sixfignig
Well-Known Member
I'm about to dive head first into small batch BIAB, but as I'm still a beginner have a few questions I'd like to clarify. For my first batch I’ll be following an APA recipe scaled down in BeerSmith to suit my equipment, the aim being a 12L (or potentially 9L depending on keg) batch size.
A brief overview of my process will be as follows:
My main questions are around fermentation and kegging/conditioning.
Q1. Based on my overview above, is my process whereby I transfer the beer into the keg for another 2 weeks at room temperature reasonable/wise? Preferably would like to go straight from primary fermentation tank into keg. Are my only issues going to be potentially more trub / cloudy beer?
Q2. Can I force carbonate my beer (with the beer obviously cooled down), de-attach the cylinder and regulator, store in the fridge, and simply re-rig it up when I want to dispense? Fridge realestate is at a premium and don’t think I can store much more than the keg itself in my Fridge (eg. No regulator/tap/CO2 cylinder). Any tips in general for force carbonating my 12L keg?
Q3. General tips for small batch BIAB based on the above?
Looking forward to diving into this over the coming weekends, so any help appreciated!
A brief overview of my process will be as follows:
Mash grain in 16.32L water @ 66.7C for 75min
Adjust water to pre-boil volume of 14.4L (measure OG)
Boil wort for 60min adding hops whirlfloc at specified times
Rapidly cool wort to fermentation temp of 19C
Transfer wort to 15L fermenter and pitch yeast
Primary Fermentation for 2 weeks @ 19C
Rack beer from fermenter to 12L mini keg (measure FG)
Purge O2 with CO2 and leave for another 2 weeks @ 19C
Force carbonate with CO2 and store in fridge for additional week before consumption.
My main questions are around fermentation and kegging/conditioning.
Q1. Based on my overview above, is my process whereby I transfer the beer into the keg for another 2 weeks at room temperature reasonable/wise? Preferably would like to go straight from primary fermentation tank into keg. Are my only issues going to be potentially more trub / cloudy beer?
Q2. Can I force carbonate my beer (with the beer obviously cooled down), de-attach the cylinder and regulator, store in the fridge, and simply re-rig it up when I want to dispense? Fridge realestate is at a premium and don’t think I can store much more than the keg itself in my Fridge (eg. No regulator/tap/CO2 cylinder). Any tips in general for force carbonating my 12L keg?
Q3. General tips for small batch BIAB based on the above?
Looking forward to diving into this over the coming weekends, so any help appreciated!