Thinking about going BIAB. Anyone one with regrets? Tips?

[LittleRiver]

...How many of you just dump the whole kettle into the fermentor?...

I brewed this morning, everything went into the fermenter.

 

[wilserbrewer]

Which leads me to my next question...

How many of you just dump the whole kettle into the fermentor?

...

I don’t dump the whole kettle into the fermenter, I eliminate a step and pitch yeast directly into my stainless kettle onto chilled and aerated wort.

Then seal the kettle and ferment...

So yes, I ferment the entire kettle contents...

Very easy, one less vessel to clean and sanitize...

 

[GoeHaarden]

I don’t dump the whole kettle into the fermenter, I eliminate a step and pitch yeast directly into my stainless kettle onto chilled and aerated wort.

Defines one pot brewing. Is it a DIY kind of sealing of the kettle or do you have one designed for it?

This is going to be the easiest brew day. Lol.

 

[ong]

Sometimes I will transfer all but the last gallon or so, but then move that into sanitized jars and cold crash them for a day until I can pour clear wort off the break.

 

[Parkinson1963]

My only regret is that it was not around when I first started. All that extra gear and effort luckily I traded some of my gear for grain, so a win for me.

 

[TheMadKing]

I'm currently heavily modifying my system to allow for direct fired mash so that I can do step mashed.

BIAB takes a little more creativity to get the same level of mash control you can get out of a 3 vessel system, but it can certainly be done.

 

[wilserbrewer]

Defines one pot brewing. Is it a DIY kind of sealing of the kettle or do you have one designed for it?

This is going to be the easiest brew day. Lol.

No special design, just a stainless pot with a lid that fits well. I also drape a sheet of plastic, a large plastic bag cut to a sheet, over the kettle, then wrap a piece of string around the kettle to seal. During fermentation the plastic will blow up and stretch tight as the fermenting beer is blowing off. Once fermentation is complete I transfer tor a keg. I only leave it in the kettle for 7-10 days, once the beer is still you want to move it along to a more well sealed vessel. During active fermentation, the sealed kettle is adequate ime

 

[GoeHaarden]

Okay everyone...I think I'm officially a BIAB'er!! I'm about 15 minutes into the boil of my 1st BIAB batch and I hit all my pre-boil numbers (gravity/volumes). I'm quite chuffed! I can't believe it really, I mean dead on everything!!!

Wanted to see the results of my process without complicating it. Did full volume/no squeeze/no sparge mash with gravity draining (still dripping). Wrapped the kettle in a thick sleeping bag during the mash. Mashed for 45 minutes, temp dropped from 152.6 to 150.9 in that time. Which I think is pretty awesome since it's about 38F in my garage, and I stirred at every 15 minute interval. I'll take it!

And OMG, the Corona mill is a beast!! Lol. I used my drill, but I have to say to those of you who hand crank = BEAST MODE!

So thanks to everyone for all your tips and suggestions! It really helped me get organized today and I know brew day wouldn't be going so smoothly if it wasn't for you all. So thanks!!!

 

[LittleRiver]

...I think I'm officially a BIAB'er!! ... hit all my pre-boil numbers.... full volume/no squeeze/no sparge mash with gravity draining...

Well done! It's an enjoyable no hassle brew day isn't it? The results speak for themselves.

...I stirred at every 15 minute interval....

If you want to simplify some more, and keep your mash temp even more stable, try a batch without stirring during the mash. That's what I do, and I still hit or exceed my targets.

 

[GoeHaarden]

Well done! It's an enjoyable no hassle brew day isn't it? The results speak for themselves...If you want to simplify some more, and keep your mash temp even more stable, try a batch without stirring during the mash. That's what I do, and I still hit or exceed my targets.

Yeah, no kidding! I don't know why I did it any other way! I guess the true test will be the end result, but brewday is sooo much easier. I'm going to try it without stirring next time, I think it was just habit lol.

Currently chilling the batch, it got down to 70F pretty quick. The plus side to colder weather I suppose. So, I'm 2.5hrs in total from heating strike water to now. Incredible! Shaving some time for sure as well!

 

[LittleRiver]

As Wilser described earlier in this thread, you're going to see a lot of break material going into the fermenter. Don't fret about it. For clear beer don't rush your fermentation so gravity has time to do its work, and do a cold crash at the end.

 

[wilserbrewer]

I'm going to try it without stirring next time, I think it was just habit!

Just to be clear, you still stir well at the very beginning of the mash, and also stir well at the end of the mash before removing the bag.

Seems pretty obvious, but we’ve had some...

 

[GoeHaarden]

As Wilser described earlier in this thread, you're going to see a lot of break material going into the fermenter. Don't fret about it. For clear beer don't rush your fermentation so gravity has time to do its work, and do a cold crash at the end.

I can kind of already see it. In the ferm chamber and the break material is almost to the gallon mark already. I'm not too worried about it though. I don't always cold crash, but I think I'll follow you advice on this one.

Just to be clear, you still stir well at the very beginning of the mash, and also stir well at the end of the mash before removing the bag.

Seems pretty obvious, but we’ve had some...

Lol. Correct, I stir like hell when doughing in and at the end. The 15 minute interval stir was just for bonus

 

[4of7]

Been brewing all-grain for about 5 years now and I'm at the point where I'd like to simplify my brewday without sacrificing quality. BIAB seems like the logical choice, but I've always been a little skeptical of the process.

I only do 5.5 gallon batches, and I don't foresee myself ever wanting to do 10 gallon batches. I would still like to do some 1.100 beers every once in a while so I was thinking of buying a 15 gallon spikes kettle and a mesh basket from arborfab. Direct fire with propane to hit strike temp and boil, but use my 2000w/110v RIMS to maintain mash. Yeah, I know I've read that recirc/RIMS with BIAB is unnecessary but since I have it I figured why not use it...

Just curious if anyone regrets going BIAB? Or if anyone has any tips or hindsight with their setup? Or any suggestions to my above proposed setup?

2v ,ebiab,15 gallon,,10 gallon batches , 50l kegmenter, 3.5 -4 hr brew days,,the bag just makes it easier to clean,,,24 lb grain bills,,oh yeah I like it,,,"Stay strong and brew on"

 

[4of7]

are all of you no regrets guys electric? if so, what's your setup?

Brutus 20. 2v ebiab 15 gallon kettles, 50 liter keg fermenter

 

[Powercat]

I agree

 

[BandonBrewingCo]

Just to come back on the whole kettle into fermenter thing...
My immersion chiller is meh but gets me to circa 30°C quickly enough so I pour the wort into the fermenter and leave to cool to pitching temps. Then I pour the dregs into a jug and let sit on the freezing balcony (wohoo winter!). After an hour or so a liter of wort has floated to the top which is more than enough for a vitality starter. After 4-8 hours starter is vital and wort is at pitching temp. No need for DME, effeciency numbers up due to lack of wastage, costs down.

And on the main subject to any new brewers - KISS KISS KISS!!!

 

[GoeHaarden]

Then I pour the dregs into a jug and let sit on the freezing balcony (wohoo winter!). After an hour or so a liter of wort has floated to the top which is more than enough for a vitality starter. After 4-8 hours starter is vital and wort is at pitching temp. No need for DME, effeciency numbers up due to lack of wastage, costs down.

That is a great idea. I might try that. I usually collect the remaining break material in a measuring cup and wait for it to settle out, and use the wort for my hydrometer check. But I still end up wasting it...hmmm!