Wilser BIAB vs The Brew Bag?

[RufusBrewer]

Giving a visual and tactile inspection of a bag from brew in a bag, it is quite well built. The seems are substantial and they use strong webbing to reinforce the straps and handles. I was impressed when it showed up in my mailbox.

I also have a Wilsner bag. I have no complaints with it's construction and quality.

I have not done enough BIAB batches to form an opinion or preference of one over the other. If there is a difference, I would expect it would be due to differences in materials used. Fabric, material, hole size, etc.

I would be surprised that a home brewer would be disappointed with either product.

 

[lablover]

Have both and the Wilser is more durable. Brew bag is fraying, but I will say I have still used them both for years.

 

[matt_m]

How is recirculation and the Wilser bag? I'm pretty happy with my 400 micron Brewbag with the exception that there's a few folds from the hem at the top and where the material gathers to sew the straps that trap grain. The hem is just dumb, it should be folded the opposite direction.

I went through 2 of the 200 micron Brewbag bags in short order but I think it was my fault. First frayed I believe from using a metal spoon, second I guess was slightly damp when I put it away and it mildewed.

Height hasn't been a problem for me even though I have pretty short clearance. I have my kettle stand set up so the rim is at a comfortable height and the bag is only about 2" taller than the kettle. I hold it in place with an PT band (giant rubber band.)

 

[odie]

How is recirculation and the Wilser bag? I'm pretty happy with my 400 micron Brewbag with the exception that there's a few folds from the hem at the top and where the material gathers to sew the straps that trap grain. The hem is just dumb, it should be folded the opposite direction.

I went through 2 of the 200 micron Brewbag bags in short order but I think it was my fault. First frayed I believe from using a metal spoon, second I guess was slightly damp when I put it away and it mildewed.

Height hasn't been a problem for me even though I have pretty short clearance. I have my kettle stand set up so the rim is at a comfortable height and the bag is only about 2" taller than the kettle. I hold it in place with an PT band (giant rubber band.)

My Wilser can be a bit slow flow at times (big grain bills) but I'm sure it's a much finer micron than brew bag. A "very" open false bottom will help greatly as does using a very small pump ($10 ebay 12v type). You don't need a fast/huge pump, just something to move the wort slowly over an hour or two.

 

[Fly_Guy]

My first BIAB bag is getting pretty whole-y. I definitely want to order a custom wilser bag.

For those who have, how accurate do we need to be with measurements? For example, I know my pots bottom diameter is a bit smaller than top diameter. Should I try to give both? Do I need to measure how much distance is between the top rim and the handles?

Its a vigor ss pot i picked up from that restaurant supplier store that happened to fit my apartment stove very well. Thanks!

 

[bruce_the_loon]

My first BIAB bag is getting pretty whole-y. I definitely want to order a custom wilser bag.

For those who have, how accurate do we need to be with measurements? For example, I know my pots bottom diameter is a bit smaller than top diameter. Should I try to give both? Do I need to measure how much distance is between the top rim and the handles?

Its a vigor ss pot i picked up from that restaurant supplier store that happened to fit my apartment stove very well. Thanks!

You don't have to be excessively accurate, the bag doesn't fit your pot like a muscle shirt on Arnie, there is slack built in to the Wilser design to allow it to fit with your kettle. My measurements were 15" outside diameter of the kettle and 19 5/8" inside height. That resulted in a bag 16 1/4" diameter to allow for the foldover and 31" from the point of the curved bottom to the rim. Fits the kettle nicely.

 

[Fly_Guy]

Awesome! Can't wait to start measuring!

 

[soccerdad]

@Fly_Guy - I am curious, how many mashes do you think you got from your previous bag? I cannot honestly tell with mine .. 3 different bags for 3 different kettles. But my best guess is that I have 75 mashes each (plus or minus) in 2 different Wilser bags. Neither shows any real sign of wear.

