I currently have a Blichmann 10g kettle and a Wilser bag, but not much else specific to BIAB. I use my high-output kitchen stove to provide the heat, and use Beersmith to calculate the water temp needed to get the mash temp right. I lift the bag out manually and place it in a big tray (my equipment storage tray!) with a cookie sheet angled on a pan, rinse grains with a portion of water withheld from the mash and pour it back into the kettle. It's worked for many, many batches and I made some really good brew with it. Efficiency has ranged from 72 to 80%.
I'd like to do a non-intrusive upgrade to this setup and I'm not sure what to do next. Recirculate with a pump attached to the bottom valve so I can do away with the rinse step? Add a controlled electric heating element so I can keep mash temps constant without the blanket? Something simple like a sous vide? Add a basket? No pulleys as I have a microwave above the stove and have no place to attach them.
I'm not looking to spend a lot of money as I'm not even sure how much brewing I'll do. I haven't touched the equipment in 3 years now but I've got the itch again. I see Blichmann has upgrades specific to their equipment, but they are expensive, as was my kettle.
Any advice appreciated.
I'd like to do a non-intrusive upgrade to this setup and I'm not sure what to do next. Recirculate with a pump attached to the bottom valve so I can do away with the rinse step? Add a controlled electric heating element so I can keep mash temps constant without the blanket? Something simple like a sous vide? Add a basket? No pulleys as I have a microwave above the stove and have no place to attach them.
I'm not looking to spend a lot of money as I'm not even sure how much brewing I'll do. I haven't touched the equipment in 3 years now but I've got the itch again. I see Blichmann has upgrades specific to their equipment, but they are expensive, as was my kettle.
Any advice appreciated.