Thinking of going eBIAB for 5.5G batches
- jtmwhyte
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Thinking of going eBIAB for 5.5G batches
Title is pretty clear, but I'm hoping current BIAB guys and gals will chime in. My kettle is 50qt with a 5500W element installed and I'll be looking to order a bag from Jimmy and a lid from amazon. I'm wondering about:
1) insulation
How do people insulate the mash? I'm looking at the foil bubble wrap from Central to create a "jacket" for the pot.
I will add more questions as I have them.
1) insulation
How do people insulate the mash? I'm looking at the foil bubble wrap from Central to create a "jacket" for the pot.
I will add more questions as I have them.
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Tap 1: Festa Brew Scotch Ale
Tap 2:
"Fill with mingled cream and amber,
I will drain that glass again.
Such hilarious visions clamber
Through the chamber of my brain -
Quaintest thoughts - queerist fancies
Come to life and fade away;
What care I how time advances?
I am drinking ale today." ~ Poe
- RubberToe
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Re: Thinking of going eBIAB for 5.5G batches
1) That's what I do. I fasioned a jacket with reflectix, tin tape, and velcro strips. I think my current one is two layers while the one for my old keggle was 1 layer.
Insulation or no insulation, make sure your temp probe is calibrated and work on hitting your strike temp right off the bat (which could take a few brews on a new system).
Insulation or no insulation, make sure your temp probe is calibrated and work on hitting your strike temp right off the bat (which could take a few brews on a new system).
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Re: Thinking of going eBIAB for 5.5G batches
I am contemplating this right now for my upcoming build (yes, the one I started last October). I am going to be using a HERMS system, however I'd like to still insulate the mash tun (and the HLT and possibly the kettle too) to save as much electricity as possible. I'm toying around with the idea of wrapping the vessels in Roxul Stone Wool Insulation, then reflectix to hold it on (using velcro to secure the reflectix to itself). It may be a bit of overkill but roxul is mold/mildew resistant, fireproof and easy to work with (I've been using it in my houses for the past 7 years consistently). Even though it's an electric system, with a HERMS, I figure the extra $60 isn't going to hurt. Just my thoughts.
http://www.roxul.com/products/residenti ... 7n%27sound" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - it's only 3" thick
http://www.roxul.com/products/residenti ... 7n%27sound" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - it's only 3" thick
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Re: Thinking of going eBIAB for 5.5G batches
Could you enclose the Roxul with Reflectix to make a layered "blanket"? Reflectix/Roxul/Reflectix. Then seal the edges/seems with relectix tape.
Wrap the vessel then hold in place with velcro.
This might save spills from contacting the Roxul and help hold it together too, maybe a bit more money.
I use reflectix, it's prone to melting near the propane burner which you won't have, but it works very well.
Wrap the vessel then hold in place with velcro.
This might save spills from contacting the Roxul and help hold it together too, maybe a bit more money.
I use reflectix, it's prone to melting near the propane burner which you won't have, but it works very well.
- jtmwhyte
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Re: Thinking of going eBIAB for 5.5G batches
2) Recipe formulation
Is it much different or am I using a similar recipe to sparge systems and just thinning the mash?
Is it much different or am I using a similar recipe to sparge systems and just thinning the mash?
Nova Prime Taproom
Tap 1: Festa Brew Scotch Ale
Tap 2:
"Fill with mingled cream and amber,
I will drain that glass again.
Such hilarious visions clamber
Through the chamber of my brain -
Quaintest thoughts - queerist fancies
Come to life and fade away;
What care I how time advances?
I am drinking ale today." ~ Poe
Tap 1: Festa Brew Scotch Ale
Tap 2:
"Fill with mingled cream and amber,
I will drain that glass again.
Such hilarious visions clamber
Through the chamber of my brain -
Quaintest thoughts - queerist fancies
Come to life and fade away;
What care I how time advances?
I am drinking ale today." ~ Poe
- Jimmy
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Re: Thinking of going eBIAB for 5.5G batches
Recipe would be the same, the only thing you need to adjust is your efficiency and water volumes (which you would do regardless of what type of system you are using). With BIAB you would typically add all of your water during the mash instead of doing a sparge. Some people will leave a bit of the water out from the mash and do a dunk sparge - it's really personal preference.
- jtmwhyte
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Re: Thinking of going eBIAB for 5.5G batches
How long does it usually take to drain the goodies out of the bag once you lift it? I'm curious if it's much faster than the cooler/sparge method as the main reason I'm thinking of doing it is time constraints on my current system (~5-6 Hour brew days)Jimmy wrote:Recipe would be the same, the only thing you need to adjust is your efficiency and water volumes (which you would do regardless of what type of system you are using). With BIAB you would typically add all of your water during the mash instead of doing a sparge. Some people will leave a bit of the water out from the mash and do a dunk sparge - it's really personal preference.
