1st BIAB - If I can, you can

[wormraper]

Wormraper- I can only mash about 8lbs of grain and boil about 3Gs. So I formulate my recipes so I can top up to 4 or 4.5G. The abv is brought down, but your brewhouse efficiency is based on the SG, boil volume, and grain bill.

I just brewed a cream ale with 5lb of pale malt, 1lb of flaked corn, 1lb of flaked rice and 4oz of carapils. I collected 3G of pre-boil wort that had an adjusted for temp SG of 1.068. This gives me an efficiency of about 75%. When I topped up to 4.5G I had an OG of 1.044 which should yield about 4.5% ABV.

Cheers!

interesting. I don't mind losing a tad of abv since I no longer drink to get drunk, but rather would be able to drink 3 or so of them without feeling too buzzed (I'm a lightweight so anything past 3 beers is enough to get me pretty tipsy)

and sorry for the newbie question but how do you "adjust" the recipe to take into account the extra top off water????

 

[kh54s10]

sorry, boil was the wrong term, I understand that you only boil the wort and hops just got me terms wrong.

huh, didn't realize you had to mill steeping grains. wonder why I never see a grain mill as part of the ingredient list for BIAB setups , (don't wanna spend $100-$250 on a grain mill that I only use to make beer)

If you are buying kits the steeping grains are probably already milled.

If you make your own recipes and want to mill steeping grains you can use a corona style mill like the one in the OP's pictures. ~$25-$35

 

[TimberBrew]

Hey folks,

First off, thanks for all the great info. Just pitched my yeast for a blonde. I bought a bigger pot, cut up a curtain, sewed a bag and now I am a BIAB brewer.

This is only my 3rd batch and wanted to go all grain ( BIAB is the way to go, IMHO). Hit all my numbers with 76% efficiency, great fun.

Thanks for the expert advise.

 

[wormraper]

If you are buying kits the steeping grains are probably already milled.

If you make your own recipes and want to mill steeping grains you can use a corona style mill like the one in the OP's pictures. ~$25-$35

wow, $25-$35 ??? I didn't know they made them that cheap. I'm so used to my parents and other relatives who grind their own flour and use mills that are around $200-$400

 

[jmprdood]

Timberbrew- Welcome and good on you! It ain't that hard!

Worm - I use a corona type mill and they are great for cracking malt, you can find them all over for <$35 delivered. But you can have your LHBS crush the grain for you. Just make sure it is a fine crush for BIAB. You'll get better efficiency.

 

[wormraper]

Timberbrew- Welcome and good on you! It ain't that hard!

Worm - I use a corona type mill and they are great for cracking malt, you can find them all over for <$35 delivered. But you can have your LHBS crush the grain for you. Just make sure it is a fine crush for BIAB. You'll get better efficiency.

gotcha, gotcha, that works, just found out my LHBS will grind grain for free if I buy it there so that will hold me over for a while. my (hopefully) last question is. I know you have a 4 gallon pot which limits your brew. would I be able to mash about 10 lb's of grain in my 5 gallon pot? that way I could brew a full 5 gallon batch by topping off to 5 g in the fermenter?

also someone mentioned that when topping off like you're doing that you need to adjust the recipe to account for the topoff. is it as simple as keeping all the grains, hops etc the same for a FULL 7.5 gallon boil (down to 5 gallon wort at the end) even though you're boiling less water? then top off to of kind "fill in the cracks" so to speak or am I missing something?

 

[jmprdood]

Correct - you have the idea. Tho' it is better to do full boils, the top off works for beers that are smaller gravity, say 1.050 or less.

 

[wormraper]

Correct - you have the idea. Tho' it is better to do full boils, the top off works for beers that are smaller gravity, say 1.050 or less.

think I got it now. yeah, I'd love to do a full boil but I was stupid and opted for the 5 gallon pot instead of getting a 7.5 gallon pot (at the time I didn't realized how much cheaper it was to do ag or how easy BIAB was)

 

[Mysticmead]

huh, didn't realize you had to mill steeping grains. wonder why I never see a grain mill as part of the ingredient list for BIAB setups , (don't wanna spend $100-$250 on a grain mill that I only use to make beer)

when you buy your grains, have them crushed for you (all home brew suppliers will do this for you. if not then shop somewhere else). if doing BIAB ask that they be double crushed. no need to buy a grain mill.

 

[wormraper]

when you buy your grains, have them crushed for you (all home brew suppliers will do this for you. if not then shop somewhere else). if doing BIAB ask that they be double crushed. no need to buy a grain mill.

yeah, I checked my LHBS, they'll crush for free. picked up a 7.5 gallon aluminum pot today on craigslist so I can do full boils now

 

[LabRatBrewer]

wow, $25-$35 ??? I didn't know they made them that cheap. I'm so used to my parents and other relatives who grind their own flour and use mills that are around $200-$400

mine was $25 shipping included. Google Discount Tommy.

 

[raysmithtx]

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