wilserbrewer BIAB bags

[Reggie22]

Thanks Wilserbrewer. Bag came in the mail today. Looks great. Can't wait to use it.

 

[bradthebold]

Has anyone had premature seam separation on their bag? I've only had mine for 1 1/2 months and it's separating 3" from the top of the bag on the side. I squeeze the bag, but nowhere near 3" from the top. I emailed Michael and his response was, "Looks like you are doing something wrong putting stress on the seam." Then no reply after I responded to that. I hoist the bag by the string, as it's designed, and my biggest grainbill has been 14lbs. If you can lift hundreds of pounds with it, I'm not sure what he thinks I could be doing wrong with 14lbs in it.

I assumed it was just a manufacturing flaw or something and he'd send me a new one. Instead he just said I must be doing something wrong then ignored me. Very unimpressed.

 

[balrog]

I have used mine nearly two years and 65 batches, hung, squezzed, lifted, thrown over my shoulder like a continental soldier, with no issues.

 

[bradthebold]

That's what I thought I could expect. I'm assuming I just got a defective one. I just happened to notice it when cleaning, so it probably started earlier.

 

[wilserbrewer]

Well, every good story has at least three different versions...

Firstly, no mention of the excellent customer service, promptly answering four emails prior to purchase. No mention of substituting the deluxe draw string hop bags into the package at no additional cost. No mention of email instruction on process of BIAB. If every bag sale required 4-5 emails, prices would not be considerably lower than my competitors.

Looking at the bag, the material is stressed and the material is very slightly separating, not the seam. This takes considerable force applied in a concentrated area, not a manufacturing defect IMO. The bag is functional in its current condition so I didn't take action to repair or replace as I typically would if a bag is not functional. Imo this is cosmetic and the bag will make beer just fine as it is.

Anyways, I would always prefer someone contact me directly and ask if there is something I could do to make them satisfied.

AFAIK, no other bag is as durable, and no other vendor comes close to standing behind his product like myself, with regard to warranty repair / replacement.

PM sent to Brad to arrange further service.

Thanks for your support!
Wilser

 

[MaxStout]

Just used the heavy duty 1/4" pulley I received last week. I used it to hoist the full carboy out of my chest freezer ferm chamber. I hooked it to a Brewhauler, works real slick. No more lifting out by hand--not good for my back.

 

[Greytop]

Maybe bradthebold is trying to get every last drop of wort out of his bag as quickly as possible? I have bags from Mike for 12 and 20 gallon kettles. Each has performed flawlessly. Certainly, if I ever had a problem, I would contact Mike directly. I would then analyze my brewing practices. I mash in the bags and do a dunk sparge. I then let the bag drain over the BK while it comes to a boil. Only when I get close to 212° do I start squeezing the bag and then I'm careful not to force everything against the seam. I have squeezed the #@#* out of my bags over the last two years and all three look as good as new. YMMV

 

[bradthebold]

Yes, prior to purchasing he answered my one functional question about the bag, which was "how you lift the bag without handles? Do you lift by the drawstring?". My other two questions about how to order (since there is no cart on his site and I could not order the pulley kit with the deluxe bags without contacting him) and to tell him my kettle size. Certainly no issues with his communication, but not really price raisingly exceptional (nor did it need to be). But yes, he did include the deluxe bags for no charge as well. Again, no issues and happy with the purchase.

Yeah, the material is separating at the weak point where the seam starts, not the actual seam coming apart. What situation could possibly cause this 3" from the top of the bag? The only thing I could imagine would be the stress of the drawstrings pulling on it when it's hoisted, though that is how it is intended to be used (and with only a 5gal grainbill), which is why I contacted you. I feel like it would be difficult to intentionally pull hard enough to create this issue, through whatever means. That is my issue, that you assumed I somehow came up with a unique way to abuse the bag and dismissed me. I use it to brew only, hoist it by the pulley, squeeze the grain, clean and store it.

You would prefer I contact you directly? That is exactly what I did. I did not assume this was a normal situation, so I emailed you with my concern and this picture, and your entire response was, "Looks like you are doing something wrong putting stress on the seam?". I responded, "I'm not sure. It's 3" from the top, so not even near where I'd squeeze it. I lift it by the string, but my biggest batch has only been 13lbs of grain." That was 4 days ago and you never responded after that.

I had zero issues with anything until after you dismissed my concern. You never told me it was cosmetic and that it wouldn't be an issue, or that it wouldn't get worse. You didn't tell me anything.

For more information for the thread, he asked how the bag fits in the kettle in a pm, if the bag is being stretched too tight over the edge of the kettle. The bag seems to fit completely fine in the kettle. It is just slightly loose when folded over the edge and doesn't seem to be putting any pressure on it. The cord-lock died to the heat after the third batch, so I've been using a clothes pin to hold it snug, so I can't get it overly tight on there.