Nova Prime Taproom
Tap 1: Festa Brew Scotch Ale
Tap 2:
"Fill with mingled cream and amber,
I will drain that glass again.
Such hilarious visions clamber
Through the chamber of my brain -
Quaintest thoughts - queerist fancies
Come to life and fade away;
What care I how time advances?
I am drinking ale today." ~ Poe
Tap 1: Festa Brew Scotch Ale
Tap 2:
"Fill with mingled cream and amber,
I will drain that glass again.
Such hilarious visions clamber
Through the chamber of my brain -
Quaintest thoughts - queerist fancies
Come to life and fade away;
What care I how time advances?
I am drinking ale today." ~ Poe
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Re: Thinking of going eBIAB for 5.5G batches
It only takes minutes to lift the bag from the pot with most liquid drained. From there, I put the bag in a colander on top of the kettle and let it continue to drain as everything heats up. Typical brew day (propane outdoors) including cleanup and putting gear away in basement is 4 to 5 hours.
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Re: Thinking of going eBIAB for 5.5G batches
Bag drainage speed can depend on a few factors.
- Bag porosity. A finer mesh bag will drain slower but let less trub through. Ok, you will still get lots of trub anyways, who am I kidding?
- Grain crush. A finer crush will drain slower but can also yield higher efficiency. A really fine crush can gum up the bag a bit, related to the first point.
- Size of your grain bill. A lighter grain bill is easier to drain because it's easier to lift out, easier to squeeze the bag (if you're into that), and the wort has less grain to pass through.
My 11-12 gallon batches take way longer to drain and I get less efficiency partly because the huge grain mass is so unwieldly and too large to squeeze effectively.
- Bag porosity. A finer mesh bag will drain slower but let less trub through. Ok, you will still get lots of trub anyways, who am I kidding?
- Grain crush. A finer crush will drain slower but can also yield higher efficiency. A really fine crush can gum up the bag a bit, related to the first point.
- Size of your grain bill. A lighter grain bill is easier to drain because it's easier to lift out, easier to squeeze the bag (if you're into that), and the wort has less grain to pass through.
My 11-12 gallon batches take way longer to drain and I get less efficiency partly because the huge grain mass is so unwieldly and too large to squeeze effectively.
Electric Brewery Build
On tap at RubberToe's:
Sometimes on a Sunday Belgian Dubbel, Oaked Old Ale, Ordinary Bitter
On tap at RubberToe's:
Sometimes on a Sunday Belgian Dubbel, Oaked Old Ale, Ordinary Bitter
- jtmwhyte
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Re: Thinking of going eBIAB for 5.5G batches
I think I'll actually invest in a 70qt extreme cooler and buy a BIAB bag for that and try doing increased volume mashes with a single sparge.
Nova Prime Taproom
Tap 1: Festa Brew Scotch Ale
Tap 2:
"Fill with mingled cream and amber,
I will drain that glass again.
Such hilarious visions clamber
Through the chamber of my brain -
Quaintest thoughts - queerist fancies
Come to life and fade away;
What care I how time advances?
I am drinking ale today." ~ Poe
Tap 1: Festa Brew Scotch Ale
Tap 2:
"Fill with mingled cream and amber,
I will drain that glass again.
Such hilarious visions clamber
Through the chamber of my brain -
Quaintest thoughts - queerist fancies
Come to life and fade away;
What care I how time advances?
I am drinking ale today." ~ Poe
- bluenose
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Re: Thinking of going eBIAB for 5.5G batches
I thought you were running a single vessel? How are you able to do 11-12 gallon batches? Or did I miss an upgrade?RubberToe wrote:My 11-12 gallon batches take way longer to drain and I get less efficiency partly because the huge grain mass is so unwieldly and too large to squeeze effectively.
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Re: Thinking of going eBIAB for 5.5G batches
Yep, bigger pot.bluenose wrote:I thought you were running a single vessel? How are you able to do 11-12 gallon batches? Or did I miss an upgrade?RubberToe wrote:My 11-12 gallon batches take way longer to drain and I get less efficiency partly because the huge grain mass is so unwieldly and too large to squeeze effectively.
Electric Brewery Build
On tap at RubberToe's:
Sometimes on a Sunday Belgian Dubbel, Oaked Old Ale, Ordinary Bitter
On tap at RubberToe's:
Sometimes on a Sunday Belgian Dubbel, Oaked Old Ale, Ordinary Bitter
- bluenose
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Re: Thinking of going eBIAB for 5.5G batches
Ah so...RubberToe wrote:Yep, bigger pot.
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