A Guide To All-grain Brewing In A Bag

[Brad_G]

Ross,

I didnt make myself clear sorry. We did use our own set ups. Used the Batch Sparge method, and Patch used the BIAB. We had the same recipe, we ensured the same mash temp, volumes, and OG's with all the same hop additions and weights. We brewed our beers side by side, at the same time although patch's was considerably faster because of the time it takes to recirculate and sparge etc. When they are finished (fully) fermenting, it will be good to do some triangle testing on the beers to see the differences. Check the new topic i posted called "adventurous brewers wanted" in The Common Ground forum.

Im really keen to do a brew up at your place anytime. I learn heaps up there, so if you want to sort out a day with patch, count me in (as long as the reunation IPA is on tap - :chug: .

Sorry for the confusion mate.

Brad

 

[Maxt]

Just finished mash on BIAB number 3.
Efficiency into boiler is 80% this time. Woohoo!

I am redoing my first BIAB which was mashed at 60 deg by mistake. All good this time!

Roll on boil!

 

[Phrak]

Just finished mash on BIAB number 3.
Efficiency into boiler is 80% this time. Woohoo!

I am redoing my first BIAB which was mashed at 60 deg by mistake. All good this time!

Roll on boil!

Max, well done
What'd you change this time from the first two to raise your efficiency?
Tim.

 

[matti]

I am redoing my first BIAB which was mashed at 60 deg by mistake. All good this time!
MAXT

Please explain :blink:

Are you reusing you grain????

More likely your are running the same schedule but at corrects temps.

Really intrigued by all this AG in BIAB.

Keep it up!

Though you you haven't won me over yet it is very interesting.

especially the big claims on efficiencies, though it is the flavour we are after..
matti..

 

[Morrie0069]

I have just poured my first AG (a Pilsener) that I made and here it is



All I can say is OMG, this is simply the best beer I have made by a mile! It was kegged on the 8th, and has been in the fridge for about a week now, naturally carbonated. Hmmm, I think my hobby is about to become even more of an obsession! :beerbang: :chug: BTW - don't mind about the lack of clarity yet, just happy to have cracked teh cherry!

Thanks to everyone on this forum, pity there is only 1 keg of this, so unfortunately not enough to go around!

Cheers,

Morrie - A VERY happy brewer

 

[Maxt]

This time I marked out measurement on the outside of the kettle (15, 20, 35L etc). This way I knew exactly what volume into kettle I was getting (which I was just guessing before).

I mashed in with 38L, ended up with 30L after pulling the bag, which was my volume into kettle measurement.

I took a hydrometer measurement and it came out to 80.1%, using beersmith.

My mash was also at 67 for the first 20 mins, then 69 for the other 70 mins, which was different from the first go where I went from 60-80deg!

I also remembered to add the chocolate this time .

Proof is in the pudding though, so we'll have to taste it to see if it's the business.

Cheers

 

[PistolPatch]

I have just poured my first AG (a Pilsener)

Cheers,

Morrie - A VERY happy brewer

Morrie, it looks as though there has been quite some activity in this thread today but what can be more important than your post?

I can't believe you cracked it with a pils!

I'm having a lowly 2.5% Schwartzbier (bloody good) to celebrate with you now. Posts like yours truly make my day.

Your first AG is an event to be celebrated. Don't hide it in this thread! Go and start a new one, "My First AG -A Pils!" If you're scared of starting a new thread (like I am sometimes) say that I said you had to!

Morrie, the enthusiasm that you and the other guys show here is truly infectious. Every beer should be infected in this manner.

Congratulations :beer: ,
Pat

 

[PistolPatch]

Such a lovely and scientifically practical excuse to make and drink more beer.

Look out Brad! Adam has seen through the plan already!!!!

I've been up since sparrows and there has been way too much happening in this thread today. I thinkl I better reply to anything I'm meant to over the weekend. Very interesting/good stuff written here today. (Hope Morrie does his new post :beerbang: )

Also hope that you guys will have a read of this thread and participate in it. It suits those with an adventurous spirit which I think pretty much everyone participating in this thread has - thank goodness!

