Few questions before first attempt at BIAB

Post #1 made 13 years ago
I've been reading through the site and it appears that a 90 minute mash and 90 minute boil are recommended. Why? I assume the longer mash is to increase efficiency, but why extend the boil? Pros and cons?

Second, is an all grain recipe purchased as a kit OK to be used as BIAB? Same ingedients, hop schedule, mash temp, etc.,- but just use the BIAB process?

I'm sure I'll have more but this is a start.

Thank you.

Post #2 made 13 years ago
Good Day, Depending on the grains, a longer boil will remove the DMS/SMM (cooked cabbage Flavor) from the beer, but, that will Darken the beer.

To argue with PP, if your making a Brown ale, Porter, or Stout, you can use a 45/60/75 minute boil as the kit recipe says.

Yes, "All Grain Kits" can be made with BIAB, Use "all" the water for a full volume mash, and the beer will be better than 3V brew.

IMHO
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Post #3 made 13 years ago
Hi X!

There are many on this site who can give you a much more nuanced and technical response than I can, but Im going to give it a shot any way.

A quick note on why I use BIAB. To be brief, I can brew very good all grain beer with a simple process that uses a minimum of equipment. Brewing tasty cost effective beer is inportant to me. I really try not to get super caught up in measurements.

I think that the 90 min mash will improve your efficiency, as will a mash out process in wich you raise the mash temp up to 170F give the grain a quick stir and than pull the bag. You dont need to do all the sparage stuff 3 vessel brewing requires so the 90 min mash does not really make you day any longer? So I do a 90 min mash. I really can see no downside to this process.

I believe that the 90 min boil is a bit of a safety boil to help drive of certain wort components that can contribute sort of corn type flavors to your beer. Some malts (such as pilsner malts) have more of a tendancy to contribute these types of corny flavors than other malts. I can tell you that since I have gone the the 90 min boil I feel that those types of flavors are gone from my beers. They did exist proir to my 90 min boils. I think that there are many on this site who do 60 min boils with good results. An additional reason I consistently use the 90 min boil is that I live at nearly 6000' and feel the 90 min boil is vital for my beer given the effects of altitude on boiling. A longer boil will increase you energy costs, but the small increase in cost is worth it for me.

Hope this helps.

trout
Last edited by 2trout on 18 Dec 2012, 00:13, edited 2 times in total.
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Post #4 made 13 years ago
Opus X wrote:Second, is an all grain recipe purchased as a kit OK to be used as BIAB? Same ingedients, hop schedule, mash temp, etc.,- but just use the BIAB process?
The basic answer is yes.

The more complicated answer is perhaps,

The reason I say this is that recipes work best when designed for your own personnel brewhouse, i.e your equipment,efficiencies and methods. Granted when you first start off Biabing you won't have any data to base your volumes and weights on, but by using the calculator certain assumptions can be made which will get you into the ballpark. This is where "kits" give you a problem. They will have been designed to someone elses efficiencies and equipment. The efficiency figures used are rarely if ever given, so in effect you will have to make the kit "fit" and compromises will have to be made. This may mean that you have to use more water for instance (due to your better efficiency figure) which might put you over your kettle volume limits, so then you will have to alter your grain bill, which may have come premixed so what do you do ? See what I mean?

The best thing to do is decide on a recipe and input it into the calculator and post it for comment/tweaking. Once you/we are happy, you will have a grain and hop bill that any decent HBS will be happy to supply. Keep good notes during that brew and repeat over 4 more brews and you will have the data available to dial in your equipment.

Sorry for the ramble :blush: but as someone who likes to convert recipes for people :headhit: I have had to make things fit a couple of times. Doable but its best to start with your equipment profile and take it from there.

Oh and if you have already bought the kit don't let the above worry you. Post it up and we will check it over..

:thumbs:

Yeasty
Last edited by Yeasty on 18 Dec 2012, 02:02, edited 2 times in total.
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Post #5 made 13 years ago
I came across this today and we might find it useful. 90 minute mash and diacetal stuff. Sorry I am having to much birthday cheer! :drink:
http://www.winning-homebrew.com/diacetyl-test.html
Last edited by BobBrews on 18 Dec 2012, 02:35, edited 2 times in total.
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Post #6 made 13 years ago
I have already bought the kit. It will be my second attempt at the kit. The first one I tried 3V and failed. I was going to try it again 3V then I thought about BIAB.

What I will probably do is just brew it up. Like you said, since this is a first BIAB I do not have any baseline info. (It was also my first attempt at 3V) However, I have input the recipe into a calculator at Brewers Friend and it seems to jive with my equipment profile. The BIAB calculator is proving to be more work than I bargained for because it is in some sort of foreign language. :) I'm sure with more use I will get comfortable with the workaround.

However, if you just like to run through this stuff, I can post my equipment profile and the recipe in this thread.

I really appreciate the help.

