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Author Topic: All Grain setup  (Read 5327 times)

Offline flbrewer

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All Grain setup
« on: January 31, 2014, 02:50:43 AM »
Looking closer at all grain equipment and I saw this...
http://morebeer.com/products/b3300-10-gallon-grain-system.html

Outside of an upgrade brew kettle (mine doesn't currently have a valve which I want), I don't think I would need anything else.
1)Thoughts? Too expensive for a couple of Rubbermaids?
2) Is there any issue with using these plastic coolers for brewing? (BPA, phthalates?)

*I saw this on Rubbermaid's site "Our coolers are not tested for use with hot liquids. We do not suggest using our coolers for home brewing purposes or as mash turns."
« Last Edit: January 31, 2014, 02:53:23 AM by flbrewer »
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Offline Stevie

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Re: All Grain setup
« Reply #1 on: January 31, 2014, 03:01:13 AM »
It can be done for much cheaper and 10 gallons is not big when brewing bigger beers.
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fistfullofhops

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Re: All Grain setup
« Reply #2 on: January 31, 2014, 03:11:22 AM »
I'd take a rectangular cooler over an Igloo any day.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Coleman-70-Quart-Xtreme-Cooler/4807332

Much easier to work with.
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Offline Stevie

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Re: All Grain setup
« Reply #3 on: January 31, 2014, 03:17:51 AM »
I have that cooler and it is great, but big for lower gravity 5 gallon batches. Because of this, I have two tuns.
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Offline sparkleberry

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Re: All Grain setup
« Reply #4 on: January 31, 2014, 03:18:29 AM »
http://hbd.org/cascade/dennybrew/

i took this approach with the 70qt coleman. cheap and easy.
« Last Edit: January 31, 2014, 03:21:54 AM by sparkleberry »
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Offline Jimmy K

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Re: All Grain setup
« Reply #5 on: January 31, 2014, 02:01:43 PM »
I have the same mash tun. It's good for most 5 gallon batches and can handle 10 gallon batches up to 4-5% (at which point it is full to the top). I would not use a cooler as an HLT because if the water cools too much you can't apply heat. I use a burner and pot for HLT.
 
Another problem is that there is heat loss when you transfer to the cooler. With a cooler HLT, you must transfer twice. I just think it would be harder to predict the heat loss.
 
So I like the mash tun but there are times when I wish I bought a 15 gallon mash tun for big 10 gallon batches. You can buy a propane burner and pot with valve cheaper than the HLT portion.

Also, this is set up for fly sparging and I love batch sparging.
« Last Edit: January 31, 2014, 02:03:22 PM by mtnrockhopper »
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Offline AmandaK

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Re: All Grain setup
« Reply #6 on: January 31, 2014, 02:14:34 PM »
Quote from: flbrewer on January 31, 2014, 02:50:43 AM
Looking closer at all grain equipment and I saw this...
http://morebeer.com/products/b3300-10-gallon-grain-system.html

Outside of an upgrade brew kettle (mine doesn't currently have a valve which I want), I don't think I would need anything else.
1)Thoughts? Too expensive for a couple of Rubbermaids?
2) Is there any issue with using these plastic coolers for brewing? (BPA, phthalates?)

*I saw this on Rubbermaid's site "Our coolers are not tested for use with hot liquids. We do not suggest using our coolers for home brewing purposes or as mash turns."

1) Yes, much too expensive for a couple of Rubbermaids. You can find several deals here, all day long: http://www.homebrewfinds.com/search/label/Coolers

2) As far as the kettle valve thing, there are several online articles about how to install a weldless spigot onto your kettle. Tools needed are a step bit and some wrenches. And $20-45, depending on the type of valve you put on there.
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Offline reverseapachemaster

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Re: All Grain setup
« Reply #7 on: January 31, 2014, 03:18:23 PM »
Quote from: mtnrockhopper on January 31, 2014, 02:01:43 PM
Another problem is that there is heat loss when you transfer to the cooler. With a cooler HLT, you must transfer twice. I just think it would be harder to predict the heat loss.

I don't know what the calculation is (I'm bad at math) but beersmith will factor in the heat loss caused by the temperature difference between the grain/cooler and strike water so you hit the right mash temp. I've found it's pretty accurate so long as I give it an accurate temperature for the grain and cooler.
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Offline morticaixavier

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Re: All Grain setup
« Reply #8 on: January 31, 2014, 03:48:47 PM »
Quote from: reverseapachemaster on January 31, 2014, 03:18:23 PM
Quote from: mtnrockhopper on January 31, 2014, 02:01:43 PM
Another problem is that there is heat loss when you transfer to the cooler. With a cooler HLT, you must transfer twice. I just think it would be harder to predict the heat loss.

