First BIAB attempt- question

[brew703]

I have a 5 gallon kettle that I was going to use for a 1.4 gallon batch today. Found out my wife lent my pot to a family member and have no way to get it.
The next biggest pot I have is 3 gallons.

Ran the numbers and 2.57 gallons of strike water is needed. This will put me almost three quarters full before the 2.92 lb of grain is added.

It will be a tight fit and I can do it but raises a question.
Can I use 2 gallons as my strike water volume and take the .57 gallon and use as a dunk sparge? I would then pour the .57 gallon over the grains to rinse.

Thoughts please!
Eddie

 

[Gavin C]

Either way should be fine. A pour over sparge is a good way to target the planned preboil volume. i just squeeze till i hit mine. What is your estimated grain absorption. i squeeze and see less than 0.05 gallons per pound of grain.

For BIAB a good rule of thumb for pot size is twice your planned batch size if doing full volume no sparge brewing.

Don't be afraid to squeeze the bag and reduce the estimated grain absorption from the higher default in most of the online calculators.

 

[brew703]

Thanks for the reply. I used .08 for grain absorption. I'll probably just go with 2 gallons of strike water and the rest for a dunk sparge.

 

[wilserbrewer]

Another option is to max out the kettle post mash with 1/2 gallon of hot water. Rather than mashing in near the rim, the kettle is maxed out after the mash. A sparge may give you a few more points.

 

[pricelessbrewing]

You should be fine with the information provided, just save a half gallon or so for your sparge. Be sure to adjust your strike temp so that the smaller water volume is account for!

 

[brew703]

Started the process. Went with 2 gallons in the kettle and the rest will be added pre boil. Left the strike temp at 157.4. Once the grain was added temps dropped to 151.6. Kicked up the heat until it reached 153.
It's been 15 min and temp is 152.9.

 

[TexasWine]

...and the rest will be added post boil..

Hold up hoss. Use that left over water to sparge like you suggested. You could just add water post boil to dilute, but why would you do that if you have room in that 3 gallon pot?

 

[Gavin C]

Started the process. Went with 2 gallons in the kettle and the rest will be added post boil. Left the strike temp at 157.4. Once the grain was added temps dropped to 151.6. Kicked up the heat until it reached 153.
It's been 15 min and temp is 152.9.

Don't add water post boil if you can avoid it which you easily can. With a gallon batch size you can just do a little pour over sparge to hit your planned preboil volume. Hot or cold water is fine. Doesn't matter so long as it's not too hot 170+ is not always advisable.

Your preboil will be about 1.8 gallons or more if you squeeze well. Boil off 0.75-1 gallons more than likely. 0.2 gallon pour over sparge will get you a 2 gallon preboil. Boil it down to 1.3 gallons and you will lose some to trub and shrinkage leaving about 1.1 gallons to go to the fermentor.

You will lose a little in the FV to trub leaving you with ~1gallon of beer in bottles.

A top up post boil will just dilute the beer. sparge will extract sugars. Better.

Edit: @Texaswine beat me to it. Good advice either way.

 

[brew703]

My bad. I meant to say what you guys said. It's 100+ in my garage. Guess the heat is getting to me.
Still a newbie at this.

 

[brew703]

Just made it to the boil. Did a sparge to get to my pre boil level. Just added my first hop addition.
My wife just informed me we are going out to eat with her family at 6. Have to leave my house at 5:30. Gives my 2 hrs to finish and put in carboy. Going to be tight.

 

[Gavin C]

You will be fine. Boil for the hour, cool it till you can get in in the FV. If it's not cool enough stick it in the fridge till you get back from dinner and pitch yeast then. No problems delaying the yeast pitch if your waiting for things to cool some more while your out.

Easy to cool 1 gallon batch in some ice/cool water in the sink. Stick in fridge till it's where you want. Good idea to cool it below that you will be fermenting at by a couple of degrees. Even if it's cooler it will warm up.

Don't sweat it anymore than you already are in a hot garage. Grab a cold one during the boil.

 

[brew703]

Need to get the man cave finished with AC. This sweating is for the birds.
Next up is to get a 10 gallon kettle and a wort chiller. PITA using ice.

