50 litre electric BIAB?
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- Steady Drinker
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50 litre electric BIAB?
I am looking (in vain) for a satisfactory way to replace my 30 litre Kalarstein Fullhorn.
I brew BIAB, I like the simplicity and the ease of cleaning, I batch sparge and can get mash efficiency around 80% on a good day if I recirculate the mash.
I do find though that with 30 litres to the brim, I can realistically only get 21 litres or so into the FV so would like a bigger system. It seems though such a system is difficult or impossible to find?
It could do with being 50 litres brew capacity, electric, false bottom, insulated for the mash with either a grain basket or bag and somewhat accurate temperature control for the mash.
Am I asking too much?
I brew BIAB, I like the simplicity and the ease of cleaning, I batch sparge and can get mash efficiency around 80% on a good day if I recirculate the mash.
I do find though that with 30 litres to the brim, I can realistically only get 21 litres or so into the FV so would like a bigger system. It seems though such a system is difficult or impossible to find?
It could do with being 50 litres brew capacity, electric, false bottom, insulated for the mash with either a grain basket or bag and somewhat accurate temperature control for the mash.
Am I asking too much?
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- Drunk as a Skunk
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Re: 50 litre electric BIAB?
It can be done, you would need to build it, have a hoist to lift the bag and you would want a 30amp supply.
A Giant stockpot, 2 low watt density elements, a basket or something to keep the bag off the elements and pot walls and your done. I'd probably want to add a tap.
The hard part is mounting the hoist, getting a power supply and possibly extraction depending on were your going to brew.
Atb. Aamcle
A Giant stockpot, 2 low watt density elements, a basket or something to keep the bag off the elements and pot walls and your done. I'd probably want to add a tap.
The hard part is mounting the hoist, getting a power supply and possibly extraction depending on were your going to brew.
Atb. Aamcle
50 litre electric BIAB?
There are quite a few one pot systems that will do 50L+, the Braumeister, Grainfather, Brewtools and I think there are 50L versions of your machine too - the latter being sold under lots of brands with slight variations eg Brewmonk/Guten/etc.
There is quite a price variation between these systems. Also you will likely need a suitable socket installed for their power needs and use something like an engine with or pulley system for the much heavier grain basket.
There is quite a price variation between these systems. Also you will likely need a suitable socket installed for their power needs and use something like an engine with or pulley system for the much heavier grain basket.
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Re: 50 litre electric BIAB?
aamcle wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 9:51 amI was trying to avoid an all in one system because a) I would probably end up using as all in one and not BIAB and b) If I BIAB I am not sure I want to pay for all the extras I would not need?f00b4r wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 9:55 amThere are quite a few one pot systems that will do 50L+, the Braumeister, Grainfather, Brewtools and I think there are 50L versions of your machine too - the latter being sold under lots of brands with slight variations eg Brewmonk/Guten/etc.
There is quite a price variation between these systems. Also you will likely need a suitable socket installed for their power needs and use something like an engine with or pulley system for the much heavier grain basket.
Yes I have been considering a self build, most of the 50litre all in one's are 3kw or less so a standard ring main should suffice. I would also need temperature control though and would choose to have a recirculation pump and all this is probably puitting the price up to a lot more than a half decent all in one? Extractor, I can position it so as it is not essential but it is something I am looking into and the hoist, I don't think that would be a major issue but if I position the pot at floor level I was hoping to be able to do without.aamcle wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 9:51 amIt can be done, you would need to build it, have a hoist to lift the bag and you would want a 30amp supply.
A Giant stockpot, 2 low watt density elements, a basket or something to keep the bag off the elements and pot walls and your done. I'd probably want to add a tap.
The hard part is mounting the hoist, getting a power supply and possibly extraction depending on were your going to brew.
Atb. Aamcle
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Re: 50 litre electric BIAB?
For a self build £200-300 should do it I doubt you would get close to that with a 50 litre all in one but it might depend on what you can buy secondhand.
Personally I'd look for a secondhand stock pot, buy PID/SSR/PT100 bits from evil bay and house the controls in a plastic box.
I now have a GF one of the old ones, I don't recommend them now the price is silly, but it's not much more trouble than BIAB you just clean the malt pipe rather than a bag.
Largely I think it depends on whether you enjoy building thing or not.
Atb. Aamcle
Personally I'd look for a secondhand stock pot, buy PID/SSR/PT100 bits from evil bay and house the controls in a plastic box.
I now have a GF one of the old ones, I don't recommend them now the price is silly, but it's not much more trouble than BIAB you just clean the malt pipe rather than a bag.
Largely I think it depends on whether you enjoy building thing or not.
Atb. Aamcle
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Re: 50 litre electric BIAB?
The nearest I got to what I want with an all in one was a 50litre Brewdevil for a little over £400 if you don't want the extras. I may still be tempted by one of these if and when they come back in stock. I will check out the parts you suggest and see what I come up with, I could do with finding somebody's record of their build to decide how to go about it though.aamcle wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 12:07 pmFor a self build £200-300 should do it I doubt you would get close to that with a 50 litre all in one but it might depend on what you can buy secondhand.
