Who's successful at recirculating e-BIAB?

[trav77]

Hey folks,

Just did my first brew on a recirculating eBIAB system. In that case I used a mesh basket but I don't love it for a few reasons so I want to try it out using my original (but yet untested) plan which is a bag and false bottom.

Who's successful with this sort of setup and what are the details of your process?

My specifics for this next brew:
- Wilser bag
- Brewhardware false bottom
- Condition malt @ 2% w/w
- Adjustable mill - what gap to use?

Any help would be appreciated. I'll continue to refine my own system but would be great to know who's making it work.

 

[TexasWine]

I've got a recirculating eBIAB set up with a Wilserbrewer bag and false bottom from Brewhardware. No issues recirculating.

- I condition my malt as you do
- I keep mill speed no greater than about 400 rpms with my Barley Crusher
- Start flow from pump very low and slowly ramp open valve to about 1/2 open over the course of 5 minutes or so. That's as far as I open it.
- I used to let the mash sit for 5-10 minutes before starting the pump, but now I don't.

That's about it. I also keep an eye on the level in the sight glass. If it drops I know I'm recirculating faster than the wort if coming through the grain bed.

 

[Weezy]

Yeah, it's never been an issue. Just have some sort of false bottom to keep the bag out of the valve tube.

To avoid hot spots, I cut small holes in a thick walled silicone tube, plugged the end with a PEX plug, and Jan it deep into the mash.

 

[trav77]

I've got a recirculating eBIAB set up with a Wilserbrewer bag and false bottom from Brewhardware. No issues recirculating.

- I condition my malt as you do
- I keep mill speed no greater than about 400 rpms with my Barley Crusher
- Start flow from pump very low and slowly ramp open valve to about 1/2 open over the course of 5 minutes or so. That's as far as I open it.
- I used to let the mash sit for 5-10 minutes before starting the pump, but now I don't.

That's about it. I also keep an eye on the level in the sight glass. If it drops I know I'm recirculating faster than the wort if coming through the grain bed.

Good to hear. Thanks for the response. Do you know your mill gap?

What kind of mash efficiency are you getting with this setup?

I only got 65% on my last brew with the mesh basket and a 0.030" crush. I suspect a lot of the recirc was flowing over the top and out the sides. Hoping the bag/FB combo does a better job of flowing the recirc through the grain bed for better efficiency.

 

[McKnuckle]

My (fixed) mill gap is 0.045" and I average around 74% mash efficiency. I use a Wilser bag custom made for my kettle, so there is no appreciable deadspace around it when properly installed. My pickup tube is facing down so I don't have an additional false bottom. My return is a "U" shaped copper pipe that hangs on the kettle rim, attached to silicone hose that I submerge just under the wort, aimed at the kettle side to create a small amount of whirlpooling.

 

[plazola86]

I get 72% give or take 2. My mill is set to 0.025 and use a cheap bag. I run my pump with the ball valve on the outflow side about a 1/4 open, silicone hose just sitting right above the grain bed. I could open the pump more but it creates a lot of splashing/air bubbles. Never had a stuck mash but have had my bag get sucked into the outflow.

 

[TexasWine]

I build my recipes based on 75% brewhouse efficiency, 0.08 gal/lb absorption, 0.75 quart lost in the kettle at transfer.

Mill gap at 0.040.

 

[daveMN]

Here's my recirc I just finished. Haven't tested it yet. Same false bottom, March pump, Wilser bag, then I found that my old igloo cooler lid makes a perfect mash cap when inverted. So I picked up some locline and a weldless bulkhead and put that in the lid. I have a good feeling about this.

View attachment 1486081009983.jpg

 

[trav77]

I build my recipes based on 75% brewhouse efficiency, 0.08 gal/lb absorption, 0.75 quart lost in the kettle at transfer.

Mill gap at 0.040.

So without doing the math you must be getting roughly 80-85% mash efficiency then depending on batch size? I also set my mill back to 0.040 a couple nights ago in anticipation of trying out the bag/fb system. Thanks... Leaves me optimistic about the system working well and getting reasonable efficiency.

 

[TexasWine]

So without doing the math you must be getting roughly 80-85% mash efficiency then depending on batch size?

Bingo.

 

[trav77]

Here's my recirc I just finished. Haven't tested it yet. Same false bottom, March pump, Wilser bag, then I found that my old igloo cooler lid makes a perfect mash cap when inverted. So I picked up some locline and a weldless bulkhead and put that in the lid. I have a good feeling about this.

Looks familiar!

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1486097090.164415.jpg

Brewing Saturday. If you brew sooner you can let me know how it works!

 

[daveMN]

Looks familiar!

View attachment 387356

Brewing Saturday. If you brew sooner you can let me know how it works!

I like it!
I won't have time this weekend, but hopefully can do a water test soon.