timmystank

Recipes 

Is there any advantages/disadvantages on using a bag for both the grain and hops to avoid excessive trub?

Opherman47

Recipes 

utilization and efficiency can suffer.... try it out see how you like it... it may not matter much for ya

Clayton

Recipes 

i assume you are talking about a minimash on the grain side??
and if you are not going to use the bag and buy - build a MLT why not just do all grain ?

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SumnerH

Recipes 

Without a bag you need a 3-vessel setup, and you can't crush as finely so you need a sparge to get good efficiency. There's more to clean and the whole system takes longer on brew-day. You can handle almost arbitrarily large batches, depending on the size of the setup. Step/decoction mashing are easier.

It's tough to do batches bigger than 10 gallons in a bag, and you need a pulley to do those (5 gallons can be lifted by hand). It's much cheaper and easier to get started than a 3-vessel. You don't need to save out volume for sparging, so you can do a much thinner mash. You want a bag that fully lines the inside of the pot to get good efficiency (a smaller bag will hurt efficiency). Efficiency seems to top out somewhere around 85% in a bag.

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On deck: Little Bo Pils, Bretta Off Dead (Brett pale)
Secondary: Oude Bruin, Red Sky at Morning (Sour brown ale)
On tap: Saison Duphunk (sour), Amarillo Slim (IPA), Earl White (ginger/bergamot wit)
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Poindexter

Recipes 

An eight dollar grain bag that can handle 5-6 pounds of grain in a 5 gallon kettle is about the top end for an aprtment dweller unless you can go all grain on your deck or terrace.

Compared to doing a pound or two with a collander or strainer it is eight dollars well spent.

I just whirlpool to keep hops in the kettle and out of the fermenter. I can't leave my bag in the kettle during the boil cause it would melt.

HTH, was that the question?

timmystank

Recipes 

Thanks for the advice everyone.

david_42

Recipes 

A big grain bag makes the whole process of partial mashes or steeping much easier. I've never had a problem with efficiency, even when I just teabag to sparge.

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RedIrocZ-28

Recipes 

I've been doing the BIaB (Brew in a bag) method since January and I have gotten efficiency in the mid to high 70's even on huge grainbills for my equipment (12.xxlbs in a 5gal pot)

ghpeel

Recipes 

+1 on BIAB. Also, I heard about "paint straining bags" here on this forum and found some at the local gigantic hardware store. I can NOT imagine brewing without them now. They are the perfect size/fineness. I do sort of BIAB and by using the paint strainer, you don't need to do a recirculation to clear the wort. Just pull the bag out and you're done.

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Kegged: Golden Pub Ale, Ed's Wit, Scottish ESB, Haggis Broth Braggot
Lagering: n/a
Primary: Bro'hemian Pils
Resting: n/a
No-Chill Tank: n/a
Bottled: Lowland Oatmeal Porter, Adieu Travail!

bigjoe

Recipes 

Its been a while since anyone posted to this thread, but I didn't want to start another.

I did my first BIAB today. It was the most relaxed brew day I can recall ever. I am leaving on fishing trip tomorrow and I can't find one of my fly bags. I was actually able to look for and find the fly bag while brewing. I was constantly thinking I forgot something and thinking I needed to write something down, but I didn't. I did a 3 step mash 50/60/70, and I got 75% efficeinecy, which blew me away as I set my calculator for 70% and thought I'd be lucky to get that. I've been brewing smaller batches the last few sessions. Today I did an APA with 3.5 into gallons into fermentor. I can't speak for large batches, but if its 5 gallons or less this is my method from now on.

I liked the fact doing the 3 step, the first rest didn't need any heat (15 min 50C), the second step (45 min 60C) only needed a few small bursts of heat, and the last rest (15 Min 70C) I ddin't touch it.

The wort is cloudier when boiling, but I got a good break.

One thing I do all the time I got from this site is put my chiller into a bag before the end of the boil. I pull the chiller w/ bag, give it a good whirlpool with a spoon, and let it settle a bit, put the chiller and bag back into pot and rack with the cane inside the bag. I also just chuck the hops into the boil with this method.