 

[Fly_Guy]

My previous bag was not a wilser bag. Should have started with that. I'd take a guess that I'm close to 20 or 25 in it. It is a heavier duty bag I grabbed from my LHBS a few years back. It was a super entry level bag that the guys said would need to be replaced at some point if I stuck with BIABs. It fits my 8 gal kettle great but since moving into my own apt I use it in a 4 gallon kettle and between my SS spoon and squeezing the heck out of it on a metal cooling rack and colander it has started to show some wear. Its a brownish nylon material.

Its not in critical shape yet, just getting ahead of things before it ruins a brew day.

I think it was a super basic ld carlson, no handles, no drawstring lol

 

[soccerdad]

I'm not a big squeezer. That might make a difference. I just set a heavy panini press atop the bag in a colander. I do stir every 15 to 20 minutes but that appears to have no ill effect on the bag.

 

[Fly_Guy]

Squeezing got my kettle efficiency up to like 88% on the last brew. Ended up hitting 1.094 when all I wanted was 1.077. Hahaha. I probably won't be squeezing that hard next time

 

[Steveruch]

Finally got around to using the Wilser bag I won a while back predicting a Superbowl outcome.

 

[Bobby_M]

I'll chime in on this. For full transparency, I sell Wilser bags at BrewHardware.com so there is a possibility of bias regardless of how much I don't intend it.

The primary reason I'm not selling The Brew Bag is where it's manufactured. When I had conversations with the owner, and found that the wholesale price to me was going to be substantially higher than Wilser, I was shocked to find that they were sewn in China. So, what we have here is a rare case where the product made in the U.S. is cheaper.

To be quite clear, my profit on both products would have been the same. I figure it's win-win to support a local craftsman while offering the lower price to the customer.

I personally use the Wilser bag for all my own brewing and I'm on batch number 41 with the same bag.

 

[Knightshade]

I went back and forth on the Wilser vs Brew Bag for my Foundry and ultimately ended up with the Wilser bag.

I did, (and still do) have some concerns about how either bag will hold up from me taking out and pushing back in the d* perforated disc I use for recirc but the Wilser is a champ so far 10+ brews in.

 

[MaxStout]

All of mine are Wilser bags. I don't doubt that the Brew Bags are good, but I like supporting someone who's a member and sponsor here. I've had some of the Wilser bags for 6 or 7 years and they are still in top shape. They'll probably be passed along in my estate after I'm gone.

Get the Grand Slam: BIAB, dry hop bag, boil hops bag, and pulley. Everything you need.

 

[Jhedrick83]

So I have both. Started with a Brew Bag and it was fine. Just made a dedicated brew space and order the “Grand Slam” from Wilser for the pulley and hop socks but also to try out the different bag. Having brewed with it twice now, Wilser Bag hands down.

 

[Steveruch]

Finally got around to using the Wilser bag I won a while back predicting a Superbowl outcome. View attachment 747365

I ended up with 3.25 gallons at 1.055 in the fermenter. I was hoping for 3 gallons in the low 1.050s.

 

[Dancy]

For those who have, how accurate do we need to be with measurements? For example, I know my pots bottom diameter is a bit smaller than top diameter. Should I try to give both? Do I need to measure how much distance is between the top rim and the handles?

Contact them and ask what they need for measurements. I’ve bought bags from both The Brew Bag and Wilser and have exchanged info via email regarding measurements required.

 

[BrewZer]

I can weigh in as a Brew Bag user -- I'm on my fourth batch using the bag in my 44-quart kettle and so far it shows no wear.

The straps I find useful in lifting the bag out of the kettle, and I don't find any penalty in the lifting phase using the loops versus a tie cord since my lifting frame is an 8' Little Giant ladder. I tend to hang the bag over the pot after mashing for about 5 minutes, until the stream slows to a trickle, then I put on my gloves and twist/squeeze to get as much additional wort out of it as I can.

Cleanup involves slipping a plastic bag over the Brew Bag while it's hanging, then reaching in and under, grabbing the Brew Bag at the bottom where the straps cross, turning the Brew Bag upside down and dumping the spent grain into the plastic bag. A shake and a rinse, and all the grain is gone. The bag dries in about an hour.

