I need a 5 gallons cooler mash tun? Or should i go 10 gallons? Im not thinking of making more than 5 gallons until i brew something worthy, so ill be making 5 gallons and i wanna know if a 5 gallons mash tun is enough or should i go with the 10 gallons? Dont know if the 5 gallons with the grains and water would be too small for it.
It depends on your mash efficiency, water to grist ratio, and wort gravity you're shooting for. Try the Can I Mash It calculator at http://www.rackers.org/calcs.shtml
Ok, it says i need 4.22 gallons of space and is not counting a false bottom if i use it, i dont use one but in the future maybe. Is too close to the 5 gallons, i think i better spend a little more and be safe about the volume dont you thing?
I started with a 10 gallon mash tun, for 5 gallon batches exclusively for the first year I brewed. Some beers cannot be made at that volume with less than that much space for grains + water.
I had a ten gallon mash tun and could do 5 gallon batches up to 1.100 no problem, but when I did a ten gallon batch I was pushing it brewing a 1.065 beer.
