Mash Tun Choice

[GRHunter]

I am planning on doing my first AG brew this weekend and I need to get a mash tun. In almost all the videos I have seen they use a rectangular type of cooler. My LHBS has a round Igloo cooler with a false bottom and valve assembly for a reasonable price. My question is whether there is a problem with getting the round type of tun vs the rectangle shaped style.

 

[brewagentjay]

I have round type...It allows you to keep your grain bed thick for filtering...If you have a small grain bill rectangular could be an issue making the grain bed too shallow...

Just what I have picked up from videos, google, DVD from Midwest, & HBT.

 

[SamuraiSquirrel]

What's a good price at LHBS?

You can make a round one for about $40 bucks. Cooler on CL will run you about $20 + 20 for misc fittings to make a nice bulkhead similar to the flyguy thread "cheap and easy MLT"

 

[Brandonchr]

I have round type...It allows you to keep your grain bed thick for filtering...If you have a small grain bill rectangular could be an issue making the grain bed too shallow...

Just what I have picked up from videos, Google, DVD from Midwest, & HBT.

I have a 70qt. Colman Extreme, and it works fine for 5 & 10 gal. batches. It was cheap to convert too. About $20 not including the cooler.

 

[TwoHeadsBrewing]

Good price at the LBS would be about $80, but I've seen them for more when they use a round cooler with a false bottom and stainless hardware. As others mentioned, if you are worried about the money then make your own because it's pretty easy and quite a bit cheaper.

 

[GRHunter]

I am not so much worried about the money for one that is already built, I am not the DIY type of guy. I think a 5 gallon with SS false bottom and valve is about $80. I was just wondering if there was a down side to the round shape for batch sparging.

 

[shortyjacobs]

Just an FYI, a 5 gallon MLT can really limit the size of beers you can do. Around 1.060 for 1.25 qt/lb, (and I prefer 1.5 qt/lb, so even less), if memory serves...

 

[brewagentjay]

Yes go for a 10 Gallon if you do the cylinder style cooler....Cooler new at Lowes is 43 dollars or so...
This way you can do 5 gallon batches both large and small... Also will work for small 10 gallon batches if you choose to go that route.

 

[IBUPIMP]

+1 for going with a 10 gallon. I just got done using my 10g rubbermaid to brew edworts haus pale ale and it worked awsome. I could easly have done a double batch with room to spare!

 

[GRHunter]

What do you mean a large or small 5 gallon batch? isn't 5 gallons always 5 gallons?

 

[Denny]

Personally, I find rectangular coolers easier to use and you get more volume for your money. I'm about the least handy guy in the world, but I found an easy way to convert them. See www.dennybrew,.com

 

[shortyjacobs]

What do you mean a large or small 5 gallon batch? isn't 5 gallons always 5 gallons?

A "big" beer has a higher OG, so more grain. A "small" beer has a lower OG, so less grain. To brew anything "bigger" than a 1.060 5 gallon batch of beer, you need a larger cooler than 5 gal. For me, cuz I mash at 1.5 qt/lb instead of 1.25 qt/lb, I can't go much above a 1.045 5 gallon batch of beer in 5 gallon MLT.

I DO love my 15 gallon cooler though

 

[ajf]

The round coolers are better for fly sparging, but I don't think they are any worse for batch sparging. As has already been mentioned, a 5g cooler will limit what you can brew.

-a.

 

[GRHunter]

Based on everything I have read in here I think that I am going to go with the 10 gallon round cooler system in the link below from my LHBS. It should easily work for my 5 gallon brew batches, and it allows me to move into fly sparging down the road. Is there anything else I might need to make the move from extract to AG?

http://www.homebrewing.org/10-Gallon-Converted-Igloo-Cooler-Mash-Tun-With-False-Bottom_p_1006.html

 

[michaeltrego]

GRHunter - this might be the perfect score for you:

http://westernmass.craigslist.org/app/1649905132.html

 

[Frodo]

The number one thing that comes to my mind is a really big boil pot. I recently bought a 15 gallon MegaPot - it worked great for my first AG. (and the same mentality goes as with the MLT, if you're going to do 10 gallon batches, a 7 gallon pot won't be so good... oh and a propane burner that puts out some serious BTUs.

 

[Frodo]

GRHunter - this might be the perfect score for you:

http://westernmass.craigslist.org/app/1649905132.html

That's a great deal. The false bottom alone is like $40 or so new. The stainless coil would be a good score too - I got a copper one that cost about $30 or so.

 

[shortyjacobs]

GRHunter - this might be the perfect score for you:

http://westernmass.craigslist.org/app/1649905132.html

Dayum, GRHunter, get on that.

 

[IrregularPulse]

Just built a 5G round MT for about $25-$30. I had some random parts and pieces laying around though. This will accompany my 12.5G square one though. You can have BOTH

 

[buzzkill]

yep,jump on that deal,or make one from info found here. LHBS= markup

 

[petep1980]

I used a 5 gallon one for a while and felt limited. It worked well, but just too small.

 

[IrregularPulse]

I used a 5 gallon one for a while and felt limited. It worked well, but just too small.

Yep, I wouldn't have built my 5G if I didn't already have a 12.5G.