SMEIBBs Corner (Alternative BIAB Technique)

[philm00x]

I've been using BIAB to brew all-grain since my 5th batch of beer, and it's definitely an easy, feasible way for me to brew in this manner because I don't have the equipment or space to brew AG with traditional methods/equipment.

Now, normally, BIAB AG brewing requires mashing with a ratio well over 2 quarts (even 3 quarts or more) of water per lb of grain, in order to make up for the lack of a sparge step, and to make up for the absorption of water by the grains. I, however, mash with a ratio of 1.5 qts/lb, and then I'll squeeze the water out of the grains in the bag into the pot w/ the rest of the wort. Then I'll rinse with some more water at 168*F, and squeeze the water out of the grains back into the pot again. Using this technique, I've achieved average efficiencies in the neighborhood of 75-80%, and my highest at 86%.

[Brewbirds]

I think that is pretty close to what we are doing but with 8 quart pots we still do mostly partial mash with a late extract addition.

We use one pot as brew kettle, mash in a preheated oven and dunk sparge in the 2nd 8 quart pot.

I guess it is not a true BIAB but might work for other small pot stove top brewers out there who want to give it a try.

[philm00x]

Yep, mine is a 12 qt pot, and the last beer I did in it really pushed the limit of how much grain I can brew with in it. Using water calculations from BeerSmith, I ended up filling my 3 gallon pot nearly to the brim.



I kept a spray bottle w/ water handy so that once the boil started, I could shoot it with a few sprays to keep the hot break at bay, and it worked. No boil over.

[Brewbirds]

Yup That. The first time that happened to me I was freaking out and cursing my co-brewer.

Thank goodness for the spray bottle.

So far no boil ove.... oh wait that would jinx me wouldn't it.

[jivex5k]

Interesting...

I've wanted to try a partial mash for a while but I only have a 5 gallon kettle...
So this thread gives me hope, maybe I should just make some 2.5 gallon batches instead of 5 gallon....never seems like enough beer though when I only make a half batch.
I might be best getting an electric turkey fryer to do 5 gallon BIAB.

[Sparrow]

Russki had a thread on that other forum about his turkey fryer setup that had me considering it...
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/s ... =firefox-a

[Crazy Climber]

Wow, phil, you were really pushing the envelope with that boil! Good job, avoiding a boilover.

I tried my first BIAB this summer (for an LBK-sized batch), and I came close to the top of my 4-gallon kettle with everything in there. BeerSmith and another website both told me I'd be able to fit all the water and grain in there -- I was skeptical, but the calculators were right.

My version of BIAB includes a 1-gallon top-up after the boil, similar to a MB extract batch. I guess that's one of the beauties of BIAB -- there's lots of different variations you can throw at it, depending on your equipment and inclination.

[Tabasco]

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, All!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Your methods are similar to mine ... and now I feel sane, sane, sane, sane ....

I thought few people did this ... but results have always been so freaking good, I've stayed with it, pretty much but not exactly the same as yours.

I use a 16qt pot, and I thought maybe I was nuts. But, I know what you mean, if you pay attention to squeeze, sparge, etc. you can get great results ... and topping off the fermenter with cold water like MrB is NOT A CRIME.

I love it.

BTW, I took pictures of my last brew ... but I have to find the time to lay them out and comment before I upload a page to my site. I'll link it here when I do. It's not much different ... except my sparge dohickey is kind of cool.


I LOVE IT!

[Foothiller]

I still consider what I do to be BIAB even though I sparge. BIAB is a great simplification of the needed equipment.

[philm00x]

...topping off the fermenter with cold water like MrB is NOT A CRIME.

Not at all. Sometimes I have just too much grain where BeerSmith will tell me I need a bigger pot to do a full volume boil, so I just mark 1 gallon to the fermenter top-off box, and I gain some wiggle room so that after the boil, it takes into account the water I added into the fermenter and my OGs are still on the mark. Plus, that also helps when you wanna cool the wort down a little sooner to pitching temp, by using refrigerated water to top the fermenter off.

[Crazy Climber]

...topping off the fermenter with cold water like MrB is NOT A CRIME.

Not at all. Sometimes I have just too much grain where BeerSmith will tell me I need a bigger pot to do a full volume boil, so I just mark 1 gallon to the fermenter top-off box, and I gain some wiggle room so that after the boil, it takes into account the water I added into the fermenter and my OGs are still on the mark. Plus, that also helps when you wanna cool the wort down a little sooner to pitching temp, by using refrigerated water to top the fermenter off.

Exactly!

I wouldn't be able to do a full-volume BIAB -- even in an LBK -- with the equipment I have, so I use the 1-gallon fermenter top-up to reduce the size of the mash so that it fits in my 16-quart pot, and as a bonus, by chilling the top-up water, it brings me to pitching temps sooner.

"It's all good!"

[jhough]

So true Tabasco.... I have a 20 qt pot and will do a 4 gal batch and top off to 5 gal using the Brewmate calculator . I actually find it better than most out there that I have used .

[mashani]

I also do "Partial Volume BIAB Partial Mashes" (late extract addition) for batches > 2.5 gallons due to my pots and heat sources ability to boil anything bigger then 12-16Q. And I have good results, so I live with it vs. spending $$$ on new pots, a big burner, and propane. If I decide to spend $$$ it will be on an e-BIAB rig.

[Foothiller]

Even for the LBK size, my 2-gallon mash tun means my mash is partial volume, but with 1 to 1.5 quarts if water per lb of grain, it's good for 5 lb of grain. Then repeated sparge steps bring my hop boil up to full volume in my 3-gallon pot. Heating it toward boiling while adding the 160 degree sparge water means the hot break has time to settle down before the boil volume would risk a boil-over. The sparge steps need to stop before SG of sparge water gets down to about 1.010, but I haven't reached that point even in a low OG style.

[John Sand]

I did a batch this way Thursday. 20qt pot let me mash in 3 gallons with 7lbs+ of grain, dunk sparge in 1.5g hot water (170). Then squeeze in a colander. This made about a four gallon boil, topped off to 4.5 with tap water after. If my gravity were low I would have added some extract. My new stove will boil 4+ gallons set on "Speed Heat". I may never start 5 gallon batches, saving the required purchases of a burner, bigger kettle, ferment fridge, Johnson controller. Probably $200 that will buy ingredients instead.