Higher gravity brew – large enough mash tun?

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by Lukass, Nov 4, 2014.

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  1. Lukass

    Lukass Pooh-Bah (2,891) Dec 16, 2012 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah

    Hey all,

    I'm sure a lot of you all-grain brewers out there started out with a 10-gallon igloo cooler as their mash tun, or something similar. I've done plenty of all-grain brews in my 10-gallon cooler, but all have been in the 6% ABV range, with around a 12 lb grain bill. I am planning an Old Rasputin clone for my next big brew, with a 1.090 OG, and around a 17.25 lb. grain bill, but am worried that my 10-gal mash tun may not be able to support this big of a beer.

    So I guess the reason I'm posting this, is to see if anyone else has brewed a beer of this size in a 10-gal mash tun? or if I should split the batch into 2 separate mash sessions? considering I'm brewing the standard 5-gal batch. Any info would be greatly appreciated!
     
    #1 Lukass, Nov 4, 2014
  2. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    #2 VikeMan, Nov 4, 2014
    bgjohnston, Slatetank, ChrisMyhre and 2 others like this.
  3. Lukass

    Lukass Pooh-Bah (2,891) Dec 16, 2012 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah

    This is awesome, man. Thanks!
     
    #3 Lukass, Nov 4, 2014
  4. AlCaponeJunior

    AlCaponeJunior Grand Pooh-Bah (3,452) May 21, 2010 Texas
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Meshes with my observations using a five gallon round water cooler as a mash tun quite nicely. I can do 12 lbs at 1.25qt/lb without much issue (site claims 4.71 gallons of space NOT counting dead space). Mine essentially has no dead space, and for 12 lbs* I just fill it up (the extra 0.29 gallons isn't worth haggling over). Over 12 lbs up to about 14 lbs I have to fudge the ratio and sparge procedures just a bit. At 15 lbs grain I would be at a 1.00 ratio. Essentially anything over that I haven't ever tried in this mash tun.

    To NOT be able to use a ten gallon cooler as a mash tun (assuming zero dead space**) you'd have to be over 25 lbs of grain (that's a lot of grain for a five gallon batch).

    *12 lbs is my "standard" batch. I'd say 4/5 of my batches have exactly 12 lbs of grain in them. makes a lot of things easier

    **my bazooka tube connects right where the drain would be, and is right at the bottom of the cylinder. When mashing I essentially get zero leftover liquid that's not absorbed by the grain (there's no false bottom). Design matters tho, not all coolers are created equal).
     
    #4 AlCaponeJunior, Nov 7, 2014
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  5. bgjohnston

    bgjohnston Initiate (0) Jan 14, 2009 Connecticut

    Short answer, yes you can mash 17.25 with room to spare. I have mashed 20 lbs in my 10 gallon Igloo and still maintained a 1.25 qt/lb ratio.
     
    #5 bgjohnston, Nov 7, 2014
    Lukass likes this.
  6. Lukass

    Lukass Pooh-Bah (2,891) Dec 16, 2012 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah

    Thanks guys. I'm gonna give it a try! Im figuring around a 5.5 gal mash, followed by another 5.5 gal batch sparge should suffice. I'll report back on the results
     
    #6 Lukass, Nov 7, 2014
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