10 Gallon Thermobarrel Mash Tun

I got this because A) it was on sale for a great price, and B) I wanted to replace a reflectix-wrapped kettle I was using for a mash tun. I had some minor issue with the connections because (for me) they were the opposite of what I wanted. I thought they were welded, but they're not. I was able to unscrew them and flip them around. It maintains heat VERY well and is easy to clean. The false bottom I got was the same as the one I used to use with a round plastic cooler, so there is very little wort loss, and I have not had any problems with stuck mashes. That said - I DID replace the piece of tubing that connects the false bottom to the output port. The tubing that came with it is very flimsy silicone, and I was afraid the weight of the mash would squash it flat. I had some reinforced silicone tubing laying around, so I cut a piece the same size and have not had any problems with runoff. The biggest problem for me is that the thermometer is mounted a little too high for the amount of grain in a standard 5 gallon batch. I replaced the thermometer with an electric sensor since I have a PID controlled electric system, and it sits about a half-inch about the top of the wort on the mash. I have to mash-in with a higher water-to-grain ratio just so the sensor touches the top of the wort. This would not be a problem for high-grav or 10-gal batches. Despite the modest shortcomings, it's still a good deal for the price, when compared to other stainless steel options.

This mash tun is of very high quality. After using it, I have not experienced any temperature loss after 60 minutes of mashing. The thermometer it came with was accurate and worked great. It held its temperature so well that you could barely notice any heat from touching the outside. For those looking to a stainless steel alternative to the cooler mash tuns, you can't go wrong with this product. It is also much cheaper than the SSBrewTech which is the direct competitor. The only downsides that I can think of are that the mash tun did not come with any instructions on how to assemble the false bottom and the valves to the barrel. It's not very difficult to figure out, but with all the pieces it came with, it would have helped the process go a little bit quicker. Also, the mash tun has a flat bottom. This is unlike the SSBrewTech mash tun that has a sloping bottom to allow most of the wort to empty out of the mash tun. Because of this, you'll experience a loss of some wort (I believe mine was about 1 quart). However, if you plan accordingly, this isn't too much of a problem. I've heard some people complain about the Chapman Thermobarrel that the steel used is only 201 Stainless Steel instead of the higher quality 304. However, I wouldn't worry about those complaints. The product is very heavy duty and is of high quality.