Recommend me a boiler (and chiller question) for BIAB

[Berko]

Hi,

I'm wanting to step up from tinned kits to BIAB. I need to buy a boiler to do so. What's good on the market?

I want to do decent sized batches (5 gallons or more)

It needs to be electric

I'd like it to be able to be used when I eventually go all-grain

I'd like a quality piece that will last for years to come, with a decent thermostat control

Recommendations please?

Secondly, is a chiller recommended? If so, is there a decent one on the market, that doesn't rely on a continually running tap? I'm on a water meter you see

Thanks

Nick

[GrowlingDogBeer]

Do you want to build yourself or buy ready made.

I would suggest a nice stainless pot with a couple of kettle elements and a tap. You can put a thermometer in as well.

You really don't need a thermostat, once you get the water to temperature that's it, you then turn it off, until you want it to boil then you just switch on both elements to get it to boil, once boiling you can probably drop to one element.

If you want ready made have a look here

http://www.homebrewbuilder.co.uk/hlts%2 ... ttles.html

For chilling I think plate chillers are the most efficient, you would need to run the tap for about 10 minutes. Get the one with the highest kW you can, at least 100kW

The same site sells plate chillers as well, he also is a member here MrLard, you can always drop him a message and ask for advice.

[Berko]

Hi,

Ideally a ready-made one. I'm a bit time limited tbh, too many projects on the go!

Thanks for the link, looks ideal for what I want!

[john_drummer]

try an Electrim 32L boiler (new digital version).
Comes with kettle element, tap, temperature probe and digital controller. about £115 from any good homebrew shop

I've recently switched from immersion chiller to plate chiller & found it only got my wort down to 30+ degrees, so I need to slow down the flow of my wort out of the boiler. In the meantime, however, I have other problems with my brew kit, so it might be a while before I brew again

[Morrisoff too]

I can recommend a Buffalo 40 litre boiler. Good price and a decent bit of kit.

http://www.nisbets.co.uk/buffalo-manual ... il.raction

[Cpt.Frederickson]

This one is an absolute steal. A few minot mods (tap and hop filter and you'll be having great fun making great beer).
This is the 40 litre, but I use the 30 litre with no issues. Depends how big you want to go.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Buffalo-Manua ... 3f2a289e6d

[AnthonyUK]

I also use a 40l Buffalo and would say this is the smallest you want for 5Gal batches.

Regarding a cooler, they are more expensive and require a little bit more cleaning but a plate chiller is so much more efficient than an immersion cooler.
You can cool wort down to fermenting temp during the transfer from boiler to fermenting vessel e.g. 10 mins

[Twistedfinger]

Secondly, is a chiller recommended? If so, is there a decent one on the market, that doesn't rely on a continually running tap? I'm on a water meter you see

Go no chill. 25L HDPE cube Like these fill with hot wort, sqeeze as much air out as possible,seal and rotate every 10 minutes so that all the sides have been in contact with the hot wort. Then leave to cool, once cool you can store until your ready to add to the fermenter and pitch your yeast.

[Berko]

Thanks for the tip!

[Cpt.Frederickson]

If you're looking for a boiler and 30l is enough I'm selling mine, check out the articles for sale for the details. Can get about 17-18 litres into fermenter with that.

[Lars]

AnthonyUK and TwistedFinger are right, min 40L for BIAB 5gal batches without topping up and nochill

[Bribie]

During most of the year in the UK you can just put the nochill cube of wort out with the cat overnight and it should be perfect to pitch within a few hours.