Set up cost of biab

[Cummy]

Hi, I currently only brew kits and bits but am wondering what sort of money I would need to get started with all grain? Rough estimates please?

 

[Nullnvoid]

I got a keg for free to turn into a keggle, but I reckon all up it cost me less than $100 for the fittings and bag. Then I bought a second hand burner for around $70 from memory.

 

[mxd]

Somewhere on here is a thread about biab for $30, it's a 19 ltr pot on a stove

 

[Mardoo]

In my opinion BIAB is the best way to get in to all grain. The entry cost is minimal, you can make fantastic beer, and it's a great way to get the details down without thinking about equipment or process complexities. I got into BIAB for something like $40, with a pot I skadged off my BIL, a big square of voile from Spotlight for a bag, a valve for the pot and some silicone tube. I just worked off my stovetop.

This is the thread that mxd referenced. It's what convinced me to give all grain a go. Unfortunately, when the thread author Nick JD got banned all the photos went with him, but the process description is still there.

 

[Cummy]

Cheers guys, I'll have a read after the footy

 

[BrosysBrews]

There is a seller on eBay who has very cheap stainless pots. Around $50 for a 38lt delivered

 

[manticle]

Pot, bag, heat source. Depends a lot on batch size as to the variations.
Pot is better with a tap.

 

[flocculated]

I've been using a BIAB setup with the 19L Big W pot and Spotlight voile bag for about 18 months. Initial cost was less than $30. Produces 9-12L batches. I thought I'd have upgraded by now but that setup works for me.
It's a good way to learn the process or experiment without risking a full batch.

 

[timryan]

G'day all, I've just made the shift to biab... I splashed on the burner and went for jet powered gas burner from country brewer which set me back $135 but got an 80L pot for $70 off eBay and a $24 Weldless ball valve. The biab bag cost around $12.. So about $245 in total... I spent more and bought a 9kg gas bottle plus I'm going to buy a hop bazooka which attaches to the ball value inside the brew pot..

 

[Dae Tripper]

Brewman does a biab kit with a urn. Check out his website.

Not affiliated etc etc

 

[contrarian]

It can be as cheap as you want it to be but it is worth thinking about how much you will want to brew in the future.

My set up is a 70L craftbrewer pot ($150), weld less 3 piece ball valve ($30), spiral burner with high flow reg ($150) and I use a craftbrewer bag ($25).

Everything was bought new and it lets me get 40L of wort or a bit more into cubes with no trouble.

I was pretty committed and wanted the capacity to do double batches so was happy to spend the money.

If you're not sure try the $30 stove top method. Then you'll have a good idea of the process if you decide to upgrade.

 

[Kingy]

Contrarian has the best advice if you plan to brew for good. Bigger is better if the funds allow for it. Double batches for the same amount of time is something to think about but able to do singles in the same vessel as well.
Or do it as cheap as possible to get your feet wet then expand.

 

[timryan]

This is the reason i went overkill and got an 80L pot... Singles and easy and double are well within reach without having to worry about upgrades in the future...

 

[Blind Dog]

If you have a heat source, $30 or thereabouts will still get you into BIAB as per Nick JDs thread. But be warned that for many it's just the start of a long slippery slope to shiny brewing paraphenalia, kegs, keezers and an endless obsession...

 

[Fylp]

Contrarian has the best advice if you plan to brew for good. Bigger is better if the funds allow for it. Double batches for the same amount of time is something to think about but able to do singles in the same vessel as well.
Or do it as cheap as possible to get your feet wet then expand.

I thought I went big with a 56l pot. I now wish I went the next one up.

 

[contrarian]

You can always have a bigger pot! I often wish if got the 100L instead of the 70L. Could do triples of lower alcohol beers then and doubles would be easier. Almost impossible to do more than 20-25L into cubes for a beer over 1.060 with my system!

Depends what you already have around as well. Helped a mate convert a keg that he already had so all he bought was a burner, a bag and a jiggle syphon so or around $100 he has a great system. You can squeeze 2 15L cubes out of a brew day with minimal fuss.

Blind Dogs warning is spot on though. Brewing beer can be a very expensive way to save money!

 

[wynnum1]

If after a cheap bag 15-20 litre paint strainer bags 3 for about $8 from paint store.

 

[Bribie G]

I gave up on bags years ago and just use a circle of voile.
Throttle it with a hangmans noose.
One desirable piece of kit not yet mentioned is a pulley system. That will remove most of the hassle of hoisting and draining the bag.
You can source the bits cheaply from Bunnings.

 

[Brew Forky]

I used to biab with the Big W pot on the stove, but thought it would have been better if I put a tap into it. It's cheap way to test the waters. I have a Crown urn with a ball valve these days and went that way because of the cost of getting gas bottles filled. No chilling saves a lot of water too. The urn route isn't that expensive compared to other methods of brewing. I'm now thinking of double batches, so 2 urns? Be nice to have some recirculation too........slippery slope.

 

[hwall95]

You can do cheap if you want like the $30 biab on stove method.

If you don't mind investing a little bit extra you can set yourself up better. My setup is $50 for a 50L pot, $35 for a three piece, $20ish for the elbow and threaded nipple to act as a pickup when draining the wort. $10 for a bag, $3 for a stainless cooling tray and $3 for a paint stirrer. Nasa burner, reg and hose was about $65, and new gas bottle was $50.

Insulation i have a few windshield covers and a thick blanket that at most during winter drops 1.5 degrees over an hour mash. I just tie on all the insulation with rope.

So all up around $240ish. I would reccommend going the 3 piece over the 2 piece valve just because the three is far easier to clean.

I've mounted the burner in an old car rim, just welded on some legs to raise it off the ground which was all free