Does anyone use a BIAB style bag in their mash tun?

[guitarguy6]

Hey guys, I'm always reading about stuck mashes and grain pieces going into the brew kettle so I was wondering if people use a nylon bag inside their mash tun to prevent this from happening. I started doing this a few batches ago and now don't need to vorlauf and never have issues with stuck sparges. Is there any reason I shouldn't be doing this? I use a cylander shaped cooler like the one in the picture. It also makes clean up real easy as I just lift out the bag of grain and empty it into the compost bin. The nylon bag I use is very big and fits the entire inside of the mash tun so it doesn't compress the grains or anything.

Looks kind of like this

 

[Sir-Hops-A-Lot]

It looks easier to get the spent grains out.
I'm not sure how it would keep a stuck sparge from happening.

 

[cgrivois]

If the flow slows down during a run, just lift the bag up and resume flow. I use when I mash in my cooler.

 

[Ski12568]

I will be doing this once my gaskets arrive. I cut a SS elbow in half at a 45 hoping that is enough of an angle to not suck in the bag and slow the flow. I didn't want to buy a false bottom without trying this, don't want the bag to go to waste

 

[guitarguy6]

If the flow slows down during a run, just lift the bag up and resume flow. I use when I mash in my cooler.

Exactly, the only time I had slowdown was when I did a pumpkin ale that had 2.5kg of pumpkin in the mash. Whenever it would slow down I'd lift the bag a bit and move it up and down. Other than the pumpkin ale I've never had any slowdowns during run off with this method. I also have a bazooka screen in the mash tun and assume having the grains in a bag would prevent the screen from getting clogged. Since it's so effective for me I'm just curious why I haven't come across this sort of mash tun setup during my all grain brewing research.

 

[wilserbrewer]

While I have never tried using a bag in a MT, it is done fairly often as I get requests for bags sized to fit the 10 gallon beverage coolers.

Guessing the upside is easy grain removal and clean up, a cleaner sparge and a stuck sparge fix should one occur.


Wilserbrewer
Http://biabbags.webs.com/

 

[campbellmike]

Bag in cooler mash tun is how we've done all of our AG batches so we don't know what a stuck sparge is. If it starts to slow down just give it a little lift and you're off and running.

 

[castillo556]

I did a BIAB mash in my kettle and had a hell of time keeping the temp right.

I am going to get a 10G Home Depot cooler and mash in that. Problem should be solved.

I don't know why more people don't do it, easy clean up and relatively inexpensive.

 

[ram5ey]

I exclusively mash in a 10gal. cooler with a biab bag. I don't use a false bottom ore anything else just pull and drain the bag. Obviously I'm doing a full volume mash, but I have yet to see a downside.

 

[brew_ny]

I mash in a 75 qt. Coleman extreme rectangle cooler, I just line it with a 4 dollar window (voile) sheer from Walmart

I do use a stainless steel cooking grate that fits perfect to keep the sheer off the bottom

works great I mash with 1.33 quarts per pound to make up for any dead space and do a double batch sparge

I have mashed 42 pounds of grain with 13.5 gallons of water for a big Imperial Stout with very good efficiency

all the best

S_M

 

[guitarguy6]

Good to know there shouldn't be any downsides to using a grain bag in the mash tun. I just found it odd that after all the reading on AG brewing I've done in the past month or two (several books, countless internet articles) I never once came across this method.

 

[Ski12568]

Call it BIAG, Bag In an All Grain

 

[scsjohn]

I do this as well. I do have a false bottom, which I guess I don't really need but I really like the clean up!

This is the only method I've used for more than a year and it keeps getting better!

 

[teddy4xp]

Ive using a biab in my mash tun for a few years.....but I actually wrap my false bottom with it. I once had an issue with a bunch of tiny pieces of grain making their way through my false bottom. This eliminated that problem

 

[Ski12568]

I wonder if you can get a double crush on the grain now and increase efficiency like they do in BIAB but with the regular AG method

 

[Ozarks Mountain Brewery]

I use a bag most of the time, in a 20 gallon pot, Ive tried several ways to do it and cane up with just tie the bag and it gives double just filtration, I have a herms set up that recirculates on top of the bag just leave 1 inch of liquid over the bag and your set

 

[brew_ny]

I wonder if you can get a double crush on the grain now and increase efficiency like they do in BIAB but with the regular AG method

I use a finer crush in my cooler with a liner

 

[Temptd2]

We also do the false bottom/bag in our mash tun. Never have had a stuck sparge, easy to remove the grains, which I let drain in a big colander (still inside the bag) and then bag up in gallon ziploc bags, throw them in the fridge, and offer them up on Freecycle. People love them for breadbaking and for feeding to their chickens, geese, and ducks!

 

[vNmd]

I hope I don't appear to be dense (its been a long day) but why not lose the cooler / mash tun all together and use the bag in the kettle like traditional BIABers? I read one post mention the cooler maintaining better temperatures which I can understand. Any other reasons to use a cooler / mash tun with a bag over the bag in a kettle?

 

[Tutsbrew]

Yes. I have done that for my first three all grain batches as insurance. I could then lift out the grains if there was an issue.

