BIAB Round #1
OK! So my first BIAB batch is now boiling. I have 40 minutes until my next hop additions. Learning experience!
This recipe had 9 pounds of grains all told and only 2 of DME. So, while it was technically a partial mash, it was also much closer to a full batch. But, I was trying to balance the cost of the recipe and ingredients. In the future, unless I invest more in equipment I don't know that I will try something so ambitious again. Though, I may very well just go ahead and get more equipment.
The problem is one every single BIAB video seemed to completely ignore. Draining the bag. This is not a fast process. It is not something you can do by hand. It absolutely requires additional hardware. At the very least a strong colander or metal device which can support the grain bag to allow gravity to drain it. And calling that slow would be an understatement. Some cheaper methods involve grabbing 2 different sized homebrew buckets, drilling holes in the bottom of the smaller one, placing it inside of the larger one and then weighting down the grain bag.
Some variation of the that will probably be what I use if I go back to larger volumes. A heavy enough weight, spread evenly on the bag, should drain the thing much quicker and more efficiently than gravity alone.
Alternatively, I could go back to kits or primarily using extracts. Then I can use the bag for steeping grains and maybe a small percentage of the grain bill.
Reality is, I'll probably do this crazy approach again. Though it may not be 100% of the time. But, I haven't even finished boiling yet and I already feel more accomplished with this batch than any prior one. I'm a glutton for punishment I guess. If the batch is somehow ruined (unlikely with a half pound of hops) it might change my mind. There is definitely something to be said for the easier approaches as well though.
Right now I'm feeling that every 2-3 batches should be like this. Maybe with a primarily extract kit and a primarily canned kit in between. My next batch I have planned is a heavily modified Cooper's kit. If I can get any of the above to turn out fine, then I see no reason to quit. If the kit approach turns out, I might cut the difference and do 2 modified kits and then a larger partial mash. Otherwise, I may reduce the amount of grains and bounce between all extract and partial mash. Hard to say right now. DME is expensive. Kits are cheaper. Grains are cheapest.
Also picked up a second primary fermenter today. Planning to both let my beers age more and have more going at a time. I think 3 batches is my capacity even with longer aging though.
Anyway, more feedback to come. And probably more lessons as well.
Batch #4 was bottled today (got anxious and did it a day ahead of my plan). Also a learning experience. Think I'll be investing in hop socks or wrapping a muslin bag around my siphon or something. Dealing with dry-hop detritus is a PITA. But then, maybe with multiple batches I'll be better able to hold out until more has fallen out of suspension. That is certainly another hope. Definitely starting to realize why others are willing to accept the poorer hop utilization in favor of easier bottling or brew days.
Outside of that, this is the most amazing smelling beer EVER at this point. And the flavor isn't bad either. Super bitter, but then it has 11oz of hops (including dry) and is only 2 weeks old right now. But it feels like that batch will be a success. The only real drawback was the cost as I did it all extract. Also why I tried to switch to a hugely grain centric bill this time around.
Anyway, next hops addition will be soon-ish, heading back to check on things.
This recipe had 9 pounds of grains all told and only 2 of DME. So, while it was technically a partial mash, it was also much closer to a full batch. But, I was trying to balance the cost of the recipe and ingredients. In the future, unless I invest more in equipment I don't know that I will try something so ambitious again. Though, I may very well just go ahead and get more equipment.
The problem is one every single BIAB video seemed to completely ignore. Draining the bag. This is not a fast process. It is not something you can do by hand. It absolutely requires additional hardware. At the very least a strong colander or metal device which can support the grain bag to allow gravity to drain it. And calling that slow would be an understatement. Some cheaper methods involve grabbing 2 different sized homebrew buckets, drilling holes in the bottom of the smaller one, placing it inside of the larger one and then weighting down the grain bag.
Some variation of the that will probably be what I use if I go back to larger volumes. A heavy enough weight, spread evenly on the bag, should drain the thing much quicker and more efficiently than gravity alone.
Alternatively, I could go back to kits or primarily using extracts. Then I can use the bag for steeping grains and maybe a small percentage of the grain bill.
Reality is, I'll probably do this crazy approach again. Though it may not be 100% of the time. But, I haven't even finished boiling yet and I already feel more accomplished with this batch than any prior one. I'm a glutton for punishment I guess. If the batch is somehow ruined (unlikely with a half pound of hops) it might change my mind. There is definitely something to be said for the easier approaches as well though.
Right now I'm feeling that every 2-3 batches should be like this. Maybe with a primarily extract kit and a primarily canned kit in between. My next batch I have planned is a heavily modified Cooper's kit. If I can get any of the above to turn out fine, then I see no reason to quit. If the kit approach turns out, I might cut the difference and do 2 modified kits and then a larger partial mash. Otherwise, I may reduce the amount of grains and bounce between all extract and partial mash. Hard to say right now. DME is expensive. Kits are cheaper. Grains are cheapest.
Also picked up a second primary fermenter today. Planning to both let my beers age more and have more going at a time. I think 3 batches is my capacity even with longer aging though.
Anyway, more feedback to come. And probably more lessons as well.
Batch #4 was bottled today (got anxious and did it a day ahead of my plan). Also a learning experience. Think I'll be investing in hop socks or wrapping a muslin bag around my siphon or something. Dealing with dry-hop detritus is a PITA. But then, maybe with multiple batches I'll be better able to hold out until more has fallen out of suspension. That is certainly another hope. Definitely starting to realize why others are willing to accept the poorer hop utilization in favor of easier bottling or brew days.
Outside of that, this is the most amazing smelling beer EVER at this point. And the flavor isn't bad either. Super bitter, but then it has 11oz of hops (including dry) and is only 2 weeks old right now. But it feels like that batch will be a success. The only real drawback was the cost as I did it all extract. Also why I tried to switch to a hugely grain centric bill this time around.
Anyway, next hops addition will be soon-ish, heading back to check on things.
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