A Different BIAB Method, Please Send Your Thoughts!

[beerandguitars]

Right now I currently brew 3 Gallon BIAB batches on the following:

5 Gallon Rubbermaid Cooler (No Modifications)
5 Gallon Brew Kettle
8 Gallon Megapot w/valve (when needed)

Essentially, I am adding 4.25 gallons of water, usually around 6-7 lbs of grain and mashing. After 75 minutes, I remove and squeeze the bag getting roughly 3.75-85 gallons of wort. Boil, carboy, ferment, yada yada yada.

I'd like to do a couple 5 gallon batches and want to know your thoughts on this process. I was thinking I could mash BIAB for a high gravity using my normal setup and then dunk the grains in a seperate couple gallons of 170 degree sparge water for 10-15 minutes to achieve a boil volume of approx. 6 gallons.

I can calculate out the actual numbers later, but I'm curious on the idea itself of adding sparge water to a BIAB mash that is intentionally a high gravity to come out with enough to achieve a 5 gallon batch.

I suppose, I could BIAB for 5 gallons in the Megapot, but then I believe (correct me if I'm wrong) I'd have to baby it through mashing to keep the temperature static.

If the first idea seams crazy, I suppose I could spring for the ball valve and screen to just do a normal mash setup and do fly sparging.

Thoughts?

 

[pricelessbrewing]

That'll work. You can sparge if you want to (you can leave your friends behind...)

I'd just mash in the kettle and throw some blankets over it to insulate, but that's me. I typically lost 1-2 degrees per hour, not a big deal.

ps: use my calculator, it's biab specific and made because I needed to sparge and couldn't find another one that supported it!

pricelessbrewing.github.io/biabcalc

 

[dobes]

I wrapped my pot and lid with the silver coated bubble wrap. I lose less than a degree in an hour. I think it cost 15 dollars at the big box store and I have a lot left for future use.
I also brew inside.
When I do a heavier beer that doesn't fit in my kettle I do what you said and just dunk the grain bag in a separate bucket with hot water in it.
I started by trying to pour hot water over the grain bag suspended over the kettle but that did not work so well. It seemed the water channeled and the efficiency was not that great.

 

[Gavin C]

You can definitely do 5 gallon batches in an 8 gallon pot. Reduce the mash water volume to fit in the pot with the grain and sparge to your desired preboil volume. The 8 gallon pot if it anything like my 10 gallon will likely fit 9 gallon. (mine fits 11 gallon)

You may even be able to do full volume no sparge with 11 is lbs of grain for a 5.5 gallon to FV as I do. It will be tight but might just fit.

Typical 11lb grain bill full volume mash in 10 gallon Megapot.

Pot insulated with ski jacket

New and improved insulation (Reflectix)


If you are mashing at or near full volume of the pot you will lose little heat over the course of the mash. I say go for it with a small sparge to minimize mess.

 

[logdrum]

Love the bungee cords!

 

[RM-MN]

Right now I currently brew 3 Gallon BIAB batches on the following:

5 Gallon Rubbermaid Cooler (No Modifications)
5 Gallon Brew Kettle
8 Gallon Megapot w/valve (when needed)

Essentially, I am adding 4.25 gallons of water, usually around 6-7 lbs of grain and mashing. After 75 minutes, I remove and squeeze the bag getting roughly 3.75-85 gallons of wort. Boil, carboy, ferment, yada yada yada.

I'd like to do a couple 5 gallon batches and want to know your thoughts on this process. I was thinking I could mash BIAB for a high gravity using my normal setup and then dunk the grains in a seperate couple gallons of 170 degree sparge water for 10-15 minutes to achieve a boil volume of approx. 6 gallons.

I can calculate out the actual numbers later, but I'm curious on the idea itself of adding sparge water to a BIAB mash that is intentionally a high gravity to come out with enough to achieve a 5 gallon batch.

I suppose, I could BIAB for 5 gallons in the Megapot, but then I believe (correct me if I'm wrong) I'd have to baby it through mashing to keep the temperature static.

If the first idea seams crazy, I suppose I could spring for the ball valve and screen to just do a normal mash setup and do fly sparging.

Thoughts?

Why baby it? Read through this thread. I'm done worrying about holding mash temp for an hour. Note that I mill very fine for my BIAB.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f244/mash-heresy-tale-3-brew-sessions-519615/