Has anyone ever actually Brewed in a Basket?

[bembel]

BIAB is really MIAB (Mash in a basket)

Has anyone tried to actually 'brew' in a tight fitting SS basket like the ones they sell here?

https://utahbiodieselsupply.com/brewingfilters.php#biab

I mean, boil your wort with a huge tight fitting SS mesh strainer in the BK

It would seem it could function as a hop spider, filter, and cold/hot break remover all in one.

Mash in a Basket, remove basket, clean out grain, replace in kettle, start yer boil. Most of the break material is still dissolved before the boil so it would still be in solution and flow back through the mesh, so you would not need to drain the BK and then re-fill once the clean basket was in place. The huge surface area might be enough to drain and not to clog afterwards once it coagulates out and would sure leave clear wort, no whirlpool needed??

I dont know, maybe someone has tried this already???

 

[Psylocide]

For that price, I'll stick with the bags.

I think it would let too much flour through, but could be wrong.

 

[ArkotRamathorn]

There was a thread about this awhile back, wish I could find it. You could entirely do it and it would work just fine.

Though for someone like me who uses cheap paint strainer backs for their BIAB with a relatively cheap (10$ crawfish boil basket), the whole 80$ price tag turns me off. It would have to *try* and wreck the aluminum basket, and I haven't had any of my paint strainer bags break on me but if I did I can get 3 new ones for 3 dollars. I would probably (literally) cry if I wrecked my pretty 80$ stainless basket.

I dont know if you could use it to filter hot/cold break. Its worth a try, but a lot of tests suggests theres no statistically significant reason to remove all of the break material (not to discourage the practice because the reverse suggested that putting a lot of hot/cold break material didn't cause it to be statistically significant increase in quality).http://brulosophy.com/2015/03/22/the-impact-of-kettle-trub-part-2-exbeeriment-results/

 

[bondra76]

check out arbor fab too if you want to move forward with this and do price checks.

I've also considered doing the same thing. Just haven't pulled the trigger.

If you do, let me know how it goes.

I did consider going down to 300 micron for grain and 200 micron for hops. I don't think I'd do 400 micron for mash, but maybe I'm just being over analytical.

 

[ChocolateMaltyBalls]

check out arbor fab too

He works with the Utah folks, so either way Chad would probably make it either way.

Some folks have tried to boil with a basket and it doesn't work. I get an air bubble under my 400micron basket just mashing.

 

[hezagenius]

I'm actually thinking of buying just the basket to use in a BIAB with a mesh bag inside it, and then take the bag out and use it as a hop spider for the boil.

I've emailed ArborFab several times but have never heard back from them. I wanted to see about getting a custom sized basket.

 

[wilserbrewer]

Some folks have tried to boil with a basket and it doesn't work. I get an air bubble under my 400micron basket just mashing.

Yep, mashing and brewing are different. During the boil you want unimpeded flow in the kettle. Trying to line the kettle during the boil is futile, best to let gravity settle break and hops rather than trying to separate or filter...JMO

 

[wobdee]

I've been using a 400 micron basket for a couple years now in an 8 gal kettle for BIAB ( brew in a basket) and it works great for mashing but you really can't boil with it because it forms air bubbles underneath, burps and splashes wort around. Chad also makes some smaller hop baskets that work great for hop additions.

 

[bcltoys]

Does anybody use the hop spider's from ubd. Was wondering if you have to use extra hops verses going commando with your hops. I ask this cause your hops when in spider are not in contact with all the water.

 

[bondra76]

Does anybody use the hop spider's from ubd. Was wondering if you have to use extra hops verses going commando with your hops. I ask this cause your hops when in spider are not in contact with all the water.

It's like using a hop bag or a tea bag. It gets mixed.

 

[bcltoys]

I kinda thought that to,but since a hop spider stay's in one spot hop bags float around was just wondering.

 

[Michigan_Wolfman]

I realize this is an old thread, but to the OP, my LHBS sells a kit that is pretty much what you're describing. It utilizes a 300 micron mesh strainer basket that fits inside a 10 gallon boil kettle.

http://www.homebrewing.org/10-gal-BIABasKit_p_5118.html

 

[Bassman2003]

Does anybody have a guess what micron a bag has compared to these baskets?

I would like to look at a mechanical stirrer and having a bag in place seems like a recipe for disaster.

If you go too tight on a basket your flow would be tough. How small is too small? 200 micron? 300 micron?

Thanks

 

[bcltoys]

400 is what they say is best that's what I have don't think I would go lower/smaller then 300 micron.And that might plug up.

 

[Borgstrom]

I had Graydon at Utah Biodiesel build a custom basket with swing-out hooks for me; more details here:

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showpost.php?p=7001855&postcount=1

Works great!

 

[Bassman2003]

400 is what they say is best that's what I have don't think I would go lower/smaller then 300 micron.And that might plug up.

