Home of the BrewNosers

Hey All,

Right now I'm brewing in a 5 gallon SS pot, sparging in a 7 gallon plastic bucket with a plastic sparge screen, and boiling in a 7.5 gallon aluminum pot on a propane burner (http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/2 ... ?locale=en" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - similar to this). This works well enough for 6 gallon batches for me, but if I want to make a larger batch to split with family, I have to add malt extract to the boil and add water after. Needless to say, this raises my marginal cost significantly, given the price different between malt extract and grain. My current plan is to modify a 48 quart (I think?) rectangular cooler by adding a copper manifold, to increase my mashing capacity. As for my boiling capacity, that'll be another project. For now I'll just boil the extra in my 5 gallon pot on the stove, so I'll be able to brew an extra 4 gallons or so.

Here are my questions.

If I don't make permanent modifications to the cooler, will the heat damage it in any way? I'd still like to take it apart so I can use it as a cooler.
What kind of propane burner do you all have? My pot sits on a not very sturdy looking three legged stand that's designed to hold the pot that I have and not a bigger one. I don't think I'd trust a larger pot to sit on it.

All the coolers I used for mashing buckled the inside plastic. Still useable though,

Hmm. I can't see my wife being happy about that (it's her cooler). Maybe I'll watch for sales.

when I got my cooler from walmart, it was only 20 bucks. i don't remember it being on sale, but maybe it was.

mr x wrote:All the coolers I used for mashing buckled the inside plastic. Still useable though,

What are you mashing? Dark matter?

amartin wrote:Hmm. I can't see my wife being happy about that (it's her cooler). Maybe I'll watch for sales.

Its easier to beg forgiveness than to ask permission. Tell her it will be fine and act surprised if it does buckle.

I'm sure the cooler I have no would be fine. I forgot until now though, if I get a new round cooler, I can just use the round sparge screen I have now instead of making a manifold.

amartin wrote:Hey All,

Right now I'm brewing in a 5 gallon SS pot, sparging in a 7 gallon plastic bucket with a plastic sparge screen, and boiling in a 7.5 gallon aluminum pot on a propane burner (http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/2 ... ?locale=en" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - similar to this). This works well enough for 6 gallon batches for me, but if I want to make a larger batch to split with family, I have to add malt extract to the boil and add water after. Needless to say, this raises my marginal cost significantly, given the price different between malt extract and grain. My current plan is to modify a 48 quart (I think?) rectangular cooler by adding a copper manifold, to increase my mashing capacity. As for my boiling capacity, that'll be another project. For now I'll just boil the extra in my 5 gallon pot on the stove, so I'll be able to brew an extra 4 gallons or so.

Here are my questions.

If I don't make permanent modifications to the cooler, will the heat damage it in any way? I'd still like to take it apart so I can use it as a cooler.
What kind of propane burner do you all have? My pot sits on a not very sturdy looking three legged stand that's designed to hold the pot that I have and not a bigger one. I don't think I'd trust a larger pot to sit on it.

My wife does not like the "Look" of my cooler tun. It is brownish and scratched up. Still works fine. My manifold is CPVC with a zip tie holding it together and a piece of soft tube to the drain spigot.

Kevin at Granite has 50l aluminum kegs for $50. That would get your output up. Atlantic Wholesale has pots for a good price (don't remember the details)

Sandy