Hi all you fans of electric brewing in a single vessel,
When it comes to the BIAC system from BREWHA, I am very impressed by the ease of operation, cleanup, sanitation, small foot-print offered by the BIAC (in either the small or medium). For the record, I have no affiliation with BREWHA, just an earnest desire to sort out some nagging questions to help me decide on equipment size considerations.
What are your thoughts on the Small vs. the Medium BIAC? Would any of you folks care to help me with your personal experiences and preferences concerning some issues I am wrestling with:
1. Is it important for you to be able to brew 3 to 5 gallon batches, as can be done with Small BIAC, but not larger.
(For reference, the Small BIAC Dimensions: 7 gallons in the cylinder (plus the volume of the cone). Cylinder is 12 in. dia x 12 in. high, per Nathan at BREWHA.
2. Or, would you rather be able to brew 6 to 15 gallon batches as with Medium BIAC, and give up ability to brew 3 gallon batches.
(Medium BIAC Dimensions: 24 gallons in the cylinder portion (plus the volume of the cone). Cylinder is 18 in. dia x 18 in. high.)
3. Small BIAC seems limited in its ability to brew high gravity beer at least in 5 gallon batches, due to its limited vessel size. I think the Small BIAC could probably brew 3 gallon high gravity beers.
4. Are there any brewing styles you think the Small BIAC could not be used for, given its small vessel size.
5. What other considerations am I missing that would require the larger, Medium BIAC?
6. Bottom line ... what's more important from where you stand as experienced, accomplished homebrewers:
A. 3 to 5 gallons batch size, with limited production rate scale-up vs.
B. 6 to 15 gallon batch size, and no ability to do 3 gallon batch size.
I drink 9 or 10 bottles (12 oz) a week. 5 gallon batches would suffice nicely to give me a reasonable frequency of brew days, i.e. could have the fun of brewing more often than making 10 gallons at a time. But, don't want to miss out on flexibility of brewing in a larger system if it makes sense.
I whole-heartedly believe stainless steel, and electric equipment is the way to go.
I appreciate your reading this and any guidance you experienced brewers are willing to share. I recently attended a local home brew club meeting, and asked these kinds of questions of several brewers that night. Many different replies, and still no clear path forward. But it's fun to learn what you have to share.
More about me:
This will be my first step into home brewing. I am an old hand at drinking finer beers. Now I am ready to engage my process engineer self into making and drinking finer beers. I am curious and excited to brew exceptional beers. On a mission to drink all styles and have recently broken from my pale ale and IPA rut to try some belgian blond, saison, sour, imperial IPA and stouts. I will probably begin brewing stouts for awhile.
I have thought of whether or not I will stick with the hobby for more than a year, and know that this is a major investment in a hobby that I have no direct experience in. As of now, I am COMMITTED, or maybe I SHOULD BE COMMITTED TO A HOME for even thinking of doing this. But, I have tasted some home-brews that are OUT OF THIS WORLD GOOD. And I want to be a part of that. I've been reading Homebrewtalk, and Biabrewer.com. I've learned a lot from the Beersmith podcast videos.
...Ron8
When it comes to the BIAC system from BREWHA, I am very impressed by the ease of operation, cleanup, sanitation, small foot-print offered by the BIAC (in either the small or medium). For the record, I have no affiliation with BREWHA, just an earnest desire to sort out some nagging questions to help me decide on equipment size considerations.
What are your thoughts on the Small vs. the Medium BIAC? Would any of you folks care to help me with your personal experiences and preferences concerning some issues I am wrestling with:
1. Is it important for you to be able to brew 3 to 5 gallon batches, as can be done with Small BIAC, but not larger.
(For reference, the Small BIAC Dimensions: 7 gallons in the cylinder (plus the volume of the cone). Cylinder is 12 in. dia x 12 in. high, per Nathan at BREWHA.
2. Or, would you rather be able to brew 6 to 15 gallon batches as with Medium BIAC, and give up ability to brew 3 gallon batches.
(Medium BIAC Dimensions: 24 gallons in the cylinder portion (plus the volume of the cone). Cylinder is 18 in. dia x 18 in. high.)
3. Small BIAC seems limited in its ability to brew high gravity beer at least in 5 gallon batches, due to its limited vessel size. I think the Small BIAC could probably brew 3 gallon high gravity beers.
4. Are there any brewing styles you think the Small BIAC could not be used for, given its small vessel size.
5. What other considerations am I missing that would require the larger, Medium BIAC?
6. Bottom line ... what's more important from where you stand as experienced, accomplished homebrewers:
A. 3 to 5 gallons batch size, with limited production rate scale-up vs.
B. 6 to 15 gallon batch size, and no ability to do 3 gallon batch size.
I drink 9 or 10 bottles (12 oz) a week. 5 gallon batches would suffice nicely to give me a reasonable frequency of brew days, i.e. could have the fun of brewing more often than making 10 gallons at a time. But, don't want to miss out on flexibility of brewing in a larger system if it makes sense.
I whole-heartedly believe stainless steel, and electric equipment is the way to go.
I appreciate your reading this and any guidance you experienced brewers are willing to share. I recently attended a local home brew club meeting, and asked these kinds of questions of several brewers that night. Many different replies, and still no clear path forward. But it's fun to learn what you have to share.
More about me:
This will be my first step into home brewing. I am an old hand at drinking finer beers. Now I am ready to engage my process engineer self into making and drinking finer beers. I am curious and excited to brew exceptional beers. On a mission to drink all styles and have recently broken from my pale ale and IPA rut to try some belgian blond, saison, sour, imperial IPA and stouts. I will probably begin brewing stouts for awhile.
I have thought of whether or not I will stick with the hobby for more than a year, and know that this is a major investment in a hobby that I have no direct experience in. As of now, I am COMMITTED, or maybe I SHOULD BE COMMITTED TO A HOME for even thinking of doing this. But, I have tasted some home-brews that are OUT OF THIS WORLD GOOD. And I want to be a part of that. I've been reading Homebrewtalk, and Biabrewer.com. I've learned a lot from the Beersmith podcast videos.
...Ron8