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   1. Your Feedback and Questions on A Guide to Mini-BIAB

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      by Ralph, 16 years ago in Stove-top BIAB (also known as Mini-BIAB)

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      Guys,
      it is official- the MiniBIAB guide has left the launch pad!
      
      Many thanks for the constructive feedback and also patience during its genesis, also special thanks to Pat for integrating it into the website and editorial guidance.
      
      Happy to take any questions here, so fire at will!
      
      Also, please have a gander at Beachbum's Electric BIAB , it is a very thorough and helpful guide too, may answer many questions from in here.
      
      Cheers,
      Ralph.

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      Hey Ralph, thanks for making the guide. I've got a 70L kettle and have been doing some large VIF brews lately. I really want to brew more often though so I can test different recipes, so I think that stovetop BIAB is ideal!
      Thanks, Nick.
      32 Replies
      61757 Views
      nicko
      12 years ago
   2. Landlord variant

      by Ralph, 16 years ago in Creating Your Own Recipes

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      Picked up some hops in Brisbane yesterday so I'm farting around with the Landlord recipe again, wanting to try a couple of things:
      i) 1882PC Thames Valley II yeast instead of 1469PC
      ii) Higher mash temp, I'm aiming for a pretty dry beer but for methey've been just too dry at 64
      
      So starting today, the next few batches will be
      95% GP
      3 % Caraaroma
      2% Aromatic
      Mash for 90 minutes at 66
      10% grain bill as sugar
      
      20IBU Fuggles @ 90
      10IBU EKG @ 20
      2g/L Styrian Goldings @ flame- out
      15g Styrian...

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      Don't mean to drag up an old thread but Ralph 5.5kg of grain - respect! I am using a pretty similar method to you and that seems crazy!
      Obviously you brew a tonne like this and I have seen many quotes of around 4KG max for Maxi BIAB, but where have you found the limits of - easy/ good beer in 19L pots?
      
      I'd be interested to know what you thought the upper limit of grain kg is and also maybe S.G. as that would also take a hit the higher you go.
      
      I am sure I will have some maxi biab decoction...
      9 Replies
      12767 Views
      pat86
      12 years ago
   3. Your Feedback and Questions on Using Maxi-BIAB on Mini-BIAB.

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      by Ralph, 16 years ago in Full-Volume Variations - FVV (diluting and/or sparging)

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      Here's the place- holder for your questions and feednack on Using Maxi-BIAB to Brew a 'Single Batch' Mini-BIAB . Fire at will! :!:

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      frederick, this is a very old thread and it needs to be closed.
      
      Thousands of files have been posted on BIABrewer.info in many different threads. This thread is very out of date. The thread it is based on also stretches kettle size and labour to extremes.
      
      The current culmination of all the work done on BIABrewer/info can be found here . The BIABacus replaces all prior spreadsheets on the site and has the power to handle the complexities of full-volume variations.
      
      Take the time to input your...
      109 Replies
      172825 Views
      BIABrewer
      13 years ago
   4. English Pale Ale/ ESB - RdeV's TTLesque Landlord

      by Ralph, 16 years ago in BIAB Recipes

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      OVERVIEW
      
      Style: 8C. Extra Special/Strong Bitter (English Pale Ale)
      Name: RdeV's TTLesque Landlord
      Yeast: Wyeast West Yorkshire 1469PC
      Original Gravity: 1.055
      Total IBU's: 28
      Colour (EBC): 25
      Efficiency at End of Boil: 77
      Mash Length (mins): 90
      Boil Length (mins): 90
      Your Vessel Type (Pot/Keggle/Urn): Pot
      Source/Credits: Dr Smurto, Beachbum, AHB
      Notes/Instructions/Comments: Dunk sparge, post- boil dilution *, mashout decoction- optional, caramelise 2L wort- optional, sugar added to fermenter...

