getting a bit confused,,,,,help

Make grain beers with the absolute minimum of equipment. Discuss here.
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timbo41
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getting a bit confused,,,,,help

Post by timbo41 » Thu Nov 22, 2012 11:00 pm

Ok folks help out a new biab thickie :D
Understand the principle of biab
Am constructing a boiler from 23 ltr fermenting bucket, plastic
Can't download the biab brewer guide( content not supported on this shite tablet)
So, can't do all the calculations for mash volume etc
Just want to make nice beer!! 20 ltres a batch, nice session strength no more than 4.5 % no matter the style.
Do I really need the calculators. . Or can I just mash in max volume I can, maybe 25 litres, dunk sparge for a bit in mash liquor, boil,cool,ferment,drink! About 20 litres after equipment loss,evaporation etc hopefully

Really not into the technical "efficiencies" and all that!!

,
Just like trying new ideas!

Hobbins

Re: getting a bit confused,,,,,help

Post by Hobbins » Fri Nov 23, 2012 3:41 pm

I answering this not as an expert but as someone who has done a couple of BIAB's.

My last brew was a Fullers London Porter and I used the calculator to fit as much into the boiler as I could. With the grains and the water right up to the brim I managed to get 19l into the fermenter. I was boiling in the kitchen with the doors open so it was warmish so lots of condensation and the hop filter didn't work so I may have lost a more there but I think you's struggle to get 20l from a 23l boiler.

However if you sparge as you say and start the boil with 23l you should be ok. I loose about 3.5l during the boil.

I need to use the calculators as I don't know what I'm doing and want to get a desired result butif you were there or thereabouts as you suggest you'd still get good beer.

Take loads of notes when you brew so if you hit on a good outcome you can do it again.

Good luck.

RdeV

Re: getting a bit confused,,,,,help

Post by RdeV » Sat Nov 24, 2012 2:09 am

You're in luck timbo! You don't really need them if you go down the MaxiBIAB path, you'll find that it is largely independent of volume and temperature calculators etc, here are my tips:
For a 19L pot 4.5kg seems about right for 20- 23L of 1.050 OG, if you're using a bigger kettle then it should be easy peasy. Give that a go and adjust total grain bill up or down to suit your desired OG for each batch and for your particular efficiency (should be mid- 70s).
Overheat the strike water, place insulation on and allow everything to heat up and stabilize, let it return to your target mash temperature + 5C.
You want to mash with the kettle full, when starting though fill the kettle to about 3/4 maybe a little more. Once you've preheated the insulation (as above), reserve a few litres in a jug, mash in, fill to the top with either cold, reserved or hot to exactly the temperature you require. This helps makes it quite calculator- independent.
Don't touch it during the mash, particularly early on as all you'll do is lose precious heat, only lift the lid at 60 minutes and give it a stir, let it rest for another 30. Don't mashout in- situ, the sparge does that.
Sparge with 6-8L near- boiling water (nb. don't sparge with liquor- use plain water!), acidified will help but not mandatory. Repeat with 2-4L if the first sparge runnings are still really high, SG should be around half of the first runnings.
You want the kettle as full as possible at the end of the boil but don't add any more sparge in the last 15 minutes, that will ensure it is all sanitary.

Independence from any particular brewing application is one of the features of MaxiBIAB, by all means use it to sort the recipe out to your specifications but after that it is not required, most of them struggle with MaxiBIAB anyway. Obviously, single infusion is the simplest, whereas decoction or multiple infusion will be harder, but single is a great place to find your feet and make fantastic beers.

The MaxiBIAB guide doesn't need downloading, its just images in a forum thread?

timbo41
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Re: getting a bit confused,,,,,help

Post by timbo41 » Sat Nov 24, 2012 9:29 am

Cheers guys feel more confident now. Ralph, new years honours soon,fancy a mention? Services to brewing..don't go all republican on me!! Your guide works fine its alh the other stuff on THAT forum that this tablet has issues with!!
Right I'm going in..tell my family I love them
Err..best I fit kettle elements first
update to follow soon :D
Just like trying new ideas!

jaberry

Re: getting a bit confused,,,,,help

Post by jaberry » Sat Nov 24, 2012 10:56 am

Good luck, yet to try maxi-biab but will do at some point so will be good to hear how it goes for you

Klaus

Re: getting a bit confused,,,,,help

Post by Klaus » Sat Nov 24, 2012 10:34 pm

I am doing BIAB straight from recipes for 23l - SS pot 50l capacity - start off with 33l mash water, after 90 minte mash and 90 minute boil get about 24l. Ag1 & 3 been spot on in terms of FG, Ag 2 was a challenge due to me trying a RIS recipe but getting the bag out and drained was a bit of a job..

jaberry

Re: getting a bit confused,,,,,help

Post by jaberry » Sat Nov 24, 2012 10:42 pm

Lift with the knees lol

timbo41
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Re: getting a bit confused,,,,,help

Post by timbo41 » Sun Nov 25, 2012 10:43 am

Re..inline ice chiller
Anyone considered running liquor from boiler via flexi silicon hose prefrozen into a small bucket of ice as a simple alternative to a counterflow chiller? Would gravity siphon effect be enough to get liquor around pipe and out again to fv?
Update..currently leak testing hop filter assembly..needs good tighten up don't want to resort to using ptfe if I can avoid it :D
Just like trying new ideas!

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