Largest grain bill for a single batch in a cooler MLT?
- moxie
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Largest grain bill for a single batch in a cooler MLT?
I know a few of you are mashing in coolers... I am currently putting together a recipe for a barleywine for next fall, and it got me wondering... What is the biggest beer you've brewed up with a cooler MLT? I guess another way of looking at it would be what is the largest grain bill you've squeezed in there?
I use a (rectangular) Rubbermaid 48qt cooler, and have not dumped more than 15 pounds of grain in there at one time. I am hoping to break the 20 pound barrier for this barleywine. I've got some Kent Goldings to use up, so I figured, what the hell.
I use a (rectangular) Rubbermaid 48qt cooler, and have not dumped more than 15 pounds of grain in there at one time. I am hoping to break the 20 pound barrier for this barleywine. I've got some Kent Goldings to use up, so I figured, what the hell.
- akr71
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Re: Largest grain bill for a single batch in a cooler MLT?
My mash tun is a 48qt cooler too & I've recently done an Old Ale that was just shy of 19lbs. I probably could have squeezed in an extra pound in there. The water level was ~2 inches below the lid.
I partigyled mine, which meant I mashed thinner than normally so I could get enough for the first runnings beer, if I sparged it, I would have mashed thicker & not had the water level so high.
I partigyled mine, which meant I mashed thinner than normally so I could get enough for the first runnings beer, if I sparged it, I would have mashed thicker & not had the water level so high.
Andy
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- moxie
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Re: Largest grain bill for a single batch in a cooler MLT?
Good to know... Did you do an extended boil? What was your mashing temp?akr71 wrote:My mash tun is a 48qt cooler too & I've recently done an Old Ale that was just shy of 19lbs. I probably could have squeezed in an extra pound in there. The water level was ~2 inches below the lid.
I partigyled mine, which meant I mashed thinner than normally so I could get enough for the first runnings beer, if I sparged it, I would have mashed thicker & not had the water level so high.
- mr x
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Re: Largest grain bill for a single batch in a cooler MLT?
I can get about 36 lbs in my Igloo cube for bigger beers, but if I want to go over 1.080, I'm adding sugar or extract.
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- moxie
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Re: Largest grain bill for a single batch in a cooler MLT?
Wow, that is a lot of grain. What size is your cube? Is that the design with the handle and wheels?
I might throw a pound of extract in for good measure, but I am a bit worried about the abv tolerance of my yeast. I will be bottle conditioning this one, so I am reluctant to get much above 9% or so. (limited temp control, no diffusion stone)
I might throw a pound of extract in for good measure, but I am a bit worried about the abv tolerance of my yeast. I will be bottle conditioning this one, so I am reluctant to get much above 9% or so. (limited temp control, no diffusion stone)
- mr x
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Re: Largest grain bill for a single batch in a cooler MLT?
Yeah, it's the handle and wheels style form Walmart. What yeast are you using?
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- moxie
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Re: Largest grain bill for a single batch in a cooler MLT?
I haven't decided yet. I am going for an English style with those UK goldings, so I am thinking either Nottingham or WL 1318... From what I'm reading, the Notty is a bit more robust... 1318 is listed for 10% abv. If I hit my target OG, I should get about 9% from the prelim recipe. 1028 might be better.mr x wrote:Yeah, it's the handle and wheels style form Walmart. What yeast are you using?
Those cubes look pretty solid. Mine unfortunately has an inch or so of dead space below the valve. Not really a huge deal, but it starts to be a pain in the ass when I am filling the thing to the brim.
- mr x
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Re: Largest grain bill for a single batch in a cooler MLT?
I'd go with the 1028 for the barleywine. I tried a BW with a lower attenuating English strain, and even with mashing low and using sugar, it still didn't get me the attenuation I wanted. Sweet barleywine sucks rocks.
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- moxie
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Re: Largest grain bill for a single batch in a cooler MLT?
I agree... The Notty makes it a bit more economical, but I am starting to lean towards that 1028. I am also thinking about throwing a couple of ounces of oak for bulk aging in secondary.mr x wrote:I'd go with the 1028 for the barleywine. I tried a BW with a lower attenuating English strain, and even with mashing low and using sugar, it still didn't get me the attenuation I wanted. Sweet barleywine sucks rocks.
- mr x
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Re: Largest grain bill for a single batch in a cooler MLT?
Yeah, the Nottingham would be easier on the budget if you're going from scratch. I always do a step up beer to get a good yeastcake before brewing a big beer with liquid yeast. I don't have a problem throwing packs of -05 at a big beer though.
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- akr71
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Re: Largest grain bill for a single batch in a cooler MLT?
Hell no - as it was I over shot by a mile and had to dilute when it went into the kettle (that's OK, more beer). I over-estimated how much of an efficiency hit I'd take - I was still ~67%moxie wrote: Good to know... Did you do an extended boil? What was your mashing temp?
round about page 6 of this thread I link to the resources I used to dial in my partigyle.
Andy
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- BBrianBoogie
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Re: Largest grain bill for a single batch in a cooler MLT?
I've got a 48qt cooler. I've had 23.75lbs of grains and still had a little room left over.
- ajcarp
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Re: Largest grain bill for a single batch in a cooler MLT?
I used 1098 for mine. Started at 1.088 and finished at 1.022. It is supposed to be good up to 10% ABV. It was delicious and disappeared fast.
JLC
JLC
- mr x
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Re: Largest grain bill for a single batch in a cooler MLT?
I used the 1099. Bad idea.
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- LiverDance
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Re: Largest grain bill for a single batch in a cooler MLT?
For mash tun size, this link is a good referance.
http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/how-big ... ds-123585/
http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/how-big ... ds-123585/
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- mr x
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Re: Largest grain bill for a single batch in a cooler MLT?
I don't agree with the last column regarding 80%eff at that high an OG.
At Alexander Keith's we follow the recipes first developed by the great brewmaster to the absolute letter.
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