wilserbrewer BIAB bags

[ram5ey]

Another positive review. His bags are great.

 

[mtnagel]

What are the longevity on these bags? I've had one for a year and done 13 batches with it. I've been thinking about buying another as a backup just in case.

 

[wilserbrewer]

What are the longevity on these bags?

Kind of hard to say, as everyone is different. With proper use and care, a bag should last a long time.
from another thread...

The bag you made me will outlive my kettle!

Fwiw, I would not advise machine washing, just a hot rinse, yet some do machine wash and love doing it.

If exposed to extreme heat or open flame, the lifespan of a bag is about 0.3 seconds. Hahaha
Accidents happen, not a bad idea by any means to have a spare, could save a brew day?
Cheers and thanks!
Wilser

 

[mtnagel]

Yep, I'm the type that likes to plan for disasters, so I might just order a spare. I do wash mine but I use light wash and Tide Free and always wash with a bunch of towels. And I don't heat with mine in.

 

[wilserbrewer]

Thanks to all who purchased! Current free shipping offer ends tomorrow, March 8, 2014.
Details here...
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f41/wilserbrewer-biab-bags-midwinter-free-ship-offer-462759/
order here...
http://biabbags.webs.com/

Enjoy the weekend!
wilser

 

[kharper6]

Ordered mine on a Saturday, was at my door Monday.

Great bag

 

[Zzyzx3]

Another +1 for the bags. Started using them a few months ago and glad I made the change from the regular paint strainer bags. Also used the hop bag for the first time yesterday in a diy hop spider, and it worked great.

 

[Conestoga]

Here's my first double batch w/ wilserbrewer bags and ratchet pulley. Main bag, and hop sock in there for FWH.

22lbs of grain(dry), it could easily take much more.

I rigged up some 550 cord as a safety just in case the pulley slipped, but I did not need it. My guess is that as the pulley rope wears/thins it *could* slip, so I'll keep this safety rope habit just in case.

 

[wilserbrewer]

Nice, I like that shaping on the bag...never thought of a pulley slipping as the ratchet clamps very securely, Rather than a second line, knotting the slack line immediately south of the pulley would prevent any "potential" movement as well.

Cheers!

 

[Conestoga]

I keep a CO/CO2 monitor at seat level on the other side of the room there. It hasn't beeped once yet.

I suppose the knot in the line would work just fine. I have tons of 550 cord laying around though, figured I may as well use some of it. Even if I knotted, I'd still probably keep the safety line there.

It is a tight hold on the ratchet line now, but over time that will surely change. The line will thin out, and eventually slip through.

 

[pablosbrewing]

I keep a CO/CO2 monitor at seat level on the other side of the room there. It hasn't beeped once yet.

CO rises, it is lighter than air, the risk is building up from the celing down and rising through the rest of your house.

It will take a very long time to go off at 24" from the floor, by the time it does you can be exposed to levels that can begin to hurt you without you realizing it.

 

[Conestoga]

CO rises, it is lighter than air, the risk is building up from the celing down and rising through the rest of your house.

It will take a very long time to go off at 24" from the floor, by the time it does you can be exposed to levels that can begin to hurt you without you realizing it.

It would actually mix with the air before it filled the head space and worked its way down.

With a cathedral ceiling equipped with an exhaust fan (the space has a small workshop), I'm thinking I'll be okay.

 

[monkeyman1000]

Just thought I'd give a short review of my experience with Wilserbrewer's bags. I have done 16 batches with an original bag I got with a Northern Brewer BIAB kit and it has served me well. I decided to order the deal from Wilserbrewer's site. I placed my order on Sunday and it was here by Thursday. I'm not sure if I wasn't looking at the order form correctly or not but I think I got some extras. I was expecting a brew bag, a hop bag, a dry hop bag and a pulley thing. I ended up with all that and an extra hop bag and dry hop bag. Score!!!
The quality of the bag was great. Much tighter weave than my old bag was and the material seemed much sturdier. The sewing was perfect with no defects that I could see. I hadn't planned on brewing today but I was so excited to try out the new bag I ended up getting my brew on. the bag fit my pot really well which made doughing in much easier than with my other bag. There weren't any loose spots for grain to hide so I was able to stir much easier. No problem with scorching when I turned the stove on to keep mash temps up several times. The drawstring was nice when i pulled the bag. I squeeze the hell out of the bag and no problems noted there either. The hop bags worked really well and I was glad I had an extra one bc I was able to use pellets in one and whole hops in the other. Overall, very satisfied customer.

