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Author Topic: 5-gallon vs. 10-gallon cooler?  (Read 26023 times)

Offline fmader

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Re: 5-gallon vs. 10-gallon cooler?
« Reply #45 on: January 02, 2013, 08:32:32 pm »
I use a 60 qt Igloo cube. The temperature does not drop a degree over the course of an hour. I hit about 70% efficiency while batch sparging. I did a 10 gallon batch of SN Celebration IPA in November with no issues. I believe the OG was 1.067. I made a copper grid of 1/2" piping with perpendicular slits cut about every inch on the bottom. I lucked out because the same weldless ball valve that I use on my kettle works perfectly, so I bought a second one. Oh...and it's blue!



« Last Edit: January 02, 2013, 08:34:10 pm by fmader »
Frank

Offline ca_mouse

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Re: 5-gallon vs. 10-gallon cooler?
« Reply #46 on: February 18, 2013, 07:25:39 am »
As for tun size, considering my 48-quart cooler can be a bottleneck for really big beers, I recommend the 10-gallon at least.

ajk

Am I missing something here? a 48-qt is a 12 gallon cooler. How is that a bottleneck for really big beers? I was able to get a 'big beer' in a 5 gallon cooler, but it was very iffy because I couldn't stir if it got stuck early. I've since moved on to a 52-qt and can easily mash 30-32 pounds of grain.

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Offline Wort-H.O.G.

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Re: 5-gallon vs. 10-gallon cooler?
« Reply #47 on: February 26, 2013, 06:33:32 pm »
10gallon igloo with my homemade copper manifold. Leaves next to nothing in the cooler, never stuck sparge, and can run it as fast as I feel like.



« Last Edit: February 26, 2013, 06:36:52 pm by wort-h.o.g. »
Ken- Chagrin Falls, OH
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Offline a10t2

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Re: 5-gallon vs. 10-gallon cooler?
« Reply #48 on: February 26, 2013, 06:53:44 pm »
Am I missing something here? a 48-qt is a 12 gallon cooler. How is that a bottleneck for really big beers?

Assuming you mash at 1.2 qt/lb and leave a little room to stir, you can fit roughly 27 lb of grain in 12 gal. Advertised cooler volumes usually include the lid, but let's stick with 27 lb. At 36 point-gal/lb and 65% efficiency, that's 5.5 gal of 1.122 wort. That's a BIG beer, but is it "really big"?
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Offline fmader

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Re: 5-gallon vs. 10-gallon cooler?
« Reply #49 on: February 26, 2013, 06:56:00 pm »


Very nice set up. Obviously it is very close to my set up that I posted above. Do you have issues getting the inside of your copper clean of debris with it all soldered together. I take mine apart after every mash to wash and can be a pain to put back together. I was just wondering what you do, because I may certainly consider soldering mine.
Frank

Offline Wort-H.O.G.

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Re: 5-gallon vs. 10-gallon cooler?
« Reply #50 on: February 26, 2013, 07:03:30 pm »


Very nice set up. Obviously it is very close to my set up that I posted above. Do you have issues getting the inside of your copper clean of debris with it all soldered together. I take mine apart after every mash to wash and can be a pain to put back together. I was just wondering what you do, because I may certainly consider soldering mine.

May be hard to see, but if you look in the middle at the T's, it's not soldered there, allowing you to pull apart into three sections. Rinsing is a snap that way and I rinse after each mash.
« Last Edit: February 26, 2013, 07:13:37 pm by wort-h.o.g. »
Ken- Chagrin Falls, OH
CPT, U.S.Army
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Harveys-Brewhaus/405092862905115

http://braukaiser.com/wiki/index.php?title=The_Science_of_Mashing

Serving:        In Process:
Vienna IPA          O'Fest
Dort
Mead                 
Cider                         
Ger'merican Blonde
Amber Ale
Next:
Ger Pils
O'Fest

Offline fmader

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Re: 5-gallon vs. 10-gallon cooler?
« Reply #51 on: February 26, 2013, 08:20:38 pm »
Got it! This is a very solid design....I too pull just about all the wort through. There is minimal, if any, dead space with this design and would recommend it for anybody.
Frank