BIAB Brewing (with pics)

[mb82]

Maintaining temps. The bag is a filter and catches what what need to be caught.

 

[nbrack]

That's a nice looking bag Antler. I need to find something like that over on this side of the pond. How long do these bags last and are they a PITA to clean?

I've been looking at getting a custom made bag made to do semi BIAB. This site looks like reasonable pricing to me: biab-brewing.com

 

[slcdawg]

A caution here. Most extract and partial mash kits have explicit instructions to NOT squeeze the grains. They have calculated the efficiencies and resulting flavor profiles assuming you do not squeeze. If you DO squeeze, you will get "higher", stronger adjunct grain effects / flavoring above what the recipe is designed for. This will effect the flavor profile of the beer.

Good info, thanks! Unfortunately, I read this after doing a partial mash this wkd. We'll see what happens.

 

[Kluge]

I can't believe I read this whole thread! But I have been inspired. Got the 30G Turkey fryer, paint strainer bags, and working on converting the fryer from LPG to NG. Looking forward to a new chapter in brewing!

 

[wobdee]

This is a great thread, took me a few days to get through it and it pretty much convinced me to give BIAB a try as soon as I burn through my supply of extract.

Has anyone thought about using something similar to those s/s mesh hop baskets or spider thingys instead of a bag? It would cost more in the short run but it may be easier to handle and clean? Here's the thread on the hop basket, wonder if Chad454 could build a nice BIAB out of s/s?

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/new-way-control-pellet-hop-gunk-352293/

 

[Mysticmead]

nice idea.. honestly though, its very easy to handle the bag and it cleans easily by turning it inside out and spraying with a water hose. takes just a couple minutes.. if you want to use a s/s mesh basket, go for it. I'd rather spend that money on grains

 

[OldDirty]

This is a great thread, took me a few days to get through it and it pretty much convinced me to give BIAB a try as soon as I burn through my supply of extract.

Has anyone thought about using something similar to those s/s mesh hop baskets or spider thingys instead of a bag? It would cost more in the short run but it may be easier to handle and clean? Here's the thread on the hop basket, wonder if Chad454 could build a nice BIAB out of s/s?

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/new-way-control-pellet-hop-gunk-352293/

One thing I learned with BIAB is to not crowd your grain when mashing. I used a 5g pain strainer bag with a keggle and found my efficiency to be awfully low. The grains need room to float and absorb water. A small bag or hop strainer is not going to get the job done.

 

[wobdee]

One thing I learned with BIAB is to not crowd your grain when mashing. I used a 5g pain strainer bag with a keggle and found my efficiency to be awfully low. The grains need room to float and absorb water. A small bag or hop strainer is not going to get the job done.

Ok, good point, so the basket should be slightly smaller than the inside diameter of you kettle for max absorbsion. I know some people use those strainer baskets for turkey fryers and wrap a bag around it so the s/s basket would have to be similar sized and then there would be no need for a bag. Lift the basket up after mashing, place it ontop of grate across kettle, drain and squish the grains, and carry on with the brew.

 

[c_osbourn]

Seen a vid on youtube about using a steamer on the bottom of the kettle so you don't scorch the bag, anyone having problems with this?

 

[Antler]

Seen a vid on youtube about using a steamer on the bottom of the kettle so you don't scorch the bag, anyone having problems with this?

There was testing done with this as I've already posted here. A brewer here took some scrap material left over from making his Voille bag and tied it directly onto his 240v 5500w heating element in his kettle. He set it on 100% power for like 20 minutes, and the bag showed no signs of scorching, burning, anything.

It's a myth.

 

[Mysticmead]

Seen a vid on youtube about using a steamer on the bottom of the kettle so you don't scorch the bag, anyone having problems with this?

There was testing done with this as I've already posted here. A brewer here took some scrap material left over from making his Voille bag and tied it directly onto his 240v 5500w heating element in his kettle. He set it on 100% power for like 20 minutes, and the bag showed no signs of scorching, burning, anything.

It's a myth.

^^^^ +1000

I don't use anything under my bag. I just stir while heating to mash out (I stopped worrying about keeping the temps exact log ago). My bag is the original one and has no signs of scorching.

that said, yes a steam basket turned upside down, or a cake rack will work if it gives you peace of mind

 

[Brewitt]

^^^^ +1000

I don't use anything under my bag. I just stir while heating to mash out (I stopped worrying about keeping the temps exact log ago). My bag is the original one and has no signs of scorching.

that said, yes a steam basket turned upside down, or a cake rack will work if it gives you peace of mind

Yep, I just pull the top of my bag up and clip it with binders to the edge of the keggle and then heat. I let it back down when I turn the heat off. Works fine.

