BIAB Noob Questions

[Grinnan5150]

Have been brewing AG for some time but read the sticky on BIAB. I like the idea of one stop shopping so to speak with less mess in the kitchen. I do have two questions that are probably pretty silly but since I have never done it before I was hoping for some direction:

1) Is the quart of water per pound of grain still accurate to determine how much water you need and then just add up to what a 5 gallon batch would boil down to?

2) If I use grain socks to put the hops in to avoid straining will I still utilize all the acid or will it be lowered because it is in the grain sack?

I appreciate any advice you can offer. Thanks!

 

[christpuncher123]

1. Use this beerreviewdude.com/biab-calculator/
2. Sock isn't necessary, hops either sink or float eventually.

 

[Grinnan5150]

1. Use this beerreviewdude.com/biab-calculator/
2. Sock isn't necessary, hops either sink or float eventually.

Awesome, thanks!

 

[cyclonite]

As for the hops, there are several options. You can let them float free during the boil, use hop bags, or build yourself a hop spider (search the forums - the same material you use for your bag works well, or a paint strainer bag from home depot). If you are using buckets for fermenters, I like to use a fine filter bag over the top of the bucket and strain the wort through it when transferring. You get virtually no hop debris at all going into the fermenter this way. Also helps aerate, and makes yeast washing easier by reducing the trub in the fermenter. Midwest or NB sell one with an elastic band that fits perfectly over a bucket opening. That along with a couple binder clips and two pieces of heavier cloth (to protect the filter material from the binder clips) make it easy to filter without worrying about the bag going into the bucket from the weight of the liquid.

 

[christpuncher123]

As for the hops, there are several options. You can let them float free during the boil, use hop bags, or build yourself a hop spider (search the forums - the same material you use for your bag works well, or a paint strainer bag from home depot). If you are using buckets for fermenters, I like to use a fine filter bag over the top of the bucket and strain the wort through it when transferring. You get virtually no hop debris at all going into the fermenter this way. Also helps aerate, and makes yeast washing easier by reducing the trub in the fermenter. Midwest or NB sell one with an elastic band that fits perfectly over a bucket opening. That along with a couple binder clips and two pieces of heavier cloth (to protect the filter material from the binder clips) make it easy to filter without worrying about the bag going into the bucket from the weight of the liquid.

Are you sterilizing the bag you are pouring the bag through?