How much grain?

[S.F.B.]

This is a question I have had in the back of my mind since considering all grain brewing. How much grain can you mash in your 10 gallon Gott cooler? I wish to do some higher gravity ales and need to find out if I will have to supplement with extract. I know I could use first runnings exclusively and brew a smaller batch but would prefer to keep it at 5 gal.

[Stumptown]

Scroll to the bottom and put your numbers in the "can I mash it" calculator.

http://www.rackers.org/calcs.shtml

[chris1kanobi]

Thanks for the link Stump. I can mash about 25 lbs. of grain in my 10 gallon cooler. It is heavy, temperatures are hard to measure and it takes for ever to batch sparge. I stick to about 15 lbs. of grain and use DME for the rest.:D

[S.F.B.]

Thanks for the link. Another handy tool for the brewer. :cool:

That's what I was thinking I would do, Chris. I just thought I would check it out.

[Stumptown]

I agree with you guys. "Can" and "should" are too different things.