| Author |
Message |
    
Keith O. (216.39.170.42)
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 15, 2003 - 05:05 pm: | 
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I want brew a big beer. What is the max lbs.of grain a converted keg will hold?
Keith |
Bill Pierce (24.141.63.119)
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 15, 2003 - 05:15 pm: |
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It depends on whether you have a mash screen or false bottom, of course as well as the mash thickness, but 35 lbs. represents a reasonable maximum for a converted 15.5 gallon keg. You will need to be very careful when you sparge. |
Drew Avis (209.226.137.106)
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 15, 2003 - 05:50 pm: |
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I think the mash thickness is the biggest factor. I easily got 36 lbs into my tun on Monday, but mashed on the thick side at 1 qt/lb. I had probably 4L left headspace, and could have probably hit 40 lbs if I wanted to go right to the rim. These numbers leave no room for an infusion, so you need to do a decoction if you want to mashout (or miss your strike temp, like I did).
35 is the max for comfortable "non-sticky floors" mashing. |
Drew Avis (209.226.137.108)
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 15, 2003 - 05:54 pm: |
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PS - I just checked StrangeBrew, and it predicts that a 45 lb mash at .9 qt/lb will occupy 14.8 gallons US. YMMV. |
Keith O. (216.39.170.42)
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 15, 2003 - 06:12 pm: |
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Thanks guys. I've brewed with 37.5 lbs. and this recipe calls for 42.5. Looks like I will just brew it.
Keith |
Hophead (167.4.1.38)
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 15, 2003 - 06:52 pm: |
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This thread officially makes the top 10 list, hooray.
40lbs has been declared the practical maximum for a sanke keg mashtun... Sparging gets tricky... |
Walt Fischer (24.221.196.114)
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 15, 2003 - 06:53 pm: |
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36 is the most ive ever stuffed into mine...
Too much and youll start effecting eff....
Walt
Lama Brewery
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Andrew Bales (199.64.0.252)
| | Posted on Friday, October 17, 2003 - 12:04 pm: |
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What did you guys hit with that much poundage in a sanke with a false bottom? SGs? I too am thinking about another barleywine, this time 10g all grain. I have never done more than 27# and that had lots of rye and wheat and was a pain in the ••• to sparge. |
Bill Pierce (24.141.63.119)
| | Posted on Friday, October 17, 2003 - 12:15 pm: |
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Assuming 75 percent efficiency and a "normal" recipe, you can achieve an S.G. of 1.095 by mashing 35 lbs. of grain for a 10 gallon batch. With a little caution you could mash 37 lbs. for 1.100. |
Drew Avis (209.226.137.107)
| | Posted on Friday, October 17, 2003 - 02:35 pm: |
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I assumed 65% efficiency, and got 70% for 36 lbs. I typically sparge about 13 gals, boil down to 12 or so, then top up the keg to 15.5 just before I chill to get about 15 gals of brew.
If you get 70% or lower from a big mash, you can continue to sparge a small beer to collect the remaining 10-20% of sugars. I got 5 gals of a nice "mild" out of that big mash (topped the mash up with some carafa, carafoam, and carastan to "freshen" it before collecting the small beer). |
Walt Fischer (24.221.196.114)
| | Posted on Friday, October 17, 2003 - 04:27 pm: |
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Bill's numbers are about what happens when i make 10 gallons of my 11.3% Rochefort 10 clone in my converted kegs. OG 1.096 then take it down to 1.010-1.012.
Course i get about 73% eff, and drop in some sugar to make up the difference 
BrewON!
Walt
Lama Brewery
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Joe Alf (65.139.148.60)
| | Posted on Saturday, October 18, 2003 - 12:55 am: |
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I don't know about the math but I was getting 39+ lbs in my 13.5 keg and I just got the new 15,it better hold 45.I guess I could always jump on it again. |
Walt Fischer (24.221.196.114)
| | Posted on Saturday, October 18, 2003 - 11:35 pm: |
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45?
no way.. heh
Unless you want your water to grains ratio to be less then 1.0 which, in my opinion, youll not get as good a conversion...
Ill bet youd get a higher OG with 35 then with 45 at that ratio..
Walt
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Kentucky Dan (68.18.72.235)
| | Posted on Saturday, October 18, 2003 - 11:43 pm: |
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I got 42#'s once, but it was extremely thick. Definitely took longer to sparge and only got about 65% efficiency.
Dan |
Andrew Bales (199.64.0.252)
| | Posted on Monday, October 20, 2003 - 01:01 pm: |
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Thanks guys. Sounds like its time to do Walt's Rochfort 10 clone and then take Drew's carastan idea to it for a small beer as second runnings. Sure beats the hell out of a second mash and I get 15 gallons of beer out of this, 10g Roch and 5g Pale Ale or brown. |
Joe Alf (65.141.57.9)
| | Posted on Monday, October 20, 2003 - 10:44 pm: |
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Just returned from helping a friend brew a 20g batch of fruit beer base -20% wheat w low hops . He used 42lbs grain in a 13g keg.After a stuck mash,we decocted,underlet and sparged our way to 20g @ 1.060 or there abouts. 5g for Wit[my old cake]5g rasberry,5g apple...... He's got a bro getting hitched in Nov. It can be done but it's a pain. |
Brews and Views Archive 2003