Yet another first BIAB

[ronnieb]

Today I started my first step into AG.
I went with a mash kit from Geterbrewed, the Belfast Brown Ale kit.

After a lot of reading and trying to work out figures I have decided to go for it.

I am using a 32L Plastic Boiler.
So far I have mashed and now playing the waiting game.  Already one or two minor mishaps (forgetting to secure the bag was fun with half the grain poured in, thankfully not much escaped..    )

It is brewing by the seat of my pants, I am looking forward to the boiling part.. It should prove fun!

[mcgrath]

I spilled the grain on my first biab too. Wasn't as bad as when I burnt the bag on my third one..
Best of luck with it..

[JohnB]

Looking forward to hearing how it turns out Ronnie. I'm hoping to do my first BIAB next week using a 32 ltr plastic boiler. Hopefully you can give me a few pointers

[ronnieb]

It went well in the end.

I heated up 30 litres of water and drained 5 out.
Popped in a SS cake stand over the element and popped in the bag.
Poured in my grain (reattached bag )
Topped up the water with the 5 I removed, all fitted in ok but anymore would have been pushing it. It was around 2 CM from the top.
Covered and mashed for 90 minutes , stirred every 15.  Temperature remained fine throughout, I dropped around 2c or so.
After mashing I ended up with 25L or so in the boiler.  I had 4 litres of hot water in a spare bucket and dunked the grain bag into it and left for around 10 minutes before adding back into the boiler.
I awaited the dreaded hot break but it was fine, there were 4 hop additions with this mash kit, 60, 15, 10 and 0

I used the SS wort chiller from HBW, It worked well and took down the temperature to pitching in around 20 minutes. The water in the apartment isn't the coldest.

After removing the hop bags and draining them and allowing for trub I ended up with 20l exactly in the FV
I was surprised how much the hops could soak up but will know for again.

I think I forgot to add the whirlfloc tablet.. I cannot find it but don't remember adding it.. so be it!

Ended up with an OG of 1050

There were no notes on the instructions with the mash kit as to what the OG should be so I have nothing to compare with.

I made a few mistakes along the way but overall it wasn't as stressful as I was expecting.

It is a lot of time but what else would you be doing on a Sunday?