Bag in a Box questions

[mrboxpiff]

I know there has been some discussion regarding this, but I'm still unsure. So any advice is appreciated.
Done about 10 brews all of which have been bottled and a great success. I'm wondering if the beer quality will be any different/better in a BinaB and what the practicalities ate.
1. Following initial fermentation, do I prime then fill, or fill after secondary fermentation?
2. Does the bag need venting?
3. How long will it keep unopened in the bag, then how long once started?
4. How easy/practical is cleaning, sterilisation and reuse?
5. Where's the best place to buy the bag in boxes?

Thanks in advance
Cheers

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[gobuchul]

I have used the "disposable" type polypins for my English ales a lot. I do use it with a beer engine though.

1. Following initial fermentation, do I prime then fill, or fill after secondary fermentation?
I fill after primary and prime with sugar.

2. Does the bag need venting?
Once secondary starts, I keep an eye on it and store it with tap upright and gently vent as it expands.

3. How long will it keep unopened in the bag, then how long once started?
If you keep it at a steady temperature it should keep for a couple of months if unopened.
Once opened it will start to oxidise and probably last a week or so, with a beer engine it doesn't allow air in so it keeps much longer.

4. How easy/practical is cleaning, sterilisation and reuse?
Easy to clean and reuse. A good mix of oxi shifts any residues.

5. Where's the best place to buy the bag in boxes?
I can't remember where I got mine from. It was a site, mainly aimed at the trade.

[Kev888]

As with so much in brewing, a certain amount is down to preference and choice; there isn't one right way so you won't get one definitive answer, several different approaches work.

Personally, I transfer to BiB a week or two after pitching the yeast, so theres is a fair amount of settling-out happening after BiBing (if thats a term); they are well suited to it, being wide and flat theres less distance for sediment to fall. Though I do put them where they'll be for dispensing, so that no movement is needed, which would disturb the sediment.

I choose not to prime at all. The residual yeast activity still gives the beer a little life and I don't like much carbonation, myself. I don't think my BiBs are ideally suited to carbonating and prefer to bleed them if they start to strain the box too much - though that rarely happens without priming, usually just get a little pressure. Though I know some people do it fine in the thicker polypin type without a box, personally if higher carbonation is wanted I use a keg - just seems a more suitable tool for the job.

My bags are the jigsaw ones, which are thinner and floppier than the polypin type and have some kind of oxygen barrier layer. The longest I so far tried was a best bitter which kept for six weeks even at mid-summer room temperatures, including a couple of weeks dispensing. It keeps for much less time if you use bright beer (with little/no yeast in). So far I've treated them as single use, they only cost about 5p a pint or so, and saves at least a little money on cleaning/disinfectant potions, so the convenience isn't hugely expensive. Though it does add up and they are pretty strong so I do intend to try them for a couple of brews or more at some point.

[rpt]

I've used the thicker polypins from Murphy's. I found the beer was oxidising after 4 weeks or so. I now use stainless steel kegs. If the thinner bags in boxes have an oxygen barrier layer you may have better luck.