My First Attempt At BIAB

[porterguy]

Great thread! I'm still learning myself, so take my words for what they're worth, but as I've ventured into BIAB I've found the false bottom option on my brew kettle handy. Helps keep the bag off the burner, and (presumably) helps keep some of the trub out. Looks like the Megapot has such an option you can get on NB as well.

For strainer, I've been using this:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MQCHQHD/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
For being <$20 it has worked well on 5gal full volume batches for me so far!

For a false bottom I just use a perforated pizza pan. I think I got mine at Target for about $8. It works fine to prevent scorching/melting the bag. I bent it a little to make it more concave and keep the bag a little further off the bottom of the kettle.

 

[porterguy]

Thanks for this write up! I’m interested in moving to BIAB and will also probably be doing 3 gal batches. I’m still in the reading phase (and have a few extract kits to get through that I got on Northern Brewers IPA Day), so I’m curious what size kettle you have? Trying to figure out the smallest one I can get away with. I’d love to not buy a new one (current one is 5gal I think) but that’s probably wishful thinking.

Check out joining a local brew club if possible. There are usually people upgrading to larger, or fancier equipment, who are more than happy to sell their no-longer-needed kettles, corona mills, larger fermenters, etc. since they're upgraded. I saved a fortune this way. Obviously the bigger the brew club the better the chances of equipment coming your way.

 

[pacman]

To drain the bag, rather than a colander, I suggest you look at a vegetable basket for a bbq grill. They are cheap and mush sturdier than a colander. I also don’t use a hoist, just lift with both hands for 10 seconds until it loses some of the water and gets lighter, than hold with one hand while I use the other to insert this basket on top, then set the bag on the basket. I also use a silicone oven mitt to press the bag down into the basket to drain, flip it over and do it again. I used to then set the bag in a bucket to further drain during the beginning of the boil to recover more wort but this only got an extra cup or so, so I don’t bother with this anymore.

I also do not use a hoist as it is simply not feasible. Being somewhat elderly, it is also not feasible for me to lift and hold a 12lb+ bag of hot steaming grain, even for 10 seconds! Solution? I divide my grain between 3 or 4 zip fastener laundry bags. Extract them one at a time, squeeze gently, and put aside. Works for me. If working to a recipe, I usually increase my grain bill by 5 or 10%, and then adjust if using that recipe again.

 

[Skeptonomicon]

I divide my grain between 3 or 4 zip fastener laundry bags.

Brilliant!