Electric Boiler for BIAB?

[Paddy Bubbles]

Hi guys. Is it possible to use an electric boiler (plastic FV with element and tap) as a brewpot for BIAB?

I'd be concerned about the element still being hot and scorching the bag/grain. I'm not sure if my gas hob could heat 33 litres of water during the boil so I don't want to invest in a big brew pot/kettle just yet.

Thanks.

[Beer O'Clock]

Not only is it possible, many do it.
The only thing to remember is to heat the liquor before putting the bag in. Some form of guard would be a good idea (such as a perforated pizza tray). If "mashing out", just raise the bag (with grains) above the elements before switching them on and "job's a goodun".

[Paddy Bubbles]

That's interesting, I though most people used large stockpots.

I'm still confused about the equipment I'll need for moving to BIAB/AG because I don't know whether gas or electric is the way to go. I'm more concerned about fitting a large stockpot on my gas hob (across one or multiple burners). I've been looking at some of the American style brew kettles (stainless steel brew pot, with tap and temp gauge) and they look pretty snazzy.

One thing confuses me. The people who use large stock pots with no taps, do they just pick up the pot and empty the cooled wort into the FV?

what's mashing out??

[Paddy Bubbles]

Oh, and another thing...

Would the plastic boiler (converted FV) be insulated enough to maintain the required mashing temperature?

Would a steel/aluminium pot not be better for maintaining the temperature? (apologies, if these are stupid questions...!)

[boingy]

I used to boil using a 50cm diameter ali pot across all 4 gas rings on a standard domestic hob. This was not for BIAB but it makes no difference to your question. It worked fine but I did have to improvise a stand (from a couple of bits of steel angle) to raise the pot an extra inch or so above the normal pan position. This was needed so that the gas flames could suck in enough air. But, yes, a gas hob is easily up to the job. Once the boil is going all the rings were pretty close to minimum.

[Paddy Bubbles]

Thanks for the info. What was the volume on that 50cm pot?

[soupdragon]

One thing confuses me. The people who use large stock pots with no taps, do they just pick up the pot and empty the cooled wort into the FV?

Hi Paddy

I use a 15 ltr stock pot as my boiler. I simply cool in the sink then pour into my fermenter through a sheet of voile that I drape over the top and secure in place with a bungee strap. It really does a good job of filtering the break out

Cheers Tom

[boingy]

Thanks for the info. What was the volume on that 50cm pot?

I think it was about 70 litres but I added a steam outlet on the side which restricts the max boil volume to about 55-60 litres, depending how brave you are feeling. I brew 40 litre batches. If you are sticking with 25 litres-ish you would be fine with a smaller pot just spanning a couple of gas rings. A single gas ring is typically 2kW to 3kW so there is plenty of power there for the boil.

[Paddy Bubbles]

I use a 15 ltr stock pot as my boiler. I simply cool in the sink then pour into my fermenter through a sheet of voile that I drape over the top and secure in place with a bungee strap. It really does a good job of filtering the break out

Hi Tom. So do you only do smaller batches, or do you top up with cold water? Do you use the 15l boiler for mashing too??

[Paddy Bubbles]

I think it was about 70 litres but I added a steam outlet on the side which restricts the max boil volume to about 55-60 litres, depending how brave you are feeling. I brew 40 litre batches. If you are sticking with 25 litres-ish you would be fine with a smaller pot just spanning a couple of gas rings. A single gas ring is typically 2kW to 3kW so there is plenty of power there for the boil.

I can't see myself going beyond 5 gal batches. I've read that a 33-35 litre brewpot would be a suitable size boiler for this batch size. But I'm sure if this is applicable to BIAB also... ?

[soupdragon]

I use a 15 ltr stock pot as my boiler. I simply cool in the sink then pour into my fermenter through a sheet of voile that I drape over the top and secure in place with a bungee strap. It really does a good job of filtering the break out

Hi Tom. So do you only do smaller batches, or do you top up with cold water? Do you use the 15l boiler for mashing too??

I do 5 gallon brews. I partial mash then top up in the fermenter with liquid extract and top up with water. Up to now I have used the stock pot for mashing but once I run out of extract I'll be trying a full mash in a spare fermenter. I'll still have to boil in my stock pot though.......

Cheers Tom

[Beer O'Clock]

That's interesting, I though most people used large stockpots.

I'm still confused about the equipment I'll need for moving to BIAB/AG because I don't know whether gas or electric is the way to go. I'm more concerned about fitting a large stockpot on my gas hob (across one or multiple burners). I've been looking at some of the American style brew kettles (stainless steel brew pot, with tap and temp gauge) and they look pretty snazzy.

One thing confuses me. The people who use large stock pots with no taps, do they just pick up the pot and empty the cooled wort into the FV?

what's mashing out??

Sorry, Paddy. I was busy bottling.

I actually use a 40 litre Buffalo boiler with a tap but I understand there are others who use simpler, more basic setups. So long as there is not long exposure to a hot element, your bag/voile shouldn't be damaged (hence the Pizza tray).

As for "mashing out", this is a technique to extract a little extra wort from the grains by heating by a few degrees to get the sticky stuff to thin a bit so that the grains give it up easier.

Loads of good info here.....http://www.biabrewer.info/

[Paddy Bubbles]

Sorry, Paddy. I was busy bottling.

you are hardcore BOC!

I actually use a 40 litre Buffalo boiler with a tap but I understand there are others who use simpler, more basic setups. So long as there is not long exposure to a hot element, your bag/voile shouldn't be damaged (hence the Pizza tray).

Is this what you use?
http://www.nisbets.ie/products/productd ... Code=CC193

You use this for boiling the wort with hops etc. too?

[Paddy Bubbles]

I do 5 gallon brews. I partial mash then top up in the fermenter with liquid extract and top up with water. Up to now I have used the stock pot for mashing but once I run out of extract I'll be trying a full mash in a spare fermenter. I'll still have to boil in my stock pot though.......

I was listening to an excellent "Basic Brewing" podcast on BIAB brewing this morning. Something confused me. The BIAB guru explained that because you effectively add all of your sparge water along with the boil volume and grain, you need a much larger brewpot than if you were extract/AG brewing. Makes sense. But he said for a 5 US gal batch, you would need a 40 litre pot, preferably a 50 litre. Seems strange.

[Beer O'Clock]

Yep, that's the baby. All in, as the is the BIAB principle. Water in and treated the night before. Bring it up to mash temperature then add bag and dough in. Remove bag and contents then heat to boiling. Add hops at varying stages. When done, run it through the filtered tap into a FV.

Easy !