 

[bradthebold]

Maybe bradthebold is trying to get every last drop of wort out of his bag as quickly as possible? I have bags from Mike for 12 and 20 gallon kettles. Each has performed flawlessly. Certainly, if I ever had a problem, I would contact Mike directly. I would then analyze my brewing practices. I mash in the bags and do a dunk sparge. I then let the bag drain over the BK while it comes to a boil. Only when I get close to 212° do I start squeezing the bag and then I'm careful not to force everything against the seam. I have squeezed the #@#* out of my bags over the last two years and all three look as good as new. YMMV

I do squeeze it, but don't really try to squeeze the life out of it. Normally I let it hang and squeeze it a few different times over 15 minutes or so.

I did contact Mike directly before posting here.

I don't sparge, I mashout at ~170˚, then let it hang and squeeze it a few different times like I said. Just the fact that I do squeeze it, I wouldn't be as surprised if it started having this issue at the bottom, though that part has held up fine. It's right below the drawstring, a foot away from the grain and anywhere near where I squeeze.

If it is something I did, I would rather figure it out and prevent damaging it more, but I can't imagine what it could be and didn't get any help contacting Mike.

 

[kaffeenjunkie]

I have used mine nearly two years and 65 batches, hung, squezzed, lifted, thrown over my shoulder like a continental soldier, with no issues.

Same here. I am so impressed I just got myself a new one last week and continue to brew merrily along. Wouldn’t think of ordering from anyone else.

 

[wilserbrewer]

I don't sparge, I mashout at ~170˚

The cord-lock died to the heat after the third batch

If you are putting enough heat to the kettle to damage the cord lock, your'e doing something wrong IMO. Why do you feel the need for a mash out? I would not bother doing one. There is little or zero benefit, and the risk of damaging your bag or scorching your grain is real!!! I have had people melt the top of the bag from heat washing up the side of the kettle while performing a mashout with a burner. Why are you cranking the burner enough to heat damage the cord lock, which should be near the top of the kettle.



JMO, I don't feel the cord lock would just "die", something or somebody killed it



Regarding the stretched seam, perhaps you grabbed the bag immediately adjacent to the seam while taking the bag off the pulley hook, subjecting just a couple inches of s am to the full bag weight, just a guess. Or perhaps while emptying the 20 lbs of wet spent grain the bag was grabbed adjacent to the seam and the seam was stressed as the bag was up ended and with the full weight of the wet grain in it, and stressed the seam...just a guess, very hard to imagine what one might or might not have done.



Trying to help...thanks.

Edit....PM sent to Bradthebold offering to repair/ replace the bag, no response.

 

[Peruvian802]

I haven't read this entire thread but I will comment that I've used a wilser bag for dozens of batches, squeeze the snot out of it and only have one minor pin hole that I think was my own fault.

I'd buy another.

 

[PADave]

The cord-lock died to the heat after the third batch,

This set off alarms for me. Yep, you are doing something wrong. Probably melted the bag too. No need to apply that much heat. No need for a mash out with BIAB, pull the bag, that's your mash out.

 

[mj1angier]

So with no dog in this hunt ( I make my own bags), what could happen ( has happen to me) is seam is near the edge of mesh. Not enough of the material got seamed over and it is pulling the fibers apart. I had this happen on the first bag I did. So after that, I double lap the seam. Takes more time and make a fat a$$ seam but works

 

[bradthebold]

I definitely haven't melted the bag anywhere, or at least any obvious damage/scorching. I have a tri-ply kettle and stir continually while raising to mashout temp. A guy in my club mashes out and recommended it and I read it helps with efficiency by helping get more liquid out of the grain. Even if it doesn't, it didn't seem like it would hurt anything. If there's no benefit, then I won't continue. There are a lot of differing opinions and "facts" about brewing, and I'm still learning.

The cord-locks aren't the heaviest duty things, so I'm not surprised from the circumstances. Just letting it hang, it hangs half way down the kettle and was too close to the flame I guess. I have the same issue with the hop bag though, and it's subjected to an hour of boiling. I make sure to keep the whole drawstring curled up on the handle now.

When I empty the bag, I just pick it up by the bottom and dump it out. No need to shake really.

I really have no idea what this could be though. I brewed again today and the area where it is stretched is not even under tension when the bag is hoisted. All of the 'tension' is on the front/back of the back and leaves slack in the seams.

 

[nymtber]

Brew pot lid damage?

Looks like it *could* be in that area... I'm really just throwing it out there.

Love my wilserbrewer bag, but I've only brewed with it once!

 

[TexasWine]

I definitely haven't melted the bag anywhere, or at least any obvious damage/scorching. I have a tri-ply kettle and stir continually while raising to mashout temp.

The concern is not with melting the bottom of the bag, which is where the tri-ply bottom helps. The problem is instead with the heat that washes up the side of the kettle (assuming you're using a gas burner of some sort).

The cord lock giving up the ghost is an indication that the heat you applied while doing a mash out also is the source of the bag damage. It might not look scorched or burned, but the heat could still cause the "separation" you're seeing.

