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Author Topic: Best igloo cooler for all grain brewing  (Read 21658 times)

Offline denny

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Re: Best igloo cooler for all grain brewing
« Reply #15 on: June 24, 2013, 10:52:27 am »
A 70 qt. Coleman Extreme is the choice of a lot of people.

How many pounds of grain could this cooler hold?

Check this out...scroll down the page a bit....

http://www.rackers.org/calcs.shtml
Life begins at 60.....1.060, that is!

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Offline yugamrap

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Re: Best igloo cooler for all grain brewing
« Reply #16 on: June 24, 2013, 12:30:20 pm »
C'mon, now - you all know it doesn't matter what cooler you get as long as it's BLUE.   ;)
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Offline denny

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Best igloo cooler for all grain brewing
« Reply #17 on: June 24, 2013, 12:59:30 pm »
C'mon, now - you all know it doesn't matter what cooler you get as long as it's BLUE.   ;)

+1.060!
Life begins at 60.....1.060, that is!

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Offline brandonchr

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Re: Best igloo cooler for all grain brewing
« Reply #18 on: June 28, 2013, 12:17:21 am »
+1 70 qt. Coleman Extreme with a CPVC manifold.
I love this thing man.

Offline denny

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Re: Best igloo cooler for all grain brewing
« Reply #19 on: June 28, 2013, 09:17:57 am »
+1 70 qt. Coleman Extreme with a CPVC manifold.
I love this thing man.

Manifold?  How last century!  ;)
Life begins at 60.....1.060, that is!

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Offline beersk

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Re: Best igloo cooler for all grain brewing
« Reply #20 on: June 28, 2013, 12:54:42 pm »
Would the 52qt be too big for 4 gallon batches? I typically mash in the 7-10 pound range.
Jesse

Offline kramerog

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Re: Best igloo cooler for all grain brewing
« Reply #21 on: June 28, 2013, 01:55:05 pm »
Would the 52qt be too big for 4 gallon batches? I typically mash in the 7-10 pound range.

Probably way too big for fly sparging, not enough bed thickness probably.

Offline thebigbaker

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Re: Best igloo cooler for all grain brewing
« Reply #22 on: June 28, 2013, 02:06:02 pm »
Would the 52qt be too big for 4 gallon batches? I typically mash in the 7-10 pound range.

I batch sparge in a blue 50qt Rubbermaid cooler that I do mostly 3 gallon batches in w/ no problem. 
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Offline BuckeyeInMI

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Re: Best igloo cooler for all grain brewing
« Reply #23 on: July 04, 2013, 02:25:24 pm »
Sorry, a little late to this party.

I use this.  I got it on sale for $119.  Plenty big for any 5 gallon batch.  It might be pricey, but I didn't want to go through the hassle of building my own.

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

Offline Chavez324

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Re: Best igloo cooler for all grain brewing
« Reply #24 on: July 10, 2013, 09:18:21 pm »
I just made mine w a nice CPVC manifold, sparge arm and ball valve. Found a 70qt Igloo for $25 at a Big Lots. It's one of those cube shaped jobys but, the manifold sucks everything up.. I didn't go over $85 including modding my old kettle.. about to sell it to a buddy already though cuz I saw a 150 qt for $75..

Offline beersk

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Re: Best igloo cooler for all grain brewing
« Reply #25 on: July 15, 2013, 07:52:47 am »
I'm finding that a rectangular cooler is a pain in the ass to clean. Almost considering going back to my 5 gallon rubbermaid...
Jesse

Offline ynotbrusum

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Re: Best igloo cooler for all grain brewing
« Reply #26 on: July 15, 2013, 08:32:06 pm »
I prefer the rectangular, but I guess I never noticed a huge difference in cleaning required.  I just dump it out and then spray it out then spritz with star san.  I use a homemade pick up with a stainless drier screen that is clamped to a copper elbow with a silicone hose piece - it comes apart easily and cleanup is super easy. 
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Offline theDarkSide

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Re: Best igloo cooler for all grain brewing
« Reply #27 on: July 16, 2013, 06:22:04 am »
I'm finding that a rectangular cooler is a pain in the ass to clean. Almost considering going back to my 5 gallon rubbermaid...

Only in the winter.  I dump my grains and spray it out with a garden hose.  Not ideal when it's below freezing so I clean it in the kitchen sink.  But that's the only time I have trouble cleaning it.

I also have the 70qt Xtreme cooler...and of course it's BLUE!
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Offline beersk

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Re: Best igloo cooler for all grain brewing
« Reply #28 on: July 16, 2013, 07:10:38 am »
I'm finding that a rectangular cooler is a pain in the ass to clean. Almost considering going back to my 5 gallon rubbermaid...

Only in the winter.  I dump my grains and spray it out with a garden hose.  Not ideal when it's below freezing so I clean it in the kitchen sink.  But that's the only time I have trouble cleaning it.

I also have the 70qt Xtreme cooler...and of course it's BLUE!
Mine is the 36qt Xtreme BLUE cooler. It's much easier to mash in, which is nice, but the cleaning part is just driving me crazy! I'm sure I'll get used to it though. I do feel that the thinner grain bed helps with draining off though, perhaps it's the greater filter area and not the grain bed...I don't know. But it's alright. I don't know that it holds heat much better than my Rubbermaid did though. I still seem to lose a few degrees during the mash. Is that normal for everyone else? I'm measuring my temp with a Thermopen...
Jesse

Offline theDarkSide

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Re: Best igloo cooler for all grain brewing
« Reply #29 on: July 16, 2013, 07:31:49 am »
I still seem to lose a few degrees during the mash. Is that normal for everyone else? I'm measuring my temp with a Thermopen...

I tend to lose about 2-3 degrees over an hour...not a big deal.  If it's a colder season, I will wrap it in a blanket to try to keep some of the heat in.
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