Need help w/ my BIAB Brew Set-Up

[mtnagel]

Well my brew buddy was over and helped lift it. I have a basket strainer so that helped support it while it drained some. I then moved it to a rubbermaid tote and used a lid from a smaller pot to squeeze the fire out of it and get 1 to 2 gallons of wort from it. The big beer was a DFH 90 clone. The little beer was an all citra something beer (I threw a couple more pounds of leftover grain on the bag and remashed). It was pale ale-ish. OG of 1.045 hopped with .5 oz of warrior for 60 mins and .5 oz of citra at 20 15 10 5 and flame out. Dry hopped with 1 oz of citra and 1 oz of amarillo.

I do think a basket strainer would help. And thanks for letting me know about remashing the grains. I have no idea you could do that. Very cool idea.

If you also have a ladder you can use that to make a lift with two pulleys and a rope. Check out Alton Brown using it to fry turkey

Thanks, I have seen that and may do that eventually.

 

[ThatGeekGuy]

The weather is great but it does put a kink in brewing operations at times. The 3gal batches could be cooled with an ice bath but it will be easier for me to use and IC and pre-chiller. I have a bucket that could fit a pre-chiller but not a kettle or carboy. I would go that route if I could though, trust me.

For the cost of the prechiller, you can get a small electric sump pump to recirc ice water through your immersion chiller. Use tap water with your IC to knock the temp down to around 140-120 fairly quick. Then swap to the pump recirc of ice water into a bucket or ice chest to rapidly drop to pitch temps.

 

[Hawaiibboy]

For the cost of the prechiller, you can get a small electric sump pump to recirc ice water through your immersion chiller. Use tap water with your IC to knock the temp down to around 140-120 fairly quick. Then swap to the pump recirc of ice water into a bucket or ice chest to rapidly drop to pitch temps.

Well I have bought the copper already for my chillers only cost me about 50 for enough copper to make both the pre chiller and the IC. Enough for just the IC would have been 30. Are pumps that cheap?

 

[wilserbrewer]

Are pumps that cheap?

Slippery slope bro...I tried to sell you an $8 dollar tub and some ice for those small batches.... cheers!

 

[Hawaiibboy]

Slippery slope bro...I tried to sell you an $8 dollar tub and some ice for those small batches.... cheers!

There will always be a way that is less expensive but in my experience, even with small batches (around 3gal) it can be difficult to drop the temp down to pitching temp with just an ice bath.

My goal is under 40minutes. My buddy has been having issues just dropping to 100° in an hour using a 8gal kettle and ice baths for 3gal batches.

I just didn't know pumps were so inexpensive.

It will definitely be trial and error for me, but that's half the fun of home brewing!

 

[wilserbrewer]

Yes I agree, ice baths will take a bit longer, but it is more like passive chilling rather than babysitting chillers, pumps etc...better IMO to set and forget for 60 minutes than to work for forty...YMMV...cheers!

 

[Hawaiibboy]

Yes I agree, ice baths will take a bit longer, but it is more like passive chilling rather than babysitting chillers, pumps etc...better IMO to set and forget for 60 minutes than to work for forty...YMMV...cheers!

That can be a nice thing at times, especially when drunk! Lol

 

[Hawaiibboy]

So I surveyed my property grounds and found quite a bit of space that would be perfectly suited for even a three tier system!



This shall be the site of my brewery!

 

[Hawaiibboy]

So I have had 2 hiccups in my set-up:

1) the person from CL i was going to get a chest freezer from stopped communicating with me. It would have been difficult for me to transport the freezer given its size and the fact that I don't have a truck, but luckily I picked up a small chest freezer from lowes on sale with FREE delivery.

2) My temperature controller might not show up in time for me to brew on my one day off this week.

I have planned my inaugural brew day to be this coming up Thursday, going to be having some guys over that haven't brewed before to see how it goes down and how easy it is to make beer.

So my question is:

Given the warm temps in Hawaii and the fact that I won't have a temp controller for my freezer should I brew on Thursday anyway and pitch on Friday when my temp controller shows up? Pitch Thursday and hope my fermentation doesn't go crazy off due to high temps? Just wait and postpone the inaugural brewday?

 

[Mirkin]

Instead of 2 immersion chillers get a plate chiller or counter flow chiller. Much less water used!

Edit : Just saw you have the copper already, look up counter flow chiller in the DIY section.

Either wait to brew until u have the temp controller set up or use a swamp cooler set up in the meantime.

Or brew straight away and use the no-chill method!

Been BIAB in a 40l (10gal) electric urn & no chilling for 3 years never had a bad batch... Well except the mocha chilli stout I thought would be cool but wasn't.

 

[Hawaiibboy]

Instead of 2 immersion chillers get a plate chiller or counter flow chiller. Much less water used!

As much as I'd love to have a CFC or PC, the tap water here in Hawaii won't cut it. That means pumping cold water. Also I am not trying to transfer the fluid from my MT to a kettle. They are one and the same. This the whole point of BIAB.

I looked into building a CFC but the cost doesn't fit into my budget currently and I am hell bent on brewing a batch before the month is over. Lol

I can always repurpose my chillers into a CFC later.

