Biab fail!

[TexasWine]

I am somewhat lost with all the volumes and gravities given. But, collecting the proper volume is critical. If the recipe calls for a final volume of 3 gallons and you are collecting 3.5 gallons your gravity will be low. I think you may be accounting too much to trub loss. I lose less than a quarter gallon to trub in a 5 gallon batch. I do use a 5 gallon paint strainer bag to contain hop debris.

Keep adjusting your volumes until you end up with the predicted amount of wort going into the fermenter without leaving much if any in the boil kettle. I leave only the thickest part in the BK, less than 12 ounces.

I believe you're onto something! I've never done one of these 3 gallon BIAB kits before, but I just looked up the instructions on the NB website. While I didn't find it directly stated, if these kits are designed like every other kit in the world, they are meant to put 3 gallons into the fermenter.

 

[kh54s10]

I believe you're onto something! I've never done one of these 3 gallon BIAB kits before, but I just looked up the instructions on the NB website. While I didn't find it directly stated, if these kits are designed like every other kit in the world, they are meant to put 3 gallons into the fermenter.

I don't do kits any more but when I did I put just a slight bit more than 5 gallons into the fermenter for a 5 gallon kit. I then had right at 5 gallons to the bottling bucket.

When starting all grain my efficiencies varied quite a bit while I figured things out. The beers might not have been as intended, some stronger, most weaker, but they were good.

 

[eadavis80]

Yes, the NB BIAB kits are all for 3 gallons of beer. I ballpark about .25 gallon to trub/hop loss. I leave certainly more than 12 ounces in the kettle. I do go through a strainer, but in my experience that nasty sludge just goes to the bottom of the fermenter anyway, so I just no longer give an opportunity to get there. I'd say I leave about 20-24 ounces in the kettle. I probably have about 3.33 gallons in the fermenter now, which, after dry hopping should yield me 3 gallons of beer. I am just learning about the BIAB, but learned a lot last time I did it and - at this point - feel much more knowledgeable about my setup than I did prior to the brew day, which makes me happy.