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cul8rv8
01-21-2008, 04:31 PM
OK, been doing some reading, considering moving to all grain. Am I correct in that the only additional equipment I really need is a cooler as a mash/lauter tun, and a cooler as a hot liquor tank?


For an example, I'm going to use my Pale Ale recipe I recently made. I used BeerSmith to convert it to All-Grain, it comes out to using 9 lbs total of grain.

My theory is I use my current brew kettle to bring all water needed (per BeerSmith, 7.39 gallons for a boil volume of 6.31 gallons) up to temperature, then transfer to the HLT. I put 9 quarts of this water along with the grains in the MLT. After mash is done, transfer the wort from the MLT to the brewpot, move half the remaining water in the HLT to the MLT, stir, let it settle, then transfer that to the brewpot, then repeat with the remaining water in the HLT.

I'm trying to figure out a way to make the move on a budget. At first I thought it was going to be an expensive move to go AG, but the more I try and read and the more I try to understand, I think I can do it a lot cheaper than I thought I could.

MrNate
01-21-2008, 04:50 PM
Yep, that's about it. You can even use a hot water heater element in the HLT if you want to not deal with pumping or pouring. Takes a little while longer to reach temp @ 120v, though. But it is cheap and easy.

cul8rv8
01-21-2008, 06:03 PM
I don't know what I read recently that cleared it all up, but for the longest time I just couldn't get my head around the AG process, it constantly seemed so much harder than this. Thanks!

BrewDog
01-21-2008, 08:02 PM
If you really want to go cheap, there is the "brew in a bag" method that Chubber has been doing recently.

http://www.realbeer.com/discussions/showthread.php?s=&threadid=14759&highlight=biab

The idea is that you make a HUGE grain bag, and treat it like a humongous steep. It helps to have a block and tackle to hoist the grains out after the mash.

I haven't tried this, but there are several people who swear by it.
Personally, I'm sticking with my current more traditional methods, but I just wanted to point this out as another very inexpensive alternative.

Mad Scientist
01-22-2008, 01:40 PM
Do not piegonhole yourself to having such a limited amount of heated water....I have ten gallons of water on hand durng brewday: five for the mash, and five for the sparge. If you live in an area where your water quality of OK for brewing then no worries, but I have to buy my water from an R.O. machine.

cul8rv8
01-23-2008, 03:46 PM
Yeah, I saw the brew in a bag stuff a while back, but I'm thinking if I do this right, I can still keep the cost of going AG more than affordable even for the traditional method. I'm an old DSMer. Don't know how many car people there are here, and of those how many know what a DSM is, but us DSM people are great at doing things as cheap as possible and still be extremely effective.

Boerne, as you said, I too buy my water from an RO machine, but I typically have at least 10 gallons on hand at all times. Plus, the RO machine is only a 2 minute drive from my house if need be.

vw addict
01-23-2008, 05:38 PM
Buying water? That shit is free at the lake.:D

ClaudiusB
01-24-2008, 01:51 AM
Posted by VW addict
Buying water? That shit is free at the lake
(http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff156/ClaudiusB/Lake_water.jpg) :D

Cheers,
ClaudiusB

Mad Scientist
01-24-2008, 09:06 AM
Originally posted by ClaudiusB
Posted by VW addict
Buying water? That shit is free at the lake
(http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff156/ClaudiusB/Lake_water.jpg) :D

Cheers,
ClaudiusB

Wow, I didn't know you had that sort of water out there in Hell Paso....