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5 gallon batches with Keggle and an IC?

Post #1 made 13 years ago
by pnj
Howdy.

I'm trying to figure out how to use my keggle to do biab. I do 5 gallon batches (carboys are 5 gallons so really closer to 4.80 ish)

I'd like to make something like the link below but I'll be using propane and won't have re circulation. But I'd like to use a strainer and line it w/ my grain bag, like many others do. The idea is, I can drain directly into my kettle....

Current issues that seem to be coming up are:

Will I have enough water in the keggle to cover my grains? I pretty much only do 1.060 and under beers.

I have a valve on my keggle and the dip tube is in the way of my IC when I put my IC into the keggle. I know many people don't like using the valve but I feel like transfering with an autosiphon is opening up my system to more infection.

another issue is, the IC is tall and skinny, which works well for my 7.5 gallon kettle that came w/ the turkey fryer. the keggle is much wider so half of my IC sticks out of the five gallon liquid point.

I really would love to use my keggle but is it too big for five gallon batches? I'm doing pretty good w/ my 7.5 gallon kettle now. my last beer came in at 1.060 and I got just under 5 gallon in my carboy.

Thoughts, suggestions? thanks! :)

Post #2 made 13 years ago
by joshua
Good Day Pnj, Just a couple of questions....please Define IC, and is your Keggle a standard American 31 gallon keg/Barrel????
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Post #3 made 13 years ago
by KMKT1012
I also use a sanke type keg (15.5gal US), I would get a tubing bender or just be careful and "open" up your IC (imersion chiller)to a larger diameter. I usually have no problem with the water not covering grains-I do full volume mashes. The only thing to consider is that your dip tube will only drain to the level it passes through your keg unless you have a hose routed below the bottom level for added siphoning. Good luck!

Post #4 made 13 years ago
by joshua
Good Day, Sorry for my error, I have No-Chilled so long, I forgot about Immesion Chillers.
Your 5/6 gallon brew may only reach 5.5" from the bottom of the Keg.
The Dip tube configuration may leave over 1 gallon of wort and trub in the keggle So you should plan for this amount of loss.
If you use 10 pounds of grain, that will need 3 gallons of water to wet the grains plus you boil off amount about 1 gallon, so you 5 gallon batch will need 9 gallon plus the loss from the Diptube.
This will be about 8.25 " of water and grains in the Keg.
If you bag is large enough to fully fit the sides of the keg. You will have enough volume to fully cover your grains with some water above them.

The Valve and diptube is a dicussion that is ongoing, Infections happen Everwhere. You might be able to lower the dip tube to collect more wort, and allow your IC to go deeper.
Honest Officer, I swear to Drunk, I am Not God.
    • SVA Brewer With Over 100 Brews From United States of America

Post #5 made 13 years ago
by PistolPatch
joshua wrote:Good Day Pnj, Just a couple of questions....please Define IC, and is your Keggle a standard American 31 gallon keg/Barrel????
I'm guessing that's 13 gallons josh not 31 :lol:.

Hi there pnj,

A 13 gallon keg is fine for 5 gallon batches as you'll be mashing (assuming you will be doing a full volume BIAB) with 9 or so gallons of water.

I'm not quite following the original post though. It sounds like you are wanting to use two vessels (which you don't need if you are doing pure BIAB) and I can't work out how you can boil in a keggle with the dip tube in. I think I'm missing something here. There's a link you had in your first post that didn't pop up. Maybe that's what I'm missing?

:peace:
PP
Last edited by PistolPatch on 26 Jan 2012, 22:15, edited 3 times in total.
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Post #6 made 13 years ago
by joshua
Good Day PP, In America, the two 1/2 barrel kegs are the OLD 15.5gallon/58L Keg, and the NEW 13.8 gallon/52L DIN keg, I don't know if PNJ is using a full barrel(common in some places) or the new 1/2 barrels.
In America we are switching to the Euro type DIN kegs,"Less beer for the same money" so we have a mess with kegs sizes in brewing programs
Honest Officer, I swear to Drunk, I am Not God.
    • SVA Brewer With Over 100 Brews From United States of America

Post #7 made 13 years ago
by Mad_Scientist
I'm making 5 gallon batches in my keggle. With the full water and grains in during the mash the level comes to the middle welded seam (1/2 the capacity). Every works for me. Check out my photos and see if you have any follow-up questions with us.
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