BIAB - 5 gallon batches in 9 gallon kettle

[mgr_stl]

I'd like to try my hand at BIAB for the first time and have a 9 gallon pot. Since I know it would be ideal if I had a bigger pot, I was curious if some of you with experience could suggest some potential pitfalls I would run in to due to the smaller pot size and ways around those pitfalls. Thanks!

 

[doug293cz]

I'd like to try my hand at BIAB for the first time and have a 9 gallon pot. Since I know it would be ideal if I had a bigger pot, I was curious if some of you with experience could suggest some potential pitfalls I would run in to due to the smaller pot size and ways around those pitfalls. Thanks!

I did several 5 gal BIAB batches in an 8 gal BK. It was tight but doable. You may not be able to do full volume mashing depending on size of grain bill, but you can sparge with BIAB (although purists may object) to allow somewhat larger grain bills. Need to watch very carefully for boil overs. Find a calculator that will let you know if what you plan will fit. You can find one here, but there are many others out there as well.

Brew on

 

[mb82]

I currently am set up with an 8 gal pot. I can do no sparge batches up to 1.070ish. I don't fear boilovers, with this new pot I rarely come close to one.

 

[soccerdad]

^ +1

 

[singybrue]

#1 would be boilover.
Watch it like a hawk as it's coming to boil! Use fermcap, spray the wort with water from a spray bottle when coming to a boil. This will help prevent boil-overs.
#2 may not have the capacity to do high-gravity brews with large grain bills.
Use less water to mash, and sparge to make up your boil volume as a workaround.

I use a 8 gallon pot, so the extra 1g headroom will help.

 

[MaxStout]

I used to do BIAB in a 10 gal BK. With bigger grain bills I used a few gallons less strike water, mashed, hoisted up the bag and did a "pour-over" sparge with the water I held back. That sparge water doesn't even need heating; you can use room temp water. All you're doing is rinsing out a little more of the sugars.

 

[BrewinBromanite]

I do BIAB, mashing in a 5 gal cooler, draining and squeezing into 10.5 gal kettle, then do a dunk/batch sparge back in the cooler to reach pre-boil target volume. I get a boil off rate anywhere from 1-2 gal depending on how vigorous the boil is. You should be just fine in a 9 gal kettle, and as long as you keep an eye on the boil, you shouldn't get a boil over.


Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

 

[TexasWine]

I use a 9 gallon bayou classic myself. Just make sure to calculate your total strike volume accurately and you'll be fine.

I do 14-15 pound grain bills with a sparge step. I use fermcap and keep a spray bottle handy during the boil. Haven't had a problem since I learned a lesson about boil overs on that first batch.

 

[mgr_stl]

This place is the best! If you aren't already a supporting member, you should join to support this unbelievable resource. <end PSA>

I'm heartened that it appears I'll be able to do this with my current equipment.

 

[mgr_stl]

Oh, and by the way my setup is also using an outdoor bayoo burner, so while boilovers are not good they will at least not cause a major indoor mess.

 

[pricelessbrewing]

I use a 7.5G pot, am able to do full volume boils and thin mashes up to 3~ qt/lb. I typically sparge with a gallon to 1.5 depending on the grainbill.

Because of this situation, not a big enough pot for full volume mashes, and how often this question came up, I made my calculator at pricelessbrewing.github.io I think it's pretty neat, but I'm biased.

 

[doug293cz]

Because of this situation, not a big enough pot for full volume mashes, and how often this question came up, I made my calculator at pricelessbrewing.github.io I think it's pretty neat, but I'm biased.

What? The plug I gave you above wasn't enough?

Brew on

 

[pricelessbrewing]

What? The plug I gave you above wasn't enough?

Brew on

Originally had your post quoted, but forgot to post my reply and went to another house and lost my post. Thanks for the referral

Really though, it's silly that people think Biab necessitates full volume one vessel mash. There's absolutely no reason for either of those requirements, they're no more valid than saying the only real all grain brewing method is thee vessel.

 

[doug293cz]

Really though, it's silly that people think Biab necessitates full volume one vessel mash. There's absolutely no reason for either of those requirements, they're no more valid than saying the only real all grain brewing method is thee vessel.

I agree. And, I usually sparge in order to get the efficiency improvement (and it's not much effort.) But, people like to argue about all kinds of silly things. I've been trying to acknowledge areas where differences of opinions exist lately, especially in areas where multiple options all work. First, so that I don't sound like a zealot when I give advice, and second, to maybe head off some needless arguing.

Brew on

 

[RM-MN]

#1 would be boilover.
Watch it like a hawk as it's coming to boil! Use fermcap, spray the wort with water from a spray bottle when coming to a boil. This will help prevent boil-overs.
#2 may not have the capacity to do high-gravity brews with large grain bills.
Use less water to mash, and sparge to make up your boil volume as a workaround.

I use a 8 gallon pot, so the extra 1g headroom will help.

That can be solved by milling the grains fine and thus raising your brewhouse efficiency. I've done a batch with a 1.070 OG in my 7 1/2 gallon turkey fryer by accident when I planned on a 70% efficiency and hit 85%. With a 9 gallon pot a higher OG than that should be easy.

 

[mikeprooo]

I have the 8 gal megapot with valve and thermometer..the last batch, my second, had a 13lb grain bill. Because I bought 3 2.5 gallon containers of spring water from the store, I put 5 gallons in the meagapot and the other 2.5 in my 5 gal pot. I was at the 7 gal mark during the mash; I dunked the bag into the 2.5 gals after 90 minutes or so. Poured it back into the megapot and was right at 7 gals pre-boil.