That is what I was wondering. How low can you go? What micron rating would a bag get in comparison?

 

[wilserbrewer]

BIABrewer forum has some detailed info on micron rating for different poly voile material. But IMO overanalyzing it is pointless in that crush and use of adjuncts varies, and this will have much more impact on flow through the bag or basket.

 

[Bassman2003]

I found this info on the forum. Seems like a decent benchmark:

"I took an image the voile material I use on a microscope at work this morning.

The gaps in the material are ~210 um and each strand of material is ~125 um."

So about 200 microns.

 

[bcltoys]

200 micron basket will cost more.

 

[wobdee]

I have the 400 micron and it works just fine but if I had to do it again I think I'd go with 300 micron. I still get some fine particles and flour through my basket but vorlaufing about a gallon or two pretty much clears that up.

 

[noggins]

I realize this is an old thread...

"old thread"? says you, one month later. Just wait until this thread is revived in 2030, from a flying car, on Venus.

 

[Siberian]

I just ordered one of these today customized for a 20 gallon MegaPot from ArborFab.

I have a number of brew days planned in early January during my post-christmas vacation, including a 10 gallon batch of Russian Imperial Stout which should push it's limits. So I'll post a review of it once I've done a few beers on it.

 

[m00ps]

Google Brew Boss COFI

 

[bondra76]

I got my Utah Diesel Supply basket about a week ago. I will be brewing in a basket in January. Finally no more bag. Such a pain in the }*]+] to clean that thing.

 

[RM-MN]

I got my Utah Diesel Supply basket about a week ago. I will be brewing in a basket in January. Finally no more bag. Such a pain in the }*]+] to clean that thing.

Really? I dump, shake, quick rinse, and hang to dry. I don't find that much of a job.

 

[aamcle]

That's slow, I dump, rinse and use the bag as a hop sock!

Aamcle

 

[bondra76]

I just did a 12% BIAB. I have a narrow kettle and it basically muffin topped as I pulled it out. Basket solves that issue.

 

[hafmpty]

I have a BIAB basket from Arbor Fab (Chad also does the fabrication for Utah Bio Diesel). I absolutely LOVE it.

Here's my YouTube channel that show it in use:

www.youtube.com/c/halfemptybrewing

 

[njpatg]

I have a Colorado Brew systems 15 gallon single vessel system that has a basket . I use the basket for both massing and boiling with no issues , it makes clean up way easy as all the hops will be contained in the basket at the end of the boil .

 

[Thedutchtouch]

I have a BIAB basket from Arbor Fab (Chad also does the fabrication for Utah Bio Diesel). I absolutely LOVE it.

Here's my YouTube channel that show it in use:

www.youtube.com/c/halfemptybrewing

why the flat front on the basket?

 

[Siberian]

I'm guessing to allow the temp probe on the front of the kettle to clear the basket. Arbor does everything this large custom so I suspect hafmpty got it done special with a flat front.

 

[hafmpty]

why the flat front on the basket?

Sorry. Didn't see your question. The flat front is to allow the basket to sit all the way down in the pot and avoid the diptube. I can also avoid the temp probe too, but I don't have the Blichmann thermometer installed as I use the Tower of Power for mashing and after boiling with a small batch my wort level is just below the Blichmann thermometer temp probe.

Some guys will have leg extensions put on theirs so hey can have a circular basket that is propped up by he legs over the top of any diptubes/elements/etc. Because I do smaller batches I needed to keep my basket low in the pot. Plus I wanted to maximize grain space if I wanted to do a bigger beer.

I'm guessing to allow the temp probe on the front of the kettle to clear the basket. Arbor does everything this large custom so I suspect hafmpty got it done special with a flat front.

You are correct. I had this made custom. Very easy process. I cut out a cardboard template and sent it to Chad. They made a sample piece for the bottom and sent that to me. I did a test-fit and then called with feedback and they took it from there. Very easy and great to work with.

 

[Siberian]

Got my Arborfab basket a few days ago and I'm on my 4th brew with it already. Just amazing to me how much easier then it was with a bag, admittedly it's a ton more expensive ($225) then a bag. Mine is for a 20g Megapot, fits perfect.

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1452964946.705191.jpg

It drains so fast compared to my bag in a basket setup that I'm trimming 15-20 minutes off the brew day. Also my recirculation problems seem solved.

Worth the upgrade if you love the hobby and can afford it over the regular bag / basket combo.

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1452964901.412404.jpg

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1452964963.295346.jpg

 

[bondra76]

Nice! Does your lid still fit? I bought one but made a crucial mistake - my interior of my lid sits a little bit inside of my pot. Now my basket gets in the way of the lid closing. Guess I will just need to procure a flat lid.

Glad to hear it's working out great though. I'm anxious to conduct my first brew with mine.

 

[Siberian]

Lid fits perfect still, I have about 1/4"-1/2" between it and the lid when it's on. Tight fit but no contact between the two.