BIAB with 10 Gal Kettle?

[Hwk-I-St8]

My typical beer usually has about 12-14 lbs of grain and I'm brewing 5.5 gallon batches. I don't think the pot is big enough to pull this off using BIAB.

I was thinking about this though:

What if I did a BIAB mash with less than the full volume of water, lifted it out and "sparged" by pouring the remaining water volume through the bag?

Does anyone do this? If so, how does it affect efficiency? I was figuring I'd to a bag in a steamer insert to help support the bag and facilitate the sparge.

Thoughts?

 

[Kharnynb]

I do this, many more do as well, with very big beers, I might even boil "second runnings" in another kettle.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=525556

 

[owmatooth]

Pretty much what I do now. I'm usually at 12 lbs grain bill (1.056 stuff) and I've done it both in a ten gal kettle over propane and now a 7.5 gal electric. I'll put about 6.5 gallons of water in for mash, and even with squeezing the heck out of the grains i still lose about 1/2 gal. so I'm heating 6 gal to boil at which point I add another gal by pouring over the grain bag sitting in my strainer (above the liquid in the pot) I start the boil with 7 gal and lose about a half gal during the 60 min boil. keep it simple.

 

[applescrap]

My typical beer usually has about 12-14 lbs of grain and I'm brewing 5.5 gallon batches. I don't think the pot is big enough to pull this off using BIAB.

I was thinking about this though:

What if I did a BIAB mash with less than the full volume of water, lifted it out and "sparged" by pouring the remaining water volume through the bag?

Does anyone do this? If so, how does it affect efficiency? I was figuring I'd to a bag in a steamer insert to help support the bag and facilitate the sparge.

Thoughts?

Yes do this, and based on extensive conversations with the brilliant mind doug, use 60% tv to start and 40% for sparge. With a bag squeeze after each step and your efficiency will be solid.

 

[Murphys_Law]

I have a 15G kettle sitting unused and unloved in my garage in favor of my 10G Spike.

I just did a 1.064 beer w/o any problems and put 5.5 in the fermenter.

I usually keep about a gallon to "sparge ". The benefit is I have very little head space so mash temps are really stable.

 

[jcaggiano]

I do this and was surprised when I used an online calculator tonight that I hit 83% efficiency! I found a strainer that I can put the bag in on top of my 10 gallon kettle (found it at Homegoods for about $10, it has pull out handles but it fit perfect and the provide more support; handles 14# without issue). I press the hell out of the bag in the strainer using the kettle lid. Next I open the bag and loosen the grains. I then gently pour sparge water over the grains to wash the rest of the sticky goodness out.

Beersmith predicted 1.045 OG and I landed at 1.068.

So yes...it works!!!

Cheers!

 

[Hwk-I-St8]

Cool, this sounds like a plan. I may give this a try with one of my next few batches. I've been getting horrible brewhouse efficiency...wondering if BIAB will help. I got abotu 50% on my porter and had to add a full pound of DME to hit my numbers. First step is my own mill. Cereal killer is arriving tomorrow so we'll see if my issue is the crush as it seems is common.

If that doesn't help a lot, I'll give the BIAB a try.

 

[jcaggiano]

I did this one in my 10 gal kettle BIAB with about a gallon dunk sparge. 6.5 gallons in the mash and 1 gallon for sparge leaving 7.5 gallons for pre-boil. With the grains in, it was about an inch from the top so you have a lot more room than you might think. I have an SS Brewtech kettle btw.


15 lbs Pale Malt, Maris Otter (3.0 SRM) Grain 1 75.0 %
2 lbs Oats, Flaked (1.0 SRM) Grain 2 10.0 %
1 lbs Black (Patent) Malt (500.0 SRM) Grain 3 5.0 %
1 lbs Chocolate Malt (450.0 SRM) Grain 4 5.0 %
8.0 oz Black Barley (Stout) (500.0 SRM) Grain 5 2.5 %
8.0 oz Caramel/Crystal Malt - 60L (60.0 SRM) Grain 6 2.5 %
2.00 oz Northern Brewer [8.50 %] - Boil 60.0 min Hop 7 42.0 IBUs
1.00 oz Goldings, East Kent [5.00 %] - Boil 30.0 min Hop 8 9.5 IBUs
1.00 oz Goldings, East Kent [5.00 %] - Boil 15.0 min Hop 9 6.1 IBUs
2.0 pkg Dry English Ale (White Labs #WLP007) [35.49 ml] Yeast 10 -

 

[jzamora3]

I've done all my BIAB in a 10gal kettle. My heaviest grain bill so far was about 15lbs and it was no problem at all. A little heavy to lift out of the kettle after the mash, but that's what a pulley system is for.