Spot ya,
Pat

 

[Fingerlickin_B]

With my "pot in pot" mini system the wort needs to be recirculated much like with a normal mash tun as the SS mesh lets plenty of dust through.

Does any dust penetrate the voile bag, or is the wort crystal clear?

Yes, I'm using a mash tun this weekend, but with one potential difference...a bag inside it...can't get a stuck sparge using a bag B)

PZ.

 

[Steve]

With my "pot in pot" mini system the wort needs to be recirculated much like with a normal mash tun as the SS mesh lets plenty of dust through.

Does any dust penetrate the voile bag, or is the wort crystal clear?

Yes, I'm using a mash tun this weekend, but with one potential difference...a bag inside it...can't get a stuck sparge using a bag B)

PZ.

a bag as well as a falsie?

 

[Fingerlickin_B]

a bag as well as a falsie?

Just a thought Steve...not sure yet

 

[Steve]

a bag as well as a falsie?

Just a thought Steve...not sure yet

so many ideas and only 2 days in a weekend :angry:

 

[3GumsBrewing]

I reckon getting a bag sewn up in the Swiss Voile is the way to go. Anyone that has a sewing machine will be able to do it for you really quickly.

Hi Pat,

After reading this thread and also discovering that ND Brewing is literally around the corner from my house I am inspired to get away from kits and masterbrews and try this wonderful BIAB.

The brother in-law and I would like to give this ago next weekend if we are allowed! However I just have a question about the bag.
Do you have any specific dimensions, we have roped in the M.I.L. to sew it for us but she needs the dims to get started?

Any ideas?

Cheers
DK

 

[Phrak]

I bought 2 lineal meters of white Swiss Violle. This made two very large bags to fit a 50L keg-shaped kettle plus two large hop-socks.

I also got me mum to to sow a ringlet thing around the top of the bag and threaded some rope through.

One bag, double-overlocked, was more than strong enough to lift, carry and hold nearly 9kg of wet grain.

HTH
Tim.

BTW, Gerard & Janelle from ND Brewing are excellent. Just don't ask him to sell you Polyclar or similar

 

[Fingerlickin_B]

Was your wort clear Tim?

PZ.

 

[kfarrell]

Excuse my complete ignorance, but I've noticed an ongoing theme in this method. The finished product is low in alcohol, around the 3% mark.

So here's the ignorant part, 3% seem like a similar number to a kit brew done with no added fermentables. Could the answer be as simple as ading a kilo of fermentables to the finished wort befor pitching the yeast?

Sorry if that's a stupid idea. Just thinking aloud.

 

[DJR]

No, PP just likes em light.

 

[hughman666]

Excuse my complete ignorance, but I've noticed an ongoing theme in this method. The finished product is low in alcohol, around the 3% mark.

my BIABs have been easily hitting the 5% mark. the principle is basically the same as with traditional AG, just the method that is different.

 

[Phrak]

Was your wort clear Tim?
PZ.

Nope, not by a long-shot. Very murky even after two weeks in the No-Chill cube.

But, I racked it into a keg last-night after nearly 2 weeks on Primary. The first maybe 500mls or so were a bit murky in the line, but it came clear after that. I added two teaspoons (about 3gms) of Polyclar to the keg just to make sure, and started chilling it down to fridge temp getting ready to crash-carbonate in a few days once the Polyclar has settled.

I had asked the grain bloke to give it a bit of a coarser crack than normal, but he talked me out of it somehow. Perhaps there really was too much grain dust for the bag brew?

Tim.

 

[Linz]

a bag as well as a falsie?

Just a thought Steve...not sure yet

I have the falsie and bag(see my previous pics). I found the falsie Ive got is a bit small, and it flexes too much

I reckon getting a bag sewn up in the Swiss Voile is the way to go. Anyone that has a sewing machine will be able to do it for you really quickly.

Hi Pat,

After reading this thread and also discovering that ND Brewing is literally around the corner from my house I am inspired to get away from kits and masterbrews and try this wonderful BIAB.

Any ideas?

Cheers
DK

Wait till DK finds out about the Hills Brewers Guild!! also around the corner....