First Whole Grain - Any tips

Sleeping bags, blankets, etc. I bungie cord one bag around the outside and have another folded on top. It helps.

 

To get the best efficiency, do the highest water to grain ratio you can in the mash. I also use BIAB in an 8 gallon kettle, and I can usually do 1.5qt/lb for most mid-gravity beers.

Another thing I typically do for a bit more efficiency is, after draining the bag, place it in a bucket with an upside colander in the bottom. Then I'll sparge that with a gallon or two of 170 degree water that I pre-heated in the house in a stock pot on the stove.

 

I use a big brew pot, (16 gallons) with the full post grain boil water added up front. For the average ABV brew that usually translates to 7.5 - 7.7 gallons of water. The early days of my BIAB journey I used some shiny silver hot water heater insulation wrapped around the pot along with a big comforter and towels on top to keep the heat in, (of course do this after getting the water up to temp and turn off the propane!). That actually did a great job of keeping the temp to within a degree or two of guidance but I was mocked and ridiculed by my home brew club associates due to my ghetto setup.

Now, I bought some of that really thick rigid insulation and created a box to place around the pot as well as a sous vide heater that maintains a constant temp. Still not super pretty but I get bonus points for saying sous vide.

 

If you or your neighbors have chickens, goats, etc. it’s a good end to the spent grain. And if ya really feel like nerding out read up on water chemistry and ph. Beer just became a whole new hobby!

 

Be prepared to make a mistake and then move on. You will still make beer. Look at this first batch as a learning experience. Are you following an all grain recipe kit?

 

Be sure to budget a little extra time for all-grain brewing as mashing can't be rushed...but well worth it in creativity aspects.