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      Has anyone made this and care to comment?
      1 Replies
      5509 Views
      Shifter
      14 years ago
   5. Mini-BIAB batch size discussion

      by Ralph, 15 years ago in Stove-top BIAB (also known as Mini-BIAB)

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      Invariably questions about stovetop batch size and brewlength come up. Here's one recent question to start the ball rolling.
      CShenk asks :
      This site has been great for researching the BIAB technique. I'm trying to work out a recipe to try (thinking about the APA listed here) that fits my equipment. Currently I have a 20L pot to boil in. Any rough ideas on how large of a batch I could make?
      Yep CSchenk, as hashie relates, the cheap and plentiful 19L stockpot is my main weapon and Maxi-BIAB is...

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      Hi joshua,
      Yes, I've noticed the US forums (and magazines) seem to be embracing BIAB, or at least not as hostile as they were, same goes for the UK and mainland Europe I feel. There's a few members though that have been doing BIAB of one kind or another for a very long time (I'm no BIAB pioneer), but it was seen as a bit of a radical backwater and didn't get much traction. Nowadays I think things a different, BIAB has become mainstream.
      I'm not fussy though, sparged or unsparged (i.e. full...
      21 Replies
      32658 Views
      Ralph
      15 years ago
   6. BIAB Demo at Grain & Grape Saturday 12th March

      by Ralph, 15 years ago in Australia & New Zealand

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      Thirsty & Spills are at it again, putting on one of their famous BIAB demos at Grain and Grape in Melbourne. These guys have been doing these demos for quite a while now and are really turning this into a slick operation, also demonstrating the BIABrewer Calculator and handing out free stuff. If you're in town, of course it would be well worth swinging by and check out some BIAB old hands in action.
      
      Details:
      BIAB demonstration Brew
      What - An American Pale Ale from Brewing Classic Styles....

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      how did it go guys? lots of new BIAB converts created?
      DMVBrewers
      5 Replies
      10061 Views
      DMVBrewers
      15 years ago
   7. Bag lift

      by Ralph, 15 years ago in Bags, Mashers, Thermometers, Kettles etc.

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      If I ever get to the stage where I want a semi- permanent pulley arrangement for lifting my BIAB bag, this cycle lift would probably be the sort of thing I'd press into service.
      
      As an aside, some retailers' record for stocking more than a handful for these sorts of 'while stocks last' sale items is not great though, so I won't bank on getting one from them, but I'll give it a try for $14.99.

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      That looks like a good system Ralph. It even looks like it has a built in rope lock, so no need for cleats on the wall.
      
      If I was anywhere near an Aldi, I'd be getting one.
      1 Replies
      5588 Views
      hashie
      15 years ago
   8. Does BIAB beer suffer from poor clarity?

      by Ralph, 16 years ago in From Mash to Lauter (Water to Sweet Liquor)

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      Hi there
      
      I'm in the UK and have been brewing all-grain at home for about 2 years but I'm interested in brewing in smaller batches so that I can brew a wider variety of styles because 21lts of beer lasts me ages!
      
      I also brew for a craft brewing club and smaller batches would make it easier to keep up with the brewing schedule.
      
      I'm intrigued to find out if BIAB will produce beers as good as the traditional method (no offence!) particularly where clarity is concerned.
      Hi Sara, that's a really...

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      ...... IMO clarity is mainly a cosmetic feature and haven't really invested much effort in it....
      
      Couldn't agree more, I have never really cared if a brew was little cloudy. I grew up drinking Coopers Pale and Sparkling Ales, so a really clear beer always looks a little soft/light weight to me. When ever mine clear up spectacularly in the secondary I am always worried there wont be enough yeast left in suspension to carbonate the bottles.
      11 Replies
      18335 Views
      Mick71
      15 years ago
   9. Kettle costs?

      by Ralph, 16 years ago in Bags, Mashers, Thermometers, Kettles etc.

