I've got many, many BIAB's under my belt but don't assume my way is the best way. For me, working on a gas stove (straddling 2 burners), the worst (too strong a word) part is removing the wet grain.Hi Coachie,
I did my first BIAB last week and it was a complete success. I am officially hooked.
A couple of things you should know:
- Don't let the bag touch the bottom of your kettle. Definitely use a colander or false bottom of some kind as the bag could burn and get holes in it.
- Try to figure out some way to hang the bag over the kettle after your mash. Standing over a kettle holding a 20lb bag of wet grain while draining and sparging is not my idea of fun.
Other than that, I think you're going to really like it!
Thanks,
Robert.
Tip on lifting the bag:
When raising the bag, don't pull it all the way out, pull it so that the grain mass is partially out, and partially floating. This will allow the liquid in the top half of the grain mass to drain. Then pull it out some more.
Lifting a 12 pound bag is not too hard for a male. A female brewer may have problems and want to resort to a pulley/ratchet.
I am a squeezer [SCOOB], those last drops are loaded with sugar!
SCOOB = Squeeze the Crap Out of the Bag
For Stovetop brewing, my stove is wimpy, so I mashed in two 5 gallon pots.
I made a 16 gallon Old Ale using BIAB on my Stovetop, came out well. But it would have been easier with a real kettle and burner.
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