 

[ReddHead]

Used my bag with the pulley setup for the first time on Sunday to brew a Hefe with a 13.5 pound grain bill. It worked out awesome. The tapered bottom worked great after the bulk of the wort drained off. This bag cleaned up easier than my old one too because the husks don't get stuck in it as easily.

I just need a set of silicone gloves for squeezing the bag now.

 

[OkieSeaPig]

Let me just go ahead and drop a note on WilserBrewers customer service.
We had a "Slight Problem" with sizing, and he not only squared me away. but also took care of me with another GREAT BAG
If for some reason, you are still on the fence about getting one of theses bags....
Get off your duff and GET one.
Michael has made me a customer for life

 

[wilserbrewer]

No problem with scorching when I turned the stove on to keep mash temps up several times. .... I squeeze the hell out of the bag and no problems noted there either.

I just need a set of silicone gloves for squeezing the bag now.

Thanks a bunch for the positive feedback...

Just a couple of comments, and purely my opinion as I am a big fan of letting people sort their own technique, as what works for some, may not work or please all.

1. If you add heat to a mash, STIR WELL while adding heat, if heat is on you must be stirring. Any mash will scorch if wort or grains is not moving while being heated. The grain can scorch, the bag can scorch, STIR while adding heat gently.

2. OK, I know squeezing the bag brings about euphoria watching how much wort comes out of a bag a minute or two after being removed from the kettle. Try ignoring the bag for a good 20 minutes and just let it drain into the kettle while hanging on the pulley. After 20 - 30 minutes, the amount of wort left is negligible IMO, if you want to squeeze at that point the bag will be nice and cool. Save your money, pass on the silicon gloves. Yes, the bags are very strong and can likely take the abuse of squeezing, but in general, man handling your bag is not worth the effort ...JMO
Cheers and thanks!
wilser

Free shipping offer ends today, April 13th
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f41/wilserbrewer-biab-bag-free-shipping-469968/

 

[RM-MN]

Thanks a bunch for the positive feedback...

Just a couple of comments, and purely my opinion as I am a big fan of letting people sort their own technique, as what works for some, may not work or please all.

1. If you add heat to a mash, STIR WELL while adding heat, if heat is on you must be stirring. Any mash will scorch if wort or grains is not moving while being heated. The grain can scorch, the bag can scorch, STIR while adding heat gently.

2. OK, I know squeezing the bag brings about euphoria watching how much wort comes out of a bag a minute or two after being removed from the kettle. Try ignoring the bag for a good 20 minutes and just let it drain into the kettle while hanging on the pulley. After 20 - 30 minutes, the amount of wort left is negligible IMO, if you want to squeeze at that point the bag will be nice and cool. Save your money, pass on the silicon gloves. Yes, the bags are very strong and can likely take the abuse of squeezing, but in general, man handling your bag is not worth the effort ...JMO
Cheers and thanks!
wilser

Free shipping offer ends today, April 13th
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f41/wilserbrewer-biab-bag-free-shipping-469968/

Hey! I have other things to do that day. By 10 minutes from pulling the bag out the wort is boiling and I've already added the hops. At my age, that time is more precious. I gotta squeeze that bag to speed thing up.

 

[wilserbrewer]

....At my age, that time is more precious. ....

At your age, I would think eliminating labor that saves no time is a good thing
Even at my young age (cough), I try hard to eliminate any step that is inconsequential to the overall process.

This really applies to larger grain bills that are suspended over the kettle, and larger batches that take longer to reach boil, and if the bag continues to drip for the first ten minutes of the boil it's OK IMO.

