Messages

1

All Grain Brewing / Re: 5-gallon vs. 10-gallon cooler?

« on: November 29, 2012, 10:08:33 AM »

Didn't know where the blue cooler comments were coming from until I did a search. I guess I'll have to pay extra for the blue, or my whole future of brewing is doomed to horrible failure

One additional, related question: can a thermometer be installed into a rectangular cooler (the way I've seen in the round ones)? I would think that would be a problem, just given the size of the cooler. If so, how? If not, is the only alternative to periodically check the temp?

Thanks again for all the help. It's nice to know that there are so many helpful people around here.

2

All Grain Brewing / Re: 5-gallon vs. 10-gallon cooler?

« on: November 27, 2012, 04:13:20 PM »

Wow! Thank you one and all. I can't believe it's this easy. I found a set of directions on the net with a whole list of parts that made this sound soooo much more complicated. I was going to ask for a gift card from Home Depot for Christmas to cover the cost of this, but now I can save the gift and get something useful, like a refractometer!

3

All Grain Brewing / Re: 5-gallon vs. 10-gallon cooler?

« on: November 27, 2012, 02:35:17 PM »

Interesting. I ruled out the rectangular cooler because I thought I heard/ read that it's not as good at smaller, partial mashes. I'm also not sure how to make the adjustments. I'm assuming that you pop out the plug at the base and replace it with the same valve you'd use in the circular cooler, but is the rest of the process the same as with a circular? Would a false bottom be needed, or can you just use a stainless steel braid?

4

All Grain Brewing / 5-gallon vs. 10-gallon cooler?

« on: November 26, 2012, 07:48:18 PM »

I'm trying to take the "next step" into doing both partial and full mashes. I've seen a lot of discussions and instructions for converting a cooler into a mash tun, and I feel pretty confident that I can do it. I know that you pretty much need to have the 10-gallon tun if you're doing all-grain and that a 5 gallon is generally fine for partial mash recipes.

My question is: Is there any reason NOT to build a 10 gallon rather than a 5? Would, for example, having only a few pounds of grain in the 10 gallon be a mistake? Am I right in thinking that a 10 gallon is suitable for both full and partial mash recipes?

Thanks for your help.