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well worth the investment
Review by Don
(Posted on 4/30/12)
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I started homebrewing 2 years ago and I stuck mainly with extract brews. Mainly due to the fact that I dont have very much room in my small apartment. I bought this kit and set it up outside and began brewing right away. I cant wait for my first all grain batch to finish fermenting and conditioning. Be sure to watch the flow rate when sparging. should take 30 to 90 minutes depending on the style.
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:)
Review by Ethan
(Posted on 10/2/12)
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love this thing
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Great kit
Review by Andrew
(Posted on 10/16/12)
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This kit does a great job with all grain brews! Recommend to everyone starting out with all grain brewing!
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great but slightly pricey
Review by cam
(Posted on 10/31/12)
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These coolers are great! Maintain temp throughout the duration of the mash, are easy to assembly and look pretty decent. Batch sparging in them is super simple and effective or you can opt for the fly sparging technique just as easily. Not much dead space and haven't had a ton of issues with stuck sparges.
Only negative is that they are a bit pricy. If you are thinking of batch sparging you really don't need the second one if you can heat sparge water and hold it in another vessel. Also, it may not be as nice as these but you effectively rig yourself up a rectangular cooler with parts from the hardware store for way less money. Again, I think these are nicer, but that is an option.
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Love it
Review by Lena
(Posted on 12/16/12)
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Dont waste time with the 5 gallon, get the 10, so if (when) you brew a bigger batch you dont have to buy new equipment. Easy to use, easy to clean.
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Get this size with the upgrade to SS
Review by Jerry
(Posted on 1/3/13)
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I have this size cooler kit and love it. The 5 gallon kit actually may not be large enough for some 5 gallon batches, so I highly recommend getting the 10 gallon kit. The mash tun has held mash temperatures within 1 degree for 60 minutes with no issues. I also recommend getting the upgrade to stainless steel as it will last longer and is easy to clean.
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Welcome to the big leagues
Review by Jon
(Posted on 1/9/13)
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When you move up to All Grain from Extract don't make the mistake of getting a small system only to be limited. I bought this and not only can I make high gravity 5 gallon batches, I can make regular strength 10 gallon batches. This kits gives me the extra flexibility.
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great jumping off point
Review by Kirk
(Posted on 1/14/13)
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I have done 3 brews with these and have gotten about an 80-81% efficiency every time, which for this setup I think is great. For a budget and to learn the ropes, this will rock your world. If you do upgrade a pot or tun, much of this kit will still be needed and useful. As for the idea that you cant step mash, thats crazy talk. Step mash in a mash tun aka other pot aka boil pot, and when alls good to go POUR the whole mess gently into the mash tun. Also this kit is good for people who dont have access to huge burners outside or who live in apartments. The coolers really do hold heat quite well for a long time so you can dump in your temp water a deg or two high and when everything catches up on the crappy stove, your sparge water is nice and hot and right on.
One thing to note! Water test your coolers with HOT water before you brew! one of mine leaked a tiny bit on brew day! It might have been the heat from the hot water as it settled the plastic that set off the issue. I could hear the plastic popping. Got some tub and sink seal and patched it up in one day. Now is awesome and remains awesome.
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Teriffic all-grain kit!
Review by Kyle
(Posted on 1/17/13)
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Was looking to get into all-grain brewing, and decided to give it a try with this kit. Although simple in concept, this set works GREAT! I've brewed two batches already with fantastic results. The coolers hold temperature very well, which made both mashing and sparging very easy, and they are super easy to clean once you're done. The 10 gal capacity allows room for those high-gravity beers that require a larger mash and sparge volume, so be sure not to skimp on size - buy the 10gal kit! Maybe a couple dollars more than I would've liked, but worth every penny.
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A lifetime of fun
Review by Revis
(Posted on 1/24/13)
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This is a really good kit that will last. Good components. Good insulation. Easy to use and clean. Best of all its big, so you can make some big Belgian beers, or make a big batch. This is worth the extra money. I went with the stainless steel option.