Newest Threads

zeg · 12-04-2012, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffersonJ

Not that I can't do larger AG beers with my setup, I just find it less cumbersome to adjust with DME and I dare anyone to taste the difference.

I'll take that dare. Should I PM you my address to ship the beers to compare?

MMJfan · 12-04-2012, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C38368

Awesome news! WoodlandBrew, your setup is almost exactly what I'd envisioned. The only issue I have right now is that I only have one large pot which I can put on direct heat, hence the use of my bucket for one vessel. The more I think about it, though, the more convenient a second kettle sounds... guess I'll look into that in the next couple weeks.

Thanks all!

I would recommend getting a second kettle. I have a 7.5 gal. kettle I use to mash in (usually for 60 min. depending on the recipe) and I have a 5 gal kettle that I sparge in (usually 20 minutes). I've been hitting 75%-80% efficiency every time using this two vessel system!

Yesfan · 01-20-2013, 06:14 AM

Though I've only done 4 BIAB batches, I have to say I hate the 5 gallon pain strainer bags that's been recommended here. I tried them on my first two batches with mixed results. The Phat Tyre clone turned out pretty good, but the multi-grain red I tried has turned out to be my worst batch. A lot of it is that the 5 gallon bags are just too small for my 10 gallon kettle. I'm looking at paying $11 for two 24x24 inch bags from Northern Brewer compared to the much smaller 2 pack 5 gallon bags from Home Depot. To me, the $6.5 difference is worth it.

**Euphist** · 01-21-2013, 05:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yesfan

Though I've only done 4 BIAB batches, I have to say I hate the 5 gallon pain strainer bags that's been recommended here. I tried them on my first two batches with mixed results. The Phat Tyre clone turned out pretty good, but the multi-grain red I tried has turned out to be my worst batch. A lot of it is that the 5 gallon bags are just too small for my 10 gallon kettle. I'm looking at paying $11 for two 24x24 inch bags from Northern Brewer compared to the much smaller 2 pack 5 gallon bags from Home Depot. To me, the $6.5 difference is worth it.

Get a yard of voille from walmart for $3. Cheaper and you can make the bag the correct size for your kettle.

WoodlandBrew · 01-21-2013, 10:59 AM

+1 to using a bag that fits the tun.

Sorry if you were mislead about the paint strainer bag.

5 gallon paint strainer bags are great for kettles that are shaped like 5 gallon paint buckets.

zeg · 01-21-2013, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yesfan

Though I've only done 4 BIAB batches, I have to say I hate the 5 gallon pain strainer bags that's been recommended here. I tried them on my first two batches with mixed results. The Phat Tyre clone turned out pretty good, but the multi-grain red I tried has turned out to be my worst batch. A lot of it is that the 5 gallon bags are just too small for my 10 gallon kettle. I'm looking at paying $11 for two 24x24 inch bags from Northern Brewer compared to the much smaller 2 pack 5 gallon bags from Home Depot. To me, the $6.5 difference is worth it.

I picked up a bag from my LHBS, not sure how much I paid, but it wasn't any more than $5 or $6. It's probably similar to the ones you've got, because it's far larger than my 5gal kettle (which is fine, I just bunch up the sides and clip them with binder clips). I've reused it about a dozen times now, so the cost is effectively $0 when averaged over the batches.

I used a paint strainer bag for steeping strawberries in a fermentor. Not sure if I'd do that again, though, I'm a bit leery of using something not marketed for use in food products (especially in hot or boiling water).

Yesfan · 01-22-2013, 12:29 AM

Thanks guys. I don't look at it as mislead (sorry if my post seemed like a complaint, it wasn't), but just something I've learned. I'll use the paint strainer bags on some smaller batches. They do fit great on my 5 gallon kettle.

Transamguy77 · 01-22-2013, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MMJfan

I would recommend getting a second kettle. I have a 7.5 gal. kettle I use to mash in (usually for 60 min. depending on the recipe) and I have a 5 gal kettle that I sparge in (usually 20 minutes). I've been hitting 75%-80% efficiency every time using this two vessel system!

+1 to this, I made 14 batches this way before moving to a 3 vessel system.