A friend of mine in brewing has switched from extract to BIAB. I am still an extract brewer but I have most of my equipment for a 2 pump AG system. However he explained to me he still sparges using hot water heated in another vessel, and has problems holding temp (Maybe a burner/insulation issue, he uses a kettle with no insulation).

So, while my initial reaction was that this is a ghetto or cheap all grain method. Its really pretty cool, but with limitations. The AG set-ups i've brewed on before i have done double brews days (mash in batch 2 at boil of batch 1). Also the high gravity or 10 Gal are a no go. And by the time you insulate your kettle and heat up a second pot to pour over bag to sparge with, you have alot of "off brew stand" items.

That being said. This is an awesome way to go all grain!!! I love the simplicity and teaching all the concepts.

I've seen others talk about this before but ill go ahead and coin it (i think). My new cooler mash tun will be based on.... Mash In a Bag!

MIB will still use sparging and pumps (or gravity), but will allow the user to remove the false bottom expense, Easy clean-up of mash tun, Not worry about direct flame to grain (my concern), No more stuck mashes, and maybe more?

Does anyone have thoughts on this?

One of the potential downsides is that it can be a bit tougher to get your grain bed to give you consistently clear wort and/or get the same efficiencies based on the size of your bag and your mash tun, etc. If you are doing it in you cooler and you bag is a smaller diameter, you won't be able to recirc your mash back to the top of the bed to get clear runnings.

Again, I'm new to brewing and have not yet done a solo all grain batch. But I plan on using a gott/gatorade water cooler Mash tun for now, my thinking was that i would cut and sew the bag to match the inner dimensions of the MT, as opposed to just draping a bag inside. I'm still learning about the vorlof (?) process and re-circing in general, and the benefits of it. But Im hoping any efficiency loss can be offset by allowing a smaller (tighter) crush in the grains with a finer filter correct?

There are a couple of distinctions I would like to make to help clarify things. Essentially, you are describing using a fine mesh bag AS a false bottom for mashing. In the BIAB method, the grain bag is hoisted out of the kettle and is a "no-sparge" mash before the boil. If you are using the grain bag as a false bottom, I believe you run the risk of a stuck sparge, since you are sucking the wort out of only one corner of the bag, the part right next to the bottom valve of your cooler. A false bottom or manifold draws the wort EVENLY THROUGH all of the grain bed to use the depth of the grain itself as a filter. Thing of a sand filter you might use in a swimming pool. The liquid is drawn evenly through the depth and width of the sand to filter the liquid.

John Palmer has done a LOT of research on a variety of false bottoms and manifolds in "How to Brew". You can check it out at www.howtobrew.com . Yes, I know it's rocket science, but John brings it down to earth for the rest of us.

hope this helps,
Alan

Yes, excellent clarification Alan. It may be possible to use the bag as the FB by elevating it slightly (couple of cooling racks, etc?) so that it is not in contact with the bottom of the cooler, and give the valve more of a chance to pull from across the entire cooler...

However, if you have the cooler, building a manifold shouldn't be all that much of an additional investment..

5 Buck's for a piece of stainless braid from the hardware store and an inline sutoff valve and tubing Ala Denny Conn and away you go 10 bucks at the most

My mash tun setup is to use BIAB material to line my bottling bucket, with some foil/bubble/foil insulation wrapped around and a lid on top. You probably already have a bottling bucket with a spigot. I use a steamer rack as well to create dead space at the bottom of the bucket so I don't get the entire flow through the spot next to the spigot. I was lucky in that I had a stainless steamer basket that is the perfect size and shape to use as a false bottom in my bucket. I would not recommend using a filter bag for your mash tun without elevating it in some way so that the sparge water rinses the entire grain bill.

As a former BIABer (although I did BIAB with a double batch sparge) I have to agree with pretty much all that was said here.

You don't necessarily have to put a rack in the bottom of the vessel to elevate the bag you can just pull the bag up how high you want it and tie it around the outside of the bag with a tie strap; as long as the bag doesn't touch the bottom and get sucked into the outlet you'll be fine.

The BIAB method DID give me more murky mash run-off but the run off speed is faster than anything and you do NOT have a risk of a stuck mash with the bag "floating" in the bucket. -You can easily get that last bit of sugar out of the bag by just picking up the sides of the bag and squeezing (it's a high grain-to-water ratio and tannin extraction has never been a problem in BIAB for me), too.


BIAB is NOT easy cleanup; though unless you're throwing away the cloth/ plastic mesh bag; it's messy and a PITA to get all the grain out of the bag; this is the number 1 reason switched to using a mesh screen.

You're also dealing with a recurring cost every brew if you're using throw away or limited-use cloth for your "bag" vs. a one time cost of a manifold.

The step-up in equipment to BIAB is SUPER minimal, though and the wort run-off is SUPER fast (not very clear, though), efficiencies are great if you still batch sparge and especially if you squeeze the last bit of sweet goodness out of the grain bag. Cleanup SUCKS; if your bag ever breaks in the middle of a mash you're pretty screwed, too.



Adam