 

[Hawaiibboy]

I still need a name for my brewery/beer line to come out featured in my basement, I am open to suggestions. My initial thoughts were: the basement brewery; or jungle beer

 

[Mirkin]

As much as I'd love to have a CFC or PC, the tap water here in Hawaii won't cut it. That means pumping cold water. Also I am not trying to transfer the fluid from my MT to a kettle. They are one and the same. This the whole point of BIAB.

I looked into building a CFC but the cost doesn't fit into my budget currently and I am hell bent on brewing a batch before the month is over. Lol

Please check my post above I edited it before I saw your response

I reckon Basement Brewery sounds good. BB with the 1st B reversed so they're back to back. Then if you do labels or graphics you can use stairs, darkness and single lightbulb without a shade as imagery.

 

[LTownLiquorPig]

I've gone from canned kits to BIAB since Christmas. I had a 20 quart pot, so thought for cost savings I'd start with it and just make 2.5 gallon batches until I nailed my process and saved up for a bigger pot and a cooler (had planned to mash in a cooler lined with a bag).

Long story short, I'm thinking I may stick with the smaller batch size. It allows for more variety, I can afford to brew twice as often, and every aspect of the system and each brew costs less.

I'm blessed with cool Canadian conditions, my groundwater is in the 50's and my basement never gets over 70. It's in the mid to upper 50's from December to April. That helps keep my costs down. My ales this time of year are delicious straight out of the basement, no chilling before drinking required.

 

[Hawaiibboy]

Please check my post above I edited it before I saw your response

I reckon Basement Brewery sounds good. BB with the 1st B reversed so they're back to back. Then if you do labels or graphics you can use stairs, darkness and single lightbulb without a shade as imagery.

Word, I am digging basement brewery...

Hrm... 10gal electric... Sounds intriguing!

So this whole, no chill method seems legit, just haven't done my research into it: is it called no chill because you don't chill the wort before pitching or because you don't chill your fermenter to get proper yeast temps?

For me personally, living in Hawaii, I need the fermentation chamber just to get the yeasties happy in a nice party environment (aka: suggested temps). I have been monitoring the temps in my house, outside and in my basement. I get about an 8-10 degree swing from night to day. 77/69 is tomorrow. My tap water at midnight was 72°; mid-afternoon 80°; noon 78°; mid morning 76° and morning 69°. Hawaii isn't the easiest place to brew...

 

[Hawaiibboy]

I've gone from canned kits to BIAB since Christmas. I had a 20 quart pot, so thought for cost savings I'd start with it and just make 2.5 gallon batches until I nailed my process and saved up for a bigger pot and a cooler (had planned to mash in a cooler lined with a bag).

Long story short, I'm thinking I may stick with the smaller batch size. It allows for more variety, I can afford to brew twice as often, and every aspect of the system and each brew costs less.

I'm blessed with cool Canadian conditions, my groundwater is in the 50's and my basement never gets over 70. It's in the mid to upper 50's from December to April. That helps keep my costs down. My ales this time of year are delicious straight out of the basement, no chilling before drinking required.

It's good to hear people's successes with BIAB as I begin my journey into it as well and brewing on my own without the help of two Oregon State fermentation science majors by my side that have been avid home brewers for quite some time.

You are a lucky SOB to have those conditions. You could probably lager naturally outside if you timed it right!

 

[BobbiLynn]

Wow, that's a lot of stuff to have to buy(in response to the original post). I do BIAB with just a big kettle, grain bag and a bucket with a spigot. Well, airlock too and propane set-up(already had from frying turkey). And the big strainer, bottle caps... I may have spent $200 on equipment over time, probably more. Like the hydrometer or 2 that I don't even know how to use. I just look and taste to see when it's ready to bottle. If I was going to buy all that stuff, I'd look on craigslist or something and get someone's old equipment. Let them buy it all new and sell it to me cheap once they have used it a couple times and then got bored with the hobby.

 

[Hawaiibboy]

Wow, that's a lot of stuff to have to buy(in response to the original post). I do BIAB with just a big kettle, grain bag and a bucket with a spigot. Well, airlock too and propane set-up(already had from frying turkey). And the big strainer, bottle caps... I may have spent $200 on equipment over time, probably more. Like the hydrometer or 2 that I don't even know how to use. I just look and taste to see when it's ready to bottle. If I was going to buy all that stuff, I'd look on craigslist or something and get someone's old equipment. Let them buy it all new and sell it to me cheap once they have used it a couple times and then got bored with the hobby.

I am basically getting all the same things you have just that I'll have two primary fermenters and two secondary fermenters. I didn't have a turkey fryer set up so no burner and kettle. I am also getting a fridge though since I live in Hawaii.

Not a lot of people selling their brewing supplies on CL here. Saw two 'starter kits' on CL. One was used a few times and the guy wanted $350 for two plastic bucket fermenters siphon and a few other things but no kettle or burner, no bottle capper. It was absurd! It was a similar deal with the other but they had a burner and 5gal kettle, 600.

