switching to all grain question

[golfgod04]

So over the past month, I've been getting more equipment so I can switch from partial mash on the stove to all grain with a burner outside. (I really dont have money left to get any more equipment) Here is my question, right now I am planning to do one batch via BIAB - no sparge method . I have a 8 gallon pot (I know I won't get a full 5 gallon batch). I was wondering if you think Im better off doing BIAB or getting a cooler to convert that to a mash tun and just use my pot for full 5 gallon batches? Im excited to go all grain now that I have a burner, this pot, and a grain mill. Any and all advice will be helpful.

 

[chickypad]

You'll probably get a number of different answers here. If you want to stick with BIAB you can just dunk sparge in a bucket with the extra couple gallons that won't fit in a full volume mash. A cooler mash tun is another fine way to go. Whatever you decide have fun!

 

[motosapiens]

hard to say what is better off for you. I brew in various places, so it's not feasible for me to install hoist to deal with 5 gallon biab batches.

I got into all-grain using the papazap 2 bucket system (total cost, like 30 bucks), but you could do a denny-style rectangular cooler and braided steel line for not much more. what i liked about the 2 bucket system is I could use my 6.5 gallon pot both to mash on the stove (just wrap a towel around it for insulation and it holds heat as well as my cooler), and to boil, after I drained the wort into a bucket and and rinsed the pot. I found I had to add water gradually throughout the boil to not boil over and still end up with 5 gallons, but with a 7.5 gallon pot you might not have to do that.

I personally think biab makes a lot of sense for 2-3 gallon batches, but for more than that it wouldn't work well for me. I like being able to brew outside when it's nice, or in the garage when it's less nice, or do the mash in the laundry room and the boil in the garage when it's cold AF outside, which is mostly the time of year that I brew.

 

[golfgod04]

I think Im fine with just doing 3 gallon batches until I can get a cooler. I just dont have the money for a pump.

 

[motosapiens]

I think Im fine with just doing 3 gallon batches until I can get a cooler. I just dont have the money for a pump.

? I'm 55, but I just use viagra instead of a pump, when required. But what does that have to do with beer?

I personally try to keep my system as simple as possible, which means no power equipment I have to clean.

 

[day_trippr]

That got uncomfortably close to TMI

 

[ScrapRoomBrewer]

Ha! Could be best set of posts ever!

 

[wilserbrewer]

With a little bit of care you should easily be able to do 5 gallon BIAB in an 8 gallon pot.

A little quick sparge in a bucket perhaps....don't make a big deal out of it, get busy brewing you'll figure it out quickly.

 

[BitterSweetBrews]

As was mentioned above, you can make a mash tun out of a couple buckets for <$8.

For the cost of a cooler and some fittings you can make a mash Tun for about $50 (or less if you have an old cooler lying around). The fittings will cost about $30.

You can pick up a 5 gallon water cooler for $21 at Menards and add the following fittings to make a decent mash tun for under or around $50 - a 1/2" brass ball valve ($8), a 1/2" x 1" (or 1/1/2") brass close nipple ($3), couple of 3/4" SS washers ($2), a 3/4" hole x 1 1/4" outside diameter rubber washer or two ($1 ea), a 1/2" lock nut ($3), a 1/2" F to 3/8" M hose barb and hose clamp ($3), the braided outside of a 12" faucet hose ($5) and 1/2" M to 3/8" hose barb ($3).

There are a ton of threads and you tube vids on doing this.

If you BIAB you can always heat some additional sparge water on the stove and pour it over the grain while draining it over the pot. You may want to get a strainer that has extendable arms that you can put over the pot to drain on. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MQCHQHD/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

 

[golfgod04]

thanks for info!

 

[kh54s10]

You also don't need a pump. I have been brewing all grain for 5 years without a pump. I decided early on to go three vessel. I got a turkey fryer burner when doing partial mash recipes. I added a Bayou Classic SP10 burner. I made a stand for the 3 vessels so it would all drain downhill, do no pumps. I made the lowest level high enough so the boil kettle would drain into a fermenter on the floor. The next level is for the 10 gallon water cooler mash tun and the top has the hot liquor tank on the turkey fryer burner. I added a pex tubing pipe through a charcoal water filter to the HLT so that I can fill it by just opening a valve.

 

[hottpeper13]

I don't know if you got your BIAB bag(good thing it's not a sac) yet , but you should think about getting one that also fits the cooler you are thinking of purchasing and then you just need to get a valve.

 

[Oginme]

I went to 10 liter (~2.8 gal) BIAB on my way to 5-gal cooler mash tun set up. This past year, I did 36 batches and only 3 of them were in my mash tun set up. BIAB is just that much easier to do and has been much more reliable and repeatable for me.

 

[kristiismean]

I also made the change to all grain this year.

for mashing I went simple.
Lowes Igloo 10 gallon cooler ($43)
Brew Bag 10 gallon cooler bag ($30)
AliExpress all stainless weldless bulkhead/valve/nipple (everything) ($12.50)

and have not looked back. I think using a brew bag and 10 gallon cooler is the easiest way to get into all grain..

 

[RM-MN]

With a little bit of care you should easily be able to do 5 gallon BIAB in an 8 gallon pot.

A little quick sparge in a bucket perhaps....don't make a big deal out of it, get busy brewing you'll figure it out quickly.

I've done several 5 gallon batches in a 7.5 gallon pot. It's tight but possible. A sparge step is easy so plan on that and as Wilserbrewer said, go do it.