Going from BIAB to traditional all-grain

[losman26]

After certain frustrations with BIAB, mainly the PITA of keeping a consistant temp, I'm probably going to buy a 10 gal cooler to use as a mash-tun.

I'm looking at this one
http://www.homebrewing.org/10-Gallon-Co ... _1006.html.

I also have a 60 quart kettle with a valve, as well as a 20 qt with valve. Is there anything else I would need using this setup?

[yankfan9]

That sounds about right. I just switched from BIAB to All grain batch sparge method. I have a 10 gal round gatorade cooler that I got for free in an alley behind my house (thoroughly cleaned after I found it!) I converted it into a mash tun with a ball valve and kettle screen from bargainfittings.com. I have a 10 gallon boil kettle with ball valve, and an 8 gal kettle that I used to heat the strike and sparge water in.

[haerbob3]

have their false-bottom works well. You in MI is so they have $5 shipping

A 50' coil for the 10 gallon pot, a couple of pumps, hoses, clamps, grain mills, 50# bags of malt, yeast lab, 20# CO2 with 12 tap draft set-up, on and on and on..................................................................................................................................................................................

[FrozenInTime]

Looks like a nice set-up. I built my 10 gallon m/tun I'm thunk'n for bout $70 for everything. So simple, even I can build one.

[losman26]

Looks like a nice set-up. I built my 10 gallon m/tun I'm thunk'n for bout $70 for everything. So simple, even I can build one.

Are you using a rectangular cooler or a round one? The rectangular ones seem really cheap. I will probably just buy this one from AIH, because my last DIY project, didn't turn out so well.

[losman26]

That sounds about right. I just switched from BIAB to All grain batch sparge method. I have a 10 gal round gatorade cooler that I got for free in an alley behind my house (thoroughly cleaned after I found it!) I converted it into a mash tun with a ball valve and kettle screen from bargainfittings.com. I have a 10 gallon boil kettle with ball valve, and an 8 gal kettle that I used to heat the strike and sparge water in.

When you switched, how much did your efficiency increase?

[FrozenInTime]

Looks like a nice set-up. I built my 10 gallon m/tun I'm thunk'n for bout $70 for everything. So simple, even I can build one.

Are you using a rectangular cooler or a round one? The rectangular ones seem really cheap. I will probably just buy this one from AIH, because my last DIY project, didn't turn out so well.

I used a round one. If me memory is correct (hey, sometimes in is.. .LOL), it was swen (?) that posted the part numbers/directions of the items needed to do it in the now ghost town of MrBs forum. It was extremely simple. Unscrew the coolers spigot, leave rubber gasket alone, put small/short pipe in hole, screw on a couple nuts tighten, test for leaks and press on. Seriously, if I can do it, anyone can. I would like to have the false bottom like that one comes with though. Might have to ask for one for xmas.

[losman26]

So what I'm going to do is get a 10 gal mash-tun cooler, and only do BIAB for smaller batches. Since I'm usually doing a sparge method anyways, it just seems easier to do traditional all-grain for larger batches. I've ditched the basket method of BIAB because of the whole gap problem that creates temp differences. I've also noticed that my beers have been way better without using the basket. I'm guessing that this is because the temp under the basket exceeded 170 F and gave some off flavors.

[MadBrewer]

This is interesting as I'm actually making the change back to BIAB from traditional all grain. I'm doing a few batches to see if there is any major differences in the beers between BIAB and regular all grain. Taste, body, clarity, overall quality. If not I'm pretty settled on a modified BIAB method.

I was using a round cooler with a false bottom and I had nothing but problems. I had more stuck sparges than it was worth. I don't know or can't think of what I was doing wrong, but most mashes got stuck. I used rice hulls, I would lauter slowly...etc. I ended up ditching the false bottom and lining the cooler with a bag, which then turned into just lining my kettle BIAB style.

That looks like a good setup, I hope the false bottom works for you. If not a stainless braided hose works wonders. It clears the mash fast, no stuck sparges and they are cheap to replace.