Recirculating with BIAB bag (fabric filter)

[eric19312]

I'm considering adding a BIAB bag to my mash tun in my 3 vessel system (as a "fabric filter"). I am considering this to reduce stuck mashes, reduce grain getting under my false bottom, and to make mash tun cleanup a bit easier. I'm not interested in ditching my 3 vessel brewing system but thought I might get advice here about the bag itself.

I currently recirculate with a Blichmann Autosparge and am curious about how to use the bag with the Autosparge.

I've seen a couple pictures where the bag is kind of folded under the Autosparge but don't think this would work in my system as I frequently mash with my kettle full to within 0.5" of the rim. The autosparge is completely submerged in this situation. So if the bag was folded under I think I'd be losing grain behind the bag.

I can't see a way to remount the autosparge to the kettle lid. I've seen lockline solutions but I really do like my autosparge functionality once I am fly sparging. If anybody has an autosparge mounted to their lid I'd love to see that.

I can imagine a custom bag with a port for the autosparge. Perhaps it could involve an overlapping flap secured with buttons or something similar. Anybody using something like this? Any pictures?

 

[FunkedOut]

...to reduce stuck mashes, reduce grain getting under my false bottom, and to make mash tun cleanup a bit easier....

I also wanted to eliminate the grain getting past the false bottom but hated dealing with the bag and recirculation/sparge port.
I ended up fixing a stainless mesh to the false bottom.
This only addresses 1 of your 3 goals.

Here’s some pics:
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/forum/...-a-false-bottom-question.657217/#post-8422641

 

[eric19312]

I also wanted to eliminate the grain getting past the false bottom but hated dealing with the bag and recirculation/sparge port.
I ended up fixing a stainless mesh to the false bottom.
This only addresses 1 of your 3 goals.

Here’s some pics:
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/forum/...-a-false-bottom-question.657217/#post-8422641

Interesting - thanks

I have the Norcal false bottom and don't have that rubber gasket going around. It is pretty good fit but still get some grain under. Luckily they have a great design for the false bottom support which effectively keeps the grain that gets under the FB away from the dip tube (the support is a large ring and you dip tube pulls from inside the ring while grain that gets under is held outside.

I don't have your issue with cloudy wort at end but I always sparge with an extra gallon of water and just collect to target volume. Then I let the mash tun gravity train into a bucket while I start my boil. I think I could make cleanup a bit easier if I could hoist that wet grain bag out of the mash tun and let it properly drain and cool before dumping.

 

[wilserbrewer]

Upon request, I have made bags w/ a side slit, or open seam to accommodate side port kettles. Users seem satisfied....I have wondered about mashing above the port as it is not a perfect seal but the grain is typically in the bottom of the tun and not near the port.

 

[eric19312]

I bet I could live without a perfect seal, does the slit seam overlap? If it overlapped above the port by a few inches I think it would do fine.

 

[wilserbrewer]

I bet I could live without a perfect seal, does the slit seam overlap? If it overlapped above the port by a few inches I think it would do fine.

I’m sure you could overlap it and secure with a clip to the kettle top lip...

Never had any negative feedback, users seem very satisfied w/ this solution.

 

[dnye]

I have one such bag and it works fine.