So I am trying to get into all grain.
So most likely i can find the answer to all my questions through reading other peoples post but to be honest i am lazy lol.
So should I go with a direct fire set up for mashing with a low btu burner and a pot with a screen flase bottom and valve set-up?
And i have been looking at recipes i am interested in and they have set set temp like 120 degrees for 30 min then 30 min at 150 degrees and so forth. how do you do that and what is the point of doing that?
Easiest way to take care of the mash portion of going all grain is to batch sparge in a rectangular cooler. A great example of such a setup is at http://hbd.org/cascade/dennybrew/. No need to go with those way too expensive round type coolers.
As for step mashing (the mashing at different temperature steps that you mention), it is almost never required. A single temperature infusion mash works just fine.
I can’t agree enough with Hokerer. Look at Denny’s site and go from there. I was going to go with a more complicated plan and I was talked out of it and I’m happy I was.
I’ve done 6 all grains with the Coleman Extreme mash tun and they have all gone amazingly well. My efficiency on the last batch was approaching 90%. Follow Denny’s advice to get started and you’ll do fine.
I’m doing single-step infusions, no decoction, no step mashing or anything like that and it couldn’t be easier. Start this way and then move to something later if you think you want to experiment.
Absolutely agree, there is no reason to spend lots of money on a round cooler, a rectangular one will work just as well if not better. There are quite a few cheaper rectangular coolers that have better insulation which will help to maintain your mash temperatures longer. The dennybrew link is a fantastic resource to get started in all grain brewing.
I too am doing only single infusion mashes and batch sparging. Like hokerer said a step mash is almost never required as most of the malts we can buy in America are fully modified.
Ok i normally do 5 gallon bataches at around 6% i think i might try going higher on the abv but i saw this Cooler Amazon.com
Onsale on amazon does it matter it my mas isnt deep?
So would it matter if i had a small batch in a big cooler like this?
I’m no expert but for another $20 you can get a cooler that will do everything you’ll probably need. The Coleman Extreme is highly rated by most because it holds the heat so well which is imporant and also because the drain is perfect for converting to a mash tun with practically no dead space. If you leave a quart of good wort in the bottom of the $20 cooler, it won’t be a very good investment after a couple batches. I’m sure the cheaper one will do the job, especially if you put a blanket over it but for $39 for the one you listed, why worry about it? Amortized over 500 batches, it’s pennies a batch difference… Plus, if you keep the drain parts and if you decide to quit, you’ll still have a darn good cooler.
Get the 70qt Coleman Extreme. You will be able to do a lot more with it than a 40qt.
I didn’t remove the drain at all with mine. Just shoved the tubing through the drain and it fits snug with no leaks. It’s almost as if they had homebrewers in mind when this was designed. Virtually no dead space.
The beauty of it is I can pull the tubing out and then have a cooler to take anywhere such as the lake. A real multitasker!
I use a 48 qt. cooler. It’s a plain old Rubbermaid, no “extreme” anything. I’ve used it for just under 400 batches oif beer, so it must be OK. I can fit in about 28 lb. of grain at about 1 qt./lb. which allows me to do 5 gal. of beers up to a 1.100 OG. OTOH, if I was gonna do it again, I’d get the 70 qt.
I’ll add another vote for the 70 qt. Like Denny said you can do it with less but the bigger one gives you a little more breathing space and the flexibility to go with bigger mashes with a little higher water to grist ratio to make the mash easier to work with.
My thinking was.
I am a poor college student so i am trying to stay on the cheap.
And if i use this cooler for the time being later down the road i can buy the one you guys been talking about and change this cooler back and just using it for camping and such.
I have all the other parts so all that’s holding me back is the cooler.
Will this one hold temp and could i get a alteast a 5 gallon 10abv beer out of this.
Also i had a 20 gift card to target and i cant justify paying 80 dollars for a cooler at the moment. If the 20 cooler doesnt work then i am only out 20 dollars.
I have a direct fired mash tun on my brewstand and love it, but I also use a cooler mash tun inspired by Denny Conn that I still use today and love the simplicity of it.
When I talk to new homebrewers just starting out with all-grain brewing, I always recommend a cooler mash tun because of it’s ease of use and it’ ability to make damn good beer. Once you’ve mastered the cooler mash tun and batch sparging, and you decide that you want more versatility, then move into a direct fired or other type of heated tun.
How To Brew is the only book you’ll ever need, IMO. Everything else you need to know you can find online or through the many forums. Actually, as noted, that book is available online as well.
The third edition is less than $20 on amazon IIRC. Support Mr Palmer. After all he has given to the homebrewing community it would be a real shame to infringe on his copyright by distributing illegal versions of his book.