My brain just tells me thats more stuff to clean


    i put 2 gal in growlers and put them on the back shelf for aging



    my growlers are for filling at brewpubs or transporting beer to friends houses. i have bottles for bottling beer. ;)
    The pinnacle of lame and awesome in one singular moment. -Lake
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 122,569
    FromZwolle said:

    Lothos said:

    Lakewood said:

    Lothos said:

    in the growler yes in the keg no forced so i always have some left over hiding on the shelf in the growlers



    My brain just tells me thats more stuff to clean


    i put 2 gal in growlers and put them on the back shelf for aging



    my growlers are for filling at brewpubs or transporting beer to friends houses. i have bottles for bottling beer. ;)


    I typically just bottle off the keg if i want to squirell away a bit of beer.
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • FuzzyFuzzy
    Posts: 49,777
    Lakewood said:

    FromZwolle said:

    Lothos said:

    Lakewood said:

    Lothos said:

    in the growler yes in the keg no forced so i always have some left over hiding on the shelf in the growlers



    My brain just tells me thats more stuff to clean


    i put 2 gal in growlers and put them on the back shelf for aging



    my growlers are for filling at brewpubs or transporting beer to friends houses. i have bottles for bottling beer. ;)


    I typically just bottle off the keg if i want to squirell away a bit of beer.


    i've been known to bottle the two or three extra beers worth that don't fit into the keg. normally i'll just bottle from a keg if i want to set some aside, but if they're a little extra, i try not to waste it.
    The pinnacle of lame and awesome in one singular moment. -Lake
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