Help with Maybe moving to eBIAB, Coverting Keggle

[Bassman2003]

Hello,

I have been brewing all grain for about ten years. I started with coolers and worked my way up to a three SS pot system that all 220v electric. I like to step mash and have been mashing with a heating element for about 4-5 years.

So, I have been thinking about the BIAB revolution and would like to explore using my 15 gal keggle to do it in. Could I bounce some questions off of the community?

1) I have two heating elements in my keggle. Since I like to step mash, I would assume I need to 1st keep the bag off of the elements and 2nd use a pump to recirculate the heated water from under the bag through the bag. Does anybody have a setup like this and could you share how well this works for step mashing?

2) (kind of relates to #1) I would like to move to having a controller for the mash steps. Any suggestions?

3) How about wort clarity? I can get very clear wort with sparging. Are there any tricks to getting similar clarity with BIAB?

4) Bag or SS Basket Strainer?

Thanks for your help!

 

[haeffnkr]

Hello,

I have been brewing all grain for about ten years. I started with coolers and worked my way up to a three SS pot system that all 220v electric. I like to step mash and have been mashing with a heating element for about 4-5 years.

So, I have been thinking about the BIAB revolution and would like to explore using my 15 gal keggle to do it in. Could I bounce some questions off of the community?

1) I have two heating elements in my keggle. Since I like to step mash, I would assume I need to 1st keep the bag off of the elements and 2nd use a pump to recirculate the heated water from under the bag through the bag. Does anybody have a setup like this and could you share how well this works for step mashing?

2) (kind of relates to #1) I would like to move to having a controller for the mash steps. Any suggestions?

3) How about wort clarity? I can get very clear wort with sparging. Are there any tricks to getting similar clarity with BIAB?

4) Bag or SS Basket Strainer?

Thanks for your help!

Look up some of my posts... I have done this and went through all these challenges.
1) - use as big as a stainless false bottom type thing you can find... stainless expanded metal type stuff or big holed perforated stainless.
1a) Use a stir motor to stir the wort and dont use a pump to recirculate, again see my posts/pics.
2)use an auber syl-2352 PID
3)My wort is fine with my process...getting clear beer is not a problem at all with a whirlfloc, hard boil, etc, and of course floculant yeast helps also.
4)Bag works fine.

good luck

 

[Bassman2003]

Thanks for your reply. I am still on the fence about changing anything. The main thing I want over time is automated step mashing and shortening the brew day. A pre-built system would solve this but I am not really interested in spending $1-$2,000+ to make that happen.

Electric brewing has been great but as others have found, electric elements in direct contact with your mash can mess with the element and burn some grain/wort. I am trying a new ultra low watt density 2500w element in a few days. If that works better I will probably just stay put and keep researching.