Post #7 made 13 years ago
Opus X wrote:The BIAB calculator is proving to be more work than I bargained for because it is in some sort of foreign language. :)
There's a few 'calculators' floating about Opus :). Can you do me a favour and link the one you have been using? If it's the one here can you let us know what bits are throwing you? (That one is all getting changed but it's always of great help knowing what bits are most confusing.)

And, welcome to the forum :peace:,
PP
Last edited by PistolPatch on 18 Dec 2012, 02:57, edited 2 times in total.
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Post #8 made 13 years ago
Opus X wrote:However, if you just like to run through this stuff, I can post my equipment profile and the recipe in this thread.
Post it up Opus, lets make your first biab a success. If you post the recipe and your pot dimensions I'll put it into the correct calculator for you and write a walk through. You'll soon pick it up.

:salute:

Yeasty
Last edited by Yeasty on 18 Dec 2012, 06:02, edited 2 times in total.
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Post #9 made 13 years ago
Thanks. I appreciate the help. Here goes:

Style: American Pale Ale
Name: Sierra
Yeast: Wyeast American 1056
Fermentation Temperature: 62-65 (F)
Original Gravity: 1.057
Total IBU's: 49.32
Color (EBC): 4.8
Efficiency at End of Boil: 72% (Just a guess)
Mash Length (mins): 90
Boil Length (mins): 90
Your Vessel Type (Pot/Keggle/Urn): Pot
Source/Credits: This is a kit purchased from Austin Home Brew Supply

Volumes etc.

Your Vessel Volume (L or gal): 10.5g
Your Vessel Diameter (cm or in): 15 5/8”
Water Required (L or gal): 9.75g
Mash Temperature (C or F): 152 (F)
Volume at End of Boil (L or gal):
Volume into Fermenter (L or gal): 5.25g
Brew Length (L or gal):
Total Grain Bill (g or oz): 11.4lb/ 182.4oz

Grains - Colors - Percentages and/or Weight (g or oz)

Grain 1: 9 lb of American Pale 2 Row/ 1.8L
Grain 2: .8 lb of American Carapils (Dextrine)/ 1.8L
Grain 3: .8 lb of American Caramel Crystal 10L/ 10L
Grain 4: .8 lb American Vienna/ 4L

Hops - AA% - IBUs - Weight (g or oz) at Minutes

Hop 1: 1 oz Perle at 60 min./ 8.2 AA/ 32.51 IBU
Hop 2: 1 oz Cascade at 20 min/ 7 AA/ 16.81 IBU
Hop 3: 1 oz Cascade at 0 min/ 7 AA/ 0 IBU
Hop 4: 2 oz Cascade Dry Hop


Adjuncts/Minerals/Finings etc.

None

Notes:

This will be a BIAB using a 42qt pot (15 5/8” X 13.5”) and propane burner.

Post #10 made 13 years ago
:argh: :argh: I should have guessed it would be in imperial :lol:

No worries though still can be done..might not be tonight mate as I've got some bottling to do..

Yeasty
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Post #11 made 13 years ago
Yeasty wrote::argh: :argh: I should have guessed it would be in imperial :lol:

No worries though still can be done..might not be tonight mate as I've got some bottling to do..

Yeasty
:lol:

OpusX/Yeasty...

I've corresponded with BIABrewer. We have an okay to go ahead and use the BIABacus V1.0 New Betas 2.25 version in Use this thread to convert recipes to suit your equipment... as they want to get it out the door early in the new year. They want a few provisos written however before you or I post in that thread.

So, I'll convert OpusX's recipe there. (Will add link when done).
:peace:
PP
Last edited by PistolPatch on 21 Dec 2012, 21:14, edited 2 times in total.
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Post #14 made 13 years ago
OK. So I brewed this up today. Expected OG of 1.057 and got 1.041. :think:

I suspect I need to work on my mash. It was pretty cold out today and my mash lost 8 degrees F over 90 minutes. I will heat earlier next time.

Is this beer going to be terrible?

Post #15 made 13 years ago
Opus X,

Don't get caught up in the numbers game just yet! The numbers will very a lot because of many different variables. Get the system down first. The beer will turn out great! The numbers are great for keeping records and fine tuning your work. I have had a zillion (new word) screw ups and my beer turned out. :thumbs:

Look at this link for cold brews. http://youtu.be/RQgOa5u1fes

I missed all my marks and the boil didn't hardly happen. :pray: :pray:

http://www.cenwisdb.org/
Last edited by BobBrews on 29 Dec 2012, 05:49, edited 3 times in total.
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tap 2 Bourbon Barrel Porter
tap 3 Czech Pilsner
tap 4 Triple IPA 11% ABV

Pipeline: Mulled Cider 10% ABV

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Post #16 made 13 years ago
Hey there Opus,

I read above, "It will be my second attempt at the kit. The first one I tried 3V and failed." When you say failed, do you mean it scored a very low gravity there as well? If so, then check what you can from the list below...

