13 replies to this topic

[Thirsty]

Did an RIS today with 37#s in a 15 gallon mashtun. Also added 3# DME, and 4# corn sugar to get to 1.100, 80% eff would have given me 1.103, so I feel I did alright with such a big beer. I had to make some lifters for the MT lid because my sparge manifold would have been undermash, so this kept it just above. I only had one overflow, so all in all, I think I did OK!

[orudis]

I've done a whole bag of grain (55#) plus a few pounds of specialty grains a few times pretty easily. This is a 144 qt marine cooler, I just put a hose braid in it when I'm going to use it as a mash tun.

[ChefLamont]

I did like 40# in my cube. I might have squeezed another pound or so, but not much at all.

[RommelMagic]

42.35 pounds in a 15 gallon sanke keg. It was pretty much overflowing the entire time. Worst efficiency I've ever had.

[stellarbrew]

Just a few days ago, I set my own personal record by mashing 25# of grain in my 48 quart Igloo, for my RIS. That cooler was slap full, to the lid. I got the OG to 1.117 (~77% eff.) by sparging in three batches and boiling it down for 3 hours to my final volume of 5.75 gallons. At least now I know my limits.

[ncbeerbrewer]

I figured my limit last summer of my 10 gallon Rubbermaid round cooler. It seems I can get 24lbs into that for a beer. I brewed the 1776 Porter from Radical Brewing with a friend as a 10 gallon and we maxed the cooler and found that out. I am thinking of building a bigger mash tun from the Coleman Extreme 70qt with a CPVC manifold. I would love to do some 10 gallon big brews like a RIS or an Impy IPA too especially for brewing with my buddy. So far the 10 gallon cooler serves me will and my 5 gallon beers each time too. Impressive mashes though so far I say to the rest of the responders.

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

I figured my limit last summer of my 10 gallon Rubbermaid round cooler. It seems I can get 24lbs into that for a beer. I brewed the 1776 Porter from Radical Brewing with a friend as a 10 gallon and we maxed the cooler and found that out. I am thinking of building a bigger mash tun from the Coleman Extreme 70qt with a CPVC manifold. I would love to do some 10 gallon big brews like a RIS or an Impy IPA too especially for brewing with my buddy. So far the 10 gallon cooler serves me will and my 5 gallon beers each time too. Impressive mashes though so far I say to the rest of the responders.

no idea - I'm about to put 15lbs into my 72qt extreme. I'll let you know about how far up the side is...

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

no idea - I'm about to put 15lbs into my 72qt extreme. I'll let you know about how far up the side is...

based on what I'm seeing you could def do 30lbs of grain in this thing. 35lbs might be possible even.

[DieselGopher]

based on what I'm seeing you could def do 30lbs of grain in this thing. 35lbs might be possible even.

I have done 40 lbs in a 70 qt coleman xtreme. Very thick mash and 2 sparges, but it worked.

[djinkc]

I have done 40 lbs in a 70 qt coleman xtreme. Very thick mash and 2 sparges, but it worked.

Yeah, I've had 41 IIRC. That's been a while though.

[beerbaron]

I did 85 lbs in 2 converted sankes. It was a bear of a beer. 7-7-07 Imperial stout (1st running) and stout and porter as 2nd and 3rd running

[tag]

I mashed a bag of base malt and some specialty malt in 2 converted keg mashtuns and got 14 gallons of first runnings Old Ale. Mmmm.I can only get 40# of grain at 1.1 qt/lb in my mashtun. I use a SABCO false bottom. Do you have a different lauter screen?

[jpftribe]

I figured my limit last summer of my 10 gallon Rubbermaid round cooler. It seems I can get 24lbs into that for a beer. I brewed the 1776 Porter from Radical Brewing with a friend as a 10 gallon and we maxed the cooler and found that out. I am thinking of building a bigger mash tun from the Coleman Extreme 70qt with a CPVC manifold. I would love to do some 10 gallon big brews like a RIS or an Impy IPA too especially for brewing with my buddy. So far the 10 gallon cooler serves me will and my 5 gallon beers each time too. Impressive mashes though so far I say to the rest of the responders.

+1 on that. I did 24# in my last batch in the same size cooler. I had a couple lbs of rye flake that I left out cause I thought the mash would stick. Good thing, it just wouldn't have fit. Effc was lower than normal at 73%, Should be around 80%, but it was also the first batch in a year so......

[ncbeerbrewer]

+1 on that. I did 24# in my last batch in the same size cooler. I had a couple lbs of rye flake that I left out cause I thought the mash would stick. Good thing, it just wouldn't have fit. Effc was lower than normal at 73%, Should be around 80%, but it was also the first batch in a year so......

Yes we actually had to remove some of the grain ~3lbs since it would not fit into my cooler. We lost some efficiency as well that day but I learned the capacity and thats enough for me too. I like the cooler a lot though its good for brewing 5 gallon batches and I think 24lbs will get me a big 5 gallon beer as well. I would hate to think about a stuck run off with that much grain in the cooler as well.