H&G Thermos MT capacity worry

Parva · Post by **Parva** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 7:05 pm

Hi guys, I've brewed several 5 gallon batches of beer consisting of 5Kg M.O. in the 32 litre Thermos mash tun I got from H&G with no problems. I'm now considering ramping the quantity up to 40 litres to fill two cornies at once as supply is outstripping production.

I have plenty of capacity with the boiler and FV to accomodate this but I'm worried about the mash tun being able to accomodate this. I'm probably looking at near 9Kg of grains and 22.5 litres of water. Knowing how full it gets with just a 5Kg grain bill it's going to be a buttock-clenching moment getting that lot in!

Anyone have any experience of this?

MightyMouth · Post by **MightyMouth** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 7:57 pm

I have a similar cooler and I really don't think you'll manage it seeing how full mine is with an average brew. You could always do it in 2 lots which will add maybe an hour and a half to the day but you get twice as much beer.

Garth · Post by **Garth** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 8:00 pm

I've had just short of 9kg in a 28 litre thermos, (the 32 litre version is the same body, just more space in the lid)

it was pretty full but I managed it, just make the mash/liquor mixture a bit stiffer

the recipe was for a 6-7% stout

give it a blast

MightyMouth · Post by **MightyMouth** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 8:12 pm

What was your efficiency like for that brew Garth?

Gurgeh · Post by **Gurgeh** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 9:25 pm

G's efficiency may well have taken a knock but as the intention here is greater brew length that means a longer sparge and that would bring efficiency back to ~normal.

if you're flysparging you'll get away with it, there may not be room for topping up for a batch sparge.

Garth · Post by **Garth** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 10:16 pm

MightyMouth wrote:What was your efficiency like for that brew Garth?

not quite sure, it was before I started working things out like that or used Promash. still got me 23 litres at at 1073

the recipe was set at 70% eff, so a FG of 1010 would be around the 6.5% mark which is what I got

I've done that recipe 3 times in that particular tun and it's always produced good results, as Gurgeh says, the key is a slow gentle sparge.

any reason?

MightyMouth · Post by **MightyMouth** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 10:38 pm

No reason, just wondering as I have been toying with the idea but always talked myself out of it because of what others have said. Anyway have bought a 60Lt bain marie so just need to get my false bottom finished and I don't have to worry any more

Parva · Post by **Parva** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 11:20 pm

Cheers guys, I'm batch sparging. I'll have a sleep on it but it's edging towards a no no at this point.

Garth · Post by **Garth** » Tue Sep 30, 2008 4:37 pm

MightyMouth wrote:No reason, just wondering as I have been toying with the idea but always talked myself out of it because of what others have said. Anyway have bought a 60Lt bain marie so just need to get my false bottom finished and I don't have to worry any more

those bain maries are the mutts nuts, I bet more of those have now been sold to homebrewers than anyone else.

I've a 50 litre and I think it's time to go for the 80, I had mine brimming at the weekend.

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H&G Thermos MT capacity worry

H&G Thermos MT capacity worry