Inexpensive HLT / Mash / Lauter Tun cooler conversion

This is a very inexpensive 3 tier cooler conversion setup for all grain home brewing. The "system" consists of 2 coolers with ball valves installed and a 7.5 gal (30qt) turkey fryer and gas burner kit.

One cooler conversion (the 48qt mash tun) cost about $35 to $40 including cooler, valve, fittings, and CPVC. The larger cooler which is the HLT (Hot Liquor Tank) cost a total of about $35 with cooler, valve and fittings. The turkey fryer kit without cylinder (including burner) cost $69.

This was a pretty inexpensive way to get started in all grain brewing if you already have your basic brewing setup with fermenters, etc.

Drain manifold design here http://brewingtechniques.com/library/backissues/issue5.4/palmer_sb.html#manifold
Credit goes to to John Palmer for that design.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• beer
• homebrew
• mash
• lauter
• sparge
• home
• brew
• igloo
• cooler
• CPVC
• manifold
• wort
• all
• grain
• allgrain
• drink
• arts
• crafts

[RokGoblin]

...I can't remember if they were domestic or not....uhhh come to think of it I can't remember anything....maybe it's the lead :-P Hehe. They were NSF certified or at least thats what the label on the handle said. I got them at either Lowes or Home Depot here in the US.

Sorry to all those who have asked questions that I have neglected to answer. If you are still interested in a response please let me know.

[BrewAcademy]

Super cool setup man...Looks very convenient. And just to share with everybody else... Instead of pouring my wort through a colander over the top of the grain bed for the vorlof.. I like to use a milk jug with the top cut off... fill it with wort and pour it through a slotted spoon back over the top of the bed. That way I can be sure and cover my whole Tun and not miss any spots. Is it tedious and unnecessary? Probably... But it satisfies my need to be totally in control of my beers.. ;) Ty..

[RokGoblin]

Thanks Ty...I have since flipped my drain manifold slots down and I now use a small 3 gallon beverage cooler for my HLT since most of my sparges follow a mash out infusion and are usually under 3 gallons. The smaller cooler with less headspace seems to help keep the HLT temp spot on.

As for your vorlauf, if you are just recirculating a few quarts to clarify your wort you collect in the kettle, all I do is pour it nice and slow down the sides and you can avoid disturbing the grain bed.

[RokGoblin]

excuse the assumption...if the method described is how you are fly (continuous) sparging and not just vorlaufing (recirculating) for clarification, you could punch several small holes in the bottom of the jug and let it slowly drain that way. You could devise a way to sit the jug on top of your mash tun so you don't have to hold it.

Just make sure to keep 2 or 3 inches over the top of your grain bed and try not to disturb much beyond the top inch or 2 of your grain bed during the sparge.

[RokGoblin]

Fly sparging isn't any better than batch sparging. The benefits gained are not really worth all the extra time and effort.

One important thing to remember when sparging is not to just dump the sparge water into the mash tun and disturb the grain bed...gently pour it over a plate or a bowl or something you can lay across the top of the grainbed to dissipate the sparge water and prevent it from channeling through the grains and reducing your efficiency.

[RokGoblin]

...OK a year later and some more comments to add. Fly sparging *does* have it's benefits and so does batch sparging. Choose whichever you like...I still fly sparge and I kinda like that 60 to 90 minutes of "chill" time during my brew day. I can do nothing, or use it to prepare for other steps in the brew process.

I also heard on a BrewStrong podcast that as long as you are not disturbing too deeply into the grain bed it should not affect the sparge. Just dont dump carelessly into the MLT.

[BIGBREWnick]

Are the brass fittings used were they domestically made because foreign made brass contains lead I believe.

[nrock74]

Great video! Definatly gonna do this set up.

[nrock74]

great viIdeo! 

[leewink]

Hi rok, Im in the UK and we can get igloo's here, im looking at the max cold 50 - 47ltr, for my mash tun.

Do they all have the same plug/drain hole size, i want to replace the plug with metal taps like you have, and maybe make your idea of the mash strainer there in white pipe, thats just normal food grade white pvc tube yes ?

Great job by the way on the upgrade fittings :) Lee

[zippyslug31]

I'm tempted to try this drain manifold setup in the MLT. Currently running a loop of SS braid as my drain manifold and am getting terrible efficiency (think in the 50's pct).

Actually my fly sparging is pretty crappy eff as a rule no matter what my equipment.

I might just go back to batch sparging as I had a lot better luck with it anyway.

Would be curious your thoughts after you try batch sparging for a couple batches as a comparison.