I've never used the BIAB water volume calculators and learned my ideal strike water volumes through trial and error. The key is to get the correct pre-boil volume in the kettle after you remove the grains. If I start with 7.5 gallons of strike water and intend to boil for 1-hour, I know I'll need at least 6.5 gallons in the kettle pre-boil (assuming a 1-gal per hour boil off rate.) If I have at least this much in the kettle after mash out, I don't squeeze. If I don't have this amount in the kettle after mashing, I will squeeze. You'll need to experiment to find the best starting volume of water for your particular setup. Everyone's equipment setup is different. At least the problem you reported (having too much wort in the kettle after mashing) was correctable since all you had to do was boil longer.
No worries about tannins from squeezing. Tannins come from high temperature situations, like boiling the grains, or very high pH. You won't extract tannins from squeezing. Hope this helps.
Could I do something like ALWAYS using 7.5 gallons and if I come up a little short pre-boil could I add a little more water? Would this mess anything up?
naaa... you can use a keggle for 10 gallon batches..
24lbs of grain with an average absorption of .08/lb +batch size of 10 gallons +boil off of 2 gallon puts it right under 14 gallons. it'll be tight..(15.5 total capacity) but it can be done. that'll get ya in the 1.06 range of beer or higher. of course a 20 gallon pot would be better. no one says you can't have a 20 gallon pot for bigger beers or larger batches.. and keep a 10 gallon pot around for 5 gallon batches.
Noob question here - couldn't the 20 gallon pot be used for smaller batches (5 gal). Looking to get equipment to meet my current needs (5 Gal batches), with potential for larger brews (10 Gal) and smaller batches (1 or 2.5 gal).
Not yet to propane burner but am looking to upgrade with biab. Also like thought of smaller batches so might consider getting a couple different kettle sizes. Currently have a 6.5gal for extract stove top batches.
I would suggest a pot that is a minimum of 1.5 times as big as your batch.
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Good thoughts, thanks. I heard 5 gallons is possible with sparge in 6.5 pot though it might be tight.
Good thoughts, thanks. I heard 5 gallons is possible with sparge in 6.5 pot though it might be tight. Will weigh my pot options.
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I do 5 -5.5 gal batches in an 11gal pot. It works up to about 13lbs of grain if you add all your water to start.
So, now if I approach or go over 13lbs of grain I mash with 6.5 - 7 gal of water then sparge with what I need to get my pre-boil volume. Sometimes I use this approach with less than 13lbs of grain because it ensures my pre-boil volume is correct. I have found that with some grain bills, mostly those with flaked grains, typical grain absorption calculations don't work for me. This approach has also allowed me to do an 8gal batch, only one but it worked out without a hitch.
I would suggest a pot that is a minimum of 1.5 times as big as your batch. I'm doing 10 gallons in a 15.5 gallon keggle. I generally have to hold back a couple gallons for sparge (you could just add a couple gallons without sparging if you want to keep it simple). 20 gallons would accomodate 10 gallons of a big beer.
However, I would never try those sizes on a stove. I have a 8.5 gal pot for stove. I can brew 5 gallons in that. Your 6.5 would be fine for 3 gal batches. My 8.5 straddles two burners which makes it easier to use.
Hope that helps.
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Brewit,
Can you go thru your process? I have a 15 gallon pot (to the tip top) and would LOVE to be able to do some 10 gallon batches.
Question for anybody that's had trouble pinning down their efficiency. With doing a single grind at LHBS, add all water at mash time, do a 10min 170 degree sparge, I have gotten anywhere from 60% - 71% efficiency. This weekend I ordered from Brewmasters Warehouse, asked for a double milling of the grain, called and confirmed it was double milled, did an 80min mash, kept the grain in the water while bringing up to 170 and stirred the whole time until it got to 170. Covered and sparged for 10min. Ended up with 64% efficiency, this is for a Saison with a 10lb grain bill and 1lb of sugar.
I added the sugar with 10min left in the boil, so not part of the mash, and shouldn't have any bearing on my efficiency except that it might be skewing it because it does add to the OG.
I'm at a loss on figuring out to get my eff. more constant. I have a couple bigger beers I'd like to do in the coming months and really don't want to expect 9 - 10% ABV and end up with 7% since my eff. may end up being lower with larger grain bills.
Hey Guys. Was hoping to do my first BIAB this weekend, but I'm still a bit confused about how much water I need to use. I'm doing a 2.5 gallon batch since all I have is a 5 gallon kettle. I found a recipe for a porter, converted it to 2.5 in beersmith, and it seems it's giving me about 6.94 pounds of grains. With a 60 minute boil, BIABcalculator.com is saying I need 4.06 gallons of water. Does this seem correct? I seem to be getting different numbers on beersmith.
I've heard that Whirlfloc will keep the foam under control but I've never tried it.
Whirfloc is a kettle coagulant to floc the proteins similar to Irish moss, I think RM-MN is referring to ferm cap S, an anti foam agent that will help with boil overs.
Sorry to nit pic, all else spot on!!!
Cheers!
Brewnewb1 You should really try to use BIABscus excel sheet/calc from biabrewer.info
But bc it's your 1st biab batch: do a full volume mash (mash&sparge water combined). So, shoot for water:grist ratio, at least 1.50 qts/ lbs. For a good measure, extend mashing time to 90 min (incl. 10 min mashout). Double crush your grains, add extra 10% of base malt (again for a good measure in terms of efficiency ).
Report back here & Good luck!!"
Thanks for the help! Unfortunately I'm not a member so I can't download the calculator. Any chance someone could share it with me?
Unfortunately due to my small kettle, I'm not sure I could do a full volume mash. In that event, would it be ok to do something like mash in 3-3.5 gallons and then before boil top off to my pre-boil volume? (in this case it would be 3.75 gallons)
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