Grain Mills

[Yambor44]

I seem to fit the profile of your question. I BIAB, I mill at .025, I do not recirculate, and I do not get stuck sparges.

I don't get stuck sparges because I don't sparge. Why would I want to sparge when I get 80+% efficiency without sparging?

Why would I bother with the expense & hassles of recirculation when I get great results without it?

Some people bring up clarity, but I get great results with a cold crash. If I wanted even more clarity I would add gelatin to my process before I'd add recirculation. But I don't need either, my clarity is fine without them.

If I did a bunch of step mashing then I might consider a recirculation system. But I don't.

There is a lot to be said for elegant simplicity. My brew days are so easy, and so enjoyable, and the beer is great.

I hear ya! That is what I have been in search of for a few years now: simplicity. No reason I can't brew without recirculation with this system....but had I known that up front I could have saved a little coin I guess.

 

[Yambor44]

Spoke with Brewinabag.com folks via YouTube. It seems my setup came with a 210 micron bag and they suggest 400 for recirculating mash setups. They are making me one now. In the meantime I’m going to try another batch with a simple non-recirculating mash covered with insulation and see how that goes as well.

 

[beerbomb]

Just an aside, the “ideal” crush is one that works well with your luater system...

People have different needs so ideal crush can vary....

While simple BIAB brewers might crush finer, recirculating brewers may prefer coarser for better flow blah blah blah

Crush till your scared....nothing worse than under crush and piss poor efficiency making near beer lol

Thanks for your input.

 

[beerbomb]

I seem to fit the profile of your question. I BIAB, I mill at .025, I do not recirculate, and I do not get stuck sparges.

I don't get stuck sparges because I don't sparge. Why would I want to sparge when I get 80+% efficiency without sparging?

Why would I bother with the expense & hassles of recirculation when I get great results without it?

Some people bring up clarity, but I get great results with a cold crash. If I wanted even more clarity I would add gelatin to my process before I'd add recirculation. But I don't need either, my clarity is fine without them.

If I did a bunch of step mashing then I might consider a recirculation system. But I don't.

There is a lot to be said for elegant simplicity. My brew days are so easy, and so enjoyable, and the beer is great.

I like the way you think! Simple works well for me too!

 

[beerbomb]

You're going to need gearing to get the RPM down and the torque up.

This drill has double gear reduction and speed control. It works quite well. My mill gap is .025", and the drill can cold start no problem with a pre-filled hopper.

I used a cordless drill for my first crush, but I have a drill very similar to the one you have, so will give it a try. Need to brew a batch soon and have the ingredients for a Robust Porter.

 

[beerbomb]

Cereal killer is the best balance in quality to price for the average, dedicated home brewer. I get it, Corona mills can definitely get the job done. Its just like how people keep telling me I need to upgrade to a wilser bag, but I stubbornly stick with disposable paint strainer bags. Some people just can't be helped!

The price is right for paint strainer bags!

 

[LittleRiver]

The price is right for paint strainer bags!

Yep, they will work. But...

You've invested in a grain mill, your benefits will be better efficiency and more flexibility in your brewing (grind when you want to -- not when the store is open, buy grain in bulk, etc.).

A purpose made bag also has its benefits. My Wilserbag fits my kettle perfectly. I don't need to futz with clips to hold it in place, I just cinch the drawstring tight. The fine weave of the swiss voile fabric does a much better job of filtering than the coarse weave of a paint strainer. The shape of the bag directs the drips right to the center of the kettle.

You will not regret purchasing a good bag. The cost to benefit ratio is very favorable.

 

[wilserbrewer]

The price is right for paint strainer bags!

Depending on how many times one uses a cheap paint strainer bag, the cost per use may actually be more using cheap bags over a better, more expensive, custom sized poly voile bag.

I drive a ten year old nissan. I love it, I've had great times in it and couldn't be happier.
That is, until I test drove a BMW.
#WONTLOOKBACK

There are advantages to a decent bag that one can appreciate after using one, sort of like the Jayjay's car analogy above, at least IMO....

sorry hijack over

 

[beerbomb]

Depending on how many times one uses a cheap paint strainer bag, the cost per use may actually be more using cheap bags over a better, more expensive, custom sized poly voile bag.




There are advantages to a decent bag that one can appreciate after using one, sort of like the Jayjay's car analogy above, at least IMO....

sorry hijack over

I'm willing to give your bag a try, wilserbrewer.

 

[PADave]

The price is right for paint strainer bags!

It's not like Wilserbrewer bags are that expensive. I've got over 40 brews with mine and still going strong. How many cheep, poor fitting, paint strainer bags would I have gone thru in that time?

 

[LittleRiver]

I'm willing to give your bag a try, wilserbrewer.

You won't regret it. My advice is to go ahead and get the package that also has hop bags and the ratcheting pulley lift. It is certainly more convenient than sourcing out the individual components, and the price is more than fair.

 

[kh54s10]

I have been wanting something nicer for 6 1/2 years. I took a cookie container and made a hopper extension out of it. It holds at least 7 pounds of grain. I run it with a Harbor Freight 1/2" hammer drill, hammer turned off. It is pretty adjustable and will run through the 7 pounds a lot faster than I want to go.

I am trying to justify the purchase of a Monster Mill 3 roller or even 2 roller. I can't even get to the point where I want to drop the $99 on a Cereal Killer.

I will upgrade eventually....

Well, eventually finally came. A couple months ago I got a Cereal Killer. Simple set up. I modified the milling station that held my corona mill.

I have not dialed it in fully. My efficiency has not changed. But the milling is a lot easier. With the corona my drill would have a lag in getting going then spin really fast. I would slow it down, sometimes too much and it would stop. Repeat. The Cereal Killer starts more easily and will stay running. Takes just s few minutes to chew through the average grain bill. I think at some point I will make an extension for the hopper.