Personally I'd look for a secondhand stock pot, buy PID/SSR/PT100 bits from evil bay and house the controls in a plastic box.
I now have a GF one of the old ones, I don't recommend them now the price is silly, but it's not much more trouble than BIAB you just clean the malt pipe rather than a bag.
Largely I think it depends on whether you enjoy building thing or not.
Atb. Aamcle
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- Drunk as a Skunk
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Re: 50 litre electric BIAB?
Unfortunately I didn't record mine, there should be a thread on Jim's if not I know AHB (Aussie home brewer) has some.
Aamcle
Aamcle
Re: 50 litre electric BIAB?
Can I ask why? The the klarstein broken or is this just a volume issue?Galena wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 8:59 amI am looking (in vain) for a satisfactory way to replace my 30 litre Kalarstein Fullhorn.
I brew BIAB, I like the simplicity and the ease of cleaning, I batch sparge and can get mash efficiency around 80% on a good day if I recirculate the mash.
I do find though that with 30 litres to the brim, I can realistically only get 21 litres or so into the FV so would like a bigger system. It seems though such a system is difficult or impossible to find?
It could do with being 50 litres brew capacity, electric, false bottom, insulated for the mash with either a grain basket or bag and somewhat accurate temperature control for the mash.
Am I asking too much?
-
- Steady Drinker
- Posts: 81
- Joined: Thu May 28, 2020 7:42 pm
- Location: Peak District Derbyshire, nearest breweries: Taddington, Whim, Peak Ales, Thornbridge, Buxton
Re: 50 litre electric BIAB?
Just volume, nothing wrong with the Klarstein, the max I can normally get in the FV is 21 litres, sometime a little more but my FV's will take up to 28 litres and it would be nice to fill them a little more. With a 50 or more I could potentially fill 2 FV's in one brew.MashBag wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 3:20 pmCan I ask why? The the klarstein broken or is this just a volume issue?Galena wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 8:59 amI am looking (in vain) for a satisfactory way to replace my 30 litre Kalarstein Fullhorn.
I brew BIAB, I like the simplicity and the ease of cleaning, I batch sparge and can get mash efficiency around 80% on a good day if I recirculate the mash.
I do find though that with 30 litres to the brim, I can realistically only get 21 litres or so into the FV so would like a bigger system. It seems though such a system is difficult or impossible to find?
It could do with being 50 litres brew capacity, electric, false bottom, insulated for the mash with either a grain basket or bag and somewhat accurate temperature control for the mash.
Am I asking too much?
Re: 50 litre electric BIAB?
2 fermenters in one brew I get.
But for a single brew have you considered topping up the fv?
But for a single brew have you considered topping up the fv?
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- Steady Drinker
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Re: 50 litre electric BIAB?
It has crossed my mind yes, but not looked into it seriously yet, like how I would deal with water treatment for the top up water etc.I batch sparge so perhaps I could just increase the level of sparge water to the required amount.
Re: 50 litre electric BIAB?
Absolutely. Treat enough water, but you drain some off.
Seems to shame spend not an insignificant amount of money, when you could just adapt your process
Seems to shame spend not an insignificant amount of money, when you could just adapt your process
Re: 50 litre electric BIAB?
If you can drink your water, it does not have to be boiled.
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- Steady Drinker
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Re: 50 litre electric BIAB?
Well I have just ordered a load of kegging equipment so the bigger system will have to be put on hold for a good while yet, so adapt I shall
Re: 50 litre electric BIAB?
I use a Grainfather which is usually good for 23L batches with ease - less if you want to brew a really strong ale! - but I have also made 30L batches by creating a stronger than normal wort and liquoring back post boil. I heat my sparge water in a separate "tea boiler" (which used to be used for BIAB before I "upgraded" to the GF), so I simply heat up a larger volume of sparge water and once the boil is complete, add the extra to the GF and cool/transfer as normal, but I get a 30L batch.
Simples!
The calculation is quite straighforward too, although I use Brewfather which works it all out for you.
Simples!
The calculation is quite straighforward too, although I use Brewfather which works it all out for you.
Fermenting: nowt
Conditioning: English IPA/Bretted English IPA
Drinking: Sunshine Marmalade, Festbier, Helles Bock, Smokey lagery beer, Irish Export StoutCascade APA (homegrown hops), Orval clone, Impy stout, Duvel clone, Conestoga (American Barley wine)
Planning: Dark Mild, Kozel dark (ish), Simmonds Bitter, Bitter, Citra PA and more!
Conditioning: English IPA/Bretted English IPA
Drinking: Sunshine Marmalade, Festbier, Helles Bock, Smokey lagery beer, Irish Export StoutCascade APA (homegrown hops), Orval clone, Impy stout, Duvel clone, Conestoga (American Barley wine)
Planning: Dark Mild, Kozel dark (ish), Simmonds Bitter, Bitter, Citra PA and more!