Extract v BIAB

[StevieDS]

Hey
im a bit of a noob, only done a couple of kits thus far but have been planning my first extract brew for a while. During my research it occurred to me that it isnt a huge leap up from extract to BIAB. It seems to me that the only extra equipment i'll need is a temperature controller, which ive hashed together from an old immersion heater thermostat, for the water boiler, and a couple of large bags.
Am i missing something here or should i just go for it?
Cheers guys.
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[pittsy]

i would try extract first , it can be simple like kit brewing but more involved , while biab can be easy it also involves more work and you really need temp control for fermenting or you could brew good beer with rubbish results . , having said that if you feel good for it then go for it , read up on it etc and ask away where not sure etc :

 

[Brew_George]

sdsratm,

I just did a BIAB after 2 extract beers and wanted to (as Pittsy says) get more involved [also being a scientist/control freak I like measuring / creating solutions / etc.].

As I am on a budget all I got was a 36L pot for mashing and boiling, a big grain bag and used a basic thermometer for measuring water temperatures. I brewed a standard/classic Hefeweizen as it looked simple (2 grains, 1 hops) so gives me a good start working with the ingredients and figuring out variables without getting lost in niche grain and hop varieties until I understand the all-grain basics.

Only issues I had were sparging without a big enough colander and cooling the wort quickly.

 

[calumscott]

I've just gone kits to BIAB too. I went full length because I've got a 70l pot that will form part of my eventual brewery. Don't have to bother with sparging the bag, just make the brew big enough to start with!

As far as I can work out, cooling quickly is more about process and infection risk control than anything to do with the production of your beer. Floculation rate of break material, according to some papers I found kicking around the net, is affected by temperature rather than rate of cooling.

That said, the advantage to getting your wort cool and yeast in early are pretty obvious.

 

[StevieDS]

Cool, I think I'm just gonna go for it. I've just built my electric water boiler and ive got my grain bags today, now I just need to find a simple recipe to start with

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[RobWalker]

you need a way to cool it too. cheapest way is to use the outdoors this time of year! works a treat. in the summer though, you can transfer it into a sealed 5 gallon container and leave it to cool for a few days before fermenting.

it is pretty easy, but you'll buy more stuff as you want to up the quality. :

 

[StevieDS]

Just an update on this, I went straight for BIAB after 2 kits, didn't bother with the extract, and everything went pretty much without a hitch.
I used a mash kit from homebrew company for my first attempt just for simplicity and it was great. It's been in the primary for a week now, just about to transfer to secondary and its sitting about 5.2% atm.
Would recommend to anyone to try BIAB, its pretty straight forward if you prepare well.
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[LeedsBrewer]

out of interest, what equipment you using? What size boiler?

 

[StevieDS]

Im using a home made boiler, a 33 liter fv with 2 kettle elements in it. During the mash i just wrap it in tin foil, bubble wrap and a blanket and it maintains the temperature fine.