Mash Tun: False Bottom or Bazooka Style? Go!

[Bach's Brews 372]

AG brewers, 

 

I'm looking to get feedback on which you like best.  I know they both generally do the same thing, but wanted to hear some feedback on the two options.

 

I'm looking at doing this myself to save a few pennies.  I already have a Coleman style cooler that's 12 gallons, so all I would really need is the bazooka, stainless steel valve, and a way to drill a hole!

 

Thanks in advance!

[Creeps McLane 5,899]

Bazooka screens clog too easily a false bottom is definitely the way to go.  A false bottom has more surface area to drain the grain therefore hopefully giving you more wort

[efdbrian 299]

http://www.howtobrew.com/section3/chapter17-2.html

 

Some people say that the bazooka screen favors channeling where the sparge water tends to flow more through the middle and less on the sides. This is less of a problem when batch sparging and more so with fly sparging. 

[BDawg62 1,034]

Use a bag instead of a screen or a false bottom.  No channeling and a batch sparge is much quicker.

[Bach's Brews 372]

19 hours ago, Creeps McLane said:

Bazooka screens clog too easily a false bottom is definitely the way to go.  A false bottom has more surface area to drain the grain therefore hopefully giving you more wort

 

Yeah, I've heard of them crushing too if your grain bill is really high.  Not what I want to have happen.  I've read up on doing sparge vs no sparge too.  I like the idea of saving time, but not sure.

[Bach's Brews 372]

5 hours ago, BDawg62 said:

Use a bag instead of a screen or a false bottom.  No channeling and a batch sparge is much quicker.

 

I'd need one LARGE bag to do a 15 pound grain bill.

[BDawg62 1,034]

Do search for BIAB bags on the internet.  There are places that will make one to size for your cooler.  You send the measurements and they send you a custom bag.

[efdbrian 299]

1 hour ago, Bach's Brews said:

 

I'd need one LARGE bag to do a 15 pound grain bill.

 

I have a friend that does this. He uses a pulley system to lift the bag of wet grains. I don't remember for sure, but I think he hooks it up under a folding ladder.

[Creeps McLane 5,899]

1 hour ago, Bach's Brews said:

 

I'd need one LARGE bag to do a 15 pound grain bill.

I will say that scooping 12 lbs out of my mash tun then pulling out the false bottom and then spraying it all out one more time is a pain in the ass. If be happier with a bag. But i have a thermometer too which has a 50/50 shot of ripping the bag

[Bach's Brews 372]

I've looked into the BIAB system and I really like that idea.  Nice filtration system.  I used a nice filtered bag for my last 5 gallon batch I did and it was simply amazing with no grain particles in the wort.  That's what I think I'm leaning towards for AG, using the BIAB method in my cooler for mashing or just in my brew kettle.