After recquisitioning way too much Citra hops, I wanted to make my first foray into brewing 10 gallon batches.
Using the mash tuns we have at the brewhouse, how much grain could one get into the tun at a 1.25-1.3 quarts/lbs ratio?
Tentatively speaking, we're going for a Victory IPA, probably hitting about 6%-ish alcohol, which I calculate to to require a grain bill somewhere in the neighborhood of 25 pounds. Will 1 tun be enough for this, or will I need two? Or maybe we could go with 20 pounds of grain and 3 pounds of DME to top it off in the boil?
I usually use http://www.rackers.org/calcs.shtml as a ballpark estimate for how much tun can hold.
If it does not all fit DME is a good alternative, or some folks will divid the mash into 2 and use 2 mash tuns. Add a little extra water to account for the extra loss from 2 tuns.
I've done 25 1/4lbs. At 1.3 qts./pound and it was at the absolute maximum capacity...could not put the lid all the way on, just barely got it to seal...it can be done. I drained the tun then batch sparged with two batches.
I've made a few 7.5% IPAs in 10g batches on the brewhouse tuns. For 6% you shouldn't have more than Joe mentioned for total pounds of grain (I think i had 22-23#).
26# grain with ~8 gallons water last night.