I don't know what the calculation is (I'm bad at math) but beersmith will factor in the heat loss caused by the temperature difference between the grain/cooler and strike water so you hit the right mash temp. I've found it's pretty accurate so long as I give it an accurate temperature for the grain and cooler.

it is pretty accurate in my experience. it doesn't take heat loss in transfer into account which is significant for me because I do not have a pump so I'm bucketing hot water from the kettle to the MLT but I've learned to account for that (+1-2 degrees)
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Offline Stevie

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Re: All Grain setup
« Reply #9 on: January 31, 2014, 05:22:18 PM »
I always overshoot by 5-10 degrees depending on the volume of water to account for heat loss and mash tun temp. I too use the kettle to bucket to cooler procedure. I also go cooler to bucket to kettle since I have just the one kettle. Second kettle would be nice, but I manage.
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Offline kramerog

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Re: All Grain setup
« Reply #10 on: January 31, 2014, 05:22:52 PM »
I had a rubbermaid and was not happy about how short its life was.  It began bulging and cracking after only a few uses.  I'm much happier with my rectangular cooler. So far no cracks, cross my fingers.
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Offline HoosierBrew

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Re: All Grain setup
« Reply #11 on: January 31, 2014, 06:37:43 PM »
Quote from: morticaixavier on January 31, 2014, 03:48:47 PM
Quote from: reverseapachemaster on January 31, 2014, 03:18:23 PM
Quote from: mtnrockhopper on January 31, 2014, 02:01:43 PM
Another problem is that there is heat loss when you transfer to the cooler. With a cooler HLT, you must transfer twice. I just think it would be harder to predict the heat loss.

I don't know what the calculation is (I'm bad at math) but beersmith will factor in the heat loss caused by the temperature difference between the grain/cooler and strike water so you hit the right mash temp. I've found it's pretty accurate so long as I give it an accurate temperature for the grain and cooler.

it is pretty accurate in my experience. it doesn't take heat loss in transfer into account which is significant for me because I do not have a pump so I'm bucketing hot water from the kettle to the MLT but I've learned to account for that (+1-2 degrees)

+1
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Offline denny

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Re: All Grain setup
« Reply #12 on: January 31, 2014, 06:56:58 PM »
Quote from: flbrewer on January 31, 2014, 02:50:43 AM
Looking closer at all grain equipment and I saw this...
http://morebeer.com/products/b3300-10-gallon-grain-system.html

Outside of an upgrade brew kettle (mine doesn't currently have a valve which I want), I don't think I would need anything else.
1)Thoughts? Too expensive for a couple of Rubbermaids?
2) Is there any issue with using these plastic coolers for brewing? (BPA, phthalates?)

*I saw this on Rubbermaid's site "Our coolers are not tested for use with hot liquids. We do not suggest using our coolers for home brewing purposes or as mash turns."

This is what you want to do...

www.dennybrew.com
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Offline morticaixavier

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Re: All Grain setup
« Reply #13 on: January 31, 2014, 07:11:28 PM »
Quote from: denny on January 31, 2014, 06:56:58 PM
Quote from: flbrewer on January 31, 2014, 02:50:43 AM
Looking closer at all grain equipment and I saw this...
http://morebeer.com/products/b3300-10-gallon-grain-system.html

Outside of an upgrade brew kettle (mine doesn't currently have a valve which I want), I don't think I would need anything else.
1)Thoughts? Too expensive for a couple of Rubbermaids?
2) Is there any issue with using these plastic coolers for brewing? (BPA, phthalates?)

*I saw this on Rubbermaid's site "Our coolers are not tested for use with hot liquids. We do not suggest using our coolers for home brewing purposes or as mash turns."

This is what you want to do...

www.dennybrew.com

+ a bunch!

I see those cooler mashtun kits at HBS places and I cringe a little. yes, they have fancy false bottoms but it's SOOOOO easy to build one of these CaE mashtuns.
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Offline SecondRow_Sean

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Re: All Grain setup
« Reply #14 on: February 01, 2014, 12:42:13 AM »
From the description:

"All Grain systems don't have to be expensive..."

Cost: $329.99
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