Mash and sparge volumes
Mash water at 1.75 quarts per pound for an 11 lb grain bill
At 1.75 quarts per pound, an 11 lb grain bill takes 4.81 gallons of strike water and 2.81 gallons of sparge water for a 5 gallon batch.
Total water for the day is 7.63 gallons.
11 lb grain, 1.75 qt/lb, 5 gallon batch
| Quantity | Gallons | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Strike water | 4.81 | Standard |
| Sparge water | 2.81 | Standard |
| Total water | 7.63 | Standard |
| Grain absorption | 1.38 | Convention |
Rows marked Standard come from a published equation, constant or manufacturer specification. Rows marked Convention are widely repeated brewing practice with no governing document behind them. The difference matters, so this site labels it rather than blurring the two together.
Mash tuns and kettles
Prices are those returned when this page was last built and change often.
Learn To Brew 10 Gallon Igloo Mash Tun
Insulated cooler mash tun with a stainless false bottom and valve, which holds mash temperature without any power.
Quick Fit 10 Gallon Igloo Mash Tun with Dial Thermometer
Cooler mash tun with stainless false bottom, stainless valve and a three inch dial probe thermometer.
TAPCRAFT Cooler Mash Tun Conversion Kit
False bottom, full port ball valve and gaskets to convert a drinks cooler you already own into a mash tun.
Northern Brewer MegaPot 10 Gallon (valve and thermometer)
Heavy stainless kettle with volume markings, a ball valve and a fitted thermometer, for propane or electric element brewing.
Northern Brewer MegaPot 10 Gallon (valve)
The same MegaPot body with a ball valve but no thermometer port fitted.
Concord 10 Gallon Brew Kettle (weldless fittings)
Forty quart stainless stock pot supplied with weldless valve and thermometer fittings.
MRbrew 10 Gallon Brew Kettle with Thermometer
Budget ten gallon stainless kettle with a built-in thermometer.
Gas One 8 Gallon Brew Kettle (4 piece set)
Pre-drilled 32 quart tri-ply bottom kettle sold as a four piece set.
VEVOR 16 Gallon Brew Kettle with Filter
Large stainless kettle with a filter and filter tube, for ten gallon batches on a burner.
BrewZilla Gen 4 (35L, 110V, with pump)
Wifi and RAPT integrated 35 litre all-in-one with a recirculation pump and automatic step mashing, on standard US household power.
BrewZilla Gen 4 35L (110V)
The 110V Gen 4 BrewZilla: stainless construction, automatic step mashing, nine gallon capacity.
BrewZilla Gen 3.1.1 (35L)
The previous generation BrewZilla at a lower price, with the same 35 litre stainless body and step mashing.
Brewer's Edge Mash & Boil Series 2 with Pump
Programmable electric all-in-one kettle with a recirculation pump, sized for five gallon batches.
Related on BrewGearCalc
- Mash and sparge water calculator
- No-sparge and full volume mashing
- Mash water at 2 quarts per pound for an 11 lb grain bill
- Mash water at 1.5 quarts per pound for an 11 lb grain bill
- Mash water at 2.25 quarts per pound for an 11 lb grain bill
- Mash water at 1.25 quarts per pound for an 11 lb grain bill
- Mash and sparge water for a 5 gallon batch with 10 lb of grain
- Mash and sparge water for a 10 gallon batch with 12 lb of grain
Frequently asked questions
- What does mash thickness change?
- Thickness changes how stable your mash temperature is and, at the extremes, how the enzymes behave. A thick mash holds heat well and tends toward a fuller beer. A thin mash is easier to stir and mildly more efficient. At 1.75 quarts per pound an 11 pound bill takes 4.81 gallons of strike water.
- Can I mash with all the water and skip sparging?
- Yes, that is full volume or no-sparge brewing, and all-in-one electric systems are often run that way. It costs a few points of efficiency because you are not rinsing the grain, so the grain bill goes up slightly to compensate. In exchange the brew day gets considerably simpler.
Researched from published brewing formulas, manufacturer specifications and verified owner reviews. This is general guidance, not professional advice.