30 gallon HDPE barrels for mash tun

Mashing
#1

I have heard of people using 30 gallon HDPE barrels for mashing.

I currently brew 10 gallon batches in a 70gt Coleman cooler. I want to move to a 15 gallon system. Somebody suggested I use a barrel.

Does anybody have any experience doing so?

#2

I can only imagine how much of a PITA it will be to stir 40-50 lbs of grain in a barrel. Why would you choose that over a 30-gal rectangular cooler which has insulation and is easy to work with?

#3

Agreed. I use a 152 qt. cooler (38 gal.) for large batches or high gravities. Cost me about $60 and holds heat perfectly.

#4

I am not wedded to the barrel as a mash tune and am simply trying to get some ideas on the issue. I appreciate your comment.

My 70qt Coleman is bulky to handle and is heavy. I am upgrading my capacity and setting up an outbuilding for a dedicated brew shop. This will be my terminal brewery, and I want to design it for the long term. A round Mash tun may be easier to handle as it can be rolled.

#5

I am not wedded to the barrel as a mash tune and am simply trying to get some ideas on the issue. I appreciate your comment.

My 70qt Coleman is bulky to handle and is heavy. I am upgrading my capacity and setting up an outbuilding for a dedicated brew shop. This will be my terminal brewery, and I want to design it for the long term. A round Mash tun may be easier to handle as it can be rolled.[/quote]

Anything round and deep that size is gonna be a bitch to stir. For me, that would be a bigger consideration than moving it.

#6

[quote=“Surly”]A round Mash tun may be easier to handle as it can be rolled.[/quote]It’ll be harder to stir, harder to maintain temps, and harder to clean out, though. I use a 120-qt MaxCold cooler and yeah, it’s unwieldy until the lid is down and I have both handles in play, but it makes the mash and cleaning process so easy that it’s worth a little awkwardness in moving it around.

But if you really want a deep, round MT, an HDPE drum isn’t a bad choice - inexpensive, designed for higher temps, and obviously easy to modify with some simple tools (as opposed to working with stainless for instance).

#7

Thanks for the comments. It is what I needed. The barrel is no longer an option for me. A larger converted cooler is in my future.

#8

It wouldn’t be a bitch to stir with this baby:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003V9 ... mbrefin-20

I picked this up not thinking exactly how long 60" was, hahahaha. I think I can cut it down, but I’m not even sure.

Not a bad price for 18 lbs. of stainless though !

#9

Walmart has 120 qt Coleman Xtreme coolers
http://www.walmart.com/ip/14574678?wmlspartner=wlpa&adid=22222222227000000000&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=&wl3=21486607510&wl4=&wl5=pla&veh=sem
for $52 online. I have one and it’s huge but it works great for those 50# grain bills.

#10

[quote=“Gitster”]It wouldn’t be a bitch to stir with this baby:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003V9 ... mbrefin-20

[/quote]
Holy crap that’s an amazing deal! And it’s available for Prime shipping. I wish I could convince myself that I need it.

#11

Might want to add a utility stool :cheers:

#12

[quote=“Glug Master”]Walmart has 120 qt Coleman Xtreme coolers
http://www.walmart.com/ip/14574678?wmlspartner=wlpa&adid=22222222227000000000&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=&wl3=21486607510&wl4=&wl5=pla&veh=sem
for $52 online. I have one and it’s huge but it works great for those 50# grain bills.[/quote]

Ordered, TY very much Glug Master