New BIAB Brewer

[NarrowsBrewCo]

Hey All,

Just wanted to introduce myself. I started brewing 2 years ago with a Mr. Beer kit, did about 3 batches with that, then moved to 5 gal extract and have done 5 with that.

I decided to switch things up, and will start with some 3 gallon batches BIAB. I'll be brewing this weekend. I thought the first time around I'd use a kit, so I got NB's Dead Ringer IPA 3 gal kit.

Just curious if anyone has brewed this one before, or if they have any tips/advice. I have a 10 gal kettle, and picked up a 3 gal carboy for secondary fermentation if I need it.

Thanks!

 

[cubalz]

Hey All,

Just wanted to introduce myself. I started brewing 2 years ago with a Mr. Beer kit, did about 3 batches with that, then moved to 5 gal extract and have done 5 with that.

I decided to switch things up, and will start with some 3 gallon batches BIAB. I'll be brewing this weekend. I thought the first time around I'd use a kit, so I got NB's Dead Ringer IPA 3 gal kit.

Just curious if anyone has brewed this one before, or if they have any tips/advice. I have a 10 gal kettle, and picked up a 3 gal carboy for secondary fermentation if I need it.

Thanks!

Congrats on stepping up to All Grain, you will never look back. A couple of tidbits for someone who consistently brews 3 gallon batches: Start out with 5 gallons of strike water, mash out and batch sparge with 1/2 gallon, drain bag in a colander, squeeze the bag like it owes you money, ditch the secondary period. I even dry hop in my primary and I have won many competitions with my IPA's. Most of all, have fun!

 

[dstockwell]

Hey All,

Just wanted to introduce myself. I started brewing 2 years ago with a Mr. Beer kit, did about 3 batches with that, then moved to 5 gal extract and have done 5 with that.

I decided to switch things up, and will start with some 3 gallon batches BIAB. I'll be brewing this weekend. I thought the first time around I'd use a kit, so I got NB's Dead Ringer IPA 3 gal kit.

Just curious if anyone has brewed this one before, or if they have any tips/advice. I have a 10 gal kettle, and picked up a 3 gal carboy for secondary fermentation if I need it.

Thanks!

I brew 3 - 3.25 G batches. When I first started I did not use a kit, but followed NB directions to start with 5.5G of water - too much water for me. Once you get a few under your belt you can figure grain absorbtion, boil off etc. Try priceless BIAB calulator I now use just about 5G no sparge all the time.

 

[NarrowsBrewCo]

Awesome thanks guys! And yeah I didn't think I'd really need the 3 gal.to secondary, it's mainly to use if I have an aged beer and want it to ferment for awhilr, it'll free up my other carboys to do a 5 gallon batch.

I'm pumped for all grain, so much to learn so much to do. I'll let ya'll know how this first round goes. I'm grabbing a wort chiller this weekend mainly because my new pot won't fit in the sink anymore!

 

[bdogg171]

I 2nd the priceless calc, and forgoing the secondary, your OG and efficiency "might" run a little low depending on your crush but DWHAH, you'll figure it out. I wasn't concerned with a mashout on my first trial BIAB but fearing my 7.5 gallon pot wouldn't hold everything I opted to hold a gallon back and then decided wth and went ahead and heated it for a mashout/dunk/soak sparge, don't think it did much but it didn't hurt either. Welcome to BIAB!

 

[pricelessbrewing]

I 2nd the priceless calc, and forgoing the secondary, your OG and efficiency "might" run a little low depending on your crush but DWHAH, you'll figure it out. I wasn't concerned with a mashout on my first trial BIAB but fearing my 7.5 gallon pot wouldn't hold everything I opted to hold a gallon back and then decided wth and went ahead and heated it for a mashout/dunk/soak sparge, don't think it did much but it didn't hurt either. Welcome to BIAB!

If you do a dunk again, open the bag up and stir the crap out of it for a couple minutes instead of just letting it soak. You'll gain some Lauter efficiency.

 

[bdogg171]

Thanks for the tip priceless, I couldn't really stir with the 2nd pot I used for that step (much wider than the one I was brewing in, but I am looking at some other options for the next round.

 

[NarrowsBrewCo]

Hey Guys,

Reviving an old thread here, but wanted to give an update from my first BIAB brew. Lets just say it had a few hitches along the way:

1. My thermometer broke after I heated the strike water! Luckily I had another one, but I didn't notice it was broke until I had already thought the mash was too hot, poured cold water in to cool it. Once I realized the thermometer was broke, I put my backup in and saw the actual temp of the mash had dropped down to 142 degrees...so heated that back up!

2. I should've had an outdoor burner! It took a ridiculous amount of time to hit boil temps, and made our house feel like a sauna. Lesson learned, burner on the way.

3. I had an extra gallon of wort! I know I added some water to cool my mash down, but I'm guessing since I didn't have a vigorous boil there was not nearly as much boil off.

