Ok, so will try to condense my story/situation as best I can. I live in a small apartment on the third floor so my access to outside is very limited. Currently I close off the kitchen and put my boiler next to the window with a fan pointed at it when I make beer. I've got a 20L pico boiler. Because of lack of storage space I also use said boiler to mash in. What I'm considering is ditching the little black tap and upgrading to a tap where I could attach some tubing and using a small pump recirculate my wort. Question is I guess is it worth doing to a small pico boiler? I'm quite happy with my equipment setup as is. Sure there is better available but I only make 10L batches and again, my storage space is nil. Any opinions guys? :)
Is it worth upgrading my pico boiler?
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aamcle
Landlord.
I have a recirculating BIAB based on a Burco urn with a 23litre total capacity. So I would suggest you go for it.
I do 10 an 12 litre batches in it and it works well.
Atb. Aamcle
I do 10 an 12 litre batches in it and it works well.
Atb. Aamcle
aamcle
Landlord.
A pump and controller seem to me to be less trouble than messing about with sleeping bags and hoping the temp holds.
aamcle
aamcle
Maybe, but I don't use s sleeping bag, I use towels, it's no hassle, the temp holds to 1C, and there's less to go wrong, as described in the linked thread. And there's no evidence that a completely steady mash temp makes better beer. And does recirculating hold it at exactly the same temperature throughout?
Interesting read, and thanks for the advice guys :) As my understanding goes (and possibly the only reason I want to recirculate my wort) is that it eliminates the need to sparge? With my 1 tun/boiler system mashing is always the most difficult part of my brewday.
ManseMasher
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You could do a full true BIAB and skip the sparge stage for 10l with a 20 liter boiler.. You can just mashout (or choose not to) and remove /strain grains. I do this with a 50l pot setup and still get over 70% efficiency.
Just my opinion that's all, I still have the simplest possible set up and am a bit of a luddite. Give it a go and see how it works, might be fun!
Will it replace sparging? Doesnt it return the sugars to the grain bed? I've no idea tbh. But you have the space in your peco to do no sparge true biab brewing. All the water in the mash, which is surprisingly efficient.
As Cov just said. At the end of the mash raise the temperature to 76, this is the mashout of which he speaks, it loosens the mash and increases efficiency.
Will it replace sparging? Doesnt it return the sugars to the grain bed? I've no idea tbh. But you have the space in your peco to do no sparge true biab brewing. All the water in the mash, which is surprisingly efficient.
As Cov just said. At the end of the mash raise the temperature to 76, this is the mashout of which he speaks, it loosens the mash and increases efficiency.
GlentoranMark
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I've been thinking the same thing lately to increase efficiency but what about manually circulating as you mash?
I'm going to put a thermometer in my peco boiler as I mash for my next brew, manually recirculate the wort as the mash progresses and switch the boiler on and off as the temperature increases/ reaches mash temp. It's a lot more work and I'd still sparge to get that last drop of sugar but it would increase efficiency a lot.
Any thoughts?
We all aspire to a Grainfather
aamcle
Landlord.
I've not found recirculating changes efficiency all it does is hold a steady temperature and permit easy step mashing.
I usually dunk sparge, its no trouble if you have set everything out ready to use. I'm mid 60's full volume and over 80% if I dunk well; so I dunk!
I acctualy built a mini GF for the Burco, its just a mash pipe n filters replacing a basket and bag. I've only used it once so far as the extra sparging makes it more trouble than a bag. I need to do some more on it to get the routine right.
Aamcle
I usually dunk sparge, its no trouble if you have set everything out ready to use. I'm mid 60's full volume and over 80% if I dunk well; so I dunk!
I acctualy built a mini GF for the Burco, its just a mash pipe n filters replacing a basket and bag. I've only used it once so far as the extra sparging makes it more trouble than a bag. I need to do some more on it to get the routine right.
Aamcle
Wouldn't that draw out more unfermentable sugars out though? Or am I misunderstanding? Still such a newbie in this game. :)
By dunk sparge you mean just lifting the bag and dunking in the wort a few times? I usually do this and even give it a squeeze or two. Got a heavyduty bulldog clip and I clip it above the bucket and let it drip before boil.
Raising the temperature at the end? Yes, hence the better efficiency, more sugar removed.
It will loosen and rinse the sugars out, essentially the same as sparge.
I have a little metal stand which I sit on the bottom of my pot and over the hop filter.. this allows me to sit my grain bag on top and allows me to add heat to the mash.. raise it to 76 with the bag in and I flame out let sit for a bit and give it a good old stir,, then raise the bag and let drain while you are bringing the wort to the boil.
You are going to raise the temp to a boil anyway so by leaving the grains in there and letting sit you will carry out your sparge without doing a seperate process, thats what BIAB was all originally about I think, but with alot of people wanting to do 23l batches and with 30l boilers they still have to seperate it out.
As you have 10liter batches and a 20liter boiler, it lends itself perfectly for you to do it this way
Whether or not you want or need a pump for that, well thats up to you many like to regulate or have complete control. For me it seems a little redundant I just get to mash put a blanket and my winter coat around it and it will stay within a few degrees even if I leave it for 2 hours. Perhaps If i wanted to do some step mashing
aamcle
Landlord.
To dunk lift the bag give it a squeeze, dunk in warm water stir the grain, squeeze into the boiler add the liquor from the bucket.
Dead easy if you have the bucket ready to go.
Aamcle
Dead easy if you have the bucket ready to go.
Aamcle
