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Keggle set up

Post #1 made 14 years ago
by Brendandrage
Hi Guys,
Dumb newbie question, im getting a keggle set up and thinking about the outlet tap.
Do i need to set up a false bottom?
Do i need to set up a suction pipe into the back of the outlet tap?

Thats about it for now

Thanks in advance :headhit:

Post #2 made 14 years ago
by joshua
Good Day, some use a tap, some say it causes infections.

Some use a false bottom to prevent the bag from burning, Others just lift the bag.

The pipe from the back of the tap can be a "be-itch" to clean.

In other words if you really want it, you can have it! Everything has good and bad things about it.
Honest Officer, I swear to Drunk, I am Not God.
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Post #3 made 14 years ago
by Brendandrage
Hi josh!
Thanks for the reply can i ask the the same question differently?

Do you use a tap? If not do you siphon while the wort is hot or ???

Do you use a false bottom?

Do you have a pipe from the tap to the bottom of the keg or hw do you extract the last amount of wort from the pot?

Post #4 made 14 years ago
by lambert
Hi Brendandrage

1. I had a tap on a previous kettle but I now use a jiggler syphon and silicon hose with my new kettle to transfer the wort (hot and cold). The tap was easier and quicker to use but I took it apart and cleaned it after every brew and this took time. The jiggler and hose works perfectly and it's easy to clean. The negatives are that you have to wear protective gloves when transferring hot wort and it's sometimes a bit clumsy to use. If you do a whirlpool after a boil you may disturb the trub when you start the jiggler. Here is an alternative http://www.biabrewer.info/viewtopic.php?f=53&t=1108 method of draining your kettle. You can also use a racking cane (copper pipe is fine) or, if you only plan to transfer cooled wort, a plastic auto syphon.

2. False bottom. I use a hop sock so I don't need a false bottom in order to prevent hops from blocking the flow of wort when doing the transfer. I do however have a cake cooling rack in the bottom of the kettle to prevent the bag from melting during the mashout procedure. A false bottom will/might(?) serve the same purpose.

3. I had a pipe from the tap to the bottom of the keg because I would have "lost" about 2l of wort on a 20L brew if I did not extracted every last bit from the kettle. I ended up with all the trub in the cube but this was not a problem as I could leave the trub in the cube when I transferred it to the fermenter.

You will get a lot of different answers/opinions on your questions and it will be pretty much up to you to decide on the best options for your situation.

Good luck, and let us know what you've decided on in the end!

L
Last edited by lambert on 28 Jun 2012, 20:17, edited 4 times in total.
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Post #5 made 14 years ago
by BobBrews
Brendandrage,

I do not use anything to keep the bag off the bottom except a bungee cord around the top rim. I have melted a bag in the beginning before I used the bungee! I have a spout (valve) that has a copper pickup tube to siphon the wort. I have "never cleaned nor disassembled" it? I have never had a infection caused by it. I suppose boiling wort kills everything and no chill keeps it sanitized? See here!

http://www.stempski.com/biab.php

Whichever way you go You will brew good beer! With all the differences we show in brewing we always brew good beer!
Last edited by BobBrews on 28 Jun 2012, 21:26, edited 4 times in total.
tap 1 Raspberry wine
tap 2 Bourbon Barrel Porter
tap 3 Czech Pilsner
tap 4 Triple IPA 11% ABV
Pipeline: Mulled Cider 10% ABV

http://cheesestradamus.com/ Brewers challenge!
    • SVA Brewer With Over 100 Brews From United States of America

Post #6 made 14 years ago
by hashie
My 2 cents, simple is better.

I use a stainless racking cane and silicone hose to siphon hot wort into my no chill container.

It's my opinion that taps, false bottoms, tri-clover clamps, pumps etc make us feel good because they look pretty and we have spent money for them. But they serve no real purpose in BIAB.
"It's beer Jim, but not as we know it."