4. I broke my hydrometer! After all the time it took to boil, cooling was quick, so grabbed some wort to take a gravity reading. Just as luck would have it, I somehow knocked it over and it cracked. So I was flying blind.


So after all of that, I let things ferment for 4 weeks, dry hopped a week and bottled a week. After multiple extract brews, this beer is AMAZING. People say extract won't have that extract taste if its done, right, but I always thought extract didn't have the real beer taste.

This beer tastes like I bought it at the store, its amazing and people have been blown away by it. I'm sure the extra gallon of water killed some of the ABV and gave it a lighter body, but for the first time around this is better than any extract I've made.

Can't wait to brew more. 3 gallons is perfect, I can drink em pretty fast and make more batches right away. Can't wait to brew again!

 

[RM-MN]

Hey Guys,

Reviving an old thread here, but wanted to give an update from my first BIAB brew. Lets just say it had a few hitches along the way:

1. My thermometer broke after I heated the strike water! Luckily I had another one, but I didn't notice it was broke until I had already thought the mash was too hot, poured cold water in to cool it. Once I realized the thermometer was broke, I put my backup in and saw the actual temp of the mash had dropped down to 142 degrees...so heated that back up!

2. I should've had an outdoor burner! It took a ridiculous amount of time to hit boil temps, and made our house feel like a sauna. Lesson learned, burner on the way.

3. I had an extra gallon of wort! I know I added some water to cool my mash down, but I'm guessing since I didn't have a vigorous boil there was not nearly as much boil off.

4. I broke my hydrometer! After all the time it took to boil, cooling was quick, so grabbed some wort to take a gravity reading. Just as luck would have it, I somehow knocked it over and it cracked. So I was flying blind.


So after all of that, I let things ferment for 4 weeks, dry hopped a week and bottled a week. After multiple extract brews, this beer is AMAZING. People say extract won't have that extract taste if its done, right, but I always thought extract didn't have the real beer taste.

This beer tastes like I bought it at the store, its amazing and people have been blown away by it. I'm sure the extra gallon of water killed some of the ABV and gave it a lighter body, but for the first time around this is better than any extract I've made.

Can't wait to brew more. 3 gallons is perfect, I can drink em pretty fast and make more batches right away. Can't wait to brew again!

I'm sorry to hear that your beer tastes like it was bought at the store. I was hoping it would turn out better than that.

My home brew beers with lower alcohol still give me a bigger buzz than the beer I buy. Yours might too.

Good job on this batch, may you make lots of better ones!

 

[cegan09]

A tip for the sauna problem. I have the same problem, exacerbated by the fact that I don't have a hood over my stove. Grab a large box fan, throw it in a window in the kitchen blowing out. Then find a window in the next room and open it. That cross breeze will help hugely with removing moisture.

 

[pshankstar]

So after all of that, I let things ferment for 4 weeks, dry hopped a week and bottled a week. After multiple extract brews, this beer is AMAZING. People say extract won't have that extract taste if its done, right, but I always thought extract didn't have the real beer taste.

This beer tastes like I bought it at the store, its amazing and people have been blown away by it. I'm sure the extra gallon of water killed some of the ABV and gave it a lighter body, but for the first time around this is better than any extract I've made.

I did my first BIAB about a month ago and have been finally enjoying the beer I made from this batch. I agree that this brew was the best I have made to date and those were all extract kits. Everyone who has tried this brew has been very impressed.

I will agree with you, I have always enjoyed my brews from an extract kit or recipe, but I always felt like the craft beers I could buy always tasted so much better. With this BIAB IPA I did, I feel that it would rank up there with the craft beers I would buy! I feel like I can tell there is a noticeable difference.

Anyways, congrats on a job well done with the complications you had! I brewed my last extract home brew yesterday. So it will be all BIAB moving forward!!!

 

[NarrowsBrewCo]

A tip for the sauna problem. I have the same problem, exacerbated by the fact that I don't have a hood over my stove. Grab a large box fan, throw it in a window in the kitchen blowing out. Then find a window in the next room and open it. That cross breeze will help hugely with removing moisture.

Thanks for the advice, but I'm gonna take the kitchen out of the equation completely and getting a burner for the outdoors...should make my whole brew day better.

 

[TorMag]

I brewed my last extract home brew yesterday. So it will be all BIAB moving forward!!!

I couldn't even do that.. I had two extract kits sitting on my shelve and I converted them both to all grain. I have two BIAB patches sitting in two fermenters. A Porter that has been fermenting since Mar 13 and the extract kit I converted on April 4, Fat Tire clone. I have yet to taste either.

I am actually planning on pouring out my two extracts I still have in the kegs, I just can't stand to drink them any more. I just can't stand the finish taste.

 

[pshankstar]

I couldn't even do that.. I had two extract kits sitting on my shelve and I converted them both to all grain. I have two BIAB patches sitting in two fermenters. A Porter that has been fermenting since Mar 13 and the extract kit I converted on April 4, Fat Tire clone. I have yet to taste either.



