Alright...I have spent basically all weekend reading up on mash tun sizes and have come here for the final word. I am making the leap into all-grain
and am in the process (was in the process) of making a mash tun cooler.
I right away gravitated toward the round igloo 10 gallon cooler and started piecing together the ball valve.
Then I started to think about down the road. What if I wanted to do a 10 gallon batch? What if I wanted to do a 10 gallon batch with high OG? All these questions started flying.
Granted, I have yet to do a 10 gallon batch and don't really foresee myself doing one in the near future...but I wouldn't mind making one purchase rather than multiple.
I am thinking that the 10 gallon cooler may not be enough for a 10 gallon batch (that has yet to exist).
So, my question. If I was to continue to brew 5 gallon batches...which will likely be 99% of the time, would a 60-70 quart cooler be too big? I would hate to buy a cooler with so much head space that I loose temp because of my grandiose idea that I will brew 10 gallons some day.
So, what do you all say? Stick with the 10 gallon cooler and just know I am limited or is it worth to invest in a 60-70 quart cooler...assuming that maintaining mash temps would be maintained?
Thanks for entertaining a question that has been beaten to death.
Cheers!