First Foray into BIAB- two minis this weekend- pls check?

Post #1 made 10 years ago
Hi to all

I'm just starting out in home brewing and having watched many videos, read a great deal here, and watched my mate BIAB last weekend I'm ready to do my first 4L (VIF) small batches.

If anyone would mind checking my attached Biabacus files to see if I've badly screwed them up that'd be greatly appreciated before I buy the grain bill?

I've got a lot of ideas and enthusiasm so my plan is to get two batches into 15L fermenters this weekend, then when my primary is bottled in about 10 days I will use it to do my third small batch

cheers
Nick
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Post #2 made 10 years ago
Pretty good job filling it out, but one thing you have to look at closer is VAW.

You seem to be falling into the classic trap that "batch size" = VAW, when it could mean quite a few things. Do a quick forum search on "low integrity recipe" here, and you will have plenty of reading material.

Most notable thread is this one, although it seems that some people get butthurt after reading it instead of absorbing one of the biggest problems that homebrewers have in communicating with each other effectively.

VAW = volume at flame out, AND chilled ... not in the heated state (which would be a greater volume due to heat expansion, or simply as we call it - VFO).

Drop a quick note to those HBT members to find out this volume and you're good to go.

My assessment:

Yooper's Oatmeal Stout -

Desired VIF = 20.82L (not VAW) ... which leaves original VAW 23.11L. In section G, you want to set "hop sock Y/N" to Y (this can be changed back later if you are not using one, but this will get your numbers to match). Set this VIF number to 20.82 in section B for now, we can scale to your desired volume later.

Section D, remove the 32 in "i'm designing my own recipe ... ", as this is overriding the original VAW calculation.

She has her IBU's at 31.6, and I'm getting 29.5 ... however all the grains are matching nicely. It's close, but still might be worth asking her what her VFO or VAW was, kettle efficiency (not brewhouse), etc ... so that you can be extra sure. But, I mean ... it's 1 IBU.

From here, you just enter your desired VIF, done. Change back the hopsock value if needed as well. All this does, is simply make you more beer to account for hop losses (or less if you can squeeze the hop sack to reclaim it).

Gold Winning IPA -

Brewer states "I had 70% efficiency". I have no idea what they are talking about, because overriding BIABacus default kettle efficiency to that, and using 17.65 desired VIF to match the grains brings us a VAW of 20.59L and 83IBU (which is way off the 65 IBU mark). This could be correct, as I don't know what formula they are using. In yooper's recipe, I happen to know it's tinseth from previous experience with her recipes. Plus, hers matches anyway .. giving evidence of it.

They could be stating 70% efficiency as brewhouse efficiency, so you will need to ask the brewer some questions.

SNPA clone - Wow, that original recipe is a huge mess ... I wouldn't even bother.
Last edited by Rick on 26 Aug 2015, 20:21, edited 1 time in total.
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Post #3 made 10 years ago
Also, read the note at the bottom of Section D. You typed in "pellets", leaving that field blank is all that is needed.
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Post #4 made 10 years ago
Thank you very much Rick for the detailed answer. I haven't bought my grain bill yet so you've given me some great pointers to tinker with the numbers some more.

I have read several of the high/low integrity threads you pointed out and appreciate the inherent frustration in so many recipes being too vague- ultimately though i need to strike a balance between finding a highly rated recipe i like vs that's its very well written.
I'm inclined to go with the vibe of what they're trying to say and accept i can't clone their recipe due to the integrity failings. The SNPA clone as you said is a mess but I've read about 17 x such similar recipes by now and will just take an approximation.
I'll read through Yoopers stout thread as the answers you've suggested i seek are probably there.
Thanks again; I'll post back to confirm how it goes on brew day.
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Post #5 made 10 years ago
Just a quick update to say i fixed my biabacus files as directed (not attached) and bought the 3x grain bills.
Having done more reading on recipe integrity and finding no meaningful info in yoopers stout thread that would give me vif or vaw I've resigned myself to approximately duplicating the recipes i like where integrity is low and roll with the punches.

I got my 30L first brew (extract) bottled last night so i may do 3x minibiab this weekend
Mwahahaha
Cheers
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