Membership questions? Log in issues? Email info@brewersassociation.org

Author Topic: General mash tun advice  (Read 8912 times)

Offline a10t2

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 4696
  • Ask me why I don't like Chico!
    • SeanTerrill.com
Re: General mash tun advice
« Reply #15 on: December 04, 2009, 09:22:47 am »
I have an Igloo cube cooler 60 qt that I built a copper slotted manifold for. The drain is about and 1.5 inches above the bottom

That's interesting; my Cube (the 50 qt) has a depression at one end where the drain would go, but no drain actually installed. I installed the valve slightly below the bottom of the cooler, so there's literally no dead space.
Sent from my Microsoft Bob

Beer is like porn. You can buy it, but it's more fun to make your own.
Refractometer Calculator | Batch Sparging Calculator | Two Mile Brewing Co.

Offline denny

  • Administrator
  • Retired with too much time on my hands
  • *****
  • Posts: 27070
  • Noti OR [1991.4, 287.6deg] AR
    • Dennybrew
Re: General mash tun advice
« Reply #16 on: December 04, 2009, 10:00:47 am »
If you're talking about the round 10 gal. coolers, my experience is that they're pricey for the limited volume they have.  Also, they're harder to use than rectangular coolers since the opening is smaller.
Life begins at 60.....1.060, that is!

www.dennybrew.com

The best, sharpest, funniest, weirdest and most knowledgable minds in home brewing contribute on the AHA forum. - Alewyfe

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." - Bertrand Russell

Offline yeastmaster

  • Assistant Brewer
  • ***
  • Posts: 140
  • Cabin Brew
    • Saccharomyces Safari
Re: General mash tun advice
« Reply #17 on: December 07, 2009, 07:05:51 pm »
What are people's experience with using 10 gallon Rubbermaid water coolers?  What is the maximun capacity for those coolers?  I have figured that about 24lb of grain with a ratio of 1.33 qt/lb is about the max, but some discussion I have read seem to indicate that more can be used (with a lower water to grain ratio, I would assume).  I've never maxed it out, but I plan on doing so soon.

I just mashed 24# in my 10 gal rubbermaid cooler at 1.25 qts/lb and it was pretty darn full.  Worked great though!


Offline weazletoe

  • Brewmaster General
  • *******
  • Posts: 2437
  • Howland, Ohio
Re: General mash tun advice
« Reply #18 on: December 07, 2009, 07:56:20 pm »
  And coolers that have names like "Extreme" or "MaxCold" retain heat no better than my cheapo.

  You come brew 5 gallons with me. I'll show you why they call them "X-Treme".  ;D
A man works hard all week, so he doesn't have to wear pants all weekend.

Offline central_wa_brewing

  • Cellarman
  • **
  • Posts: 32
Re: General mash tun advice
« Reply #19 on: December 07, 2009, 09:11:01 pm »
I have a burner and a kettle. Now all I need is a mash tun and I will ready for all grain.  :)

I've read denny's instructions and it seems dead simple. Are there any tricks or tips you wished you had known before building one?

I first installed a brass ball valve(lead) then switched it with S/S.
+ a few more on prepping for 10 gallon.
I also dump in about 3 gallons of hot water to the tun then empty before adding my grain bill and mash water to help offset huge temp drops.

Offline denny

  • Administrator
  • Retired with too much time on my hands
  • *****
  • Posts: 27070
  • Noti OR [1991.4, 287.6deg] AR
    • Dennybrew
Re: General mash tun advice
« Reply #20 on: December 08, 2009, 09:40:11 am »
  And coolers that have names like "Extreme" or "MaxCold" retain heat no better than my cheapo.

