Hey guys, I'm looking forward to upgrading to all grain in the future. I probably won't do 10 gallon batches any time soon, and just stick with the 5 gal and less. Currently, I have a 8 gallon mega pot with a weldless ball valve. Can I keep using it as a boil kettle in the future? I know it's cutting it close, but is it still doable? Also, I'll most likely use igloo coolers for MLT, and HLT mostly as it seems like the most cost effective way to get into all grain. Should I go for the 10 gallon coolers and have room to spare for big beers with lots of grain, or would 5 gallon coolers be good enough for 5 gallon batches? TIA
You should be fine with the 8g kettle, but I would absolutely go with a 10g MLT. The 5g just won't cut it for higher gravity brews.
Your 8 gallon pot is cutting it close, as you mentioned. However, it'll still work. You could use some fermcap prior to boiling to help prevent boil overs. If you decide not not use it, you'll just have to really be on the ball to prevent boil-overs. Definitely get the 10 gallon Home Depot cooler, works just fine. An alternative option, is to find a half barrel sanke keg on Craigslist and convert it into a keggle. Or buy one that's already converted and has the thermometer, sight glass, and ball valve. That's how I started when I stepped up to full boil volumes and 10 gallon batches.
Thanks for the reply. If that's the case, I'll first upgrade the 8gallon kettle first with a thermometer. Probably a 2 inch probe at about the 1.5 to 2 gallon mark. And I'llinto upgrading my IC with a sump pump. Basically all the upgrades to current equipment that will be used with AG, before transitioning.
As @CADETS3 mentioned just use some Fermcap-S to manage the boil; an easy and cheap solution. Cheers!
I use a cooler and submersible pump to push ice water through my immersion chiller. Dramatically reduced cooling times vs my ground water, plus saves on water overall. I found freezing 1g water bottles helps as well vs just ice which melts very quick. Cheers
Exactly! I had gone through some old posts in the forum and thought that would be the best route for me. Use ground water and take it down to say, 100 quickly, then switch to pump with water. Or do you use the pump and ice water the whole time?
I usually just use the cooler. I mostly make IPAs and the cooler brings me to hop stand temp in a min or so, then down to pitch temp. More just laziness and not wanting to hook it up twice.
I was looking at just that pump earlier. I had some concern in the back of my mind that it might not be powerful enough. But if it's good for you, I'm sure it's fine.
I have not done any testing myself, but would think that the water needs some time to exchange the heat and there may be some sort of diminishing return on turning the water up too high. Either way living in a place with warm ground water, the key is in the cooler making the water cold. I have enough freezer space to have frozen water bottles to exchange out as I go to help. You'd be amazed how fast a cooler full of ice gets used up when cooling boiling water.