If your bag is in a colander over the kettle, or your anxious to get the grain out the compost, have at it! For my set up with a pulley, same as with the two posters above, I have found the effort and inconvenience of squeezing the bag is eliminated with time and gravity, time that is concurrent with brewing, net zero free zip nada....cheers!

Oh, forgot your a farmer and like hard work....lol cheers buddy!

 

[Weezy]

This really applies to larger grain bills that are suspended over the kettle, and larger batches that take longer to reach boil, and if the bag continues to drip for the first ten minutes of the boil it's OK IMO.

I was going to chime in too that for small batch stuff, I can have the bag squeezed, emptied into the trash, and washed before I need the first hop addition. If it was a bigger and heavier batch, I can see letting it hang.

 

[divrguy]

Ya know... These bags are just an awesome deal for the price. However, sometimes I like to buy new shi* and this effing bag won't break, rip or shred.. Lol ohhhhhh... I've tried. More than 150 batches on the damn thing and for the life of me I can't tell I used it yet!

I've been using it in the wrong size pot forever because I'm cheap... Gotta admit! Best bang for my buck in brewing!


Cheers!

 

[monkeyman1000]

I will try letting the bag drain without squeezing on my next batch. It just feels wonderfully manly and violent to squeeze the crap out of it while trying to see how much pain I can take from the hot wort while I have the fire going at full throttle to heat up the wort. :rockin:

 

[johnodon]

Wilser, tell the truth...

You have to snicker everytime you here someone say/type "I love wilser's bag!".



John

 

[monkeyman1000]

Might be a good new slogan. "I don't normally squeeze another man's bag but when I do it's a Wilserbrewer's bag"

 

[wilserbrewer]

Wilser, tell the truth...

You have to snicker everytime you here someone say/type "I love wilser's bag!".



John

Ok, truth is I try not to look at it in that context
I do get great satisfaction from happy customers and positive feedback
Makes all the struggles and challenges of being a bag maker all worthwhile....fixing sewing machines etc. etc....It's not always easy believe me, but I try hard to deliver a nice product at a reasonable price....

Might be a good new slogan. "I don't normally squeeze another man's bag but when I do it's a Wilserbrewer's bag"

I discussed this at length with my marketing department and it seems like a big no go! While I think the premise works great for Dos Equis, just not for wilserbrewer...
Thank you for the suggestion.

Cheers and happy brewing!
wilser

ps; I'm not a fan of bag squeezing of any kind! Rather, just letting the bag sit and drain will reap you the benefit without the labor or sticky hands....oops ah anyways maybe a poor choice of words.
I'm out....
cheers!

 

[quincy07]

My bags just came in today. I haven't had a chance to check them out but will when I get home from work this evening. I'm hoping to try them out next weekend w/ my first BIAB batch.

 

[downzero]

I have and use a bag of his as well. I ordered one for my 10 gallon pot and will be upgrading to a bigger one for my new 13 gallon pot.

 

[Beer-lord]

Just ordered my second bag from him. My last bag I made a dumb move and put a small hole in it. It's still somewhat useable but why take the chance.....plus, I got 2 plus years out of it. Well worth it.

 

[divrguy]

Well, I finally bought 2 more bags from wilser. 1 for my 15 gallon pot and 1 for my 10 gallon pot. The 10 also works great in my 5 gallon mash tun. I did 2 batches in the last 2 weeks and I can't believe I was such a cheap bastage to wait this long to get the right size for these pots. I had been using my keggle bag from wilser.

Also, I have to say that the hop boil bags are frigging great. First time I didn't get any hop particles in the boil. And they are so nice and big that they really allow a lot of surface area to get to the hops.

Then the pulley! This little thing is awesome! Works really great! Why did I wait?

Gotta again say.. Get the combo deal with hop bags and brew bags and pulley. It is the perfect combo!

Thanks Wilerbrewer!

 

[petrolSpice]

Ordered a bag an pulley today, can't wait!

 

[bford]

Used my new bags on the last brew for hte first time..... such a HUGE improvement over the paint strainer bags I was using....

Great product! Glad I finally jumped on board.