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Author Topic: 70 quart cooler to big for 5 gallon batches?  (Read 6743 times)

Offline nofunsally

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70 quart cooler to big for 5 gallon batches?
« on: November 07, 2011, 09:46:29 am »
Hello,
I need a new cooler for my mash tun (I moved, it didn't).  I was previously using the 48 qt Igloo cube it worked well as far as I was concerned.  I mostly brew 5 gallon batches (boiling up to 8) and I batch sparge.  I am now looking at coolers and was wondering if others use a 70 qt cooler for 5 gallon batches.  Is it too big? Will the 5 gallon batch in a 70 qt mash tun have less than desirable temperature holding, etc?

Cheers,
Mike

Offline theDarkSide

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Re: 70 quart cooler to big for 5 gallon batches?
« Reply #1 on: November 07, 2011, 09:52:04 am »
I use a Coleman Xtreme 72qt for my mash tun and it works perfectly, even for lower gravity beers.  I don't think I've ever lost more than a degree or two in all my batches.  

Just make sure you get the blue one  ;)  ( FYI - this is a running joke out there )

edit: I only do 5 gallon batches
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Offline morticaixavier

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Re: 70 quart cooler to big for 5 gallon batches?
« Reply #2 on: November 07, 2011, 10:39:32 am »
+1 on the 72 qt coleman. I have no problem with 5 gallon average gravity beers and last weekend I mashed 31 lbs of grain in it. Now with that much grain at ~1 qt/lb it was full to the brim so that seems to be just about the limit but...

have not noticed more than a degree or two drop in a 60 minute mash with lower gravity wither
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Offline euge

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Re: 70 quart cooler to big for 5 gallon batches?
« Reply #3 on: November 07, 2011, 11:22:07 am »
Not too big. I have the 70qt extreme (green so my eff isn't as good as a blue but fermentability is better). ;)

The 70qt will do some pretty big 5 gallon brews too- beers that you'd never pull off in a 40qt without a hassle. So I say it's a very good choice in mashtun volume.
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Offline nofunsally

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Re: 70 quart cooler to big for 5 gallon batches?
« Reply #4 on: November 07, 2011, 01:47:27 pm »
Thanks for the comments. I bought the 70 qt coleman.

Cheers,
Mike

Offline hamiltont

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Re: 70 quart cooler to big for 5 gallon batches?
« Reply #5 on: November 07, 2011, 03:22:50 pm »
Thanks for the comments. I bought the 70 qt coleman.

Cheers,
Mike
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Offline Mark G

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Re: 70 quart cooler to big for 5 gallon batches?
« Reply #6 on: November 08, 2011, 05:43:29 am »
You'll definitely be happy with it. It allowed me to discover the world of no-sparge brewing and gravities above 1.100. Life hasn't been the same since.
Mark Gres