What extra kit for all grain?

[Brewbob]

HI, I've done a couple of kits now, and I'll probably do a couple more so that my initial outlay starts to pay for itself. What I want though is to start making recipes, I love cooking and just opening a tin and adding water and stuff is a bit cheaty to me.

What I want to know is, what extra kit do I need, if any, to go all grain, and what is the difference between AG and BIAB (I thought when I joined and saw it it was one of those brew-bags you fill with water and hang up for a couple of weeks!). Are there any essentials or can I just get on with it. I've got a big (possibly) 2 gallon pan and all the basics for brewing so shall I just go for it..?

 

[joe1002]

These to threads will explain it a lot better than I can:

BIAB
AG

So for BIAB essentially all you need is a boiler with a hop filter, a large muslin bag and a wort chiller (depending who you ask)

With AG you I'll need a boiler (again with a hop filter), a mash tun with a grain filter or false bottom, wort chiller (again, depending who you ask) and a hot liquor tun (not essential, I don't have one yet). Obviously you can add a lot more equipment but the above will allow you to make beer :thumb:

 

[rpt]

BIAB and AG are not separate things. BIAB is just one way of doing AG.

 

[pittsy]

You should try extract brewing first , great results , much more involved and more choice . :thumb: great for learning more before going AG .

 

[rich27500]

I don't use a chiller, I use a no chill cube. People like my beer! BUT the chill v no chill Sian argument that doesn't go away. Biab or 3 vessel all grain brewing is personal preference. See this thread http://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=23519

 

[bunkerbrewer]

You should try extract brewing first , great results , much more involved and more choice . :thumb: great for learning more before going AG .

That's true, (that's what I did), but it's worth getting a full size boiler and doing full volume boils if you plan to move to AG, otherwise you end up stuck with an "extract" pot that's too small.

 

[bunkerbrewer]

So for BIAB essentially all you need is a boiler with a hop filter, a large muslin bag and a wort chiller (depending who you ask)

Those how-to's are really good. Personally I'd advise against a muslin bag for BIAB, though - too stretchy and porous. Go for voile.

 

[calumscott]

So for BIAB essentially all you need is a boiler with a hop filter, a large muslin bag and a wort chiller (depending who you ask)

Those how-to's are really good. Personally I'd advise against a muslin bag for BIAB, though - too stretchy and porous. Go for voile.

Careful! Voile and muslin refer to a weaves (both very basic, loose weave of a thin yarn), Voile being the french word for veil... Voile is normally 100% cotton. What you buy for curtains tends to be nylon or polyester but that's neither here nor there.

While I agree that a muslin bag that you might be able to buy in a cookshop or whatever won't be right for BIAB (largely because it will use too heavyweight a material and draining will be very slow and your arms will get very sore waiting!!), a bag fashioned from 100% cotton voile or a single layer of cotton muslin (TBH they are pretty much the same fabric and the same stuff is sold variously as voile, muslin muslin voile and voile muslin) is absolutely perfect for BIAB. You can't melt it, it doesn't scorch, it's seriously tough - I've recently pulled a 7kg dry weight grain bill in a single layer cotton bag - the seams didn't even start to stretch or open. That's six BIAB brews and it is showing no signs whatsoever of any stress.

 

[rpt]

The voile I bought is polyester, which is why I am reluctant to apply heat while it is in the pot. It was sold as a curtain panel so that probably explains why it isn't cotton.

 

[calumscott]

This is the stuff my bags are made from (and the seller I got it from, is recommended - good quick service) :

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/100-COTTON-MU ... 5ae65a589b

 

[rpt]

Never thought to look on eBay for voile - I paid more than that at a local shop. If the polyester melts I'll know where to get a replacement.

 

[Brewbob]

Great, thanks for the replies guys, I'm going to read those threads and look into getting some more kit. Oops, looks like I've got a bug here... :whistle:

 

[artyb]

voile at our local fabric warehouse id £1.50 a sq metre :thumb:

 

[Brewbob]

Ah rpt, I'll be in Silsden in the next couple of weeks, visiting the in-laws

 

[rpt]

Ah rpt, I'll be in Silsden in the next couple of weeks, visiting the in-laws

You can pop into Barley Bottom then ready for your first brew.

 

[bunkerbrewer]

Careful! Voile and muslin refer to a weaves (both very basic, loose weave of a thin yarn), Voile being the french word for veil... Voile is normally 100% cotton. What you buy for curtains tends to be nylon or polyester but that's neither here nor there.

Cheers, I didn't know the world of muslin & voile was that complicated! :wha:

 

[calumscott]

Careful! Voile and muslin refer to a weaves (both very basic, loose weave of a thin yarn), Voile being the french word for veil... Voile is normally 100% cotton. What you buy for curtains tends to be nylon or polyester but that's neither here nor there.

Cheers, I didn't know the world of muslin & voile was that complicated! :wha:

:lol: It doesn't have to be... So long as it keeps the grain in and lets the wort out quick enough that your arms don't fall off then it's perfectly good to use!