BIAB vs 3 vessel setups

[mac_1103]

the owner/renter/handyperson may have installed another one on the same line not knowing just the first one upstream is needed or thinking the second outlet was a second line, or even trying to put one over on the inspector

Or maybe just not giving a crap.

 

[mashdar]

In commercial/public installs, separate GFCIs are preferred so you don't have to hunt around. I know a bunch of electricians that do that for custom homes, but probably not for spec.

 

[Dog House Brew]

This is 3 vessel brewing. I love this hands on brewery. I know it inside and out. If I started now, I’d have a single vessel. This one will have to do me, I’m not changing now. Gotta go, mashing into 41# of grain. She does have her advantages.

 

[Travis H]

I really wish I could find an electric setup that I can do 10 gallon batches with that was 120v

 

[doug293cz]

I really wish I could find an electric setup that I can do 10 gallon batches with that was 120v

You can't circumvent physics and thermodynamics.

Brew on

 

[Deadalus]

This is 3 vessel brewing. I love this hands on brewery. I know it inside and out. If I started now, I’d have a single vessel. This one will have to do me, I’m not changing now. Gotta go, mashing into 41# of grain. She does have her advantages.

What was the BK originally?

 

[mac_1103]

This is 3 vessel brewing. I love this hands on brewery. I know it inside and out. If I started now, I’d have a single vessel. This one will have to do me, I’m not changing now.

Looks like there is a lot more love than money invested in that rig. It's easy to see why you wouldn't want give it up.

 

[Dog House Brew]

What was the BK originally?

Honey centrifuge

 

[Dog House Brew]

Looks like there is a lot more love than money invested in that rig. It's easy to see why you wouldn't want give it up.

$$ doesn’t make great beer. We can all agree on that. Only thing I hate is being an outdoor brewer. Can HERMS it, FVBIAB, but I still think about a single vessel indoors though.

 

[Bobby_M]

I really wish I could find an electric setup that I can do 10 gallon batches with that was 120v

There is. You just have to be willing to use extension cords to reach an outlet on a separate breaker. It's a slight extra hassle but not a deal breaker.

 

[Bobby_M]

Here's my rig. I use an 8 ft step ladder (more room to work under it than with a 6 footer.) I don't use the perforated basket anymore, just the bag. I got the pulley from Wilser with the bag. And I have a better burner now.




Brew on

I gotta ask, why no eyebolt in the beam above? Rental? How about a piece of angle iron laying across the tops of the beams?

 

[Genuine]

I have a 2 Vessel Kettle rims system now that I built over the years to be a bit simpler than the 3 vessel systems.....Takes up a bit of room but it's not bad. Nice part is that between my kettle and the mash tun, I have about 32 gallons of capacity so doing 10 gallon or high OG beers aren't a problem. If I were to do it again, I would take a good hard look at the Clawhammer Supply 20 Gallon system. Only annoying part is lifting of the grain basket so I'd have to come up with a powered pulley system to make it easier.

 

[doug293cz]

I gotta ask, why no eyebolt in the beam above? Rental? How about a piece of angle iron laying across the tops of the beams?

The beams are not very well located for where the burner has to go. I would have to move a very heavy outdoor table and chairs every time I wanted to brew, if I wanted to put an eyebolt in the beam.

Brew on

 

[doug293cz]

There is. You just have to be willing to use extension cords to reach an outlet on a separate breaker. It's a slight extra hassle but not a deal breaker.

Yeah, but you need two separate 20A circuits & 2X - 2000W elements to get 4KW of power input. Can be done, but it's way less convenient than a single 240V, 30A circuit.

Brew on

 

[Dog House Brew]

I did figure out a plus today with my 3V. My MT was maxed w 41# and FV. I decided to pull about 5.5g from the strike to get a good fit. I stuck it in my seldom used HLT. I’m glad I had it today. This FV mashing is saving me tons of time. The Wilser bag w my manifold just is so easy to clean. No worries about a stuck mash!! Still learning but came out with 75.5 BH and 76.5 mash. I’ll take it!! So yes 3V

 

[Bobby_M]

Yeah, but you need two separate 20A circuits & 2X - 2000W elements to get 4KW of power input. Can be done, but it's way less convenient than a single 240V, 30A circuit.

Brew on

I agree that 240v is better but I'm just suggesting it doesn't have to be a deal breaker.