Post #7 made 14 years ago
by joshua
God Day Brendandrage,
I use a false bttom because I am too lasy to play with the bag since it in a closed kettle, 'til it goes to boil.

I NO-CHILL cause I'm too lazy to fool with an IC, and all that water/ice.

The hoist I use to pull the bag(I'm too lazy to lift it) also can lift the kettle.

I simple pour the kettle thru a screen filter, into the fermenter. I'm to lazy to fool with a siphon.

I am too lazy to fool with a tap and a drain system, cause it is a pain to clean.

I have found that you can pour the N.C. wort thru a santized cloth filter, then squeeze the filter and get almost ALL the wort into the fermenter.

Hey, I am Lazy, but this is the last step before pitching the yeast.
Honest Officer, I swear to Drunk, I am Not God.
    • SVA Brewer With Over 100 Brews From United States of America

Post #8 made 14 years ago
by Robbo5252
I dont want to hijack but I have just set up a keggle and done my first brew.
My question is regarding a thermometer, what is the best one and where?
I used a cheap digital stick one but unsure how accurate it is.
Am I best getting a dial thermo? If so, should I mount it in my keggle, or do I put it in a plastic dish as others have done? Or just hold it when stirring as has been suggested?

Cheers

Robbo

Post #9 made 14 years ago
by BobBrews
Robbo5252,

I don't trust any thermometer. I have several types. Compare them all at the same time to check for similar readings and pick your favorite. It doesn't have to be the most accurate as long as you know that the easiest one to (read, hold, use) is one degree (higher? - lower?) than the rest. You can compensate in your head. I like digital with big numbers so I can see them without my reading glasses. I regularly recheck the average temps because digital's drift and dial faces get stuck hands? I just hold the probe in the mash as I stir and move it around!
tap 1 Raspberry wine
tap 2 Bourbon Barrel Porter
tap 3 Czech Pilsner
tap 4 Triple IPA 11% ABV
Pipeline: Mulled Cider 10% ABV

http://cheesestradamus.com/ Brewers challenge!
    • SVA Brewer With Over 100 Brews From United States of America

Post #10 made 14 years ago
by thughes
I use the lab grade glass ones you can buy at the LHBS for $6.00 (US). I've got several and had tested them, they are calibrated accurately (they are "lab grade") and they all agree. And NO, I haven't broken one yet (probably because I own more then one?).

---Todd
WWBBD?
    • SVA Brewer With Over 100 Brews From United States of America

Post #11 made 14 years ago
by PistolPatch
Bob and thughes are spot on in their saying not to rely on a single thermometer. Aim to get a few and make sure your first few are glass type ones as digitals can 'break' (read inaccurately) without you even knowing it.

A dial thermometer welded into your kettle has a lot of problems. Firstly you are relying on one thermometer. Secondly, it can't get the temperature of the mash, only the outside of the mash. Thirdly, it gets in the way of the bag. Fourthly they need to be re-calibrated from time to time.

So, just keep it simple and make sure you stir the mash well before taking any temperature reading.

And welcome to the forum Robbo :salute:.
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Post #12 made 14 years ago
by Robbo5252
Did my second BIAB on the weekend in the keggle and again was under gravity, so not sure if its my thermo, but I have 2 glass ones coming this week which should give me a more accurate reading than the cheap ebay one.

It just meant I boiled for 90 minutes instead of 60 and finished with a little less wort but was only 2 points under target.

Cheers

Robbo

Post #13 made 14 years ago
by PistolPatch
To me, it sounds like you are going really well Robbo. I think it's too early to start worrying about your volumes and gravities being a bit off. Maybe after a few more brews, run through this list here and make sure you have everything covered.

On your next brew (or even for the ones you've done now), you could put your recipe and numbers up here and we can see if there is something obviously out of whack.

At the end of the day, if you have a bit less wort or a bit more and a bit of a different gravity, that's normal/excellent.

:peace:
PP
Last edited by PistolPatch on 09 Jul 2012, 16:45, edited 4 times in total.
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