Whew, OK, where to start. First, Scruffy, thanks for the thread. I picked up on the 1st BIAB over yonder and didn't fully consider my post. No offense taken. Right! onward...
<<Scruffy said: Sorry if this comes across as bit harsh, but what is your understanding of Efficiency? I'm guessing it's the amount of sugars you can expect to extract from the grain, yes? Have a little play with one or two of the brewing softwares around... Beersmith is the one I use>>
Not harsh at all...I have Brewsmith and have entered several of the all-grain recipes but I just can't seem to get the hang of how to enter my water amount and I haven't found a way to alter the grain absorption factor, either. I selected single infusion one step mash as Bradley suggests in his blog and entered my entire preboil volume target and the amount seems way off. I'm probably just not using it right. I'll keep tweaking. Thanks for the info!
<<katzke said: By the way my wife won a 3rd in our BJCP club comp last year in a blended IPA category.>><<If you are going to be any good at selling this to your brew club you need to be able to answer all there dumb questions.>>
Congratulations! My wife is trying to goad me into entering one of mine but I want to get this technique down first. Maybe Scotch Ale or a California Common. Better halves who brew are definite keepers!
I'm looking forward to the questions. In my book the only stupid question is an unasked one
Seriously, I've been researching the forums far and wide and am slogging my way through the original thread on this forum that started the whole thing. Need to be ready to educate the experienced fly spargers with their computer temperature controlled decoction step mashes!
<<Thirsty Boy said: Your water to grain ratio is simple... you use all your water, yes, every last drop - at the very start.>>
Thirsty, that much I get. What I guess I was trying to ask is how much to people figure goes to grain absorption. Which you answer, "the grain absorbs less of the water, only about 0.5-0.75L per kg of grain" What's this about no deadspace, though? I thought that was the amount left after draining the cooled wort off the trub in the bottom of the kettle. Equal to about 2L or so.
Thanks loads for the spreadsheets and FAQs! Looks like this will stand in for Brewsmith quite nicely as it's purpose built for BIAB.
Thanks to all of you for the quick and friendly replies. SoCal will be brewing in a bag before they know what hit them!
Jim K.