Previously I did full-volume mashes in my kettle. My beers didn't really turn out ideally, poor efficiency, bad attenuation. My temps dropped too fast and then I would direct fire them. (which may have killed some enzymes?) Ended up getting 67-69% efficiency in 3 diff batches.
Anyway, I made a small-batch beer mashing into a 5-gallon insulated water jug/cooler. Not only did it hold within 1 degree for 5 minutes, but my efficiency was off the charts.
I did multiple calculations, but based on my Pre-boil gravity I had something like 82-83% efficiency. I also triple-crushed my grains because the mills at my LHBS aren't very tight and the gap is crooked.
The downside to such efficiency is that my 5% English Brown Ale will now be closer to 6.5% ABV...
Another benefit is I seem to have just a bit less trub. You can use your bag inside the cooler, and you have no chance of a stuck mash because you can just lift your bag a bit if you need to.
I mashed in at 1.25 qts/lb which gives me lots of wriggle room in case I undershoot my mash temp, I can add some boiling water and bring it up which still keeping it in the 1.25-1.5 qts/lb range.
Next plan is to buy a 10 gallon cooler that'll work great with my largest BIAB bag.
Anyway, I made a small-batch beer mashing into a 5-gallon insulated water jug/cooler. Not only did it hold within 1 degree for 5 minutes, but my efficiency was off the charts.
I did multiple calculations, but based on my Pre-boil gravity I had something like 82-83% efficiency. I also triple-crushed my grains because the mills at my LHBS aren't very tight and the gap is crooked.
The downside to such efficiency is that my 5% English Brown Ale will now be closer to 6.5% ABV...
Another benefit is I seem to have just a bit less trub. You can use your bag inside the cooler, and you have no chance of a stuck mash because you can just lift your bag a bit if you need to.
I mashed in at 1.25 qts/lb which gives me lots of wriggle room in case I undershoot my mash temp, I can add some boiling water and bring it up which still keeping it in the 1.25-1.5 qts/lb range.
Next plan is to buy a 10 gallon cooler that'll work great with my largest BIAB bag.