Is this possible?

[drummerguy]

So, I am hoping to attempt my first BIAB in the near future. I've decided I want my first all-grain beer to be a tripel, and I've been messing around with various recipes. Below is what I have at this time:

5.5 gallons

Fermentables

11# Belgian pilsner
4# Belgian pale ale
1# American caramel/10L
2# Cane sugar

Hops

1 oz. Stryrian Goldings 60 minutes
2 oz. Saaz 30 minutes


My issue is that I'm using an 8-gallon kettle, and Brewer's Friend says I need almost 9 gallons of mash water. Would it be possible to do the mash in 6.5 or 7 gallons of water and use a sparge to make up for the rest? What effect would this have versus using the full amount for mashing? Should I use as much water as possible when doing the mash? I also have a 5-gallon kettle which can be utilized. Is it possible to split the grain bill between two kettles and still achieve the desired result? I know I have a lot of questions, but I want to get it right the first time.

 

[hunter_le five]

That's a lot of mash water for only 14 lbs of grain. How're you arriving at that figure?

 

[drummerguy]

That's a lot of mash water for only 14 lbs of grain. How're you arriving at that figure?

I entered my fermentables (with a 5.5 gallon batch size and a 7 gallon boil size) into Brewer's Friend and checked the Quick Water Requirements. It gave me a mash water need of 8.96 gallons (previously 8.21). Also, I did go back and edit post right after I submitted it; sorry about that. The grain bill is 16 pounds.

What do you think my water requirements should be?

 

[kh54s10]

Is that mash water or total water needed. I need 7 gallons in my BK to end up with just over 5 gallons in the fermenter. The grain absorbs 1.8 gallons in the recipe I am doing right now with 11+ pounds.

 

[drummerguy]

Is that mash water or total water needed. I need 7 gallons in my BK to end up with just over 5 gallons in the fermenter. The grain absorbs 1.8 gallons in the recipe I am doing right now with 11+ pounds.

This is what I get when I check the requirements in Brewer's Friend.

Total mash water needed 8.96
Grain absorption losses -2
Volume increase from sugar/extract (early additions) 0.15
Starting boil volume 7.11
Boil off losses -1.5
Hops absorption losses -0.11
Amount going into fermentor 5.5
Total: 8.96

I only have experience brewing extract beers. I may be reading something wrong on the list.

 

[kh54s10]

That looks right. Though it is a bit of an estimate. Everyone's boil off rate will be a bit different depending on heat source, kettle type and size and altitude among other things.

You can use that to start then in your next few brews you can fine tune depending on the outcome. If you end up with only 5.25 you can start with a bit more water or if you end up with 5.75 you can use a little less.

 

[Brew_Bro]

I use a 9 gallon brewpot and often do a sparge with larger grain bills.

 

[BlueEyesBrewing]

I usually mash with ~1.25 qts/lb of water and then heat up a few more gallons of water to use for sparge and pour over the bag of grains until I reach my pre-boil volume.

 

[hunter_le five]

For 16 lbs of grain I would only think you would need ~5 gallons of water or so for the initial mash, and add the rest in the sparge.

Now, whether or not 16 lbs of grain AND 5+ gallons of water will fit in an 8 gallon vessel, I'm not sure, but I think it could be done.

 

[LLBeanJ]

I doubt you'll lose a full 2 gallons to the grains, especially if you squeeze the bag at all, it will likely be about half of that. I find with minimal squeezing I get around 0.075g/lb loss to absorption. Really lean into it and it can be as low as .05g/lb.

Also, given all the Pilsner malt in the recipe, are you planning a 90 min boil?

Edit: Assuming 1.0 g/hr boiloff, 90 min boil, and 0.075 g/lb absorption loss, I come up with 8.2 gallons total water. Mash with 5.2g and sparge with 3.0g.

 

[drummerguy]

Thanks for the responses, everyone. I really appreciate the input. I will probably go ahead and use the 1.25qts/lb ratio, but I know it's all about experimentation. Either way, I can at least figure what my equipment can handle.

I will plan on a 90-minute boil for the pilsner. I read something about that when
I first started, but it had slipped my mind now that it is actually relevant to me.

 

[TexasWine]

So, I am hoping to attempt my first BIAB in the near future. I've decided I want my first all-grain beer to be a tripel, and I've been messing around with various recipes. Below is what I have at this time:

5.5 gallons

Fermentables

11# Belgian pilsner
4# Belgian pale ale
1# American caramel/10L
2# Cane sugar

Hops

1 oz. Stryrian Goldings 60 minutes
2 oz. Saaz 30 minutes


My issue is that I'm using an 8-gallon kettle, and Brewer's Friend says I need almost 9 gallons of mash water. Would it be possible to do the mash in 6.5 or 7 gallons of water and use a sparge to make up for the rest? What effect would this have versus using the full amount for mashing? Should I use as much water as possible when doing the mash? I also have a 5-gallon kettle which can be utilized. Is it possible to split the grain bill between two kettles and still achieve the desired result? I know I have a lot of questions, but I want to get it right the first time.

FWIW, I'm also getting about 9 gallons total required water using this calculator. I'm also calculating your pre boil volume to be 7.91 gallons! Eeek! That's gonna be tight in an 8 gallon kettle.

http://pricelessbrewing.github.io/BiabCalc/

90 minute boil at 1 gallon per hour
0.5 gallon trub loss
0.08 gallons per pound adsorption

Personally, I'd take a maxi BIAB approach with this one. Sparge in a separate bucket or even your 5 gallon kettle. Then add as much of that sparged wort to the boil kettle as you feel comfortable with to avoid boil overs. You should have some left in the sparge vessel. As the boil progresses and the level in the boil kettle drops continue to add the sparge wort to the kettle until it's all gone.

Hope this helps.

 

[pricelessbrewing]

Agreed with texas. I'd keep at least a quarter gallon headspace for pre boil.