Igloo or Coleman 5 gallon cooler for mashtun?

[alan_marks]

OK gang, here's a question for the ages...

I'm a kitchen brewer, using a basic B3 set-up (bucket with a false bottom) to do partial mash brews, and not really happy with how I'm unable to hold steady mash temps. To put it bluntly, my efficiency sucks (so does my spelling). So, given my lack of space, lack of money, and the fact that I can only do stovetop partial boils anyway, and that the cost is about the same ($20), should I get a 5 gallon Igloo or 5 gallon Coleman cooler to use for a mash tun?

...and thanks for your support.

Alan

[Ozwald]

OK gang, here's a question for the ages...

I'm a kitchen brewer, using a basic B3 set-up (bucket with a false bottom) to do partial mash brews, and not really happy with how I'm unable to hold steady mash temps. To put it bluntly, my efficiency sucks (so does my spelling). So, given my lack of space, lack of money, and the fact that I can only do stovetop partial boils anyway, and that the cost is about the same ($20), should I get a 5 gallon Igloo or 5 gallon Coleman cooler to use for a mash tun?

...and thanks for your support.

Alan

The answer is yes. You should get a cooler. If you're asking if there's a difference between the two brands, I wouldn't worry about it. Personally I prefer the cylindrical coolers, but many prefer the rectangular ones. The pros and cons are almost equal (& pretty much negligible). Get a cooler, build/buy a manifold of some sort, and enjoy more steady mash temps. And have a beer while you're at it. Cheers!

[11amas]

I like the cube units, I do most 5g batches in a 48qt igloo cube with a SS braid on the inside and a ball valve on the outside, less than $50 total. For larger batches, I found a Coleman Extreme 75qt, semi-square cooler (has wheels and is nearly square, not like the standard rectangular config). It looks and acts just like my igloo cube and has another SS braid setup. This rig cost less than $75 (pricier cooler).

[orcoastbrew]

OK gang, here's a question for the ages...

I'm a kitchen brewer, using a basic B3 set-up (bucket with a false bottom) to do partial mash brews, and not really happy with how I'm unable to hold steady mash temps. To put it bluntly, my efficiency sucks (so does my spelling). So, given my lack of space, lack of money, and the fact that I can only do stovetop partial boils anyway, and that the cost is about the same ($20), should I get a 5 gallon Igloo or 5 gallon Coleman cooler to use for a mash tun?

...and thanks for your support.

Alan

I use a round igloo and love it. Takes up less space, holds temps steady for an hour as long as you preheat it and I think you leave less wort in the cooler because of the smaller pick up area. I built a square copper manifold which seem to work fine. I am going to try and make some mods to it to try and get it flush with the bottom of the cooler and thats the only thing I would do different. I think Morebeer.com has a lot of the parts you need to build the MLT.

[Gueze Lvr]

I use a 10gallon Rubbermaid round cooler w/ a EZ-Masher. It takes up much lass space inside than a regular false bottom, tubing & a ball valve in the middle. Also, a turkey fryer for a boiling pot/hot liquor. I use it for 5 gallon batches.
http://www.thegrape.net/browse.cfm/4,12433.html

I would go with a 10gallon cooler. Remember; The grain takes up allot of space.

Good luck!!

[Beer Baron]

Try getting a small roll of foil/bubble/foil (reflectix) insulation for your bucket. It costs about 12 bucks. Cut it to size, attach it with foil tape, cover the top with your kettle lid, and it will hold mash temperature almost as good as a cooler.

Use the money you save from not fabricating a cooler mashtun and get a 8.5 gallon enamel canning kettle and an immersion chiller and you can do 5 gallon all grain batches with up to 12 lbs of grain. You can use your 5 gallon kettle to mash - in and add heat to get to mash temps. You can do step mashes if you want to with this method. Dump the mash into your bottling bucket lauter tun, rinse out the 5 gallon pot, fill it up with water and use it as a hot liquor tank. I use a pyrex measuring cup to start the mash transfer and then to sparge. Put the bucket on a chair and drain it into the 8.5 gallon kettle. It won't take much longer than doing partial mashes. I have used this "ghettobrew" setup for several batches and it works well - I average 75% efficiency.

Here is a link to where I got my kettle...

http://www.amazon.com/Granite-Ware-34-Q ... 579&sr=8-1

Immersion chillers can be had from several places - I got mine from B3.

Think about it. You can do 5 gallon all grain batches on your kitchen stove fairly easily like this. Once you get the hang of all grain, then get a larger cooler of 10 gallon or so and you can step up to 10 gallon batches with a 15 gallon kettle and propane burner.

This is an easy and low-cost way I made the transition to full boil all grain batches. I am now looking at stepping up to 10 gallon batches with a burner and larger kettle. All of the advice I have gotten has said "don't bother with a 5 gallon cooler, get a bigger one and do 10 gallon batches instead."

[Lando]

Nothing wrong with either style. You will have more options for false bottoms...etc with the round cylinder style water coolers. If you think you will do larger batches in the future you may want to consider getting at least a 48quart/12 gallon cooler.

[Brew What]

I bought the cheaper 5 gallon round cooler from Home depot. I quickly discovered that the 5 gal was not big enough to suit my needs. I then spent more $$ getting the 10 gallon round cooler that has served me well for the past 3 years. Save the $$ and get a 10 gallon tun.