BIAB efficiency

[beersk]

the cooler is pretty easy and i still put all the grains in a bag. just lift them out of the cooler in the bag, clean up is a snap. 

this is similar to the kettle i found

http://img1.targetimg1.com/wcsstore/TargetSAS//img/p/10/82/10827023.jpg

Oh, nice! So that steamer rack goes on the bottom of the kettle? If so, that'd be just about perfect for brewing/mashing in a bag. No scorching the bottom of the bag.

[ultravista]

I mash in a bag, compress the bag to get "leftover" runnings after the first sparge. During a typical brew, I collect from 5 to 7 quarts after the bag drains. Those leftovers are condensed on the stove and dumped into the kettle when the volume is about a quart or so.

This is super condensed and typically over 1.220 (where my refractometer stops).

It's a super-shot of highly condensed wort.

[weithman5]

the cooler is pretty easy and i still put all the grains in a bag. just lift them out of the cooler in the bag, clean up is a snap. 

this is similar to the kettle i found

http://img1.targetimg1.com/wcsstore/TargetSAS//img/p/10/82/10827023.jpg

Oh, nice! So that steamer rack goes on the bottom of the kettle? If so, that'd be just about perfect for brewing/mashing in a bag. No scorching the bottom of the bag.

right.  if there is enough room below that ring, i can put my electric element in it and then also have an electric steamer.  at first glance it is a very close fit, but i haven't actually measured it. 

[weithman5]

so now i am more interested in making an electric steamer/brewer with shelf.  found this from bayou classic
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Bayou-Classic-Stainless-Spigot-Pot/21721738?findingMethod=Recommendation:wm:RecentlyViewedItems

[beersk]

That's cool, it's too bad it's from Walmart. But I really like the Bayou Classic kettles. For small batches though, it's not really necessary to have the spigot. I'm fine with no spigot with 4 gallon batches. But if I did anything bigger than 5 gallons, I'd want one probably.

[Jimmy K]

i don't boil in a bag but i mash in a bag, not quite the same thing.  however i run around 70 percent. i do check my ph with strips on occasion but i really don't make any adjustments.

Isn't that exactly what BIAB is?

[beersk]

i don't boil in a bag but i mash in a bag, not quite the same thing.  however i run around 70 percent. i do check my ph with strips on occasion but i really don't make any adjustments.

Isn't that exactly what BIAB is?

Yes, but for some reason, people seem to think you boil the bag and grains too.  I don't know why people fight this so much. Brew in a bag, mash in a bag, SAME THING. Don't confuse the subject...no one is boiling in the bag, rather, no one that knows what they're doing is boiling in the bag.

[Jimmy K]

so now i am more interested in making an electric steamer/brewer with shelf.  found this from bayou classic
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Bayou-Classic-Stainless-Spigot-Pot/21721738?findingMethod=Recommendation:wm:RecentlyViewedItems

I have a 62qt bayou classic kettle and it's very nice. I added my own valve. This walmart one has a ring around the bottom in the picture, but mine and every one for sale on Amazon has the ring around the top. No worries about fitting a valve or heating element there.

[weithman5]

yeah, basically miab, biab, same thing.  i just do the mash in a cooler with the bag.  feel obligated. but also helps me maintain temp.  the reason i like the ring around the bottom from the imusa kettles and the one bayou is specifically for the ability to put the screen in. this would allow the bag to lay in the kettle on the screen.  i use electric kettle. but the ring would need to be high enough still to allow the element to go in. 

i only use a 4g kettle and is easy enough without the spigot. 

plus i could have a seafood steamer basket woooooohoooo

[woodlandbrew]

Normally I get about 80% efficiency but it depends on how much grain is in the mash.  Every system has it's limits.  For details see this: http://woodlandbrew.blogspot.com/2012/12/when-more-grain-doesnt-add-more-sugar.html

My pH normally comes in about 5.2-5.8 and I adjust to 5.2-5.4 with lactic acid.
This is a simple equation for lactic acid:
http://woodlandbrew.blogspot.com/2012/10/mash-ph.html

The vessel I use is a 16 qt pressure caner and it holds heat very well.  A strainer or oven rack on top makes sparging very simple. 

BIAB is the easiest way to make all grain beer that I have tried.  Especially for batches under 10 lbs of grain.
http://woodlandbrew.blogspot.com/2012/09/biab.html