This last batch tho, number four, I did not use it.

If you do use a BIAB in a mash tun that's cool, it's your way. If not, then that's your way.

Cheers!

 

[brew_ny]

I hope I don't appear to be dense (its been a long day) but why not lose the cooler / mash tun all together and use the bag in the kettle like traditional BIABers? I read one post mention the cooler maintaining better temperatures which I can understand. Any other reasons to use a cooler / mash tun with a bag over the bag in a kettle?

there is lots of ways to skin this cat I do a 13 gallon boil in a 16 gallon pot so I use a cooler to do my mashing in

I do a double batch sparge to get my pre boil volume

it is just the way I have choose to do all grain brewing

all the best

S_M

 

[madscientist451]

I've been doing the BIAB in a cooler since day one in all grain, no stuck sparges, easier to pull the grain out, no need for false bottom and many other advantages.
I saw it in a you tube video.
I wonder why this isn't SOP for everyone, but everyone has their own way.

 

[wilserbrewer]

Haha, yes. I get bored easily, probably why I enjoy sewing brew bags, go figure. I often change up my brewing routine b/w using a cooler w/ a braid and BIAB. Sometimes full volume, sometimes I sparge. They all work about the same! Depending on the individual circumstances, people develop certain ways and habits. I usually take my MT outside and hose it down, but for others I can see where using a bag helps clean up if your cleaning inside, and bagging spent grain perhaps.

Years ago when I sold my first 10 gal beverage cooler bag, I foolishly asked, "why do you do it that way", and the guy said "it works great".


Many ways here, none really better, just different.


Wilserbrewer
Http://biabbags.webs.com/

 

[ram5ey]

I use the cooler for holding temps better...at least that's how it all started. I live in an apartment now and the microwave above the range doesn't leave me much room to lift out the bag or set up any kind of hoist (which I use with the cooler in a separate part of the kitchen). It works well for me.

 

[Ski12568]

It's hard for me to maintain temps with my thin kettle so I just bought a cooler to make it easier. Thought I would save a few bucks using a bag I already had instead of buying the false bottom and a couple more fittings

 

[brew_ny]

and it was a way keep my cooler a cooler

 

[guitarguy6]

I hope I don't appear to be dense (its been a long day) but why not lose the cooler / mash tun all together and use the bag in the kettle like traditional BIABers? I read one post mention the cooler maintaining better temperatures which I can understand. Any other reasons to use a cooler / mash tun with a bag over the bag in a kettle?

It keeps the temperature way better than my kettle can. I also do a double batch sparge and get really great efficiency this way.

 

[ThreeSheetz]

I hope I don't appear to be dense (its been a long day) but why not lose the cooler / mash tun all together and use the bag in the kettle like traditional BIABers? I read one post mention the cooler maintaining better temperatures which I can understand. Any other reasons to use a cooler / mash tun with a bag over the bag in a kettle?

Stable mash temperatures for sure, but the main reason we use BIAB in the cooler mash tun is we fly-sparge from the hot liquor tank to the mash tun and into our brew kettle to get maximum efficiency.

 

[vNmd]

Thanks for the info on why you use a cooler, didn't mean to hijack the thread. I have been thinking of ways to better my product and a cooler sounds like a good idea to keep temps.

 

[JosephLongbow]

I'm glad to see this thread as this is exactly what I plan on doing instead of buying a false bottom.

I have been wonderig though, do you screw on the lid with the bag hanging over the side or throw the sides of the bag in the water then shut it?

I have also considered getting the false bottom anyway, and wrapping it with the Brew Bag just to try all avenues.

I've done one BIAB in a kettle, and I loved it. It wasn't too hard to maintain temp, but I did have to turn on the burner once or twice. I like to try all the different methods to learn.

 

[wilserbrewer]

I've done one BIAB in a kettle, and I loved it. It wasn't too hard to maintain temp, but I did have to turn on the burner once or twice. I like to try all the different methods to learn.

Lots of different views on this. While some go to a high level and recirculate with temperature control, you can also, IMHO mash higher and anticipate the drop in temp.

Mash temp should not be treated as an absolute IMO, but rather a range of acceptable temps.

Many ways to approach this.


Wilserbrewer
Http://biabbags.webs.com/

 

[ThreeSheetz]

I'm glad to see this thread as this is exactly what I plan on doing instead of buying a false bottom.

I have been wonderig though, do you screw on the lid with the bag hanging over the side or throw the sides of the bag in the water then shut it?

I have also considered getting the false bottom anyway, and wrapping it with the Brew Bag just to try all avenues.

I've done one BIAB in a kettle, and I loved it. It wasn't too hard to maintain temp, but I did have to turn on the burner once or twice. I like to try all the different methods to learn.

The way we do it is hang the excess part the bag out the top and hanging over the side, held in place with bungie cords for the mash in. The top on the cooler we use just presses down into the cooler body.

 

[Ozarks Mountain Brewery]

the best way to do it is to have a rims set up with a external element and a pump using a pid system, then recirculate over the top. essentially your sparging while mashing.

http://brewhardware.com/rimsherms-parts-93