Sparge question BIAB

[TrainSafe]

Are we still all talking about BIAB?

 

[tonyolympia]

Are we still all talking about BIAB?

Yes, I am. Sorry I got a little OT there, with the enzyme talk.

 

[Rivercat96]

Easy does it Triainsafe, this all ties together quite nicely with full volume and BIAB mashing. I'm new to all grain and BIAB but have learned very quickly that there's a lot more to brewing than I realized and it's not rocket science. Understanding some basics on enzymes, L:G ratios, and proper mashouts is helpful to a lot of brewers. But the bottom line is having fun and making good beer may be the most important and I hope everyone out there is able to make a batch that they're happy with. Being consistent and learning to improve the brews is a whole other story.

 

[tonyolympia]

I like your philosophy, rivercat.

All this entry-level brew science haunts me...I can't stop thinking about it! Probably because I only get to brew once a month, and I spend the rest of the month listening to Kai Troester on Basic Brewing podcasts.

 

[TrainSafe]

I didn't mean to be critical in any manner. Sorry if it came across that way. That's the problem with surfing from my mobile app and not wanting to type a bunch from my phone.

As a guy who started BIAB a few months ago, I was actually interested in the finer points. Just unsure if it all fit.

 

[Bookem15]

I have been looking at all grain kits from Midwest and northern brewer and it brings me to one question. Is it better to just jump in and purchase bulk grains and then purchase lesser used grains and hops as you go or just buy the kits? I have a goy that says 40 dollars for 50 lb bag of American 2 row and 15 dollars for crystal 40,60 and other specialty grains in 10 lb bags. Good deal?

 

[Mysticmead]

simple math will tell you that buying in bulk is the way to go... 50lbs for $40 is $0.80/lb

 

[cyclonite]

Agreed, buying in bulk will save you a bunch in the long run. Here, bulk costs me $1.00 - $1.25 for base grains as opposed to $1.50 - $2.00 buying per pound. So ~ $5/batch on average. My other big savings is from washing yeast.

Back on topic, yes, 3-8% extra from dunking is what I've noticed. This isn't huge, once you translate into actual gravity points, but is something. Most may not care for the extra effort, but it happens to work out well for me due to my kettle sizes. I'll emphasize again though, crush makes all the difference in the world, particularly with BIAB. The best advice I can give to a BIABer is to purchase your own mill. This, and to a lesser extent, dunking, got me from low-mid 70's to low-mid 90's (still get upper 80's for large beers). You'll probably pay for your mill in grain savings over the course of a year or two, depending on how much you brew. And, you'll probably want it when you start buying in bulk anyway.