30 replies to this topic

[SchwanzBrewer]

What do you guys recommend as the best cooler for doing a mash/ adding the ball valve drainage converter kit for up to a 10 gallon brew?I'm gonna put one on my Christmas Wish list so I can hopefully go All Grain next year.Thanks,Rich

[denny]

70 qt. Extreme

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

70 qt. Extreme

That's what I have - it makes a great tun.

[SchwanzBrewer]

Is that a coleman?

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

Is that a coleman?

yeup(mine is blue but otherwise looks the same)

[Howie]

70 qt. Extreme

Yeah, the Extreme coolers are great for holding mash temps. I have a small one and the 70qt Marine version. They are tough to get a seal on with a bulkhead/ball valve setup, though.

[SchwanzBrewer]

38Qt Igloo Ice Cube. The geometry is perfect for sparging. Fitted with a manifold is a 85-90% efficient machine.

Can you fit enough grain and water in that for a 10 gallon brew - 38qt is 9.5 gallons, is that gonna be enough? I will do both 5 and 10 sessions once I start AG.I have 2, 60 quart ice cubes, regular not max cold or whatever, its not very well insulated and is pretty cheap and the damn bottom leaks. They are great as swamp coolers, but I don't think they would be very good as a mash tun.

Edited by rcemech, 30 November 2009 - 12:57 PM.

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

Can you fit enough grain and water in that for a 10 gallon brew - 38qt is 9.5 gallons, is that gonna be enough? I will do both 5 and 10 sessions once I start AG.I have 2, 60 quart ice cubes, regular not max cold or whatever, its not very well insulated and is pretty cheap and the damn bottom leaks. They are great as swamp coolers, but I don't think they would be very good as a mash tun.

I think it would be kind of close - check out the "can I mash it" calculator found here: linklooks like anything over 25lbs at 1.25qt/lb would be trouble.

[Sidney Porter]

i use to have a igloo ice cube 48 qts. The biggest beer I ever made 10 gallons of was a 1.075. It was probably 27lbs or so, and I probably went with 1qt per pound. It was filled up to the top.As far as what cooler is the best. The round 10 gallon rubber maids and the ice cubes were /are popular with people who fly sparge it is a grain bed depth issue. Too shallow of a depth can cause problems (5 gallon batches on a small beer could be an issue in a large rectangle cooler) The depth is not as critical if batch sparging.I am sure thatthe extremes hold temps better, but I never had much temp drop in the ice cube. Currently I use a converted keg I throw a wool blanket over it and only lose a few degrees over an hour mash.

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

I am sure thatthe extremes hold temps better, but I never had much temp drop in the ice cube. Currently I use a converted keg I throw a wool blanket over it and only lose a few degrees over an hour mash.

I have no doubt that you are correct. I only bought the extreme b/c I knew I could easily set it up with no problems b/c others had done it before me.

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

Ooops. Sorry. I meant 48qt, not 36qt....

ah - that might work

[Howie]

I am sure thatthe extremes hold temps better, but I never had much temp drop in the ice cube.

I've not used the Ice Cube as a MT, but I've used various coolers over the years, including several marine models. They just don't hold temps in cold weather like the Xtreme does.I have a Cube, and it just seems like a kind of mediocre cooler. Plus, no insulation in the lid.

[KSUwildcatFAN]

I did this except I used a manifold since I am fly sparging. I'm too new to say if it's better worse than any other type, but it's pretty easy to set up. Plus, it's pretty easy to covert back to just a regular cooler for gamedays as long as you keep the plastic drain stuff.

[Kremer]

i use to have a igloo ice cube 48 qts. The biggest beer I ever made 10 gallons of was a 1.075. It was probably 27lbs or so, and I probably went with 1qt per pound. It was filled up to the top.

I've had #34 and change in mine, a little thick, but no problems.

[SchwanzBrewer]

Yeah, I don't want to use the cubes, they are cheap mediocre coolers at best. This is going to be a dedicated Mash Tun. I will likely batch sparge at first and then figure out some way to fly sparge later. I haven't done any AG yet, and since this is a possible gift for me I might as well set the bar high.So... so far the Coleman Extreme 70 qt for batch seems to be the consensus.Anything else?Thanks for the replies!Cheers,Rich

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

Thats just not true at all. Everybody has an opinion sure, but i have to whole heatedly disagree. But going by your thoughts, you can say that about any cooler to mash in. You say your wanting a dedicated MT, a cooler can be one, but if you want something to last and last, you need to find something in SS. Then i could agree with your statement as a comparative.

I hope they don't stop making the xtreme by the time I need to replace it