National Homebrew Club Ireland

Brewing Discussions => Equipment & Chemicals => Topic started by: annebrodie on November 07, 2018, 06:42:21 PM

Title: Something to hold the bag...
Post by: annebrodie on November 07, 2018, 06:42:21 PM
So, I took the plunge today and put on my Exceedingly Good Cascade IPA (BIAB method) - my first brew with my new system.

I nearly did myself a mischief trying to hang onto that heavy bag of grain to collect the run-off, though.

I see on this website Garry's excellent step-by-step guide to the BIAB method but he seems to be doing it in the garden shed, so he can just hang the bag over a bit of wood screwed into the rafters, but that's not going to work great in my kitchen...

Has anyone got any brilliant solutions?

Thanks!
Title: Re: Something to hold the bag...
Post by: Richie71 on November 07, 2018, 11:01:52 PM
Lidl sell an extendable sieve every so often.  Can get a bit messy if you have a lot of grain but usually ok if you squeeze & tie the bag.  Probably available elsewhere as well. 
Title: Re: Something to hold the bag...
Post by: itsclinto on November 08, 2018, 09:34:21 AM
Ikea have a colander that i used to sit over my bucket/boiler to let the bag drain.  Really handy

https://www.ikea.com/ie/en/products/cookware/kitchen-utensils/idealisk-colander-stainless-steel-black-art-50103755/
Title: Re: Something to hold the bag...
Post by: annebrodie on November 08, 2018, 01:23:12 PM
Quote from: itsclinto on November 08, 2018, 09:34:21 AM
Ikea have a colander that i used to sit over my bucket/boiler to let the bag drain.  Really handy

https://www.ikea.com/ie/en/products/cookware/kitchen-utensils/idealisk-colander-stainless-steel-black-art-50103755/

Oh! Now that looks like The Business! And only €8... Looks like someone gets an excuse to go to IKEA.......
Title: Re: Something to hold the bag...
Post by: LordEoin on November 08, 2018, 11:13:02 PM
i'vw been known to pull a rack out of the oven to sit grain bags on.
just remember to wash them after as they get sticky.
Title: Re: Something to hold the bag...
Post by: Richie71 on November 09, 2018, 12:00:46 AM
Quote from: itsclinto on November 08, 2018, 09:34:21 AM
Ikea have a colander that i used to sit over my bucket/boiler to let the bag drain.  Really handy

https://www.ikea.com/ie/en/products/cookware/kitchen-utensils/idealisk-colander-stainless-steel-black-art-50103755/

That's the exact same one I got in Lidl.  Can't remember how much it cost, probably in and around the same.
Title: Something to hold the bag...
Post by: pob on November 09, 2018, 07:47:32 AM
Get a cake rake/microwave grill rack (free, couple of quid from charity shop), use it to keep bag from bottom of BIAB kettle.

Get a bucket (Alpack ~€6-8), lift BIAB bag out of kettle after mash, use bucket as scoop to get under bag (means you don't have to lift messy bag straight up), a lot easierto use handle on bucket to lift now. Then put on floor.

Lift cake rack out of kettle & put under BIAB bag (lift up, out of bucket) in the bottom of the bucket.

Then it'll drain away, you can squeeze bag to get more out, but 5 mins of gravity will get most of the wort.

Bucket makes it easier to get rid of spent grain & is handy storage for brewing gear too.
Title: Re: Something to hold the bag...
Post by: TheSumOfAllBeers on November 09, 2018, 10:24:42 AM
Quote from: LordEoin on November 08, 2018, 11:13:02 PM
i'vw been known to pull a rack out of the oven to sit grain bags on.
just remember to wash them after as they get sticky.

I do this all the time.

In conjunction with my sky hook

Title: Re: Something to hold the bag...
Post by: BrewDorg on November 09, 2018, 11:54:29 AM
Lidl (our local one anyway) has cake racks in stock now if you're looking
Title: Re: Something to hold the bag...
Post by: annebrodie on November 09, 2018, 12:22:47 PM
Thanks everyone for the top tips!
Title: Re: Something to hold the bag...
Post by: shweeney on November 15, 2018, 05:21:30 PM
I brew outside and use a bike repair stand to hang my bag over the kettle to drain (I have a length of metal I put in the repair stand clamp and hang the handles of the bag off that). Then I spin the bag to squeeze the wort out before dumping it into a spare bucket.