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wizurd

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Newbridge, South Wales
Hi all.

I've been reading up on biab on the forum and I just wanted to check my thinking on a few points.

I've already got a larger setup for 21 L brews (done my first ag last sunday). But I want to have a smaller setup so I can test ideas on recipes without having to produce such a large quantity. I was going to get something like a 15 or 19L pot to go on my cooker at home. I'd then use the biab technique, but do I need two of these pots for sparging? Do I even need to sparge with a stove top biab brew. Also can you get smaller fv so that I don't have to use the bigger 33 L ones I've already got?

These pots obviously wouldn't have the filters that I've got on my large boiler, is that a problem? I guess I can syphon into the fv after the boil but what's the best way to get rid of the left over leaves and trub etc. Can you just sieve from pot to fv?

Sorry for any stupid questions, it's really to make sure I'm considering things correctly. Thanks

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No you could do a dunk sparge in the same pot if you're using a bag. Or with a sieve if you have one big enough.

Sieve: Just pour out the wort through the seive after mashing. Then sparge the grain through the seive with some 75-80c water.

Pot: after taking out the bag or pouring first wort through the seive, put sparge water in the pot and return the grain to it. Then drain off this wort once it's had a short time in the water.

Obviously you will need something to heat the sparge water but a old saucepan will do as you'll only need 4 L or so max
 
I use a 15L pot and another about 8-10L pot, I mash in the pot which I put in a coolbag with foam insulation board added and wrap in a couple o blankets for the mash, then dunk sparge in the 2nd pot and add to the first pot for the boil, then after the boil and cool I pour through a sieve with a net curtain over it into the FV simples....Ask at your local catering outlet for used 10- 15L plastic tubs from mayonaise or yoghurt or similar, I have some clear veg oil ones that are great :thumb:
 
I did 2 stove top brews with a 15litre pot. After the mash I poured against the lid through a sieve into a fv and then sparged the grain and transfered this liquid to the FV again through the sieve. Cleaned the pan and then boiled the wort. Bit of a faf transferring back and forth but one pan/one fv.
 
+1 for the 10 litre containers. You can get them off eBay for a few quid if you can't get them from a local food place. You can also use 5 litre water bottles. In both cases you can either leave the lid loose or drill holes in the cover/cap for a bubbler. I do both, bubbler in the 10 litre, loose cap for the 5 litre. A nice thing about the 5 litre is you can see it churning away. You can also split a 10 litre into 2 five litre batches and use different yeasts or dry hop differently.

Trying to remember what I did sparge wise. I'm not sure I did anything at all, just squeezed the bag.
 
That's brilliant info! It's cemented my ideas as well. I'll probably get hold of a larger pot say 15 litre and a slightly smaller one as well. I can dunk sparge in the second pot then transfer that wort to the wort in the first pot. Good to know about the sieving as well into the fv. Nice idea on using containers or 5 litre bottles as fv's as well. Excellent :) should allow me to play around with grain/hop combinations without having to setup all the larger heavy brewing equipment.

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If you've got a wilko near you their the goto place for cheap 15L pots iirc. As twostage says just use 5L water bottles. You can just cover them with tin foil or cling film. I just use cling film on my 25L FV's so I can look in on my brews whenerver I want

Edit: just checked. It's only 12L :(
 
The wilko pot is only 12 litres but it actually holds slightly more. My method is pretty much the same as cheapbrew's above and by topping up during the boil I generally get about 11 - 12 litres out of a brew.
 
I have a 15L and 5L pot. I use the 15L for the mash (with a grain bag) and boil. I squeeze the grain bag and then stick it on top of a metal colander in my fermenter and run the hot water from the 5L pan through it and the use this "sparge" water to top up during the boil. To save a bit of time I stopped doing a mash out and have noticed my efficiency has dropped some what, will probably do one next time to see the difference. For the mash i've started putting the pan in oven (warmed to about 70) seems to hold the temp really well.
 
AlanJones said:
I have a 15L and 5L pot. I use the 15L for the mash (with a grain bag) and boil. I squeeze the grain bag and then stick it on top of a metal colander in my fermenter and run the hot water from the 5L pan through it and the use this "sparge" water to top up during the boil. To save a bit of time I stopped doing a mash out and have noticed my efficiency has dropped some what, will probably do one next time to see the difference. For the mash i've started putting the pan in oven (warmed to about 70) seems to hold the temp really well.
Click to expand...

Putting a large pot in the oven at low temps (I aim for 50C, pretty much the lowest the oven comes on at). This works really well, much better and easier than messing around with insulation materials.
 
Slid said:
Putting a large pot in the oven at low temps (I aim for 50C, pretty much the lowest the oven comes on at). This works really well, much better and easier than messing around with insulation materials.
Click to expand...

+1 for the oven. I set mine at 60 when doing small 10litre batches. Works really well.
 

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