Help with BIAB equipment

[Scoper50]

Hey guys, I'm looking to dive into all grain brewing pretty soon and I think I want to start with BIAB. But I'm confused about the equipment I need. Specifically the pot. What size pot do I need for 5 gallon batches? What about a 3 gallon batch? Also, I have an extra large burner on my gas range that I have been using for my extract batches. I can get 5 gallons of wort boiling on it with no problem. So do I need to get a propane burner or can I just use that?

[Inkleg]

Cool! I started BIAB and haven't left. Minimum 8 gallon kettle and 10 would be even better. Know that any size kettle you settle on will always be able to do smaller batches.

I went with a 15 gallon kettle for a few reasons. One was that with normal 6 gallon batches I did not have to watch the hot break like a man possessed. (I may or may not get distracted eas......) Another was the ability to make some really big beers. I'm talking the 10-12% range beers in one kettle. Plus I can do a 10-11 gallon 1.050 beer when I want too.

Which ever size you go with I recommend this BIAB bag. He makes them to order to the kettle measurements you send. I am still using the bag he made me in 2012.

[LouieMacGoo]

BIAB is what I've settled on too. It's just the best fit for me. As far as what size pot you should get. I settled on a 10 gallon pot and it works for pretty much everything I brew. Anything smaller you will struggle getting your full volume for some of your higher gravity batches. Larger, such as the 15 gal Inkleg has is a good option but can get costly.

[John Sand]

I also still do BIAB. While I now have a large kettle, you can do 5 gallon batches in a 5 gallon kettle by topping off as you do with extract. When I first started BIAB, I mashed in the kettle with a paint strainer bag. A warm oven kept the mash temperature steady. After the mash, I pulled the grain bag and put it in another pot. A 12 or 16 quart pasta pot will do. I filled up the kettle with about three gallons of wort and brought it to a boil. After the hot break, which creates a lot of foam, I would add any remaining wort to the boil up to four gallons total. I would also add more hot water to the other pot to sparge the grains, rinsing out more sugars. As the kettle boiled down, I would add more wort from the sparge. After the boil, I topped the pot off with cool water, doing it again in the fermenter if necessary.
This may sound complex, but it is similar to the standard partial boil extract process.
If you do decide to buy a larger pot, eight gallons is just barely enough to do a full boil, ten gallons is better.

[FedoraDave]

As you can see, if you ask ten brewers a question, you'll get 15 different answers. And they're all good answers; you just have to determine what's right for you.

First, you needn't get a propane burner unless you want one. I do 5-gallon batches on my stovetop, and though it may take more time to reach boil, it'll work. I choose not to do outdoor brewing because of the conditions and layout of my property and house. So you need to assess such things first.

I use a 10g mash tun with no bag for 5g batches, and a 5g mash tun with brew bag for 2.5g batches (did you follow that?). You don't need a tun, but I find it easier, and since I have the smaller one, I figure why not use it. Brewer's Choice once again.

But I've done 2.5g BIAB batches in my pots, too. I still like to have a sparge step, so I found I could mash in the 3g pot while the sparge water heated up in the 5g pot. Then I'd boil in the 5g pot. Again, Brewer's Choice.

The suggestion to get pots larger than you need is a good one. Sometimes my 8g pot seems a little too snug for 5g batches, but it works.

Good luck going AG. Not to sound elitist or anything, but the control you can get with AG can really make a big difference in the final product.

[Bluejaye]

I use an 8 gallon pot (for 5 gallon batches), though I'd probably get a 10 if I did it again.

I just use my stove, although I couldn't tell you what the burner is rated as, it's quite old.

[mashani]

I'll just add that it also depends on if you want to do it the traditional Aussie way as BIAB was intended (full volume of water with no sparge), or if you are going to do it the 'Merican way and add a sparge step.

If you are sparging to achieve boil volume and doing a thick mash, you can get away with a smaller pot. Or if you are willing to top up with some extract to get to your gravity and effectively are doing a "partial mash BIAB" (which is what I've typically been doing in the past, similar to what John Sand mentioned).

But if you want to do it the traditional way, then you need a much bigger pot.

I just ordered myself a "Mash and Boil" (see the other thread) and I'm planning on using it to do 2.5 to 3 gallon full volume no sparge eBIAB with it (brew in a basket in this case).

It has 7.5 gallons of volume which is enough for that except for some kind of huge beer perhaps.

But you could not do anything much bigger then a 3 gallon batch that way (full volume of water up front, no sparge) with a 7.5 gallon pot unless it's low gravity, because all the grain and all the water (including what will boil off) has to fit in the pot.

[bpgreen]

Here is the thread about the Mash and Boil mashani mentioned.

[berryman]

I have a 8 gal. megapot and was doing partial BIAB in it for 5 gal. but think is too small for a AG. I was doing it with a regular mash but in a bag and then a dip/teabag and squeeze in sparge water method. quite a few different ways you can do it.

[Scoper50]

Thanks for all the replies guys! I think I'm going to get myself a 10 gallon pot!

[FedoraDave]

Thanks for all the replies guys! I think I'm going to get myself a 10 gallon pot!

You won't regret it. If you're doing BIAB the Australian way, with no sparge, but a full-volume mash, you'll probably need all that room.

As counter-intuitive as it may seem, when I did 2.5g BIAB batches in my pots, I did the mash in my 3g pot, and the sparges in my 5g pot. Anyway, whatever works.

[bpgreen]

In my opinion, if you're close to puling the trigger, you should go with the Mash and Boil. It's on sale now and cheaper in the long run.

Mash and boil discussion

[Banjo-guy]

In my opinion, if you're close to puling the trigger, you should go with the Mash and Boil. It's on sale now and cheaper in the long run.

Mash and boil discussion

I agree with this.
I’m getting back into biab after brewing on a different system. I’m excited to be able to brew inside or outside (assuming you have an outside electrical outlet).
I think Mash and Boil will be less expensive in the long run.
You can also learn as we all figure this new device out together!