Brew in a Bag – A Step By Step Beginner’s Guide

[puravida]

Thanks Colin!
Any questions, just post them on here - there's tons of knowledge!

 

[Pearlfisher]

I've bought a secondhand Burco boiler with a capacity of 27L ,would this be ok to do a 23L BIAB brew?

 

[eggman]

Great how to Puravida :clap:
You've inspired me to go biab, once i've paid for next months holiday a 33l stock pot and large sack of grain will be top priority :party:

:

 

[rich27500]

You can using maxi BIAB make 23l with just a 19l stockpot. I have a 27l boiler and 23l brew lengths are easy using maxi. For straight BIAB you need closer to 40l capacity

 

[eggman]

Cheers for the reply Rich. I'm glad i posted before i bough anything So if i wanted to go down the full mash volume i'd need bigger than 33l? :hmm:
:

 

[rich27500]

Or limit yourself to about 15l brewlengths

 

[Pearlfisher]

You can using maxi BIAB make 23l with just a 19l stockpot. I have a 27l boiler and 23l brew lengths are easy using maxi. For straight BIAB you need closer to 40l capacity

Thanks Rich ,but could you explain Maxi BIAB please? :?

 

[PD]

Have a wander over to the BIAB forum and check out the methods. for maxi BIAB and mini BIAB

http://www.biabrewer.info/index.php

 

[rich27500]

That's the place to go Ralphs how to maxi tutorial is excellent. If you look at some of my posts.

http://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=23519

http://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=21655&hilit=+IPA+lindsley

You'll see how I do it. I'm not the worlds most advanced brewer but I like my beer and others do too

 

[Pearlfisher]

Thanks PD & Rich.

 

[BrotherMalice]

Just found the guide:

http://www.biabrewer.info/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=352

Hope it helps any one interested, I will be having a good look through it :)

 

[wilsoa1111]

cracking guide, nice thermapen btw v jealous of u chefs, but saw it cost the same as my DIY mashtun and boiler combined so went tor a more modest option...anyway just curious as a batch sparger meself dont u find the beer harder to get clear- lacking a clarifying step-not that it matters tastewise -sometimes i reckon the cloudier ones r the tastiest esp for some styles? Also if not got a lhbs u can get "voile" net curtain material off the fleabay for a fiver that does the job need a few meters though i reckon-means u have remainders to craft some hop bags

 

[BrotherMalice]

I used one of these for my bag:

http://www.wilkinsonplus.com/voiles+lac ... AkFA%3D%3D

Got my mum to sew it into a bag :)

 

[rich27500]

My beer is always crystal clear

 

[wilsoa1111]

well then if beers clear with same efficency-but quicker- i may have to give it a go when im in a rush someday-or cant find somewhere high to put mash tun...u guys may have a convert

 

[eggman]

Or limit yourself to about 15l brewlengths

Thanks for the heads up. Think i'm gonna go down the maxi route as i'd rather be dong 20+ litre brewlengths
:

 

[olie]

going to try this method later this week, jumping straight in the deep end without having done kit brews first...

a question - the guide doesn't say how long the 'mash' bit should be left for, just to check temperature every 15 mins. Think I've read an hour somewhere, is that about right? and does that vary with brew sizes?

 

[rich27500]

Not sizes, brew styles. Your best bet for a first brew is to stick to the standard 90 min mash

 

[#humancrazzy]

Thanks buddy this is what I have been looking for I think I m going to like the community.

Regards

 

[paraffin]

Many thanks for putting this up - couldn't get my head round the BIAB spreadsheet, but this encouraged me to not care about the detail and just get stuck in. Details will sort themselves out with a bit of experience (I hope)