Purchasing a suitable biab bag

Make grain beers with the absolute minimum of equipment. Discuss here.
Nolski77
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Purchasing a suitable biab bag

Post by Nolski77 » Wed May 18, 2016 2:37 pm

I've had a look online and some are priced very high, just wondering what folks have used as a bag. Are they specifically bought from hb shops, or home made (that option is out for me as I don't have sewing machine) or improvised such as paint strainer.

Basically I'm struggling to find a bag and a little guidance would be great.

Ta.
Youngs ubrew lager which came with the wilkinsons kit 1st brew

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Goulders
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Re: Purchasing a suitable biab bag

Post by Goulders » Wed May 18, 2016 2:48 pm

My local homebrew store sells large ones for £6.50. Look under equipment at getbrewing.uk

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Re: Purchasing a suitable biab bag

Post by jonny-x » Wed May 18, 2016 4:25 pm

I got my 100 litre bag from Chris Rogers at brewinabag.uk , very helpful guy- sorted me out quickly when I found out my pot was a slightly odd shape so the regular bag wouldn't fit.
The bag is plenty strong , good reinforcement and handles , nice and confidence inspiring when its get heavy.

rpt
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Re: Purchasing a suitable biab bag

Post by rpt » Wed May 18, 2016 5:57 pm

Did my first 50ish brews with just a piece of voile, not made into a bag. Have now replaced with a cheap Malt Miller bag. Doesn't make it any easier. This is for standard 23L batches.

Nolski77
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Re: Purchasing a suitable biab bag

Post by Nolski77 » Wed May 18, 2016 6:58 pm

I bought a large piece of voile last year but didn't get round to getting it down into a bag. I never even thought of draping it over the boiler.

Probably a daft question but how do folk sterilise the cloth?

Putting through a washing machine might leach a soapy taste from the washing powder
Youngs ubrew lager which came with the wilkinsons kit 1st brew

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Peatbogbrewer
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Re: Purchasing a suitable biab bag

Post by Peatbogbrewer » Wed May 18, 2016 6:59 pm

jonny-x wrote:I got my 100 litre bag from Chris Rogers at brewinabag.uk , very helpful guy- sorted me out quickly when I found out my pot was a slightly odd shape so the regular bag wouldn't fit.
The bag is plenty strong , good reinforcement and handles , nice and confidence inspiring when its get heavy.
Ditto great bags..

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Re: Purchasing a suitable biab bag

Post by WalesAles » Wed May 18, 2016 7:36 pm

Nolski77 wrote: Probably a daft question but how do folk sterilise the cloth?
Nol,
Put the cloth in a saucepan of water, bring to the boil then simmer for 10mins.
I`ve always put mine in the washing machine (after rinsing, rinsing, rinsing under a running tap), MrsAles didn`t like picking
spent grains off the other washing once it is on the line! :D :D
You won`t get any washing machine residue because you will be boiling it before next use.

WA

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vacant
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Re: Purchasing a suitable biab bag

Post by vacant » Wed May 18, 2016 8:31 pm

I use a voile curtain fixed with bungees around the top of the boiler. Afterwards I rinse it in a tub of water. It still has bits stuck to it but then I hang it on the washing line where it dries in minutes and any bits fall off. It gets sterilized during the next brew's boil.
I brew therefore I ... I .... forget

AnthonyUK

Re: Purchasing a suitable biab bag

Post by AnthonyUK » Thu May 19, 2016 8:12 am

I use this type - http://www.the-home-brew-shop.co.uk/aca ... 24x24.html
If anything it is a little too fine but it still drains OK during the mash to boil stage.
It fits perfectly around a 40l Buffalo boiler.

It is just visible in this image

Image

Fil
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Re: Purchasing a suitable biab bag

Post by Fil » Thu May 19, 2016 7:39 pm

for a 5 gallon brew the Ritchie brand biab bag is grand tight woven double skinned walls and a more open net base secured with a synthetic cord tie string up to the job of supporting a wet bag full of grain, cost about a fiver a long time ago now, and it also makes a great hop spider bag too ;)
ist update for months n months..
Fermnting: not a lot..
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Maturing: Challenger smash, and a kit lager
Drinking: dry one minikeg left in the store
Coming Soon Lots planned for the near future nowt for the immediate :(

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Andy
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Re: Purchasing a suitable biab bag

Post by Andy » Thu May 19, 2016 8:57 pm

Dan!

Nolski77
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Re: Purchasing a suitable biab bag

Post by Nolski77 » Thu May 19, 2016 9:47 pm

Cheers folks. I've bookmarked this page.
Youngs ubrew lager which came with the wilkinsons kit 1st brew

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Kev888
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Re: Purchasing a suitable biab bag

Post by Kev888 » Thu May 19, 2016 11:58 pm

Nolski77 wrote:Probably a daft question but how do folk sterilise the cloth?
It won't hurt to boil it or soak it in cleaning potions after use. Stuff growing on the bag between uses is obviously undesirable. If you use cleaning chemicals which could flavour the beer (especially bleach/chlorine), those need well rinsing out.

But clean is enough, it need not be sterile; the grain and mash aren't sterile so it would just get contaminated again the moment you used it.
Kev

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Re: Purchasing a suitable biab bag

Post by rpt » Sat May 21, 2016 11:20 am

Why do you need to sterilise your bag and why are people boiling it? It's for the mash, not the boil.

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Re: Purchasing a suitable biab bag

Post by Ulsterman » Sat May 21, 2016 11:29 am

rpt wrote:Why do you need to sterilise your bag and why are people boiling it? It's for the mash, not the boil.
Because cleanliness and sanitation are the brewers friend and should become habit at all stages, why take a chance ?

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