[beerlord]

I am doing 11 gallons tomorrow and with 26.5 lbs of grain, I need 15.1 gallons of water (my post is only 15 gallons). Since that won't work and I really don't want to mash with a lot less water (which I'm still thinking about) I thought I'd use 2 pots to mash in and then mix the 2 to the proper, pre-boil levels to boil. However, that opens up other possible problems like getting the exact amounts of water in each pot.

So, do you think it's better to mash in with less water at first, mash for the full amount then add some 170 degree in after the bag is pulled or do 1 big mash and 1 smaller mash and mix the two? Or do you have another suggestion?
Since I've already crushed/mixed the grains, it's too late to reduce the total amount.......should have thought about that first huh?

[denny]

How about putting together a quick mash tun?

[69franx]

How about putting together a quick mash tun?

+1!

[beerlord]

Yeah, I certainly could do that.  I like the idea of doing something different.
Thanks!

[archstanton]

You could mash with 10 gallons about 1.5qts per pound, and then put the bag in your other pot with the other 5 gallons for a sparge bath, then add your 2 pots.

[Stevie]

You could mash with 10 gallons about 1.5qts per pound, and then put the bag in your other pot with the other 5 gallons for a sparge bath, then add your 2 pots.

A bit of double work, but not a bad plan otherwise. I vote a trip to Home Depot and Walmart to build a cooler tun. I would get the ~70 qt. Will do about 32 pounds for me at an average thickness.

[duncan]

You can find a video on building a Denny-style mash tun here: http://www.homebrewersassociation.org/how-to-brew/advanced/videos/

[denny]

Yeah, I certainly could do that.  I like the idea of doing something different.
Thanks!

Check www.dennybrew.com for the "Cheap'n'Easy" mash tun.

[denny]

You can find a video on building a Denny-style mash tun here: http://www.homebrewersassociation.org/how-to-brew/advanced/videos/

And a darn nice video, I might add!

[beerlord]

I've been on your site many times and am familiar with most of it.  Sounds like a fun plan.
Thanks for all the help guys!

[seefish]

Sounds like you are more than a little bit over what the kettle can fit.  But, if I'm just a little bit over i usually just supplement with DME to get those few extra points.  I've also heard some people dunk the grain bag into pre-heated water for a pseudo sparge.  90% of the beer is cool side anyhow...but maybe I'm just lazy 

[bphad]

I have done the split BIAB method before and it works fine, just crush and split your grain by weight  and do same with water volume.

I started doing BIAB in this way, using two 5 gallon pots each with about 4.25 gallons of water plus grain.

[morticaixavier]

let me start out by saying that I think Denny is right here. build a mashtun.

but you could also do a double mash!

mash with half your grain, pull the bag, squeeze as appropriate. Empty the bag and put the other half of the grain in. raise the temp of your wort to strike temp and add the second bag of grain for another mash.

[jimmykx250]

I would pull the bag set it in a colander or on some rods spanning across the top of the pot and rinse with 170 degree water. i still haven't gone the 3 vessel route i like the simplicity and less to clean up. However I have only been brewing for 6 months so take my opinion with that in mind.

[erockrph]

If I can't fit all the grain for a recipe, I just brew a smaller batch.