BIAB headspace and water questions

[eadavis80]

Probably going to try my first BIAB 3-gallon batch soon. I've done 20+ extract kits and have done 2 1-gallon all-grain BrooklynBrewing kits, so I'm pretty confident in the process. NB says in their Dead Ringer instructions to start with 5.5 gallons of water for their BIAB kit. Is that what you suggest? Secondly, I do plan on using a secondary for this batch for dry hopping. I am NOT trying to start the umpteenth should I use secondary or not threat. I PLAN on racking the beer. I would be using a 5 gallon carboy for primary, however, I don't have a 3-gallon carboy for a secondary. Would using another 5-gallon for secondary offer too much headspace therefore greatly increase the odds of oxidation?

 

[Thedutchtouch]

Probably going to try my first BIAB 3-gallon batch soon. I've done 20+ extract kits and have done 2 1-gallon all-grain BrooklynBrewing kits, so I'm pretty confident in the process. NB says in their Dead Ringer instructions to start with 5.5 gallons of water for their BIAB kit. Is that what you suggest? Secondly, I do plan on using a secondary for this batch for dry hopping. I am NOT trying to start the umpteenth should I use secondary or not threat. I PLAN on racking the beer. I would be using a 5 gallon carboy for primary, however, I don't have a 3-gallon carboy for a secondary. Would using another 5-gallon for secondary offer too much headspace therefore greatly increase the odds of oxidation?

the amount of water you start with to get 3 gal of beer depends on your equipment's boil off rate and grain absorption. i would not use a 5 gal carboy to secondary 3 gal of beer, unless you can purge it with CO2. i know you didnt want to hear it, but why bother? you could sanitize a whole bunch of marbles to fill the carboy up i suppose, but that sounds like a headache to me.

 

[madscientist451]

5.5 gallons sounds about right. Boil off rate varies with the size of your pot and how much heat you put under it, so you may have to adjust after the first batch. If you want 3 gallons of finished beer, you'll need about 3.75 gallons after boil, 3.25 to the fermenter if you don't put kettle trub in. Some brewers dump the whole pot in the fermenter, I leave the trub behind, you'll have to see what works for you.
If I'm re pitching the yeast, I do the dry hop in secondary, but you don't really have to.
If you are doing smaller batches that need longer conditioning time, you should really get a 3 gallon carboy.

 

[masskrug]

I use this calculator: http://pricelessbrewing.github.io/B...tleID=14.5&LossTrub=0.2&Gabs=0.08&Habs=0.0365

 

[wilserbrewer]

If you are dead set on doing a secondary, I would transfer while the brew is still somewhat active, or a short primary so some co2 will be produced to fill the 2 gal headspace.

2 gallons of marbles, really? You would likely spend as much as a 3 gallon carboy and lose a gallon in the marbles?

5.5 gallons strike water seems like a good guess.

 

[Thedutchtouch]

If you are dead set on doing a secondary, I would transfer while the brew is still somewhat active, or a short primary so some co2 will be produced to fill the 2 gal headspace.

2 gallons of marbles, really? You would likely spend as much as a 3 gallon carboy and lose a gallon in the marbles?

5.5 gallons strike water seems like a good guess.

hey, i didn't exactly present it as a good idea lol.

 

[wilserbrewer]

hey, i didn't exactly present it as a good idea lol.

Yes, my apologies...it was in hindsight after I reread your post that I realized it wasn't exactly a serious suggestion....maybe a pet peave of mine, everytime I hear the marble suggestion around here I get a pain in my eye

 

[eadavis80]

Alright - so 3 gallon carboy or dry hop in primary, even though I'd rather not. Time to see what's cheap online in terms of 3 gallon carboys.

 

[Murphy2012]

I used 5.5 gallons for my first 3 gallon batch and was a gallon heavy on my first BIAB brew, yielding an OG much lower than intended. I found that 4.5 gallons is my starting point for a 3 gallon fermenter volume. I suggest starting with less water and adding water after if you boiled off too much. After your first brew, you should get a feel for your boil rate. After my first brew I updated my equipment profile in brewer's friend and have been spot on in the following brews.

I also squeeze my bag like it's broken my heart. Good luck and cheers!