All this positive press on the Wilser design has piqued my interest in comparing the two, so when it comes time to replace the BB, I'll likely get the equivalent size Wilsner and check it out.

The primary reason I'm not selling The Brew Bag is where it's manufactured. When I had conversations with the owner, and found that the wholesale price to me was going to be substantially higher than Wilser, I was shocked to find that they were sewn in China. So, what we have here is a rare case where the product made in the U.S. is cheaper.

Just to note that my bag is labeled "Made in the Philippines."

 

[franknbeans]

I have the 10.5 Anvil kettle with a Brew Bag that fits the basket and have used that about 5-6 times now. It works well and shows no sign of wear. I had just set that perforated disk on top of the basket as to not cut a hole in it. The bag sucks to clean with grain getting stuck in the webbing straps sewed into it, that's been my only gripe. I'm building a new BIAB setup with a Spike 15gal kettle and a Blichmann BoilCoil. I decided to try one of Mike's Wilser bags this time. So far, it fits the kettle perfect and feels pretty dang sturdy. I tossed 40lbs of weights in it just for ***** and giggles after seeing him do that, and it held with no issue. Half the price, made here, and supporting a US business.. I think I'm won over. Plus no webbing straps to dig grain out of.

 

[grampamark]

Cleanup involves slipping a plastic bag over the Brew Bag while it's hanging, then reaching in and under, grabbing the Brew Bag at the bottom where the straps cross, turning the Brew Bag upside down and dumping the spent grain into the plastic bag. A shake and a rinse, and all the grain is gone. The bag dries in about an hour.

I used the same method for cleaning the Brew Bag until, earlier this year, I left the bag in the plastic trash bag until the next day. I picked up the bag, tied it shut, and took it, with the rest of our accumulated trash, to the community dumpster. It wasn’t until my next brew day, when the Brew Bag wasn’t hanging on the snap tie in our basement utility room, that I realized that I had thrown it away with the spent grains. Doh.

So, I ordered a Wilser bag to fit my 10 gallon Igloo cooler in July. I’ve brewed 7 batches with it so far, and if I accidentally throw it out, too (a possibility, given my age and the genes I’ve inherited), I’ll immediately order another one.
Edit: It fits my cooler in the other months, too. Syntax matters.

 

[BrewZer]

The bag sucks to clean with grain getting stuck in the webbing straps sewed into it, that's been my only gripe.... Plus no webbing straps to dig grain out of.

I made that mistake -- once. Now I always make sure the straps are on the outside of the bag.

I haven't heard any reports of blowouts on either bag. But like I said, I'm willing to try the Wilser bag when this one gives up the geist.

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

I can’t comment about the brew bag, but my Wilser bag is in great shape after several years of use and spent grains don’t stick to it so it’s easy to clean. After I dump the grains I give it a good shake outside and there is no risk of clogging my sink drain with grain Or hulls.

 

[soccerdad]

All of mine are Wilser bags. ... They'll probably be passed along in my estate after I'm gone.

Don't forget, you agreed to include me in your will.

 

[szap]

The material of the Brew Bag that I bought a year ago is really different than the original one I had and also the Wilser bag. It is very stiff and appears that it will be very durable. It seems to me that the stiffness of the material could affect efficiency because you can't wrap the material tight when squeezing but I can't swear to this One thing I've figured out it that it is very easy to clean. Spray it down with a hose and all the spent grain is gone.

 

[greywolf]

I'm still using a $5.00 piece of voile from Home Depot in my brew in a basket. Works terrific. No stuck sparges. Easy to wash. Spay with the hose and hang it on a tree. I'm sure that either bag works great. but. I can't beat the economy of the voile.

 

[moreb33rplz]

I'm gonna post a second time in this thread just to say how much better my wilser is than my first generic bag

 

[cubalz]

+1 on Wilser bags. Mine get used and abused and never fail. My current bag has lasted for over 5 years and I continually brew.

 

[North_of_60]

Wilser, buy American!

 

[Dancy]

Wilser, buy American!

So is The Brew Bag.