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Thinking about going all grain for Christmas

Mashing
#1

So I think I may go the all grain route as a Christmas gift.

It looks like the 5 Gallon kit that they have here would work - but I noticed that the coolers are really overpriced - I can get Home Depot branded coolers for half the price. So, would it make sense to get a 10 gallon cooler for the mash tun and a 5 gallon cooler for the sparge water?

Also, I noticed that they do not include a kettle - I am guessing that my little 5 gallon pot is not going to work is it? What do you all recommend for size and extras on the kettles? I see that the ones with a spout and thermometer are really expensive, but is it worth it?

thanks all

Jon

#2

There are many different ways to brew all-grain, with batch-sparging falling in the middle of the range for price, ease, and efficiency; check out
http://www.dennybrew.com
for the basic batch-sparge setup. There are lots of threads on this site about kettle and cooler selection as well as the various methods of producing wort, too.

#3

You can find all of things you need here or sometimes cheaper elsewhere. Like here for example. http://bayouclassicdepot.com/1064-bayou … spigot.htm That being said, Northern Brewer is a great store and will have everything you need as well.

If you plan to ever do larger batches, I recomend a larger kettle like the one in the link.

#4

OK, so a standard 10 gallon kettle should be fine though? No real reason for the spickot or thermometer on it?

Has anybody purchased a 5 gallon mash tun and regretted the size?

#5

5 gallon mash tun seems a little small, maybe go with a 10 to be safe, also, 10 gallon boil kettle is cutting it a little close on a full boil, and doesn’t leave room for expansion. Id at least get a 12.

So yes they will both work, but it might get a little tricky at times.

I do BIAB with a converted keg, and it works great!

#6

Go bigger than you think you need. I have a 70 qt cooler and an 18 gallon pot. 5 gallon batches are super easy and I have plenty of room for 10 gallon batches.

Not sure why you need 2 coolers.

#7

I’ll join the choir and say pony up for a 10 gal. IFor a kettle that big, a ball valve spigot is very handy, but I’d say you can skip the built-in thermometer. No need for a cooler for the sparge water, your little 5 gal pot will work fine for that.

#8

I mentioned in another thread today, the rectangular coolers are cheaper for more space. You can pick up a 48qt/12 gallon cooler usually under $35. 10g water cooler run $50+.

Denny’s site has been linked, here is an upgrade to his work.

http://brewing.lustreking.com/gear/mashtun.html
#9

10 gallon for mash - good way to go. There are plans for adding the valve, etc, so you can save a bundle doing it yourself:

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/cheap-e ... ion-23008/

I have a 5 gallon for sparge water - the reason being that I can heat the sparge water while the mash is steeping, then hold at temperature, rather than fussing with the flame. I did not add a valve, I just dip the water out with a sauce pan.

My boil pot is wide and 8 gallon. The width made it bad for use in the kitchen (it throws heat from underneath and the heat goes out to the sides, melting nearby controls). So I cook outside. I also feel a bit cramped with the 8 gallon size, because a full boil comes awful close to the top - not much room to fight off potential boil overs. I wish it was bigger than 8, and also narrower and taller.

#10

I have seen a few plans like these - I think I will consider building it myself. Does the braided stainless steel supply hose really work as good as a false bottom? Doesn’t it clog up with the grains?

#11

[quote=“gusrotteyman”]Does the braided stainless steel supply hose really work as good as a false bottom? Doesn’t it clog up with the grains?[/quote]Having never used a false bottom, I can’t compare the two, but my braids don’t clog even with up to 50% rye. The braid simply holds the grain back from the pickup forming a filter bed.

#12

I didn’t make my own tun. Mine has a false bottom and works fine.

#13

[quote=“Nighthawk”]I mentioned in another thread today, the rectangular coolers are cheaper for more space. You can pick up a 48qt/12 gallon cooler usually under $35. 10g water cooler run $50+.

Denny’s site has been linked, here is an upgrade to his work.

http://brewing.lustreking.com/gear/mashtun.html[/quote]

I don’t know if I’d call that an upgrade as much as a variation. I tried using a ball valve for a while and found it didn’t do as well for me as the cheap nylon valve/tubing set up.

#14

It works better than a false bottom. The wort clears much more quickly and it’s much less prone to a stuck runoff than a manifold or false bottom. I’ve used mine for 15 years and 427 batches. If it caused problems I would have switched a long time ago.

#15

Thank you so much everyone - I love all the support here. I will save my money by building my own with parts from Home Depot and then spend my savings on the nicest kettle I can afford.

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