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Author Topic: 5gal igloo cooler  (Read 1627 times)

Offline jpeets

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5gal igloo cooler
« on: August 09, 2016, 04:22:06 pm »
This is my 1st all grain I got a 5gal igloo cooler What the max on grains in this cooler My  recipe calls for 14 pounds of grains will this fit in this cooler

Offline HoosierBrew

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Re: 5gal igloo cooler
« Reply #1 on: August 09, 2016, 04:31:52 pm »
Welcome!  Depends on your mash thickness. Scroll down to "Can I Mash It?", enter your amount of grain and mash thickness, and it'll show you the minimum cooler size requirement.


http://www.rackers.org/calcs.shtml
Jon H.

Offline jpeets

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Re: 5gal igloo cooler
« Reply #2 on: August 09, 2016, 04:41:49 pm »
Thanks I'll do that right now

Offline jpeets

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Re: 5gal igloo cooler
« Reply #3 on: August 09, 2016, 04:44:58 pm »
It's at it limit I'll pick up a 10gal in morning THANKS AGAIN!

Offline PAYCHECK

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    • Split Hops Brewing
Re: 5gal igloo cooler
« Reply #4 on: August 15, 2016, 08:27:09 am »
This is my 1st all grain I got a 5gal igloo cooler What the max on grains in this cooler My  recipe calls for 14 pounds of grains will this fit in this cooler
Simple way it to use a standard of 1.25 quarts of water per 1 lb. of grains.  Some recipes call for more or less water but this is a good starting point.  so for 14 lbs. of grain you would need 4.375 gal. of water.  This is close to max for your cooler but should work and leave enough head space for you to work.
Brewing is all I ever think about!

Offline 69franx

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Re: 5gal igloo cooler
« Reply #5 on: August 15, 2016, 12:37:28 pm »
This is my 1st all grain I got a 5gal igloo cooler What the max on grains in this cooler My  recipe calls for 14 pounds of grains will this fit in this cooler
Simple way it to use a standard of 1.25 quarts of water per 1 lb. of grains.  Some recipes call for more or less water but this is a good starting point.  so for 14 lbs. of grain you would need 4.375 gal. of water.  This is close to max for your cooler but should work and leave enough head space for you to work.
The water should fit, but the water displaced by the grain will add a little less than 1 gallon of needed space, leaving no room to stir, and likely over filling the tun. Go for the 10 gallon cooler. I have been using a 5g igloo for 3.5 gallon batches and it gets very tight when the gravity is a little higher. Great for lagers in the 1.050 range, but had to shift down to 3g for something like Janet's Brown ale at 1.074. YMMV
Frank L.
Fermenting: Nothing (ugh!)
Conditioning: Nothing (UGH!)
In keg: Nothing (Double UGH!)
In the works:  House IPA, Dark Mild, Ballantine Ale clone(still trying to work this one into the schedule)