  You come brew 5 gallons with me. I'll show you why they call them "X-Treme".  ;D

weaze, you and me brewing together might be classified as "too much fun"!  ;)
Life begins at 60.....1.060, that is!

www.dennybrew.com

The best, sharpest, funniest, weirdest and most knowledgable minds in home brewing contribute on the AHA forum. - Alewyfe

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." - Bertrand Russell

Offline wilypig

  • Cellarman
  • **
  • Posts: 94
Re: General mash tun advice
« Reply #21 on: December 08, 2009, 12:33:19 pm »
I usually just add my strike water at about 10 degrees above the temp required and allow it to temper the mash tun that way. Depending on the time of year I can hit my desired temp by waiting about 5 minutes.
If you can make mac and cheese from a box, you can make great beer.
Weiz Guys Homebrew club Loveland CO
Wilypig Fermentation Specialties

Offline Hokerer

  • I spend way too much time on the AHA forum
  • ********
  • Posts: 2654
  • Manassas, VA
Re: General mash tun advice
« Reply #22 on: December 08, 2009, 12:35:29 pm »
I usually just add my strike water at about 10 degrees above the temp required and allow it to temper the mash tun that way. Depending on the time of year I can hit my desired temp by waiting about 5 minutes.

+1, my procedure too
Joe

Offline weazletoe

  • Brewmaster General
  • *******
  • Posts: 2437
  • Howland, Ohio
Re: General mash tun advice
« Reply #23 on: December 08, 2009, 07:47:18 pm »
  And coolers that have names like "Extreme" or "MaxCold" retain heat no better than my cheapo.

  You come brew 5 gallons with me. I'll show you why they call them "X-Treme".  ;D

weaze, you and me brewing together might be classified as "too much fun"!  ;)

  You realize,  you are the only reason I'm excited to move out west.  8)
A man works hard all week, so he doesn't have to wear pants all weekend.

Offline slimsparty

  • Assistant Brewer
  • ***
  • Posts: 109
  • 1882 Brewery
Re: General mash tun advice
« Reply #24 on: December 09, 2009, 09:08:04 am »
Quote
I usually just add my strike water at about 10 degrees above the temp required and allow it to temper the mash tun that way. Depending on the time of year I can hit my desired temp by waiting about 5 minutes.

+2  I have been tinkering with BeerSmith to make this come out correctly, but since Illinois has 90+ temperature swings, I probably need 4 seasonal equipment profiles.  It is just easier to wing it.

Offline denny

  • Administrator
  • Retired with too much time on my hands
  • *****
  • Posts: 27070
  • Noti OR [1991.4, 287.6deg] AR
    • Dennybrew
Re: General mash tun advice
« Reply #25 on: December 09, 2009, 09:30:57 am »
 And coolers that have names like "Extreme" or "MaxCold" retain heat no better than my cheapo.

  You come brew 5 gallons with me. I'll show you why they call them "X-Treme".  ;D

weaze, you and me brewing together might be classified as "too much fun"!  ;)

  You realize,  you are the only reason I'm excited to move out west.  8)

Man, I'm sorry.....;)
Life begins at 60.....1.060, that is!

www.dennybrew.com

The best, sharpest, funniest, weirdest and most knowledgable minds in home brewing contribute on the AHA forum. - Alewyfe

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." - Bertrand Russell

Offline gail

  • Assistant Brewer
  • ***
  • Posts: 108
Re: General mash tun advice
« Reply #26 on: December 09, 2009, 03:22:18 pm »
Quote
I usually just add my strike water at about 10 degrees above the temp required and allow it to temper the mash tun that way. Depending on the time of year I can hit my desired temp by waiting about 5 minutes.

+2  I have been tinkering with BeerSmith to make this come out correctly, but since Illinois has 90+ temperature swings, I probably need 4 seasonal equipment profiles.  It is just easier to wing it.

I generally preheat my mash tun (it's white, sorry) with about a gallon of very hot water from the tap and add about a quart or two of almost boiling water to that, let it sit while my mash water is heating, dump it and then BeerSmith's temps are right on the money for me.  In Michigan, we have those same huge temp swings and I do it the same during each season--works great each time.  I haven't had to do any tinkering this way.
Gail