Cheapest possible all grain setup and technique

[simon12]

Just thought of a cheap easy all grain method based on my original plastic boiler, I have never done BIAB so wondered what people think of this and is there any problem I have not spotted. I have gone for a full volume mash to keep it all simple and so the volume should hold temperature better. I am assuming if you want to try it you already have every thing for kit beers so for £33.50 you can go all grain.
Equipment
Apart from the bag its all exactly what I made before but I also made a coolbox mash tun. The bazooka will screw in to the plastic tap its not designed to but it makes its own thread really well. You just need to cut holes for the tap and element and it all goes together really well and the rubber seal in the kettle fits the bucket perfectly.
Plastic bucket https://www.the-home-brew-shop.co.uk/acatalog/33_ltr_Fermenting_Bin_Lid.html £9.96
Plastic Tap https://www.the-home-brew-shop.co.uk/cgi-bin/sh000001.pl?WD=tap&PN=Bin_Fermenter_tap.html#SID=208 £3.60
Bazooka filter https://www.the-home-brew-shop.co.u...=bazooka&PN=Bazooka_Small_Screen.html#SID=173 £6.30
£5 kettle from ASDA, Tesco, Wilko etc (2 of optional)
Mashing bag https://www.the-home-brew-shop.co.u...&PN=copy_of_Mashing_Sparging_Bag.html#SID=175 £8.64
Total £33.50
Technique
Fill kettle with 25L water and bring to I am guessing around 3-5C over mash temp, turn off element and add grain in bag. Put lid on loosely and cover with a duvet or old coat or something. Leave for 1 hour then either drain into fermenter or if easier remove grain bag. If you drained to fermenter remove grain bag and return wort to boiler. Turn element back on and boil as normal. If level drops below 18L ish in boil optionally top up with water.

So what do you think is there any flaws or simple improvements, would a cold water sparge make sense?

 

[simon12]

Forgot to say I am thinking of using this for a brew demonstration if I ever get the lease sorted for my new micro brew pub. And here a picture of my boiler after use it had 1 element at first the other added later to speed it all up.

 

[AdeDunn]

You basically just described full volume BIAB brewing.

 

[Drunkula]

would a cold water sparge make sense?

Why cold water? I've done it once just because I couldn't be fannied to heat water for an experimental batch, but cold water won't let the sugars flow out of the grain as easily, giving you a possible little efficiency hit.

A full volume mash could potentially make the pH higher than you'd want. If you were doing water treatment that would mean more acid or salts which you might not want - if you're not into that yet then don't even think about that yet, just get your system working first.

 

[Cwrw666]

Hot water sparge will vastly improve your efficiency. I put 2 kettle-fulls of boiling water into the FV plus one of cold and dunk the grain bag into that. Give it a stir and lift the bag out.

 

[simon12]

Why cold water? I've done it once just because I couldn't be fannied to heat water for an experimental batch, but cold water won't let the sugars flow out of the grain as easily, giving you a possible little efficiency hit.

A full volume mash could potentially make the pH higher than you'd want. If you were doing water treatment that would mean more acid or salts which you might not want - if you're not into that yet then don't even think about that yet, just get your system working first.

Cheers for the reply I was thinking a cold water sparge just because its easyer but maybe I will go with Cwrw666 suggestion. Whats the worst case scenario if it to acidic just bad efficiency or could it cause off flavours?

 

[simon12]

Hot water sparge will vastly improve your efficiency. I put 2 kettle-fulls of boiling water into the FV plus one of cold and dunk the grain bag into that. Give it a stir and lift the bag out.

Cheers I will go with that then.

 

[simon12]

Just thought there obviously no chiller with this, would no chill be better in the fermenter under airlock or just left in the boiler with the lid on or the same either way?