Those using turkey fryer baskets...

[MaxStout]

Does that help your efficiencies?

I've noticed that it adds a few percent, as it rinses some more sugars out of the grain. YMMV.

 

[divrguy]

Skip the mash out. It isn't needed. Just pull the bag out when the mash is done and turn the burner on. While your wort is heating you can be squeezing the bag or doing some kind of sparge. Your wort should hit mash out temp in a couple of minutes.

I agree! Problem solved because the mash out is not really necessary with a full volume BIAB.

 

[tooblue02]

So just did my first beer with Wilserbrewers bags and I have to say they really helped! Still maintaining my 65% efficiency but the bags worked great and I hit my OG dead on the nails. Had a 17lb grain bill for this one and the was able to let it drain over the kettle while bringing it up to a boil. Hopefully it comes out ok, but all initial indications are that it will be a good IPA. Thanks Wilserbrewer!

 

[kzimmer0817]

So just did my first beer with Wilserbrewers bags and I have to say they really helped! Still maintaining my 65% efficiency but the bags worked great and I hit my OG dead on the nails. Had a 17lb grain bill for this one and the was able to let it drain over the kettle while bringing it up to a boil. Hopefully it comes out ok, but all initial indications are that it will be a good IPA. Thanks Wilserbrewer!

Tooblue,
1. Did you use the basket this time?
2. Do you recirculate during mash or do you turn off your burner, check mash temp regularly, only to turn burner back on and stir like crazy to get your temp back up?
Thanks,
Keith

 

[tooblue02]

I did not use the basket this time and just let the grains sit in the kettle for 75 minutes without stirring after I poured the grains in (of note I think my limit is 16 lbs of grain for the 10 gal kettle!) I have a temp probe in the kettle so I was able to monitor for the entire mash. Here is a picture of my set up today

 

[kzimmer0817]

I did not use the basket this time and just let the grains sit in the kettle for 75 minutes without stirring after I poured the grains in (of note I think my limit is 16 lbs of grain for the 10 gal kettle!) I have a temp probe in the kettle so I was able to monitor for the entire mash.

How did your temps go with this setup? I guess they must have been fine if your gravity was spot on. BTW, what's up with the little space heater? Is that to prevent heat loss from the bottom of your kettle?

Thanks,
Keith

 

[tooblue02]

Temps maintained pretty well which is what the heater was for. It was F'ing cold out side so I did what I could to manage the temperature loss during the mash. All in all I am excited for this one, I just shifted to the airlock today and it is still bubbling. Good layer of kruasen(SP?) and it smells terrific! Took the yeasties a few hours to wake up from the starter but they have been going strong.

 

[wilserbrewer]

I did not use the basket this time and just let the grains sit in the kettle for 75 minutes without stirring after I poured the grains in

Good job w/ such an aggressively large grain bill! Did you stir at the beginning of the mash? the end? IMO stirring is key to getting an even mash temp and a good rinse of the grain. Perhaps 65% is not too bad given the huge grain bill and high gravity?

For large grain bills that might reach the top of the kettle, I find it best to mash in a gallon short, then either add that back to the mash, or do a pour over sparge with a gallon...even a cold sparge if that's what you can manage. This way you have a little room to stir...

How is your crush?

 

[tooblue02]

I did stir quite a bit at the beginning of the mash and had to drain about a 1/2 gallon out of the kettle because I had no more room. I saved that and added it back at the end. I did squeeze a good amount back into the kettle but I still have trouble getting good mash efficiency... I have my grain mill set really tight, my arm gets tired from the milling! Maybe time to upgrade to a motorized version!

The bag did make a huge difference though, I like how it tapers down and allows for a nice drainage into the kettle. I also spun it to help squeeze the grains a bit. Thanks again for the quick turnaround!

 

[MindenMan]

It's not a pissing match. It's a friendly conversation. We can still have these from time to time, can't we?

Pardonnez moi faux pas, (I think) Look, I probably was somewhere else mentally. I will openly apologize for being wrong. It must be my time of the month.