 

[bradthebold]

The concern is not with melting the bottom of the bag, which is where the tri-ply bottom helps. The problem is instead with the heat that washes up the side of the kettle (assuming you're using a gas burner of some sort).

The cord lock giving up the ghost is an indication that the heat you applied while doing a mash out also is the source of the bag damage. It might not look scorched or burned, but the heat could still cause the "separation" you're seeing.

That probably makes the most sense, if heat is able to separate like that. That's about where the bag hangs over the top of the kettle and is setting on the metal without any liquid to buffer the temperature. The only thing is I hang my hop bag over the side and clip it to the handle for the hour boil every time vs the <10min mashout heating the big bag sees and it's fine.

I will try not mashing out next time and see how efficiency is. There is certainly a lot of pro-mashout biab info out there though along with saying it's useless, generally boiling down to "The mash out in general serves two purposes: 1) to denature the enzymes and "set" the profile of the beer, and 2) to heat up the sugars such that they rinse off easier" (from a biab thread).

From searching, Mike himself has said he doesn't think it's necessary, but at least several times said to try it both ways and see how it works for you. He definitely didn't say absolutely don't do it or it will damage/ruin the bag.

 

[Greytop]

I'm wondering why the cord lock is halfway down the side of the kettle. Are you closing the brew bag up (pulling the drawstring) and then letting it hang over the side while mashing or mashing out? When my bag is in the kettle, the cord lock, the top of the bag and the cord are all just under the outside rim of the kettle. I don't close up the bag until I'm ready to pull it from the kettle.

 

[MaxStout]

If the bag is fitted to the BK properly, the drawstring should just fit around the circumference of the top of the BK. The cord lock should only have a very short length of cord sticking out--enough to allow the bag to slip over the rim. There should be no part of that bag or cord that is anywhere near the flame. Unless you have the burner cranked full throttle and flame wash is going up the sides.

After dough in, if I have undershot mash temp a few degrees, I'll apply a very low amount of heat for a minute or so, stir and re-measure temp. Certainly never enough to risk scorching the bag inside or melting anything outside. And I've yet to meet a BIAB brewer who does a mashout. It's a waste of time. Just mash, hoist it out, bring to a boil.

 

[Brew_G]

I just want to chime in here by saying that, if it weren't for BIAB (and wilser and his bags, in particular), I don't think I'd have gotten three years deep into brewing. There's no way I'd have ever continued with the hobby - or at least gone all-grain - should I have needed to go the way of a tiered, gravity- or pump-driven system with all kinds of valves and tubes and the like. Not only would it have frustrated the hell out of me, but also the little lady would almost certainly have had more than a few cross words with me by this point!

 

[cubalz]

Wilser bags are the only kind that I will use in all of my kettles. They wear like iron and mine get used hard with large grain bills. Their customer service is top notch.

 

[brew703]

I have a Wilser bag as well and have 40+ brews. I loosen the draw string enough to stretch the top of the bag over the handles of my kettle and tighten it up. I do on occasion turn on the heat if the temps drop more than 3 degrees during the mash. If i do that, i stir constantly to avoid scorching the bottom.
To this date, i do not have any seam separation.
FWIW, i also used to mash out but stopped as i didn't see any benefit.

 

[TANSTAAFB]

Wilser, what's the best way to repair small holes? Maybe 1/8-1/4". My dumb a$$ forgot to make sure my big 20 gal bag was clear of the temp probe when I started hoisting and (several brews later &#129304 is starting to show wear and some grains are getting out. I want to fix it before it gets any bigger. Love the bag and your simple loop of cord is the best simple and most effective brew hack I've used. You should just ship every bag with a loop! Thank you again sir for making an awesome brewing product &#127867;

 

[wilserbrewer]

Wilser, what's the best way to repair small holes?

I would just seam over it on a machine....if all you have is a needle and thread....

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6lhx1d-o84[/ame]

 

[TANSTAAFB]

I would just seam over it on a machine....if all you have is a needle and thread....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6lhx1d-o84

Thank you sir! And PM received, I'll let you know. It's really a little hole, I think the hand stitch will do. Any particular thread?

 

[wilserbrewer]

Any particular thread?

Polyester preferred, likely most any type would do...

 

[TANSTAAFB]

Thank you sir

 

[jalc6927]

I’ll say same thing for wilser bags, they’re great

But this one could have been defective and “if it is” he should stand behind it

 

[wilserbrewer]

I’ll say same thing for wilser bags, they’re great

But this one could have been defective and “if it is” he should stand behind it

Thanks for the compliment and concern, as mentioned above, repair / replace was offered to both above users. I think the issue is so minor neither have taken me up on this offer.

As also mentioned above, I stand behind my work far more than other bag makers.

Buy a "Brew Bag" for 30-50% more $$$ and put a rip in it, they give you a forever stamp and a piece of voile to patch the bag yourself....gee thanks.

I have actually repaired a Wilser bag and also reluctantly repaired my competitions brand "Brew Bag" for one of my customers...how about that...