First BIAB, need help!

[whoward]

I've brewed several batches of extract with good results and decided to step up my game, so I ordered some more equipment (16 gallon brew kettle with false bottom, spigot, etc) and decided I'm all in on this hobby.

So now I'm ready to brew my first BIAB and have some newbie questions and I'd really appreciate your help.

I purchased a BIAB kit from LHBS. There is a link below that will take you to the image of the recipe and instructions that was included.

It's 12.25lbs of grain, but the instructions say to mash it with Brewers malt, which has me confused. Is there a missing ingredient? Or is Brewers malt included in the specialty grains? There were no extracts or anything included.

Next question... It says to mash the grains and malt in 36.5 quarts of water to get a single infusion mash of 152 degrees. This has me confused. Does this just mean to put the grains in the grain bag and steep them in 152 degrees of water for 60 minutes?

Next question.... Should I sparge? Instructions don't indicate that, but all of the videos I saw on YouTube say to sparge.

Here's my plan... Fill kettle with 36.5 quarts of water, heat to 152 then steep the grains for 60 minutes. Then sparge? Then add hops per the instructions. When boil is complete use my chiller to get wort temp down to 68 and transfer to fermenter and pitch yeast.

So would you kindly help me with this first BIAB and give guidance? I really don't want to screw it up. I'm hoping for a successful brew and then starting to make my own recipes.

I would really appreciate your assistance.

Here's a link to images of the included recipe and instructions.

https://imgur.com/a/rmsfk

 

[whoward]

Second page

 

[hottpeper13]

It looks like you are doing a no sparge mash with all the water you need( maybe a little too much). The mash temp should be 152 , means the strike water needs to be higher to compensate for the cooler grain. I don't use a program for brewing but the formulas they have been using forever. With a grain temp of 64 and a full volume mash the strike temp needs to be 157.8. Make sure you insulate your kettle, buy Palmers How to Brew. I squeeze the bag and would only require ~8 gal ,but you have 9.125. Also may I suggest RO water for your first time, especially since it is a full volume the pH can be tricky without an acid addition. I like using acidulated malt.

 

[bolus14]

More than likely all the grain was mixed together, so you should have 12.25lbs of grain. You then should have a voile type bag that you'll be mashing (steeping) the grains in.

So, to start you'll need to heat your strike water, the recipe says you want to mash at 152, like the previous poster said you'll have to heat a little above this to account for the heat loss that will occur when the grain gets added to the water. I typically lose 4-5 degrees, so for me I would be aiming for 157. Once you're water is at 157 you'll put the voile bag in your water and somehow fasten it to the edge of your shiny new 16 gal kettle. Then, you'll pour the grains in, cover, let the grain soak for 60 min (this is the mashing step), some people stir every 15-20 min to try to get better extraction, once 60 min is up you'll pull the grain and let it drain into the kettle this takes around 20 min, then bring to a boil and do what you have done with your extract brews.

Here's a "list" of steps instead of the wordy explanation above:
1. Heat strike water to approx 157-158
2. Put mashing bag into your strike water and attach to kettle
3. Pour grains in and check temp, you want to be between 152 and 153 after all grain is added
4. Cover the kettle and wrap with something to "insulate" it
5. After 60 min, uncover and pull the grain bag out
6. Allow grain bag to drip for approx 20 min, until there's a very slow drip or dripping stops
7. Bring to a boil, add your hops at the specified times
8. After 60 min boil, cool to pitching temps, aerate, and pitch yeast

As far as learning the BIAB method the thread below has a ton of great info the get you started:
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=233289

 

[doug293cz]

More than likely all the grain was mixed together, so you should have 12.25lbs of grain. You then should have a voile type bag that you'll be mashing (steeping) the grains in.

So, to start you'll need to heat your strike water, the recipe says you want to mash at 152, like the previous poster said you'll have to heat a little above this to account for the heat loss that will occur when the grain gets added to the water. I typically lose 4-5 degrees, so for me I would be aiming for 157. Once you're water is at 157 you'll put the voile bag in your water and somehow fasten it to the edge of your shiny new 16 gal kettle. Then, you'll pour the grains in, cover, let the grain soak for 60 min (this is the mashing step), some people stir every 15-20 min to try to get better extraction, once 60 min is up you'll pull the grain and let it drain into the kettle this takes around 20 min, then bring to a boil and do what you have done with your extract brews.

Here's a "list" of steps instead of the wordy explanation above:
1. Heat strike water to approx 157-158
2. Put mashing bag into your strike water and attach to kettle
3. Pour grains in and check temp, you want to be between 152 and 153 after all grain is added
4. Cover the kettle and wrap with something to "insulate" it
5. After 60 min, uncover and pull the grain bag out
6. Allow grain bag to drip for approx 20 min, until there's a very slow drip or dripping stops
7. Bring to a boil, add your hops at the specified times
8. After 60 min boil, cool to pitching temps, aerate, and pitch yeast

As far as learning the BIAB method the thread below has a ton of great info the get you started:
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=233289

Good summary, but after step 3 you should stir well, and insure there are no dough balls (un-wet clumps of grain.) Dough balls won't convert, which will lower your efficiency. You should also stir well in step 6 prior to pulling the grain bag. Finally, you can start heating to a boil immediately after pulling the bag, and just let the bag drip while you heat, and into the boil, if it is still dripping a lot. Helps to have a method to suspend the bag over the pot, so that you don't have to stand there holding it. I use a cord with pulley hung from a step ladder.

Brew on