Grain to water ratio ?

[bcltoys]

For full volume biab is there a best grain to water ratio.

 

[jinjorge]

checkout Brewtoad's mash water calculator

There's an option for both Sparge and No Sparge

 

[pricelessbrewing]

No, you just use as much water as you need to hit your preboil volume, and make sure your mash pH and chemistry is in line with what you want.

 

[MatthewAyer]

It works for me to use my own simple formula. i do 11-gal BIAB batches in a 20-gal kettle... I started wtih using 3/40 extra gallons per pound of grain, plus 1.5 gal for boil loss, and an extra 1/4 gal when there's a big hop bill. So, if I had a 25 pound grain bill, I'd use 11 gal plus 75/40 gal plus 1.5 gal = just shy of 14.5 gal... and land at just over 11.5 gal into the fermenters to get a net 11 gal batch. Give or take a quart or so. But I do no sparge, have a big bag on a ratcheting pulley, and do a pretty good job squeezin the bag with those brewer's gloves.. I become one with the bag for a few minutes. I'm happy with my efficiencies and yada yada the beer is fantastic, who cares about anything else? One thing that helps me is the use of a 1/2 inch thick round aluminum plate cut to the size of my kettle. When I mash, to hold temp, I just fire up my burner for about 60 to 100 seconds 3 to 4 times during the mash to add just a bit of heat into the system to make up for losses but avoiding swings. I am very happy with BIAB.

 

[Clarke]

For full volume biab is there a best grain to water ratio.

Not sure if full volume and best grain to water ratio go hand in hand but here is a good place to start:

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/wiki/index.php/Beer_math

 

[wilserbrewer]

One thing that helps me is the use of a 1/2 inch thick round aluminum plate cut to the size of my kettle. When I mash, to hold temp, I just fire up my burner for about 60 to 100 seconds 3 to 4 times during the mash to add just a bit of heat into the system to make up for losses but avoiding swings. I am very happy with BIAB.

That's nice creative thinking w the AL plate to buffer heat added to the kettle, I approve!!!

 

[mongoose33]

It works for me to use my own simple formula. i do 11-gal BIAB batches in a 20-gal kettle... I started wtih using 3/40 extra gallons per pound of grain, plus 1.5 gal for boil loss, and an extra 1/4 gal when there's a big hop bill. So, if I had a 25 pound grain bill, I'd use 11 gal plus 75/40 gal plus 1.5 gal = just shy of 14.5 gal... and land at just over 11.5 gal into the fermenters to get a net 11 gal batch. Give or take a quart or so. But I do no sparge, have a big bag on a ratcheting pulley, and do a pretty good job squeezin the bag with those brewer's gloves.. I become one with the bag for a few minutes. I'm happy with my efficiencies and yada yada the beer is fantastic, who cares about anything else? One thing that helps me is the use of a 1/2 inch thick round aluminum plate cut to the size of my kettle. When I mash, to hold temp, I just fire up my burner for about 60 to 100 seconds 3 to 4 times during the mash to add just a bit of heat into the system to make up for losses but avoiding swings. I am very happy with BIAB.

I read all through this, all the time thinking of my own 5-gallon case where, if I have about 11 or 12 pounds of grain, I just do 7.25 gallons.

Imagine my surprise when I find it's exactly 1/2 of what you do for yours.

 

[LittleRiver]

... One thing that helps me is the use of a 1/2 inch thick round aluminum plate cut to the size of my kettle. When I mash, to hold temp, I just fire up my burner for about 60 to 100 seconds 3 to 4 times during the mash to add just a bit of heat into the system to make up for losses but avoiding swings. I am very happy with BIAB.

I can see how that plate would be a very effective thermal buffer during mashing. Have you noticed it having a negative effect (on time, heat transfer, & gas usage) when heating cold water to strike temp, or when boiling wort?