MLT Size

daboyce67 · Joined: 15 Aug 2014 Posts: 43 Location: Hayward, Wisconsin

It so happens now that I have completed my 20 gallon setup that I have two MLT's, identical but for one being a 10 gallon and the other being a 20 gallon. Clearly, for 10 gallon batches the 20 gallon is the MLT of choice. But that brings me to my question - if brewing the occasional 5 gallon batch is there a reason that I might consider that would make it advantageous to use the 10 gallon over the 20 gallon?

Appreciate your thoughts.

Ozarks Mountain Brew · Posted: Sun May 21, 2017 1:02 am Post subject:

you can do 5 gallon batches in the 20, I've done it many times, either one will work

daboyce67 · Joined: 15 Aug 2014 Posts: 43 Location: Hayward, Wisconsin

Thanks. I was aware that a 20 gal MLT "would" work. My real question is, in the instance of a 5 gallon batch and since I happen to have both is there "any" reason that the 10 gallon MLT would make more sense? If it is really 6 of 1, 1/2 dozen of the other than I'll just use the 20 gallon leave the 10 gallon on the shelf for the time being (eventually pass it down to my son for his system when he gets around to it).

**kal** · Posted: Sun May 21, 2017 11:21 pm Post subject:

In some cases, with some setups, if the kettle is considerably oversized for batch size such that the amount of grain used if very low, you may have lower mash conversion efficiency since the grain bed is so shallow and it causes channeling. Would probably happen mostly with kettles with inefficient false bottoms / where side wall shunting is an issue too (no stepped bottom).

Kal