JohnnySardonic
Well-Known Member
So I brewed a somewhat large IIPA on Sunday (well, the largest beer I've brewed so far), and my mash efficiency was in the toilet. I figured I would document my experience here in case it can help anyone in the future.
Up until now, I have been doing BIAB in my 5 gal kettle. With this size, and a 5 gal paint strainer bag from Lowes, I was able to fit 12 pounds of grain almost perfectly. My mash efficiencies were hovering around 80%. After doughing in and mixing the grains thoroughly, I would wrap the kettle in about 5 beach blankets and let it sit for 60 min. I never lost more than a degree and never stirred during the mash.
This time around the recipe called for about 15 pounds of grain. So, I was forced to mash in my 9 gal kettle due to head space issues. The 5 gal BIAB barely stretched around the rim of the kettle, but it held. I followed my old procedure (stir in grain well, wrap in blankets for 60 min) and again I held my temps. Unfortunately, my pre-boil gravity was way off. I think I got 51% efficiency. Here is what I narrowed it down to:
Although the BIAB fit around the rim of the kettle, it wasn't large enough to fill the inside of the kettle. This resulted in the bag pulling all of the grain into the center of the kettle, leaving a 1-2 inch ring of water between it and the sides of the kettle. The grain in the center of the bag did not end up having sufficient contact with the mash water to convert.
I guess it is time to either find a larger bag (I've heard BBaB have large laundry bags that work), or just convert a cooler to a mash tun. Either way, it doesn't appear as if the 5 gal paint strainer bags will work in my system for anything over 12 pounds of grain.
Just thought I would post this in case it has/might happen to anyone else.
Cheers
Up until now, I have been doing BIAB in my 5 gal kettle. With this size, and a 5 gal paint strainer bag from Lowes, I was able to fit 12 pounds of grain almost perfectly. My mash efficiencies were hovering around 80%. After doughing in and mixing the grains thoroughly, I would wrap the kettle in about 5 beach blankets and let it sit for 60 min. I never lost more than a degree and never stirred during the mash.
This time around the recipe called for about 15 pounds of grain. So, I was forced to mash in my 9 gal kettle due to head space issues. The 5 gal BIAB barely stretched around the rim of the kettle, but it held. I followed my old procedure (stir in grain well, wrap in blankets for 60 min) and again I held my temps. Unfortunately, my pre-boil gravity was way off. I think I got 51% efficiency. Here is what I narrowed it down to:
Although the BIAB fit around the rim of the kettle, it wasn't large enough to fill the inside of the kettle. This resulted in the bag pulling all of the grain into the center of the kettle, leaving a 1-2 inch ring of water between it and the sides of the kettle. The grain in the center of the bag did not end up having sufficient contact with the mash water to convert.
I guess it is time to either find a larger bag (I've heard BBaB have large laundry bags that work), or just convert a cooler to a mash tun. Either way, it doesn't appear as if the 5 gal paint strainer bags will work in my system for anything over 12 pounds of grain.
Just thought I would post this in case it has/might happen to anyone else.
Cheers