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      Folks,
      I'm wondering how much you've paid for your kettle? In the FAQ , there's Small (30 L ), Medium (50 L) and Large (80 L ), but I actually use a 19 L pot from big double ewe (for all you foreigners, that's a large chain store!) which cost me just AU$20, but it is great for MiniBIAB (/shameless plug! ;) ).
      
      So here's a start:
      Size Volume Cost
      Mini 19 L AU$20 (Ralph)
      Small 30 L
      Medium 50 L
      Large 80 L

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      50 lt keg about 60 euros in Greek market.
      10 Replies
      12748 Views
      ksdfpr
      16 years ago
   10. Best Bitter in TT Landlord style

       by Ralph, 16 years ago in Creating Your Own Recipes

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       I've worked on this recipe for ages, now taking it back a notch from ESB to to Best/ Special Bitter for closing in on BJCP competition style guidelines (8.2).
       
       Happy to hear any suggestions! :D
       
       StrangeBrew J v.2.0.1 recipe text output
       
       Details:
       Name: Best Bitter in TTL style
       Brewer: Ralph
       Size: 25.0 litres
       Style: Special/Best/Premium Bitter
       OG: 1.047, FG:1.010, Alc:4.8, IBU:25.1
       (Alc method: by Volume; IBU method: Tinseth)
       
       Yeast: Wyeast 1469PC West Yorkshire
       
       Fermentables:
       Name amount units...

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       Here's today's variant of this recipe which I am brewing directly. Now that the competitive brewing is out of the way, I can brew what I really want for myself! :P
       Will be using 1768PC which is Wyeast's ESB and I really dig for generous maltiness, interesting esters and flavour. A hint of diacetyl I wouldn't mind, but not absolutely necessary and I have a whole yeastcake ready from yesterday's bottling so will probably use just half of it.
       The usual salts, so just some extra gypsum, I'm also...
       5 Replies
       9592 Views
       Ralph
       16 years ago
   11. Stovetop BIAB Competition Results

       by Ralph, 16 years ago in Stove-top BIAB (also known as Mini-BIAB)

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       Fellow Mini/MaxiBIABers, I'm not much for blowing my own horn, but if you've got any questions about the quality of the MaxiBIAB method, perhaps a State competition placing will be satisfactory? How about third in Qld 2010 State competition for Munich Helles?!! Two other reasonable scores for Pale Ale and Bitter Ale (both 31.000 oddly enough?), all in all a pretty reasonable result, but the main reason I entered these was to validate the method against all others, seems it does stack up fairly...

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       Great stuff Ralph.
       3 Replies
       7382 Views
       hashie
       16 years ago
   12. Using Maxi-BIAB to Brew a 'Single Batch' Mini-BIAB.

       by Ralph, 16 years ago in Full-Volume Variations - FVV (diluting and/or sparging)

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       Using Maxi-BIAB to Brew a 'Single Batch' Mini-BIAB.
       by Ralph deVoil (Ralph)
       What is MaxiBIAB?
       MaxiBIAB is a Brew In A Bag, All- Grain (or “All Mash”) method which is useful for making a full- sized batch where the kettle volume is less than the usual 23 L brew length. It is also a relatively simple and effective means for a novice brewer to try All- Grain brewing at full- scale early, so without the annoyance of small batches or a half- empty fermenter. Ordinarily, the de- facto standard...

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       Discussion
       Roots
       Not surprisingly, MaxiBIAB is a variation on MiniBIAB , the main difference is sparging and post- boil dilution, plus a couple of other less- obvious quirks.
       Because MiniBIAB is limited in terms of volume (or 'brew length'), and most brewers would like to work with standard fermenter- full batches (i.e. 23L) if they possibly can but don't want to spend any more on equipment (e.g. a bigger stockpot), some impatient (and bone- idle) brewers have tested and tuned a simple...
       6 Replies
       96339 Views
       Ralph
       16 years ago
   13. A Guide to Mini-BIAB

       by Ralph, 16 years ago in Stove-top BIAB (also known as Mini-BIAB)

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       BIABrewer Note: All brewers, new and experienced, are encouraged to start new topics in this section provided they have read the below.
       
