Water amounts?

[rcreamer0713]

So i brewed a biab smash recioe while back. Came out decent. My gear isnt big enough for full 5 gallons. SO i figure 3 gallons batch with sparge will be better.

Question. Initial water amount. 1.5 gallons for each lb of grain. So example. 2lb grain 3 gallons water for mash. Then use sparge wager to gt to 4 gallon boil volume? Sounds right?

I struggled with not doing full volume but people r saying 1.5 per lb of grai for mash is best

 

[jekeane]

I personally would just use a calculator like the Biabacus. It works perfectly for me no matter what volume batch I am doing.

 

[greyghost]

https://pricelessbrewing.github.io/BiabCalc/#Advanced Use This

 

[wilserbrewer]

1.5 quarts per pound with a sparge may be what you were thinking for an average 5-6% beer. Your original 1.5 gallons per pound is way to much water.

 

[crunch1224]

The equation you are thinking about is QT/LB. Quarts of water per Pound of grain. When I do a full volume (no sparge) BIAB. I usually am around the 2.8 to 2.9 QT/LB.

I forgot to add that the size of your mash tun and your boil off rate while in the kettle does effect your calculations when you have a heavy grain bill. My QT/LB ratio will go down once I hit around 12lbs of grain, just to be able to fit it all in my mash tun. I use a 10 gallon mash tun and kettle.