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**wilserbrewer** · 01-01-2013, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johns

So the it only for the homebrewers like myself. I have only read through about half of this thread and I understand any thing more then a 20 gallon (10 gallon batch size) is no really viable, possibly because of the weight of the grains. So what is the most grain that would be able to be placed in a kettle with out breaking the pulley system or having some sort of malfunction with the hardware or the wort?

I have done 15.5 gallon BIAB, about 35 lbs of grain w/ a simple inexpensive strap
http://www.harborfreight.com/set-of-2-1-inch-x-12-ft-lashing-straps-67386.html

With a little better equipment, I don't think 200 lb grain bills would be unreasonable with the right equipment, so thats a 3B batch, say 90 gallons. This cheap rope hoist is 500 lb capacity, and much bigger stronger stuff is available FWIW
http://www.harborfreight.com/general-purpose-rope-hoist-45076.html

How big are you looking to go? I think the bag could take the weight FWIW in that the bag becomes larger with all the more material to handle the additional load.

johns · 01-02-2013, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wilserbrewer

I have done 15.5 gallon BIAB, about 35 lbs of grain w/ a simple inexpensive strap
http://www.harborfreight.com/set-of-2-1-inch-x-12-ft-lashing-straps-67386.html

With a little better equipment, I don't think 200 lb grain bills would be unreasonable with the right equipment, so thats a 3B batch, say 90 gallons. This cheap rope hoist is 500 lb capacity, and much bigger stronger stuff is available FWIW
http://www.harborfreight.com/general-purpose-rope-hoist-45076.html

How big are you looking to go? I think the bag could take the weight FWIW in that the bag becomes larger with all the more material to handle the additional load.

well I was thinking what are the limitations for BIAB. If there are no limitations then why do the microbrews not use this form of brewing? If there are limitations what are they? I keep hearing more then 10 gallons needs to use a 3v or more brewing equipment or use DME in the brew, due to efficiency problems.

Personally I would like to try to make 10 gallon batches, but I am having a problem deciding to use a keggle or a 82 liter pot. I am leaning to the 82 liter pot at the moment, but I have not finished going through this thread. I will decide this when I finish reading this thread

**SpacemanSpiff** · 01-02-2013, 05:41 PM

Conceptually I don't know that there is a limit. We have 1/2 ton to 2 ton hoists all over my plant. They certainly make bigger than that. And I suppose you could make a "bag" that's more like a basket using steel mesh. Mechanically, it could be done for just about any size brew house if you really wanted to. Just as a quick calculation, a 7 BBL batch probably uses 600-700 lbs of grain. A 2 ton hoist should be more than enough to handle that plus the trapped water and the weight of the basket.
I suspect at a certain volume, the cost of getting a big hoist, having these custom baskets fabbed up, figuring out how to empty them, etc. becomes more than just having the standard 3 vessel system. Could be an interesting thought for a nano-brewery though.

Mysticmead · 01-02-2013, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johns

well I was thinking what are the limitations for BIAB. If there are no limitations then why do the microbrews not use this form of brewing? If there are limitations what are they? I keep hearing more then 10 gallons needs to use a 3v or more brewing equipment or use DME in the brew, due to efficiency problems.

Personally I would like to try to make 10 gallon batches, but I am having a problem deciding to use a keggle or a 82 liter pot. I am leaning to the 82 liter pot at the moment, but I have not finished going through this thread. I will decide this when I finish reading this thread

imagine trying to hoist a bag of wet grain when making several hundred barrels at once (1 barrel = 31 US gallons). Also consider that most micro breweries are getting close to 90% efficiency (or better). A guy in our homebrew club works for one of the micro breweries in Atlanta. They use grain measured in the several hundred to thousand pounds... that's dry weight. doing BIAB on that scale would BE A huge pain in the ass

OldDirty · 01-02-2013, 10:09 PM

Why even put it in 1 bag? Wouldn't several bags work more efficiently?
Add a zipper to the bag, fill with grain, mash-in, mash out, retrieve grain bags from wort, and continue as normal.
Why have one giant tea bag when you can several smaller ones doing the same thing?
You can put one set of grains in one bag and one in another or you can make proportional grain mixes for each bag you use.

OldDirty · 01-02-2013, 10:39 PM

Remember, I get 10% of any money you make off of this! LoL

johns · 01-03-2013, 12:18 AM

**Fordzilla** · 01-03-2013, 11:30 PM

I will be doing an outdoor BIAB session on saturday. 25 degrees and 30% chance of snow flurries won't stop me!

robm184 · 01-04-2013, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seven

STEP 5: Lift, Drain, Squeeze Grains

After draining, use a flat lid from a small saucepan (or something similar) to press down on the grains to squeeze as much wort as possible from them. You don't have to go crazy here, just press the grains down firmly, but carefully, with the lid.

Attachment 22045

Question

, why do you put what looks like a some type of metal between the kettle and the burner? Does this create an even better balanced heating surface?

OldDirty · 01-04-2013, 09:37 AM

The metal plate is part of the burner assembly.