Some Common Reasons for a Low Efficiency Reading

Firstly, never rely on a single reading on a single brew. An occasional strange reading is common. We, home brewers are trying to take measurements at a micro level. There's several points in the brew you can take gravity and volume readings so try and find two points on each brew until you have say 4 or 5 brews notched up. (And, don't be worried if you forget to measure. It's very hard for anything to go very wrong.) After say four or five brews, you'll develop an understanding of how much brew figures can fluctuate. So this is number one on the list below.

If an odd reading persists, points 2 to 9 below should be checked or re-checked.

1. Reading has not been confirmed. (This table shows the resulting measurements of 30 brewers mailed identical ingredients and then asked to brew the same recipe.)
2. Grain bill incorrectly weighed.
3. Thermometer not calibrated at mash temperatures. (This post shows how unreliable a single thermometer is.)
4. Hydrometer not calibrated at original gravity.
5. Bag is too tight and restricts liquor flow.
6. pH of mash has not been adjusted.
7. Estimated mash efficiency did not reflect the gravity of the brew. (A high gravity beer will have a lower mash efficiency than a low gravity beer.)
8. The brewer is measuring 'efficiency into fermenter' rather than 'efficiency into the kettle.' The first figure is often far lower than the second.
9. The grain used has lower extract potential or higher moisture content than the specifications being used for the calculations.

You wouldn't believe how many people get caught by number 3 so see if you can buy another thermometer before you brew again.

One last but important question, did you end up with the right volume or was there too much?

:peace:
Last edited by PistolPatch on 29 Dec 2012, 05:49, edited 2 times in total.
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Post #18 made 13 years ago
Okay, if the first brew you did (the 3V one) also ended up with right volume but low gravity, I'm thinking that you really need to look at 3, 5 and 6 above first.

When you say you started with 9.25 gallons, I'm a bit unsure on this as your kettle capacity is only 9.2 gallons. In other words, you wouldn't be able to fit the grain and all that water into the mash so...

1. How did you manage the water?
2. Did you use 11.9 pounds of grain?

There'll be a simple answer to your problem somewhere :)!
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Post #19 made 13 years ago
My pot is 10.5 gallons and the grain was 11.4 pounds. With 9.25 gallons of water the pot was filled to the brim. I might of had 1/4"-1/2" to spare.

My first attempt in the 3v system never made it to the boiling pot. I had a stuck sparge that I couldn't fix.

I only took 1 gravity reading during the process. I forgot to as I was focused on the process. The reading I took was after boiling and cooling to 76 degrees F.

If I had to guess I would say my mash was flawed. Here is how it went:

strike water 160 F
after doughing in 156 F
after 15 mins 156 F
after 30 mins 154 F
after 45 mins 151 F
after 60 mins 150 F
after 90 mins 148 F

At that point I turned the heat on to raise the temp to 170 F. The first time I looked at the thermometer it said 180 F, so I panicked and cut the heat and pulled the bag. I checked the temp again and it was only 160 F, the 180 F appears to be a wrong reading.

I use 2 thermometers so I can rule out non calibrated thermometers. I use a floating thermometer and one of those stick thermometers that attach to the side of the pot. Both were consistent with each other during the brew.

My bag was loose and the grain appeared to have plenty of room.

I'm going to give it another go as soon as the carboy this batch is fermenting in frees up. Next time I will add some heat at 45 mins and take multiple readings to see if that helps.

Does that mash schedule look too out of line?

Thanks for the help.

Post #20 made 13 years ago
Mash schedule/temp drop over time looks fine. From what I understand, a majority of the important conversion happens in the first 20-30 minutes anyway.

Always stir like crazy while bringing up to mashout and before taking a temp reading, stratification can cause temps to vary widely in different parts of the pot.

I use a laboratory grade glass thermometer. I know PP might disagree but I subscribe to the old adage: "A man with 2 watches will never know what time it is".

---Todd
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Post #22 made 13 years ago
:lol:. I have no probs with two watches! The more the merrier - as long as they re within a few minutes ;). (Often they are not).

It looks as though Opus does not have a watch problem. There's lots of other stuff though that could have gone wrong. For example, why did he get a reading of 180F (82 C)? Maybe this was a problem?

Forgetting that though, we are worrying here about a single gravity measurement. I assumed that the first brew also had low efficiency. However, the first brew was never completed so we are back to Bob's post above. In other words, don't worry at this stage Opus.

It could have been a dodgy reading or maybe an incorrectly weighed grain bill?

I did a recipe conversion here earlier. One thing I am wondering is why none of the figures prescribed match? The original prescription assumed a pot of 9.2 G capacity, 11.9 lbs of grain and 9.0 G touching that grain. This is not critical stuff but the more info we have, the better. Why did the kettle size suddenly change for example? (Maybe I buggered something up?)

For now though, my advice would be to brew again. One measurement on a single brew is absolutely nothing to worry about. On your next brew, take volume and gravity measurements pre and post-boil. This will help to conclude whether there is a problem. Until then, you might be worrying about nothing.

;)
PP
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Post #24 made 13 years ago
The recipe looks like one that will work out to be really nice regardless of the gravity Opus. I reckon you'll enjoy it so look forward to your first sip :party:.
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