cotillion
Well-Known Member
Hello again, all
As I continue to pore over numerous threads regarding BIAB process, more and more questions pop up. One to which I can't seem to find an answer is in regard to water displacement volumes.
Here is my situation: I have an 8.75 gallon kettle and want to do 5-5.5 gallon batches using BIAB. Do I have room for a typical AG full boil here? I have tried using the rackers calculator, but I can't tell exactly how to interpret it. Does it assume that I will top off the wort once I am finished mashing? How much strike water should I have initially and how do I know how much volume will be displaced by, say, 14 lbs of grain? If I do need to mash and then add more water later, when do I do that and how does it affect my gravity? What wort thickness should I am for with BIAB? I just have no idea how much water to start with and what to expect as the process continues.
Also, in order to increase final alcohol levels, could one simply at beet candy sugar or dextrose or something like that? I know it may be frowned upon as not fully AG, but does it make a major practical difference?
Sorry for that barrage but man, I feel like this stuff can be pretty dense, especially after a couple hours of reading multiple tabs on my screen lol.
As I continue to pore over numerous threads regarding BIAB process, more and more questions pop up. One to which I can't seem to find an answer is in regard to water displacement volumes.
Here is my situation: I have an 8.75 gallon kettle and want to do 5-5.5 gallon batches using BIAB. Do I have room for a typical AG full boil here? I have tried using the rackers calculator, but I can't tell exactly how to interpret it. Does it assume that I will top off the wort once I am finished mashing? How much strike water should I have initially and how do I know how much volume will be displaced by, say, 14 lbs of grain? If I do need to mash and then add more water later, when do I do that and how does it affect my gravity? What wort thickness should I am for with BIAB? I just have no idea how much water to start with and what to expect as the process continues.
Also, in order to increase final alcohol levels, could one simply at beet candy sugar or dextrose or something like that? I know it may be frowned upon as not fully AG, but does it make a major practical difference?
Sorry for that barrage but man, I feel like this stuff can be pretty dense, especially after a couple hours of reading multiple tabs on my screen lol.