Grains lvls/ vol water

[GeorgiaMead]

What is a good amount of water per lbs of grain for BIAB? Everything I see is 1.25 gal per lb... Is that a standard? If I do that I don't get close to my pre-boil volume, it's not even what my post boil volume is... Some please explain/enlighten me...

 

[1MadScientist]

For a pure BIAB (full volume mash) you start with all the water needed at the beginning. This can be around 3.25 qt/lb !!! When you pull the bag out after the mash, you have a passive sparge going on there. There is not a sparge.

 

[GeorgiaMead]

Ok was trying to get a better quantity if water for my boils, I don't have beersmith and I do 1 gallon boils and last time I used around 2 gallons and it was too close and produced a lot of trub so I may need 2.2 gallons or so...

 

[C-Rider]

I start w/bottling amount then add (grain absorption)+ (loss to hops after boil)+(loss to trub after ferment)+(boil off to steam). Takes a few tries to get it down. Keep good notes.

 

[enkamania]

I use 2.353 qt/lb for five gallon batch

 

[MarshmallowBlue]

I did my first BIAB and I used 1 gallon more than my batch size to account for the boil. After everything was in the fermenter, I had a bit over 2.5 gallons. Next time, I'll probably use the same, since I didn't have any issues with it.

(3 gallon batch)

 

[dobe12]

I BIAB with a sparge. I mash somewhere between 1.5 - 2qrt/lb. I crush my grains pretty fine and do a dunk sparge usually using about 30% of the total water needed and my average efficiency runs between 75-85% depending on how much grain I'm mashing. I tried full volume mashing a few times, but my efficiency suffered, dropping 5-10%. I've since gone back to a dunk/batch sparge to get a bump in my efficiency. The little bit of extra time is worth it to me.

 

[jCOSbrew]

I heat 6 gallon strike water (regardless of grain bill) and top off to my pre-boil volume. As long as you have >1.25qt per lb of grain you will get reasonable efficiency. With full volume BIAB you have a very thin mash.

FYI, I do no sparge, no mashout and get 75% with BIAB.

 

[GeorgiaMead]

Yeah my first brew BIAB I got 58% and second was 65% and last one was 70% and this batch I'm doing now I'm hitting my numbers well with in .02 of them so good enough for the girls I date