BIAB Checklist!

[RobWalker]

Following my purchase of Kev's 20L Burco (thank you very much mate!) I'm going, well, Pro-Mini-BIAB. The aim is 2-3 gallon batches, same as I'm doing now, but with a good level of control over temps etc - quality, not quantity. This way, I'll get to brew often and really expand my brewing experience without becoming a reclusive alcoholic.

So I have;

20L Boiler
Grain bag
FV

I need;

Water thermometer, cheap one preferably!
Cold water jacket? http://www.diy.com/nav/build/insulation ... icamp=recs

Anything else I'm missing?

Headroom, is it bad when mashing, should I utilize the entire boiler or am I okay with plenty of headroom in there?

 

[Jeltz]

I would expect the more headroom the greater the heat loss. I think you'll find that with grain adsorption, displacement and evaporation a 20L capacity a full BIAB will give you a brew length between the 2-3 gallons you are after, without dilution.

The insulation jacket I'm using on my electrim is this one http://www.diy.com/nav/build/insulation ... el-9273779 but I got it at home base for a penny more! It works great but I did duct tape 2 panels together and used the other 2 over the top.

 

[rich27500]

Don't forget the hop filter. If you maxi you could go to 23l brewlengths. Without using a calculator I couldn't say if 20l is enough for straight BIAB 15l brewlengths, I suspect it isn't because I think you'd only get that much water plus grain to start with. But that's a lot of guessing! For insulation you old buy stuff or just use a couple of old coats. I did an overnight mash using two coats and a towell on my electrim. It dropped from 68 to 55 over 8 hours.

 

[Asalpaws]

I use several layers of camping mat, duct taped around my boiler, my boiler has a lid which I've also put several sheets of camping mat in, you can get camping mat with silver backing which helps with reflecting heat back to the mash. Generally I don't loose more than I degree over 90 mins.

 

[Asalpaws]

If you install some kind of grill over the element to protect the bag, you can heat the mash up of you loose temp. You can also perform a mash out step. I used an old stainless cooling tray.

 

[Andyhull]

you can get camping mat with silver backing which helps with reflecting heat back to the mash.

Which way do you put the camping mat?
I have seen mash tuns FV's and boilers with it so the silver is on the outside (trying to imitate shiney i think :lol: ) but surely the silver should be facing into the vesel to reflect as much heat back as possible shouldn't it?

 

[Asalpaws]

I agree with SP, silver should point towards the inside to reflect the heat back in. Here's my rig. Also you need some way of letting the bag drain after you pull it out, I use the collinder in the last photo over a bucket.