Cooler mashing debate! Rectangle, round, false, manf...

[TimmyR]

New data point. I have a 5 gallon round Igloo I've used for years to brew partial-extract, 5-gal batches where my grain bill accounts for 70%-100% of the fermentables. Now I am upgrading to 10-gallon, and want to have a solid AG-sized cooler. Just found a 50 qt Igloo Ice Cube (square) dimensions (interior) 11 3/8" square, 14+" deep. Planning to build a 4 or 6 length manifold out of 1/2" copper and attach (not sure how) to a SS bulkhead (like the ones from Northern Brewer).

I've read Rock Candy's book and reviewed the site. Wide open to suggestions and lessons learned.

[Nate Diggler]

Here's a DIY site of a buddy of mine's: http://brewing.lustreking.com/gear/mashtun.html

I've built two of these based on his plans for less than $50 each, and mashed as much as 37 pounds of grain at a time (when I brewed earlier today, a 15 gallon parti-gyle of three varying strength Oatmeal Stouts). I modified mine slightly by just putting a brass square end at the end of the braided steel line (and I used a longer line that extends across the entire length of the botton) attached with another pipe clamp so it has a cleaner look. I generally get 70-75% efficiency, and only lose maybe a degree or two even on the coldest days due to the better insulation of the Coleman XTreme coolers.

I sparge with one of these:

The sparge set-up rides across the top of the cooler very smoothly, I just push it against the edge of the open lid, and have one of my brewing minions move it back and forth slowly while I observe the output to the kettle. My HLT is just another 70Qt cooler without the braided steel tube inside, but it could easily be converted.

[Dirk McLargeHuge]

Here's a DIY site of a buddy of mine's: http://brewing.lustreking.com/gear/mashtun.html

I've built two of these based on his plans for less than $50 each, and mashed as much as 37 pounds of grain at a time (when I brewed earlier today, a 15 gallon parti-gyle of three varying strength Oatmeal Stouts). I modified mine slightly by just putting a brass square end at the end of the braided steel line (and I used a longer line that extends across the entire length of the botton) attached with another pipe clamp so it has a cleaner look. I generally get 70-75% efficiency, and only lose maybe a degree or two even on the coldest days due to the better insulation of the Coleman XTreme coolers.

I sparge with one of these:

The sparge set-up rides across the top of the cooler very smoothly, I just push it against the edge of the open lid, and have one of my brewing minions move it back and forth slowly while I observe the output to the kettle. My HLT is just another 70Qt cooler without the braided steel tube inside, but it could easily be converted.

Curse you and your brewing porn! I want one of those, too!

Now no one will get Christmas presents. . . .

[Nate Diggler]

Yeah, it is one sweet piece of equipment... it even spins when the water comes out, which was the key factor in entrancing my brewing minions to keep volunteering to be Spargemaster... they compete to see who can get the highest efficiency (the record is 76% so far)

Curse you and your brewing porn! I want one of those, too!

Now no one will get Christmas presents. . . .

[BDawg]

IMO, those spinner thingies really are more flash than function and not worth the money.

I run my sparge water into a piece of tin foil or the top of a plastic container. I regularly get 78-80% time after time.
The trick is to run slowly and not channel. Nothing fancy and it works great.

[Nate Diggler]

Eh, I splurged on the sparge arm because I made out cheap on the mash tuns. I fly sparge, and I noticed a few percent difference on my system with the spinner as compared to the fixed ring that I inherited from another brewer, so I have no complaints about it, and its been a great minion retention tool

IMO, those spinner thingies really are more flash than function and not worth the money.

I run my sparge water into a piece of tin foil or the top of a plastic container. I regularly get 78-80% time after time.
The trick is to run slowly and not channel. Nothing fancy and it works great.

[ziggy]

I use that fancy sparge arm, a 10 gallon round cooler, and a SS false bottom. The arm is annoying because if you slow the flow rate to what it is supposed to be the arm doesn't spin. But I routinely get 80% efficiency and 84% is my record.

[foomench]

Fly sparge, Igloo Ice Cube with perforated stainless false bottom and copper sparge ring. I typically plan on 75% efficiency. For a few beers under 1.050, like Charlie's BYOB, I get around 80%. I once got 84% for a beer above 1.050, but that was milled too fine and I ran the pump too fast, resulting in a stuck sparge.

As for that slotted false bottom, I suspect it will work, but it looks like a lot less opening than a commercial setup. The commercial vessels typically have tri-bar on the bottom. The slots run the entire length of the bottom. Now if I could just find some of that stuff cheap, that would be sweet.

I had a sprinkler arm once, but I think that allows the water to cool more as it is spraying. I just keep about an inch of water above my grain bed and I think that helps avoid any channeling.

-Eric