Mash tun, all grain?s

Brewing Processes
1

Guys I’m finally getting around to all grain. This is basically a two part question. For now I’d prefer to go the less complicated route just to get some all grain batches under my belt.

1st- to batch or fly spare? For a newbie to all grain would one method make more since over another?

2nd- the mash tun itself. I was thinking of a 10g blue igloo cylinder with a false bottom. However is a bazooka screen better or perhaps a rectangular cooler with screens or manifold.

I am aware of that I will get many opinions. At the moment I do not have a marsh pump but will be purchasing one eventually. Haven’t decided on a 3 tier gravity system, or with marsh pump and then there the side by side which takes up less height.

Any opinions, advice, recommendations welcome.

2

Dennybrew. You might already have a cooler sitting around.

Edit. http://hbd.org/cascade/dennybrew/

3

I started out with several batches mashing in a bag in a cooler without a valve or false bottom or Bazooka or anything.  Open the little cap on the cooler and drain it and you’re good to go – just take care to try not to burn yourself – that wort is hot.  You can worry about details later.  Eventually I got a stainless valve and Bazooka.  But there’s probably 50 different ways to do it, and they all work great.  No worries.

4

I use a 48 QT (12 gallon) cooler with a copper manifold I built. I also batch sparge and find that my efficiency is pretty relative with other brewers who fly sparge in my club. Here’s a picture http://instagram.com/p/d22bYXnfHo/

Additionally, if you ever want to move up to producing 10 gallons at a time, I suggest you shoot for a bigger cooler to start, 48QT being the minimum. I like 48QT too, because I also have some freedom in making 5 gallons of a super high-gravity beer. Here is the 48QT cooler I use http://www.amazon.com/Coleman-3000000020-48-Quart-Cooler-Blue/dp/B00363RSUS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1399995470&sr=8-2&keywords=48+quart+cooler

If you want to get some tubing and transform a cooler, I got all my fittings, barbs, spigots, etc. from Bargain Fittings (www.bargainfittings.com). I love them and I’ve never had an issue, plus it’s ALWAYS flat rate shipping!

5

I know you’re from SA when you say marsh-pump. ;D

IMO the 70qt coleman extreme is just about the perfect all-rounder mashtun- perfect for batch sparging. Take a gander at Denny’s instructions for it on his site. Much less complicated way to mash and then lauter using a hose-braid.

With my extreme I didn’t even have to modify it at all. Just shoved the tubing through the drain and it holds tight and doesn’t leak. And if needed it can be easily removed and the cooler used for more standard purposes.

There is brew in a bag (BIAB) but IMO unless one has a hoist you’re stuck doing relatively small batches.

6

My suggestion is convert a cooler with a copper or pvc manifold and batch sparge. With that set up you can always choose to fly sparge down the road or upgrade to a fancier manifold system but you may find you don’t need to get more fancy than the initial set up.

7

Thanks All, I just watched All-Grain brewing with John Palmer which was a great refresher. I read the book a few years ago so the vid was a nice reminder.

I do plan on using the Batch Sparge method for now for simplicity. If I get super serious or just want a nicer setup I will mess with the March pump and the fly sparge method later on.

8

FWIW, you can make some ‘super-seriously’ good beers batch sparging. I fly sparged for years and batch sparge now, for simplicity, reliability AND beer quality.  My $ 0.02

9

You should probably check out this one, too.

http://www.homebrewersassociation.org/lets-brew/advanced/start-brewing/

10

You do not need a March pump to continuous sparge (a.k.a “fly sparge”).  I have always continuous sparged with a gravity-fed setup.

With that said, continuous sparging is more technique and lauter tun design sensitive than infusion rising*.

  • Dave Miller’s term for batch sparging
11

Thanks Gents, love this forum. I will post up my Mash tun and 1st all grain brew soon. ;D

12

I regretted starting AG with fly sparging. I batch sparge now and am happier. The fly sparging was too time consuming and fussy for me to the point of being a bit demoralizing. I have the upright cylinder igloo with false bottom and it works great and is simple.

13

I have tried all kinds of ways and batch sparging is the way to go.  Try them all and decide for yourself, but almost to a man, all my friends who brew all grain do so by batch sparging.  It is just the way I choose to go after seeing alternatives and making a choice.  Some may like to fly sparge, but I prefer the quicker and for my money - more repeatable process.

14

+1.  I switched from fly sparging and never looked back.

15

+2 on batch sparging. I started all grain doing BIAB and went on to a cooler tun with a kettle screen. In all honesty, I believe any cooler that you can retro fit with some form of kettle screen, bazooka, braided line or the like will let you batch sparge with the best of them. I really like batch sparging if for any other reason because it’s a bit faster than fly sparging and no dead spaces from odd flow asymetries creating in the tun.  They pretty much all work (denny’s cooler tun is great). My cheap little gott cooler gets a solid 80-83 % efficiency with my crush almost every time. My best advice would be to control your flow rate, insulate the cooler with a blanket or towel while your mashing and preheat the tun with hot tap water.

16

IDWDD - I do what Denny does. It’s the new RDWHAHB. I need a T-shirt.

17

I’ll buy one of those. :smiley:

18

I’ll buy one too.

Except in my case it might be referring to my own name as much as Denny’s.  :wink:

19

I’d buy that or a WWDCD: what would Denny Conn do!

20

I would wear one of dennys shirts, but I’m cheap and practical so he’d have to give it to me and it would have to be a color that gave me the most enjoyment yet still be comfortable