My BIAB setup

[Sam.]

From another thread has led me to put up some pics of my process of using BIAB for all grain mashes.

This is all the gear I use (also a jug and milk crate)

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Cheap mill off eBay runs on a cordless drill doesn't take too long to do 10kg

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Smashes it up to look like this

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[Sam.]

Today I am making a beer but the process is the same for a whisky wash just a few more temp rests.

Once you have added the crushed grain slowly to the bag in your water (to make sure you don't get dry spots) and your at correct temp turn off the burner and insulate for the mash I use an exercise mat held on with an occy strap then old blankets and towels etc in top.

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Once mash is done I hoist it up and let it drain for a bit.

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Then give it a bit of a squeeze with my handy pot lid.

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[Sam.]

Now the bit why I made this thread.

This is my "sparge" consists of and old fermenter and a colander (reckon I stole this idea from a beer site)

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Then I add a few liters of hot water at a time on top and let it go through, can also give it a squeeze on top with my handy pot kid as well.

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Then that's about it you could also use the grain for a sugar head wash too if you wanted :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[rumdidlydum]

Awsome cheers sam :handgestures-thumbupleft:
Great idea for the pulley setup. How long did it take all up? Obviously its for beer but with your general method for whiskey ect how long do you plan to do it in?
One other thing i dont know about using a pot kid dont want to ruin the wash :teasing-tease: :laughing-rolling:

[Sam.]

I usually set a day aside to do it for a beer I reckon it's about 5 hours all up would be longer for a whisky mash as I will rest it longer to try and get max conversion :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Also damn autocorrect 8-}

[offchops]

great idea for the sparging!! also i like the pulley system, its now on the list of projects for the shed.

[moonshinindawg]

You shouldn't apply pressure to the grain at any point in time it will release more of the tannins in the grain and give you bad flavours/colour.
This is why people spargue with water. I don't even worry about it

[maddogpearse]

You shouldn't apply pressure to the grain at any point in time it will release more of the tannins in the grain and give you bad flavours/colour.
This is why people spargue with water. I don't even worry about it

That's why your AG whisky tastes like shit Sam! Keep your damn handy pot lid out of it! :laughing-rolling:

[Sam.]

First I have heard of that one :?

[Matt_Pl]

Hi Sam,

Your setup is brilliant mate, thanks for sharing.

I'm guessing two kegs welded together for approximately 80 litres capacity. Can you please elaborate on the parts you used for your drain and the temperature probe please?


Many thanks

Matt

[Sam.]

The drain is a half inch BSP nipple welded into the keg in the middle so the ball valve is on the outside and a hop screen screws on the inside.

Temp probe mount is a half inch BSP socket welded the probe screws into.

And yep two kegs welded together think it worked out to 86L capacity :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[moonshinindawg]

Its not a huge issue, so long as the pH isn't outa wack.
I have just always avoided it because I only get like 500ml of liquid after a good drain.

I guess just avoid backsetting premash for bourbons and for the most part you will be fine

[sp0rk]

You shouldn't apply pressure to the grain at any point in time it will release more of the tannins in the grain and give you bad flavours/colour.
This is why people spargue with water. I don't even worry about it

This is a complete load of shit, twas a myth made up by people who doubted BIAB brewing
I've been squeezing the shit out of my bag for years and have made award winning beers and spirits with that method, NEVER had a single judge mention anything about tannins

[bluc]

Definately have to get a pulley setup and a colander before my next grain adventure.. thanks for posting up sam !

[Sam.]

You shouldn't apply pressure to the grain at any point in time it will release more of the tannins in the grain and give you bad flavours/colour.
This is why people spargue with water. I don't even worry about it

This is a complete load of shit, twas a myth made up by people who doubted BIAB brewing
I've been squeezing the shit out of my bag for years and have made award winning beers and spirits with that method, NEVER had a single judge mention anything about tannins

That's good to hear as I am a fan of my handy pot lid :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[Sam.]

Definately have to get a pulley setup and a colander before my next grain adventure.. thanks for posting up sam !

No worries mate, this system is super easy, relatively cheap and with spirits can be done as required through the day :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[bluc]

I use my t500 boiler to mash the only thing giving me grief was how to handle the grain at the end being able to sparge using a colander would be so simple :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[WTDist]

You shouldn't apply pressure to the grain at any point in time it will release more of the tannins in the grain and give you bad flavours/colour.
This is why people spargue with water. I don't even worry about it

This is a complete load of shit, twas a myth made up by people who doubted BIAB brewing
I've been squeezing the shit out of my bag for years and have made award winning beers and spirits with that method, NEVER had a single judge mention anything about tannins

That's good to hear as I am a fan of my handy pot lid :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Im yet to try but i would have to agree. ive read about the tannins thing. Imagine a tea bag. leave it in too long and tannins leach out. now the grain bag... it is in boiling watter for a long time just sitting there. One would imagine any tannins that are going to leech out will leach out in this boiling process, not the squeezing of the bag. ill try both methods and report back but do not hold your breath :))

[sp0rk]

You shouldn't apply pressure to the grain at any point in time it will release more of the tannins in the grain and give you bad flavours/colour.
This is why people spargue with water. I don't even worry about it

This is a complete load of shit, twas a myth made up by people who doubted BIAB brewing
I've been squeezing the shit out of my bag for years and have made award winning beers and spirits with that method, NEVER had a single judge mention anything about tannins

That's good to hear as I am a fan of my handy pot lid :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Im yet to try but i would have to agree. ive read about the tannins thing. Imagine a tea bag. leave it in too long and tannins leach out. now the grain bag... it is in boiling watter for a long time just sitting there. One would imagine any tannins that are going to leech out will leach out in this boiling process, not the squeezing of the bag. ill try both methods and report back but do not hold your breath :))

You're not boiling your grains (other than corn if it's not pre gelatinised)
you need to heat to over 80C to extract tannins, the highest you should ever heat is to 75C for mashing out

[1 2many]

Great stuff Sam :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Sometimes simple equipment can be the best equipment. :dance: