BeerBorg

I've thought for a while that it might be a good idea to move up to a 7 gallon cooler for my mash tun. There's nothing wrong with the 5g one I've got, except for the capacity. Most of my recipes fall into the 5 - 6% range, but there are a couple, such as the Rye-Guy Rye IPA, that are slightly larger, and call for not only more grain, but rice hulls to avoid a stuck sparge. I've been able to get by on those recipes by splitting the grain bill and doing about 3 or 4 pounds of grain as BIAB simultaneously with the mash, then combining the runnings. But that gets old.

I just think it's about time. And it wouldn't take me that long. I could even use the components I've got now, adding more C-PVC pipe (which I've already got) to the manifold. Just buy a few more connectors and joints.

Maybe this summer....

I just used my 52qt cooler for the first time. It lost 5 degrees, I realized that it has a hollow lid. I'm thinking of an extreme cooler, and maybe a bigger pot. First I'm going to cover that top, and try ten gallon in my ten gallon pot. Usually I mash in an 8 gallon pot in reflectix and styrofoam. It keeps the heat.

I have used my 10 gallon cooler in the garage when it was under 40 degrees and only lost 1 degree in an hour and 45 minutes. It also has a hollow lid.

Dave why would you not go to a ten gallon? It might save you from another upgrade in the future?

Gymrat wrote:Dave why would you not go to a ten gallon? It might save you from another upgrade in the future?

What he said!!!!

Gymrat wrote:I have used my 10 gallon cooler in the garage when it was under 40 degrees and only lost 1 degree in an hour and 45 minutes. It also has a hollow lid.

Dave why would you not go to a ten gallon? It might save you from another upgrade in the future?

Mine is a rectangular 52qt Igloo. Your cylinder has less surface area, and probably more insulation.