[tonyp]

Brought some homebrew over to a buddy's house last week and started talking about going all-grain. I mentioned that I was going to purchase a coleman cooler for the mash tun conversion and he says "I think i have an extra, you can have it!". I know it isn't blue, but it was free!

So since I saved about $40 not buying the cooler, I decided that instead of going the DiY route I bought a SS Ball Valve Kit from Northern Brewer. Can't wait to give it a go!

I took some picts:

[euge]

Congrats on the score Tony! That'll make great beer. May not be blue, and that's all good it's a Coleman...

[ibru]

I'd keep bring 'brew that guy's place... Nice score!

Isn't it a light blue?

[richardt]

The handle is blue, so I think your efficiencies will be ever as good as Denny's.   

After looking at your pics, I think I'm going to switch from the round 10 gallon cooler to the rectangular cooler soon in order to decrease my grain bed height (and eliminate compaction/lautering issues I've noticed on my high-gravity brews).  Thanks for the internal shot--I have a 12 inch Bazooka, as well.  It looks perfect in that cooler.  Let us know how it works for you.

[JKL]

Nice MT! It looks really familiar (aside from the color, that is)   I got to mash in my new 70qt 2 weeks ago and now I wish I had switched to a rectangular cooler along time ago.  Soooo much nicer than the old round Gott.  Plus with a new mill my efficiency went up almost 15%, and that was on a 8% beer with an OG of 1.073.  You're gonna love it!  Brew on!
-J.K.L.  

[jamminbrew]

It's the same cooler as the 70 qt extreme, just white. It's the marine version. same cooler, different color. I just ordered one from amazon yesterday!

[Malticulous]

I have that cooler. I found it in the middle of a road. I'd convert it if I needed more than 11 gallons of 1.070 wort. My Coleman 52 works perfect for me.

[tonyp]

Thanks guys, its a Coleman 70-qt Extreme, its just silver. My buddy only used it at the beach for beer/ice. He said its a few years old but honestly, it looks brand new, I hardly had to clean it at all, but I still soaked it in oxyclean and scrubbed it all down.

BTW, anyone that wants to buy the same ball valve kit, I bought the regular bulkhead but it was a really tight fit and I had to leave off the brass nut so that the ball valve assembly would even catch on the threads. It leaked and the valve handle hit the sidewall of the cooler so it wouldn't open all the way. I called Northern Brewer and they sent out the XL bulkhead and now it all fits and works perfectly. So make sure you order the XL Cooler Bulkhead.

I'm excited to do my first all-grain batch, hopefully this weekend!

Cheers!
Tony

[jamminbrew]

I'm excited to do my first all-grain batch, hopefully this weekend!

That's great! Good luck, happy brewing!  What is your first all grain brew?

[denny]

For those contemplating a similar conversion, I'll mention that I get better draining by not using a bulkhead.  Using my funky mini keg bung and piece of tubing allows for a better siphon and more complete draining.  YMMV.

[tygo]

I used to use a mini-keg bung setup in my 48 qt mash tun.  When I upgraded to the 70 qt xtreme I tried to use it and the wall was too thick for it so I went with a bulkhead.

[tonyp]

I'm excited to do my first all-grain batch, hopefully this weekend!

That's great! Good luck, happy brewing!  What is your first all grain brew?

Doesn't look like its going to happen this weekend with mother's day and all, but I was thinking of making a Cream Stout.

[denny]

I used to use a mini-keg bung setup in my 48 qt mash tun.  When I upgraded to the 70 qt xtreme I tried to use it and the wall was too thick for it so I went with a bulkhead.

Makes sense to me.

[maxieboy]

Nice score! Nice setup. You're rockin' now. I've got the same cooler set up w/ a manifold. Blue coolers may give better efficiency but silver coolers make more flavorful beer...