New to brewing and need advice...

[JamesF]

Posted on Saturday evening. Might just have had a busy Sunday and be back dealing with the curse of the drinking classes today.

James

[somethingspecial]

Hi guys,

Apologies for not replying until now - I moved into a new house this weekend so have had a very busy few days. However, the first thing I did after moving in was dedicate one of my new sheds a 'brewing shed' and buy John Palmer's 'How To Brew' (and read about 100 pages immediately) so I am bang on this.

Thanks for all the advice - it's definitely given me a lot to think about. I was perhaps initially naively thinking that BIAB might be cheating but from reading your replies it seems like a genuine way to keep costs down and ease myself into the brewing process before refining my technique and upgrading my equipment as I go on.

Reckon I might crack on with a couple of BIABs and then maybe get a proper mash tun winter brew on in time for Christmas.

Thanks again and I'll be sure to post my first results.

_SomeS

[Jim]

Hi guys,

Apologies for not replying until now - I moved into a new house this weekend so have had a very busy few days. However, the first thing I did after moving in was dedicate one of my new sheds a 'brewing shed' and buy John Palmer's 'How To Brew' (and read about 100 pages immediately) so I am bang on this.

Thanks for all the advice - it's definitely given me a lot to think about. I was perhaps initially naively thinking that BIAB might be cheating but from reading your replies it seems like a genuine way to keep costs down and ease myself into the brewing process before refining my technique and upgrading my equipment as I go on.

Reckon I might crack on with a couple of BIABs and then maybe get a proper mash tun winter brew on in time for Christmas.

Thanks again and I'll be sure to post my first results.

_SomeS

Glad to see you back - I though we'd lost you!

House moves are stressful - I suggest you have a beer.

[rpt]

I've done over 40 brews with BIAB and a no-chill cube and definitely don't see it as inferior to 3V. I don't even use a bag, just a piece of voile secured with a bungee cord.

[timbo41]

I'm not even sure what. It is I do....but it makes beer! Depends where I am, round my flat or round ex's, ibiab mostlywith full volume in a burco, but sometimesi use amash tun, and sometimes whenthe whimtakes me I stovetop with two 15 litre pots. I don't see any particular distinction.....once you have the basiics, you canmix and match....oh and dependant on time I either immersionchill or no chill in a cube!!

Edit excuse syntax....space bar on phone keeps sticking!!

[somethingspecial]

[quote="Jim"][quote="somethingspecial"]Hi guys,

Apologies for not replying until now - I moved into a new house this weekend so have had a very busy few days. However, the first thing I did after moving in was dedicate one of my new sheds a 'brewing shed' and buy John Palmer's 'How To Brew' (and read about 100 pages immediately) so I am bang on this.

Thanks for all the advice - it's definitely given me a lot to think about. I was perhaps initially naively thinking that BIAB might be cheating but from reading your replies it seems like a genuine way to keep costs down and ease myself into the brewing process before refining my technique and upgrading my equipment as I go on.

Reckon I might crack on with a couple of BIABs and then maybe get a proper mash tun winter brew on in time for Christmas.

Thanks again and I'll be sure to post my first results.

_SomeS[/quote]

Glad to see you back - I though we'd lost you!

House moves are stressful - I suggest you have a beer. [/quote]

Thanks!

I had many a beer this weekend to cope with it all. Beavertown's was my brewery of choice.

[Raize]

Personally I think BIAB is ideal for 5 gallon batches as the weight of the grain bag is entirely manageable for even the biggest beers. The main downside is reduced efficiency compared to 3V, but grain is cheap.

One thing I'd point out though: If your tea urn has an exposed element you will need to work out some way of keeping the bag off it or it will burn a hole in your bag.
The other thing about tea urns is that sometimes they are reluctant to maintain a vigourous boil and need the circuitry adjusted. I'd suggest checking whether your tea urn will maintain a vigorous boil with some water before you need to boil beer in it.

[rpt]

Personally I think BIAB is ideal for 5 gallon batches as the weight of the grain bag is entirely manageable for even the biggest beers. The main downside is reduced efficiency compared to 3V, but grain is cheap.

I'm not convinced this is true - I get good efficiency with BIAB.

One thing I'd point out though: If your tea urn has an exposed element you will need to work out some way of keeping the bag off it or it will burn a hole in your bag.

Not if you never turn it on when the bag is in. I've never needed to turn the element on with the bag - I keep it warm for the mash by wrapping with a hot water cylinder jacket.

[timbo41]

When I've bothered to work the numbers I get upto 75% could be better I suppose. A mashout step helps

[rpt]

On my last full brew I got an efficiency into boil of 93% doing BIAB with no mash out.

[Raize]

On my last full brew I got an efficiency into boil of 93% doing BIAB with no mash out.

That's really good. I get 60-70% using a sack of pre-crushed Maris Otter.
Are you crushing the grains extremely fine to get that efficiency?

[rpt]

No. When I remember I ask the Malt Miller to crush finer but on the one occasion I forgot it didn't make any difference.

Bear in mind that my definition of efficiency may not be the same as yours. People talk about efficiency but never define what they mean. I said "efficiency into boil" which is a term used by the BIABacus.

[Jocky]

When I've bothered to work the numbers I get upto 75% could be better I suppose. A mashout step helps

75% is perfectly good unless you're one of those types that likes to chase every point of efficiency. The important thing is knowing what your system does, and being able to do that predictably.

[timbo41]

Chase the numbers nah not me! If it smells good, tastes good...whether I wanted 5% and it comes out a bit lower( or higher sometimes!!)....then I'm a happy bunny