Mash Tun for 15 Gallon Brewery

Hi

I currently brew ten gallon batches, ie, ten gallons into the fermenter.

I will be converting one of my farm outbuildings to a brewery and want to move to a 15 gallon system.

I just ordered my brew kettle and will begin building a 15 gallon conical for fermenting.

I do though need some advice on the mash tun. I currently batch sparge with a 70gt. Coleman cooler. I do use a pump to move wort.

For my ten gallon system I pretty much fill up the Coleman. I want to continue to batch sparge.

Should I simply pick up a smaller cooler and mash a five gallon batch and simply combine the runnings with the ten gallon system I already use?

What other batch sparge options might I consider? I am hesitant to batch sparge in a 100 to 150qt. cooler as the weight and bulk may be too much for me to handle safely.

Thanks for your time.

A friend of mine routinely does 20 gallon brews using a 120 qt cooler. It is just a matter of getting the height right so that you empty the grain 5 gallons at time after the mash so that you aren't picking up the full cooler. Good luck. Sounds like an interesting build.

When I made 15 gallon batches, I used a 30 gallon blue HDPE barrel. I cut it down about 6" and reused the lid. The HDPE is very thick and much easier to add a bulkhead compared to a cooler. They are light and easy to handle. Holds heat well. I currently use a 55 gallon blue HDPE barrel for the mash tun in my 30 gallon system.

stevehaun said:

When I made 15 gallon batches, I used a 30 gallon blue HDPE barrel. I cut it down about 6" and reused the lid. The HDPE is very thick and much easier to add a bulkhead compared to a cooler. They are light and easy to handle. Holds heat well. I currently use a 55 gallon blue HDPE barrel for the mash tun in my 30 gallon system.

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Thanks Steve...I think this is the solution. Is this what you bought? 30 gallon blue HDPE barrel? http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0025QI4XC/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

You said it held temps well. Are these tanks insulated?