I am actually planning on pouring out my two extracts I still have in the kegs, I just can't stand to drink them any more. I just can't stand the finish taste.

Well I've given away a lot of my extract brews lately. This last kit my one friend may end up with a case of beer after all said and done. I just had to brew it and at least let someone enjoy it.

How did you end up converting them? Did you even use the DME or LME? Or did you just replace them with the appropriate grains?

 

[TorMag]

Well I've given away a lot of my extract brews lately. This last kit my one friend may end up with a case of beer after all said and done. I just had to brew it and at least let someone enjoy it.

How did you end up converting them? Did you even use the DME or LME? Or did you just replace them with the appropriate grains?

Both my kits were from Midwest. They also had the same kits in whole grain. I just tossed the LME and replaced what was missing from my LHBS. for both kits it was just like 11 pounds of two row. I just kegged my porter tonight. My first BIAB. Although it is flat, it is delicious. No nasty Twang after taste. I am sooo happy. The porter was a straight all grain, no kit. I had asked the owner of my LHBS if he had a good porter recipe and he threw it together for me.

 

[RedlegEd]

Thanks for the advice, but I'm gonna take the kitchen out of the equation completely and getting a burner for the outdoors...should make my whole brew day better.

Congrats on your first BIAB.

Another word of advice, if you plan to heat your mash with the bag in the pot, make sure you have something to separate the bag from the bottom of the pot (e.g. false bottom.) A good propane burner may get the pot bottom hot enough to scorch or melt your bag. Here's a link to a forum where false bottoms are discussed.

 

[NarrowsBrewCo]

Definitely, I have a metal strainer turned upside down that keeps the bag elevated above the bottom of the kettle.

 

[pshankstar]

Both my kits were from Midwest. They also had the same kits in whole grain. I just tossed the LME and replaced what was missing from my LHBS. for both kits it was just like 11 pounds of two row. I just kegged my porter tonight. My first BIAB. Although it is flat, it is delicious. No nasty Twang after taste. I am sooo happy. The porter was a straight all grain, no kit. I had asked the owner of my LHBS if he had a good porter recipe and he threw it together for me.

Oh ok that makes sense. I had purchased three kits from Northern Brewer a while back (Two SMaSH and one American Wheat). Both turned out very good for extract kits, but the SMaSH I wanted to improve. So I purchased additional Simcoe hops to add more to the late additions and double the dry hops. I felt the first kit had the right bitterness, but needed more flavor and aroma. Anyways, that's my last extract brew and it's all BIAB moving forward!

 

[TorMag]

Oh ok that makes sense. I had purchased three kits from Northern Brewer a while back (Two SMaSH and one American Wheat). Both turned out very good for extract kits, but the SMaSH I wanted to improve. So I purchased additional Simcoe hops to add more to the late additions and double the dry hops. I felt the first kit had the right bitterness, but needed more flavor and aroma. Anyways, that's my last extract brew and it's all BIAB moving forward!

One other thing I did was buy a Corona Mill off of Amazon for $25 bucks. This one. http://www.amazon.com/Premium-Quality-Grinder-Wheat-Grains/dp/B000U5NZ4I?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00

It helps alot, works great and is dirt cheap. There is a thread on here somewhere on fixing these up, just look at Wilsners signature line and you will find his write up on it and you can find the thread from there. The mill turns your grain into practically flour. Having your LHBS double mill is does nothing if they do not adjust settings on the second pass.

 

[BeardedBrews]

I was flying blind.

this beer is AMAZING.

Just remember, if you don't make every mistake exactly the same next time then you'll never be as amazing as the first time.

Good Luck!

 

[pshankstar]

One other thing I did was buy a Corona Mill off of Amazon for $25 bucks. This one. http://www.amazon.com/Premium-Quality-Grinder-Wheat-Grains/dp/B000U5NZ4I?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00

It helps alot, works great and is dirt cheap. There is a thread on here somewhere on fixing these up, just look at Wilsners signature line and you will find his write up on it and you can find the thread from there. The mill turns your grain into practically flour. Having your LHBS double mill is does nothing if they do not adjust settings on the second pass.

Yes, I built one not too long ago. I had some Amazon gift cards to use up so the mill only cost me on $5 from Amazon.

 

[TorMag]

Yes, I built one not too long ago. I had some Amazon gift cards to use up so the mill only cost me on $5 from Amazon.

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Nice, I have not put mine in the bucket yet. I got the bucket, just have not got around to doing it. What size bolt is that in the handle? Also, what is that extending the hopper?

 

[pshankstar]

Nice, I have not put mine in the bucket yet. I got the bucket, just have not got around to doing it. What size bolt is that in the handle? Also, what is that extending the hopper?

I took the bolt for the handle with me to Home Depot to match up a replacement. It seems like some corona mills take different size bolts then others. So I would say that is your best bet. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.