 

[brew703]

Brewing is addictive. This is only my 3rd total batch and already thinking about what I want next(equipment wise).
My wife says I need a cheap hobby. Go figure. Only hobbies I have is fishing, which we do together, grilling and drinking. Not real expensive hobbies.
She goes shopping and I brew beer and smoke my meat.

 

[doug293cz]

Just made it to the boil. Did a sparge to get to my pre boil level. Just added my first hop addition.
My wife just informed me we are going out to eat with her family at 6. Have to leave my house at 5:30. Gives my 2 hrs to finish and put in carboy. Going to be tight.

You need to get your wife to understand that she can't spring "got to dos" on you after you have started brewing. Of course that means you need to give her notice of when you intend to brew. Communication has to go both ways.

Brew on

 

[TexasWine]

My wife says I need a cheap hobby.

I think brewing is the cheapest I've had! It's actually pretty cheap to get into.

10 gallon kettle w lid ~$45
http://m.staples.com/Pinch-AP-40-40-qt-Aluminum-Stock-Pot/product_1115499
http://m.staples.com/Pinch-AP40C-Aluminum-Cover-for-40-qt-Stock-Pot/product_1115419

Wilserbrewer grand slam~ $37
http://biabbags.webs.com/store

2 cases of bottles - $25

Bottle capper and caps - $20

Fermenting bucket with spigot - $20

Total, less than $150! But as with any hobby, you can spend a ton.

 

[brew703]

You need to get your wife to understand that she can't spring "got to dos" on you after you have started brewing. Of course that means you need to give her notice of when you intend to brew. Communication has to go both ways.

Brew on

She knew my plan was to brew today. I wanted to do it this morning but we went ride bikes and started when we got back home.
Guess I need to re-train her.

 

[brew703]

I think brewing is the cheapest I've had! It's actually pretty cheap to get into.

10 gallon kettle w lid ~$45
http://m.staples.com/Pinch-AP-40-40-qt-Aluminum-Stock-Pot/product_1115499
http://m.staples.com/Pinch-AP40C-Aluminum-Cover-for-40-qt-Stock-Pot/product_1115419

Wilserbrewer grand slam~ $37
http://biabbags.webs.com/store

2 cases of bottles - $25

Bottle capper and caps - $20

Fermenting bucket with spigot - $20

Total, less than $150! But as with any hobby, you can spend a ton.

I explained to her the upfront cost and after that it's pretty cheap. Trying to get her to try other beers instead of the Ultra crap she drinks. She has been good to at least try what I drink.
Still, brewing is cheaper than a woman going shopping and buying clothes or shoes they will wear 2-3 times.

 

[soccerdad]

Shoot the wife. It's legal in Louisiana.

 

[brew703]

Shoot the wife. It's legal in Louisiana.

True, especially in NOLA.
She's pretty good and normally doesnt give me an BS when I want a new hobby. We have been together a long time so I have to keep her.

 

[brew703]

Made a rookie mistake. Transferred to the carboy. Forgot to aerate before adding the yeast so I had to give it a good shake. Hopefully this will not affect the outcome.
Made it with 10 min to spare.

 

[doug293cz]

Made a rookie mistake. Transferred to the carboy. Forgot to aerate before adding the yeast so I had to give it a good shake. Hopefully this will not affect the outcome.
Made it with 10 min to spare.

Don't you watch movies? You're only supposed to have 2 seconds to spare.

Brew on

 

[doug293cz]

She knew my plan was to brew today. I wanted to do it this morning but we went ride bikes and started when we got back home.
Guess I need to re-train her.

It's an on-going, never ending process, where you each try to train the other.

Brew on

 

[brew703]

Don't you watch movies? You're only supposed to have 2 seconds to spare.



Brew on

When I cook I like to drink. So let's say I drink when I brew too.

 

[soccerdad]

Lot's of folks shake to aerate - you'll be fine.

 

[brew703]

It's been a couple days since brew day. Fermentation started yesterday. Went to check on it this afternoon and when I opened my ferm chamber door there is a pronounced hop aroma. If that's an indication of how my brew will be it may be too much.
Hoping it mellows done by the time it's ready to bottle.

 

[doug293cz]

Smells inside a ferm chamber are pretty intense. I wouldn't worry about the beer.

Brew on