BIAB How much mashing liquid?

[Rwilts]

Almost ready to go with AG1 a SNPA clone from Malt Miller. I have the recipe and I know that there will be variations due to my equipment but I am need of a steer as to how much liquids to start with. I want to have about 27L pre boil and about 23L after. I was thinking about 30?

 

[puravida]

How big is your pot? And are you brewing on a stove top or dedicated burner?

 

[Rwilts]

Hi,

i have read your How To several times :thumb:

50L pot on domestic Gas hob (fingers crossed)

 

[puravida]

Oh haha! Hope you it was helpful!

I tend to start off with about 30-33L so that sounds good. Might be worth testing you get get a good rolling boil just with water on your gas hob though first.

If not, there's no harm in starting with less and then diluting the beer back down in your fermenter. Essentially making a concentrated wort. There are a number of calculators that allow you to enter your current volume of wort, the current gravity and it will tell you how much water to add to reach your target volume.

 

[Pinck]

Roughly speaking, you'll lose 0.5 litres of water per kg of grain due to absorption when doing BIAB.

So you'll want your preboil (27 litres) + half a litre for each kg of grain in your recipe.

 

[Rwilts]

Thanks both, grain is about 6kg so 3 litres. 30 to start. I will give it a go and keep some records and adjust For next time :

 

[puravida]

That's gonna be heavy to lift out of your pot

 

[Rwilts]

:shock:

 

[calumscott]

You'll need more than 30!! I go at about 36l for a 5kg grain bill in my 70l pot and I've come up a couple of litres short every time!!!

 

[Rwilts]

Ok I will go with 33 , won't be this weekend anyway so plenty of time for more opinions

 

[jimp2003]

You'll need more than 30!! I go at about 36l for a 5kg grain bill in my 70l pot and I've come up a couple of litres short every time!!!

+1 to about 36l.

 

[puravida]

I don't think it matters too much what volume you start with.
I like to start with a little less initial strike water but then once I draw out the bag after mashing, I'll dump it in a colander in a bucket and rinse through with another 5-8L or so.

If the brew length is still short, you can always top up with water in the fermenter. The OG will still work out the same.

In fact, you are better starting with less water as its easier to dilute back down at the end than it is try and boil off surplus water or start adjusting with sugar etc.