The GrainFather

[UndeadFred]

Yup that is it.

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[whitedj]

Yeah. I'd only be concerned about melting the bag if the flow rates around the element were not sufficient.
My im fairly certian my element touches the RIMS tube but there are no worries there... just a little hot break.

[daryl]

On this topic, does anyone in the club currently use a all-in-one recirculating BIAB setup like these? Do you use gas, electric, induction? What controllers and pieces? How well does it work for you for temperature stepping, etc?

(I'm trying to decide between 1, 2, or 3 vessel setups for my next upgrade.

Currently 2 vessels, have built a single tier 3V system and will be going single vessel BIAB at some point in the future. There is nothing about it I do not like. Saves time, saves money, saves cleanup, saves space and you could easily do a double brew day in under 10 hours. Just need to determine how big of a kettle to go.

Chris - I found this on the Ss website (an excerpt from their FAQ) and thought it might interest you....and now I am thinking of a 15 gal kettle.

Question....I've been researching boil kettles for some time and am drawn to your
product. I am currently doing partial grain/extract batches (5G) but
eventually want to cross over into all grain. I have read the FAQ section.
At this point I prefer to do 5G batches and don't see myself switching to
10G batches. I am trying to figure out 10G or 15G brew kettle. Thoughts?
Would the 10G be fine with high gravity beers as well.

Ss Response....Yes, if you plan on sticking to 5 gallon batches, then a 10 gallon brew kettle will fit the bill nicely. High gravity beers is more of a mash tun (MT) volume issue than a brew kettle issue. Envision it this way, for higher gravity brews you are naturally going to need more MT space to account for a larger grain bill, so I would recommend a 10 gallon MT to go along with your 10 gallon brew kettle.

Furthermore, even high gravity beer where you want to do an extended 90 minute boil, you can still get 8-9 gallons into the kettle without risking a boil-over, which depending on your boil off rate should be good down to 6ish gallons of a finished high gravity wort.

I will say this though, I've met a lot of guys that swore they would never venture to 10 gallon batches, that ultimately moved to half barrel batches! Just something to consider if your rounding out your system with some new gear. Its easy to brew a 5 gallon batch in both a 10 and 15 gallon kettle, but you will never get a 10 gallon batch out of a 10 gallon kettle. Same goes for fermenters. Just some food for thought.

[whitedj]

I've thought about the same thing. Drawbacks to large kettles for me would be bulk and dead space.

Thought about going with 10g on my next one and keeping the keggle around for occasional 10g batches for parties, etc.

[czubak]

My 10gal BK is usually at it's max since I do ~6-6.5 gallon batches. I am going to limit myself to ~11 into the fermenter(s) with my new keggle setup. Reason why I do larger than 5 is I have 8 gallon fermenters and have the head space to do so. I bottle 3-5 bombers post kegging usually.

[wyzzyrdd]

I am trading up from a 5-gallon and 10-gallon to an 8-gallon and 15-gallon kettles this spring. My wife gave me two new kettles for Christmas. Of course, part of the deal was I had to give up the two old kettles so she could use them for dye pots.

[Matt F]

For you guys doing brew in a bag systems, I came across this new setup from Stout that looks pretty nice. You can add a pump to the mix and do whirlpools too.
http://conical-fermenter.com/BK18TW-TI- ... ettle.html

[czubak]

That's not too shabby Matt. I already have the control panel (once completed). Something else to consider. I wish it had a re-circulation port up top. Thanks

[Matt F]

You can call them and see if they can add it. They will customize stuff but no idea what that adds for cost and lead time.

[czubak]

You can call them and see if they can add it. They will customize stuff but no idea what that adds for cost and lead time.

I have to get what I have now running and use it before I think about buying more shit and changing the process once again.

[Matt F]

No doubt. I spent a bunch of years messing with equipment early on and realized I would rather be brewing. I stopped getting stuff and focused on making beer. Was a good fit for me. Good for the wallet too.

[daryl]

No doubt. I spent a bunch of years messing with equipment early on and realized I would rather be brewing. I stopped getting stuff and focused on making beer. Was a good fit for me. Good for the wallet too.

Amen to that. In the time I have been in the club, I have learned a lot more about making beer; and have expanded my equipment to a minimum compliment to get the job done. But it is labor intensive.

I have learned even more by picking the brains of our members on this forum, on what works and what doesn't. My future system is still in the design phase but, through my membership here, I feel I have a really good chance to nail most of what I want, with my first purchase. And willingly spend extra coin on those things that will make my brew day more efficient and enjoyable....and focus on what is important...brewing, drinking and sharing my beers.

IMO, this alone is well worth the cost of membership.

[whitedj]

For you guys doing brew in a bag systems, I came across this new setup from Stout that looks pretty nice. You can add a pump to the mix and do whirlpools too.
http://conical-fermenter.com/BK18TW-TI- ... ettle.html

That's cool, but the grain basket is 12gallons. Wonder if there is 6 gallons of dead space under the grain to allow for the input and output ports.

Perhaps this is something similar to the ez brew system?

[czubak]

For you guys doing brew in a bag systems, I came across this new setup from Stout that looks pretty nice. You can add a pump to the mix and do whirlpools too.
http://conical-fermenter.com/BK18TW-TI- ... ettle.html

That's cool, but the grain basket is 12gallons. Wonder if there is 6 gallons of dead space under the grain to allow for the input and output ports.

Perhaps this is something similar to the ez brew system?

Good catch! I'd like to see the entire basket. I'd prefer the basket to be larger as well as the kettle. 20 gallons to me seems ideal for BIAB to 5 or 10 gallon batches. I know Spike makes some good stuff, but I can a few things I would ask to have changed or simply buy from someone else. I like the studs to hold the basket while draining, that is nice. I do not get the thermometer in the lid, no upper recirc port and the basket holes seem too large. The sides don't even need holes. I am still sold on the CO Brew Systems setup if I change to BIAB only.

[TappedOut]

If you do some math, assume 1" around the side outside the basket, you get ~4 1/4 gallons of dead space around the outside of the basket, so not the massive waste of space that it first appears.