Brewing Techniques - BIAB etc.

[Crusader-Rob]

http://www.forum.realbeer.co.nz/forum/topics/recipe-advice-thread?c...

As an interesting discussion broke out regarding Mashing Techniques, I figured this could make a good separate thread.

My process is BIAB, no sparging, making the day of brewing that bit shorter. I use a 50 Litre pot, to mash, and boil in. for standard 20L batches.

I keep the temp consistent by using 2x Camping mats from Kmart at $10 each, and wrap up using bungy cords. normally lose maybe 2 degrees C after an hour mash time. (I brew in the morning too, so its cooler.)

[Peter Smith]

yeah nah

you can't scale BIAB past double batches IMHO, if you want to learn how to scale then 3V has benefits,   I have to say a few newly professional brewers have said Pete get a mash tun learn how to use one...   you wont look back.   YMMV.  my BIAB can easily scale to double but thats because its a pot inside a pot, solid walls etc, and I am not happy about the vorlauf sp? and letting the bed settle to get clear wort....

Perhaps we in HB community copy the big pro setups....   If you look at the small pro setups ie deep creek there mash tun is no smaller then there kettle...... (maybe a 1000L system maybe smaller looks 1000 i think)  which is almost BIAB excepting recirc and inability to lift 100kg of grains out of a pot....

Still keen to try 3v with heat exchanger (herms) and a grant.   the HLT only needs to be a URN with pid thats $200, the MT a cooler with false bottom thats $250 max maybe less if i can get a decent Amazon buy.

a few fittings and pumps of trademe..     cheap experiments that you can flick individual bits if it doesn't suit you  , in my case I have the pumps from past ventures again YMMV

Sipping on version 3 of my 2am IPA (6.5%), this may be clouding my judgement...

[Ralph]

Oh a good 3V with all the heat exchanging and pumps would be awesome... but I don't have the space at home to have this, and BIAB produces great results efficiently. If I was looking to scale up it would definitely be a 3V system with all the bells and whistles.

[David R]

Now you're talking! I'd be interested in seeing what a stainless mesh basket would cost.  BIABasket is nearly just as catchy...

[Ralph]

almost worth buying a cheap SS pot of trademe that would fit inside my pot and replacing the bottom with SS mesh...

[Peter Smith]

yep this works but if you recirc if you lift out you get cloudy again....

still makes things easy its working for me just want more...

I still use a bag inside that pot...

[Ralph]

You can buy stainless mesh that is just as fine as the bags we use and so should be able to get a very similar result to using a bag... 

Anyway from what I have read having grain particles going into the fermentor simply means more trub and does not affect the clarity of the finished beer.

[Peter Smith]

2am IPA version 3

photo not showing it as clear as it is and its only been 9 days in bottle....    at 4-5 weeks this will be awesome and perfect for Brai at my place ....

[Ralph]

Is looking good Peter!

[Peter Smith]

I don't personally think the clarity is an issue, it can be dealt to via cold conditioning time, gelatine etc etc , its more does the extra trub produce off flavours?  

[Crusader-Rob]

I cold condition, and it certainly helps, I've also started using a secondary, which has also helped as I use the plastic fermenters with taps for ease of use.

I'm going to do a teast for clarity, by doing what I normally do and adding approx 90-100g of Acid Malt. Do I removed this amount from specialty malts or the base malt? My assumption would be the base?