5 gallon paint strainer and a couple other questions

[2ellas]

Goooood morning everyone!

I'm getting ready to go for my first biab and I have a few questions I'm having trouble locating the answers to.

1. Is a 5 gallon paint strainer big enough to hold all the grains for a typical ipa?

2. Will I be able to do a full volume mash in my 10 gallon kettle?

3. Squeeze or no squeeze? Just kidding on that one!

thank you!

 

[The_Bishop]

1: No.

2: Maybe, depends on the grain bill.

 

[flars]

Take a look at the "Can I Mash It?" calculator. May answer your question.
http://www.rackers.org/calcs.shtml

 

[2ellas]

Thanks for the help!

 

[TexasWine]

1: No.

2: Maybe, depends on the grain bill.

I think the answer to #1 should have been...

1. Maybe, depends on the grain bill/batch size.

What if he's doing a 3 gallon batch? But even so, I've done several 5 gallon batches of IPAs and IIPAs in a 5 gallon paint strainer bag.

 

[1977Brewer]

I bet I could run a 16 lb grain bill in my 5 gallon bags and 10 gallon pot.

 

[jaydlaw]

16# is cutting it really close, IN my experience 11-13# is the most that i would feel comfortable with. It my work but i would be nervous with my experience with a lower grain bill. If you do, squeezing would probably be out of the question.

 

[SteveH aka shetc]

Here is a 5 gallon paint strainer inside a basket that goes in a 44 quart pot. And yes, I can make IPAs.

View attachment 1436659313584.jpg

 

[SteveH aka shetc]

And I squeeze the bag, mwahahaha!

 

[C-Rider]

Take a look at the "Can I Mash It?" calculator. May answer your question.
http://www.rackers.org/calcs.shtml

How do you calculate mash thickness for BIAB??

 

[pricelessbrewing]

How do you calculate mash thickness for BIAB??

same way, strike volume/grain bill.

Use my calculator instead, it's designed for biab and has all the information you need for a mash.

 

[wilserbrewer]

Making a poly voile bag to fit your kettle is not very difficult or expensive. Shape the bag like my avatar, and size to fully line the kettle with enough to overlap the top rim several inches. I've never used a paint strainer, but from what I'm told poly voile will work better, clean up easier, pass much less sediment, and last 10-20 times longer than a paint strainer.

Doesn't take a genius to sew a bag....helps to be good looking though

Handy folks have even stitched a serviceable bag by hand....PM if anyone has questions on making a bag...happy to help

wilser

 

[jaydlaw]

I use a paint strainer so I can throw away after use. They are cheap enough to do so.

 

[The_Bishop]

I think the answer to #1 should have been...

1. Maybe, depends on the grain bill/batch size.

What if he's doing a 3 gallon batch? But even so, I've done several 5 gallon batches of IPAs and IIPAs in a 5 gallon paint strainer bag.

He mentioned a 10 gallon kettle, so that says 5 gallon batches to me. *shrug*

I've done BIAB, and I tried the 5 gallon bags. In my experience, they're too small and crowd the grain too tightly. I had better efficiency and better results with a larger bag, especially a voile one.

 

[TexasWine]

He mentioned a 10 gallon kettle, so that says 5 gallon batches to me. *shrug*

Good catch. Sometimes I'm not so good about reading between the lines.

 

[SteveH aka shetc]

I use a paint strainer so I can throw away after use. They are cheap enough to do so.

I reuse them, they clean up fairly easily.

 

[jaydlaw]

I reuse them, they clean up fairly easily.

I believe it, I just don't bother trying. There's enough to clean up.

 

[1977Brewer]

Mine just finished their 8th batch today. They outlast my hop bags by about double at this point. My hop bags are 1 gallon paint strainers. I'll order from Wilser eventually though. Once I know I'm serious about this.

 

[wilserbrewer]

I'll order from Wilser eventually though. Once I know I'm serious about this.

3,235 posts since December 2014 and you're not sure if your serious yet? LOL

 

[jaydlaw]

My hop bags are 1 gallon paint strainers

Good idea, i currently use muslin bags, but this may save me a few cents.