Biab

[kylefree]

I'm looking to upgrade my homebrewing to BIAB but the kits that I find on Northern Brewer and Etsy only go up to 3 gallon yields.
I'm still new to brewing and I have read that a much larger kettle is needed to BIAB to yield for a 5 gallon batch, or am I just confused?

In my mind if the BIAB yields 3 gallons, then that would be about right for the wort and begin the boil from what I understand. Can someone aid me in understand this?

 

[BigKahuna]

With BIAB, you are doing all grain. In order to fully rinse the grains of the sugars you'll create during the mash step, you're going to end up with between 6 or 7 gallons pre boil.
You really can't get good eff% with a partial boil in all grain brewing.

 

[kylefree]

I have a 9 gallon boil kettle, that definitely doesn't seem like I will have enough space in the kettle for all that water and all that grain

 

[BigKahuna]

You could be fine. I do BIAB in 7 gallon turkey friers... But I have 2. I mash in 1. Rinse grain in about 3 gallons in the second, then pour together.
Also, just do a 3 or 4 gallon batch. Problem solved!

 

[kylefree]

Oh well then I do agree that I could be fine - I think if I use 6 gallons of water then I can properly steep all my grains to make a 5 gallon batch. Do you know if 3 gallon yield kits would work for me then? or should I just make my own grail bill to fulfill my needs for a 5 gallon batch in my 9 gallon boil pot?

 

[Onihige]

I used to do 19 liter (5 gallon) batches in a 36 liter (9.5 gallons) pot on the stove. Worked like a charm, only problem was that the pot was so damn big it barely fit under the stove fan.

Search for a BIAB calculator or use a program like Beersmith or Brewmate to get a good idea of what you can do.

 

[BigKahuna]

Search for a BIAB calculator or use a program like Beersmith or Brewmate to get a good idea of what you can do.

Solid advice!
If you're looking for a first... Kits work well, and 3 gallons is easy to work with!
From there, hit the recipe section.

 

[kylefree]

Well I will look into the calculations and I hope that a kit, such as the cascadian dark from Northern Brewer will work well for me to make a 5 gallon batch of a delicious home brew!

I think that would make a nice winter home brew as another home brew would be done around the time winter falls here in Chicago for me.

 

[worxman02]

For BIAB you want about a 10 or 15 gallon kettle and a custom bag that fits in your kettle. Thats really all the equipment you need besides a propane burner to bring the entire 7 gallons of water or so that you will be using up to a boil. I won't buy a BIAB kit that only does 3 gallons. Go find yourself a 10 or 15 gallon kettle and then get a BIAB bag from custombiab.com or wilserbrewer. Or get some swiss voile fabric from a fabric store and sew it yourself.

 

[sikkingj]

http://www.foodservicewarehouse.com...ional-aluminum/c30952_30172-74_30230-152.aspx. I only do 5 gallon batch - I like the variety, and I wish I went with the 20 gallon pot. Doing an imperial anything will get you to 8-10 gallons of water and add in 15+ pds. of grain and you don't have a lot of head room.

Hope this helps.

-John

PS
I got my bag from custom biab - great product heck of a long wait.