 

[day_trippr]

fwiw, I'm betting @Bobby_M was looking at those joists either side of your ladder for a nice thick eye bolt location.
They look like 2x8s, which would be plenty strong enough to hold a big bag o' sopping wet grain

Cheers!

 

[doug293cz]

fwiw, I'm betting @Bobby_M was looking at those joists either side of your ladder for a nice thick eye bolt location.
They look like 2x8s, which would be plenty strong enough to hold a big bag o' sopping wet grain

Cheers!

Yeah, the one on the right is too close to the edge of the deck, and not shielded enough when it rains. The one on the left would force me to move the table, etc. in order to brew. The ladder is simpler.

Brew on

 

[Alan Reginato]

If you have space, money, time and a true desire to simulate a microbrewery, go for 3V!
Otherwise, I don't see any advantages.

 

[LegacyBanker]

Here's my rig. I use an 8 ft step ladder (more room to work under it than with a 6 footer.) I don't use the perforated basket anymore, just the bag. I got the pulley from Wilser with the bag. And I have a better burner now.

View attachment 843969


Brew on

If anyone has brewed a no-boil NEIPA, how hot do you heat your wort between sparge and whirlpool, and for how long do you hold it there?

 

[BlueHouseBrewhaus]

FI

I am in kinda the same boat. I have most of the parts for a DIY 3 vessel system, but my BIAB is so convenient and takes very little room to do in the garage. I use a propane burner, a 10 gallon kettle with a ball valve and a banjo screen. I have added a cooler for my sparge and dump my grains from the bag into the cooler with 170 water and leave it in there for about 15 to 20 mins. I dig the look of the 3 vessel setup, but my BIAB has given me some good beers and now that I have my process pretty dialed in I can hit my numbers give or take a few points. The only drawback I have found is I am not comfortable doing step mashes yet as the temp control can be a bit tricky with the propane. I have been looking into converting my kettle into an electric setup, but then I have to get a controller and all of the, which I am just not ready for. The AIO units, as far as I know, allow you to do step mashes and play with the temps, as well as setting them to go off early so your strike water is ready to go when you get up. For now though, I enjoy my BIAB setup and will continue with that.

FYI, I do infusion step mashes with my BIAB. I use the infusion calculator in BeerSmith. For simplicity, I tweak the amount of infusion water until it gives me a temp near boiling. Just get the water near boiling and throw it in the mash. I do the same thing for mash out. I usually end up within a degree of my target temp.

 

[WayFrae]

I have done BIAB and 3V but recently went 2V. Basically just ditched the HLT. I find that I get clearer wort being able to lauter. It works well for me. I still mash in a bag just so cleanup is easier though haha.

 

[LegacyBanker]

This isn't mine, I use a 3v system, this is my brother's. Harbor Freight has rope pulleys.

Where does the other end of the rope go after it feeds through the pulley? There would have to be a counterweight of some kind…?

 

[mashdar]

Where does the other end of the rope go after it feeds through the pulley? There would have to be a counterweight of some kind…?

Some people may tie off the rope. Others may have a rope grabber thing similar to window blinds, where you pull at a certain angle to release.

 

[doug293cz]

Where does the other end of the rope go after it feeds through the pulley? There would have to be a counterweight of some kind…?

You can get ratcheting pulleys that lock the cord in place until you release it. This is what Wilser provides with his bags.

Brew on

 

[McMullan]

You can get ratcheting pulleys that lock the cord in place until you release it. This is what Wilser provides with his bags.

Brew on

 

[doug293cz]

For when you have a 500 lb grain bill.

Brew on

 

[McMullan]

View attachment 844236

For when you have a 500 lb grain bill.

Brew on

View attachment 844236

For when you have a 500 lb grain bill.

Brew on

I can pull so much wet grain post mash, with my little finger, it’s genuinely funny. Hats off to the engineers. I swing on it too, just for the fun of it.

 

[bwible]

I split the difference and have a 2 vessel system. I have an Anvil Foundry which I use for my mash. I like having the temp control and ability to step mash. I also have an Anvil brewpot that I drain out of the Foundry into after the mash is complete and boil stovetop. I brew 3 gallons so I can get away with this.

I don’t like pulling the basket in the Foundry. I use their pump to recirculate and by the end of the mash I have beautiful clear wort coming out of the pump. If I turn the pump off and pull the basket then I redistribute all the junk I just spent an hour recirculating to get rid of. So I drain the Foundry to the kettle and get the clear wort instead.