BIAB and Partial Mash Questions

[OKHopHead]

Currently I am using a turkey fryer to do full boil extract recipes. I am interested in trying a partial mash or all grain BIAB but I have a few questions:

all grain BIAB: I don't believe my 30qt kettle is large enough to hold the full boil volume plus the grain bag. Is it possible to mash in a smaller volume of water and then add the remaining water after removing the grain bag? Would this just cost me some efficiency?

Partial Mash: I have read DeathBrewer's partial mash thread and it involves dunking the bag in a second pot of water to sparge. I don't have a second pot that is large enough to do this (only have an 8qt pot). Can I do a "no sparge" partial mash in my turkey fryer? Or would it be better to try to pour 1.5 or so gallons of water over the grain bag to sparge?

 

[dilbone]

Currently I am using a turkey fryer to do full boil extract recipes. I am interested in trying a partial mash or all grain BIAB but I have a few questions:

all grain BIAB: I don't believe my 30qt kettle is large enough to hold the full boil volume plus the grain bag. Is it possible to mash in a smaller volume of water and then add the remaining water after removing the grain bag? Would this just cost me some efficiency?

Partial Mash: I have read DeathBrewer's partial mash thread and it involves dunking the bag in a second pot of water to sparge. I don't have a second pot that is large enough to do this (only have an 8qt pot). Can I do a "no sparge" partial mash in my turkey fryer? Or would it be better to try to pour 1.5 or so gallons of water over the grain bag to sparge?

You're right, a 30qt isn't big enough for full volume and grain. I mash in 4 gallons in a 30qt. After the 90minute mash I lift the bag and squeeze out all I can. I have another 11-13qts(depending on grain bill) heated up to 160 for a sparge to rinse the grain and get as much sugar as I can off. That doesn't take very long, just long enough to soak it, stir it, then up comes the bag to be squeezed again. I have a second 30qt pot for that, but you could just as easily do that in a bucket or cooler. Combining 1st and 2nd runnings into the single 30qt for the boil doesn't leave much room, but it can be done easily.

 

[karalaok]

You're right, a 30qt isn't big enough for full volume and grain. I mash in 4 gallons in a 30qt. After the 90minute mash I lift the bag and squeeze out all I can. I have another 11-13qts(depending on grain bill) heated up to 160 for a sparge to rinse the grain and get as much sugar as I can off. That doesn't take very long, just long enough to soak it, stir it, then up comes the bag to be squeezed again. I have a second 30qt pot for that, but you could just as easily do that in a bucket or cooler. Combining 1st and 2nd runnings into the single 30qt for the boil doesn't leave much room, but it can be done easily.

Hi, but instead of having 2 separate pots, can I just add more water at the end? I have a 15 gallons pot. I want to do 10 gallons batch. By the time I combine all the grains, water, my 15 gallon pot wont cut it so like the first person on this post I was thinking maybe start out with 12 gallons of water (BIAB method) then when that's done add 2 more gallons to bring the water to a total of 14 gallons before boil and hope I will end up some where close to 9 gallons.

 

[Mysticmead]

Hi, but instead of having 2 separate pots, can I just add more water at the end? I have a 15 gallons pot. I want to do 10 gallons batch. By the time I combine all the grains, water, my 15 gallon pot wont cut it so like the first person on this post I was thinking maybe start out with 12 gallons of water (BIAB method) then when that's done add 2 more gallons to bring the water to a total of 14 gallons before boil and hope I will end up some where close to 9 gallons.

yes... just brew it a little stronger and add the top off water.... just like an extract batch when you first started brewing

 

[dilbone]

Hi, but instead of having 2 separate pots, can I just add more water at the end? I have a 15 gallons pot. I want to do 10 gallons batch. By the time I combine all the grains, water, my 15 gallon pot wont cut it so like the first person on this post I was thinking maybe start out with 12 gallons of water (BIAB method) then when that's done add 2 more gallons to bring the water to a total of 14 gallons before boil and hope I will end up some where close to 9 gallons.

You can just add top off water, but your efficiency will be lower. You'd be better off to pour your top off water through the bag into a bucket to try to rinse the grain a little unless your efficiency isn't a concern. I'd sure try to find a way to get some more of that sugar off of the grain. Seems like a waste of sugars to not attempt some sort of rinse, buckets are cheap...or most people have a cooler/ice chest that would work.