       A Guide to Mini BIAB
       by Ralph deVoil (Ralph)
       
       This guide describes the making of All- Grain beer with the most basic, domestic kitchen equipment with no complicated processes whatsoever. This is the simplest BIAB anyone could possibly undertake, but it nevertheless has the potential to produce some of the finest beer.
       
       Experienced all-grain brewers should...

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       To provide Feedback or ask Questions on the Guide to Mini-BIAB, please use this thread .
       
       Many thanks to Ralph for providing the above guide. Please use the thread linked above to provide feedback or ask any questions on this guide. Your feedback and questions will help identify if any aspects of the guide need clarification etc., after which Ralph may allow us to use it as an official BIABrewer guide/ADO - fingers crossed.
       
       Thanks so much for spending this time Ralph and sorry we locked the...
       9 Replies
       127867 Views
       BIABrewer
       16 years ago
   14. BIABrewer's Ball- Roller Stout

       by Ralph, 16 years ago in Creating Your Own Recipes

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       Hi Folks,
       (Hope individual recipe discussion is okay here. If not, I'm happy to move it elsewhere!)
       
       Today, in honor of the site launch :D , I'm making a stout, something I haven't done for yonks and it is high time to get one underway for the upcoming southern winter (or maybe the mini- ice age from the Iceland volcano! :o ). I'm also using the MiniBIAB method of course! :cool: (/shameless plug)
       So, I was thinking of calling it BIABrewer's Ball- Roller Stout , seeing as it is getting the ball...

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       Probably redoing this in the next fortnight, I've cultured up a 1768 slant and it is getting stuck into my usual ESB (for a change from 1469), but this recipe was the main reason I broke out a new strain.
       Any suggestions on tweaking? I have some brown malt that I was wondering about adding but I've never used it before, I'm probably restocking for a few other spec malts though.
       I think the bittering could be increased a shade too and perhaps also get it into AABC 12.2 RIS (too late for this...
       14 Replies
       17375 Views
       Ralph
       16 years ago
   15. Langco Urn

       by Ralph, 16 years ago in Electric BIAB

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       I scored this in a workshop equipment rationalisation effort today, a Langco UASSC/4 20L/ 4gal Electric Urn.
       
       Its been sitting around our shed gathering dust for about 10- 20 years, probably spent most of its life in a public service tea room. Problems:
       1) Sight gauge is buggered. No biggie, will block it up if need be.
       2) It is a bit manky, again no problem, some citric acid should shift all that:
       
       The lid looks all rusty in that shot, there is only some surface corrosion and nowhere as bad...

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       No BB, I'll never surrender!!! It is just for heating my stove- top sparge water! ;)
       
       Seriously, with this urn I'll be trying to replicate what I consider have been major successes in stove- top BIAB, this weekend looks quite promising. :)
       6 Replies
       11242 Views
       Ralph
       16 years ago
   16. Strong Beer review article

       by Ralph, 16 years ago in General Chit-Chat, Nonsense & Rambles

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       I generally try not to regurgitate stuff lifted off other websites, so I won't here. Go check out gizmag's review of some of the extreme/ world's strongest beers.
       Thankfully this is not your junior puppy dog journo's predictably- lame effort at drooling over their first Eisbock, getting all messed up and then spewing incomprehensible dribble, but is a reasonably serious review of the big players in the boutique strong beer market with a lot of interesting text, historical and social context...

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       I find the opposite with kegging Matt. When it's too late and I'm too pissed to crack open another that may be wasted (I hate finding HALF a beer on the table next day) I think Ah I'll just have a halfa This of course is repeatable, and where I would have once seen reason and called it quits I now put away another six, all in quick halfas... Anything in a keg that's over 6% hurts me..badly.
       Lloydie
       3 Replies
       6971 Views
       LloydieP
       16 years ago

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