I got the bulk of my equipment for about $500, Including shipping (I do live in the middle of the Pacific Ocean). The shipping is what killed me. If I was still in Oregon or had moved to Cali it would have been $350

 

[BobbiLynn]

I am basically getting all the same things you have just that I'll have two primary fermenters and two secondary fermenters. I didn't have a turkey fryer set up so no burner and kettle. I am also getting a fridge though since I live in Hawaii.

Not a lot of people selling their brewing supplies on CL here. Saw two 'starter kits' on CL. One was used a few times and the guy wanted $350 for two plastic bucket fermenters siphon and a few other things but no kettle or burner, no bottle capper. It was absurd! It was a similar deal with the other but they had a burner and 5gal kettle, 600.

I got the bulk of my equipment for about $500, Including shipping (I do live in the middle of the Pacific Ocean). The shipping is what killed me. If I was still in Oregon or had moved to Cali it would have been $350

I actually do have 6 fermenters, and a dozen airlocks. But purchased over time and some that I inherited from grandfather's moonshine days. I have probably spent a lot more than I realize. And if you count the found items, if I would have had to purchase them new, would add up even more. Just looking at the cost for a complete set-up kind of shocked me.

 

[Hawaiibboy]

I actually do have 6 fermenters, and a dozen airlocks. But purchased over time and some that I inherited from grandfather's moonshine days. I have probably spent a lot more than I realize. And if you count the found items, if I would have had to purchase them new, would add up even more. Just looking at the cost for a complete set-up kind of shocked me.

Oh cool! Yeah, the initial cost is steep, but the way I look at it this way:

I drink about 6-8 12oz craft/micros a week at about $4-$16 a piece. That's anywhere between $24-$128 a week.

The ingredients for a three gal brew are about $20-$50, and make about 32 12oz bottles. That's a unit cost of about $0.63 - $1.50, or $3.72-$12 a week. So even with a large grain bill I'm saving about $12-$116 a week. My brewery will pay for itself in about two months, or 2-3 batches!

It's all about perspective

So now the hard part: not buying beer until I have "paid off" my brewery by making 2-3 batches. My first batch should only take 3-4 weeks so I can start drinking again in about 4 weeks! Lol

 

[Hawaiibboy]

So another update on my setup:

The CL guy got back to me and I got the freezer! It should hold about five to six, 5gal fermenters or four 6.5gal fermenters as well as 2-4 3gal fermenters. I returned the lowes freezer.

I also got my wort chiller and pre-chiller finished today with the help of my buddy.

Here is a photo of them!



The 30' IC (left) was a little hard to roll around the bucket I decided to use and it didn't turn out as "professional" but it will get the job done! The 20' pre chiller was rolled around an old paint can I had and came out great! Tested them for leaks and everything seems to working great.

The pre chiller has a 10' inlet line that connects with a 3/4" female hose adapter (either to another hose or direct) and a 5' outlet tube that connects to the IC. The IC has a 5' outlet tube as well.

I had about 15' left over of 3/8"ID tubing so that is going to become my siphon tubing and bottling tubing.

I'm going to cut them each to 5' and use one as standard siphon tubing one as aerated siphon tubing and the other as a spare/backup.

 

[Mirkin]

No chill just means you're not crash chilling your wort, thrown it in a HDPE water container, often cube shaped, and leave it somewhere cool until it cools down naturally. The real key is making sure there is minimal/no air in it and its sealed TIGHT.

I've left a couple of no chill cubes in the garage for 3 months+ with no ill effects once. I had to change my brewing schedule to get a brew ready for Xmas and to leave an IPA, I then forgot about it in a house move and then found it when I got the whole garage unpacked.

Really great alternative that saves water and takes a lot of time off brew day. Google search 'aussiehomebrewer no-chill' for lots of good info. It's very popular here in Australia simply because of frequent droughts, but even without water restrictions many of us stick with it because its preferable for us.

Electric BIAB is the bomb, can even brew inside if the weather is **** outside - wind rain hail shine or tropical storms.

 

[Hawaiibboy]

No chill just means you're not crash chilling your wort, thrown it in a HDPE water container, often cube shaped, and leave it somewhere cool until it cools down naturally. The real key is making sure there is minimal/no air in it and its sealed TIGHT.

I've left a couple of no chill cubes in the garage for 3 months+ with no ill effects once. I had to change my brewing schedule to get a brew ready for Xmas and to leave an IPA, I then forgot about it in a house move and then found it when I got the whole garage unpacked.

Really great alternative that saves water and takes a lot of time off brew day. Google search 'aussiehomebrewer no-chill' for lots of good info. It's very popular here in Australia simply because of frequent droughts, but even without water restrictions many of us stick with it because its preferable for us.

Electric BIAB is the bomb, can even brew inside if the weather is **** outside - wind rain hail shine or tropical storms.

Dude, that is pretty cool! Pun intended...

I will find out what happens, I will be brewing either tonight or maybe tomorrow morning!

 

[Hawaiibboy]

So the rest of my gear is out for delivery! I'll be posting some pics of my inaugural brew day for all!

I have my freezer, IC, pre chiller and temp control, the NB shipment got held up due to some weather delays.

Thanks to all who have helped me put this together!