first BIAB recipe suggestions

[nicksim86]

I got a nice 8 gal SS kettle and a wilser bag. what would you suggest for a first time BIAB 3 gallon batch. thinking something lighter like an APA, cream ale, smash, wheat. kolsch? not a fan of porters or stouts and dont want to spend a ton on hops for an IPA

 

[doug293cz]

I applaud your wisdom in planning to start with a simple, low cost recipe. Just about any of the options you listed are good choices. Once you are comfortable with the process, then is the time to start doing more complicated and/or expensive recipes.

Use the recipe as is, scaling for volume if necessary. Take good notes on your SG's and volumes so that you can calculate your actual efficiencies. Then use your efficiencies to adjust recipes for future brews.

Brew on

 

[nicksim86]

I was hoping a BIAB veteran could give me an actual tried and proven full recipe

 

[doug293cz]

There's nothing special about a BIAB recipe. For most accurate results (relative to the original) any recipe needs to be adjusted based on the efficiency of a particular brewers system. This is just educated guess work if you haven't ever used your system. The easiest way to get started is just take a simple AG recipe, scaled for your batch size, and brew it "by the book." Take good notes on all of your volumes and SG measurements, so you can calculate the grain absorption you get, the boil off you get, and the efficiencies you get. A good BIAB calculator to get familiar with is this one. Then you can use those actual values next time you brew to do a more accurate scaling of the recipe. A good place to start might be with Beirmunchers Centennial Blond. Just multiply the grain and hop amounts by 0.6 to convert from a 5 gal batch to 3 gal.

Brew on