Mash bag and general AG kit

[DanST]

Hey guys

I'm gonna be starting biab AG brewing soon so planning what gear to buy. I'm going to get a 19l stock pot to make gallon trial batches and because I think it will be useful anyway and an electric boiler shortly after.

Can anyone recommend a mashing bag that will fit this size of pot? Are they made to fit 30l boilers or can you get smaller ones? Or is it easy enough to use them with a smaller pan? I'll be boiling with the pot on a gas stove so im slightly concerned about scorching the bottom of the bag.

Also if anyone has any general advice on kit to start out with it's welcome, my budget isn't limitless (no grainfather sadly) but I'd rather fork out a bit more now than be replacing stuff down the line.

 

[clibit]

You could just buy a square metre of muslin and line the 19 litre pot with it. Use string to tie it it closed.

You need an accurate thermometer. The cheap glass ones are accurate.

Not much else. Mashing in a pot is a simple process.

 

[DanST]

That's not a bad idea, meant to mention I want to avoid sewing my own as neither me or swmbo are any good at it but I guess you wouldn't need to for that.

Thermometer is not a problem, I'll pinch one from work but check it against the reference one first.

Sorry if I'm being dense but will it burn if it's not kept off the bottom of the pot? Although I guess as the temp is <70 is this not an issue?

 

[GlentoranMark]

Thought this was a decent price especially as it includes a kit to get you started.

 

[DanST]

Yeah looking at one of those, trying to decide between something like that or one of the ace boilers. Not sure if there's advantages either way.

 

[clibit]

That's not a bad idea, meant to mention I want to avoid sewing my own as neither me or swmbo are any good at it but I guess you wouldn't need to for that.

Thermometer is not a problem, I'll pinch one from work but check it against the reference one first.

Sorry if I'm being dense but will it burn if it's not kept off the bottom of the pot? Although I guess as the temp is <70 is this not an issue?

You shouldn't need to use heat while the bags in. Heat water to strike temps then put the muslin in, peg it round the rim of the pot, dough in the grain and hopefully your temp is not too low. If it is, a bit of heat on the lowest light should be fine, I've done this a few times. Or find a grill or something that fits into the bottom of the pot, some do that. Cake stand etc.

 

[DanST]

Ah yeah thinking about it should be fine. Cheers for clearing that up though.

Probably have my first bash at a gallon batch December, maybe over Xmas. Bought the Greg Hughes book and I'm looking at it now like I looked at the toys-r-us catalogue 20 years ago!