 

[SiriusStarr]

Seen a vid on youtube about using a steamer on the bottom of the kettle so you don't scorch the bag, anyone having problems with this?

Do I do it? Yes. Do I think there's any chance of it actually being a problem? No. My first batch I had nothing under it and it was fine; no burning.

 

[MMJfan]

Do I do it? Yes. Do I think there's any chance of it actually being a problem? No. My first batch I had nothing under it and it was fine; no burning.

I use a steamer turned upside down as well more for my own peace of mind than anything else...

 

[c_osbourn]

If you are still considering doing BIAB method, can you still use kits and just add all the water at once?
Noob

 

[eulipion2]

If you are still considering doing BIAB method, can you still use kits and just add all the water at once?
Noob

Yup, all-grain is all-grain, so whether it's an all-grain kit or a recipe you've made yourself, you'd BIAB the exact same way.

 

[c_osbourn]

thanks, going to start out with kits and i guess i will use the biabcalculator for my water level and temp...

 

[eulipion2]

Good luck. Don't forget to get your grains crushed. I only bring this up because I imagine it would be fairly easy to walk out of the LHBS kit in hand, rip it open on brew day and realize you have a box full of whole grains.

 

[c_osbourn]

Cool thanks for the heads up

 

[newnick]

Double crush is helpful with BIAB.

 

[c_osbourn]

Ya thats what i have been hearing...

 

[scsjohn]

Question: interested in doing a 10 gallon biab. I assume I'll need 15 gallons of water to start. Do I need a 20 gallon pot? Could I get by with a 62 quart pot? Thanks for any help.

 

[Antler]

You can get away with a 15 gallon pot. Just mash with less water, then after the mash top up with water to your preboil amount.

 

[mb82]

You can get away with a 15 gallon pot. Just mash with less water, then after the mash top up with water to your preboil amount.

I would "sparge" with the topup water instead of just putting it in. Either dunk sparge or pour through a collinder like item.

 

[SpacemanSpiff]

Double crush is helpful with BIAB.

Or tighten your gap if milling your own. I tightened mine up to .030 and gained 5 points with a single crush as opposed to a double crush on the old setting. It's so fine I'm afraid to double crush it even though I can see some kernels are hopping around the rollers.

 

[scsjohn]

Ok. So I can use the 15 gallon pot. Right now I have a 10.5 gallon. I'm gonna purchase one either way either a 15 or 20. If I went with the 20, that would create the most simple system, correct? I just mash with all 15 gallons, heat to 170, wait and pull the bag out. Then start boiling.

Other wise, with a 15 gallon pot, I have to perform other operations.

Is what I'm saying correct?

Sorry if these are basic questions. (Perhaps I should have started a thread.) I've only completed one BIAB--a double IPA, which seems to be going well. 3 more days of dry hopping and then bottle.

Thanks for those who've commented. Your help is appreciated.

 

[Antler]

Ok. So I can use the 15 gallon pot. Right now I have a 10.5 gallon. I'm gonna purchase one either way either a 15 or 20. If I went with the 20, that would create the most simple system, correct? I just mash with all 15 gallons, heat to 170, wait and pull the bag out. Then start boiling.

Other wise, with a 15 gallon pot, I have to perform other operations.

Is what I'm saying correct?

Sorry if these are basic questions. (Perhaps I should have started a thread.) I've only completed one BIAB--a double IPA, which seems to be going well. 3 more days of dry hopping and then bottle.

Thanks for those who've commented. Your help is appreciated.

What your saying is right! The 20 gallon would make things simpler, but if your stuck with the 15 gallon you can make it work.

 

[scsjohn]

Thanks, Antler (and others)!!!

 

[wilserbrewer]

If you are looking for simple, IMO the mashout to 170 is optional...some like it yet others question the need...stir well several times either way though to aid in rinsing the sugars from the grain!

 

[scsjohn]

If you are looking for simple, IMO the mashout to 170 is optional...some like it yet others question the need...stir well several times either way though to aid in rinsing the sugars from the grain!

But I thought you needed to do the mashout to 170 for efficientcy (sp?). Could I just add a lb or 2 of grain and skip the mashout?