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Moose drool all grain clone BIAB questions

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by ghostinthemachine, Aug 27, 2015.

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  1. ghostinthemachine

    ghostinthemachine Initiate (0) Aug 14, 2015 Louisiana

    This will the first beer i've brewed in about 3 years. I will be using an all grain BIAB method. I have a 15.5 gallon keggle that I will be using for mashing. I havnt decided if i will be doing a small "tea bag" sparge or just do a full volume mash. Here is the recipe I was planning on using:
    All Grain Recipe - Big Sky Moose Drool ::: 1.058/1.019 (5.5 Gal)
    Grain Bill
    9 lbs. - 2 Row Pale Malt
    1 lb. - Crystal Malt (60L)
    1/2 lb. - Crystal Malt (20L)
    1/2 lb. - CaraPils Malt
    1/2 lb. - Flaked Oats
    1/3 lb. - Chocolate Malt
    1/8 lb. - Black Patent Malt

    Hop Schedule (19 IBU)
    1 oz - East Kent Goldings (First Wort Hop)
    1 oz - Liberty (30 min.)
    1 oz - Willamette (5 min.)
    .75 oz - Liberty (0 min. - flameout)

    Yeast
    White Labs English Ale Yeast (WLP002) - 1800 ML Starter

    Mash/Sparge/Boil
    Mash at 154° 60 min.
    Sparge as usual
    Boil for 60 minutes
    Cool and ferment at 66° to 68°

    http://www.brew365.com/beer_moose_drool.php

    I used this recipe as a base and tried to convert it for about 60% efficiency. It ends up needing about 17 lbs of grain. Does that sound right? Seems like a pretty hefty mash bill for a 6% abv beer.

    I used the method described in "designing great beer" I have beer smith but I am trying to learn the process without relying on a computer. I figured out how many percent of the mash bill each grain is then looked up the PPG of each grain and adjusted that for 60 percent.

    I was planning on a 6.5 gallon pre boil volume (my keggle boils off right at a gallon per hour). If i get a .125 gallons per lb grain grain absorption rate (does that sound right?) i will be mashing with 8.6 gallons of water.

    Thanks
     
    #1 ghostinthemachine, Aug 27, 2015
  2. MCBanjoMike

    MCBanjoMike Initiate (0) Aug 7, 2014 Canada (QC)

    Can't speak to your water volumes, but I get closer to 70% efficiency using BIAB (no sparge, but I do squeeze the bag afterwards). Unless you're making a really big beer or have a bad crush, I'd think 60% is too low a prediction.
     
    #2 MCBanjoMike, Aug 27, 2015
    GetMeAnIPA and ghostinthemachine like this.
  3. ghostinthemachine

    ghostinthemachine Initiate (0) Aug 14, 2015 Louisiana

    I had read most people get about that. I was figuring for a lower efficiency because i have never tried the biab method and itll be the first time using this equipment. id rather the beer be too strong than too weak lol
     
    #3 ghostinthemachine, Aug 27, 2015
  4. ericj551

    ericj551 Initiate (0) Apr 29, 2004 Canada (AB)

    I've never done BIAB, but here is what a brewer I know tweeted: "My rules for BIAB: double crush, squeeze the bag. No sparge, no worries. 80-85% efficiency every time."

    85% sounds a little high to me but I think if you're doing it right, you should be able to get above 70%.
     
    #4 ericj551, Aug 27, 2015
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  5. GetMeAnIPA

    GetMeAnIPA Pooh-Bah (2,473) Mar 28, 2009 California
    Pooh-Bah

    Hearing more and more people say they squeeze the bag without causing Tannis. Any particular grains you wouldn't squeeze the bag with?
     
    #5 GetMeAnIPA, Aug 27, 2015
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  6. MCBanjoMike

    MCBanjoMike Initiate (0) Aug 7, 2014 Canada (QC)

    I'm no expert, but @OldSock wrote something on his blog about how it was bad to squeeze the bag and a whole bunch of people contradicted him. I've done it on a half-dozen batches and never had any unpleasant bitterness result from it. In fact, one of my comment's on @JohnSnowNW's Pale Ale recipe was that it wasn't bitter enough for my tastes!

    EDIT: The third post on this page seems to contain a wealth of information on the subject, all pointing to squeezing being totally fine.
     
    #6 MCBanjoMike, Aug 27, 2015
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  7. ghostinthemachine

    ghostinthemachine Initiate (0) Aug 14, 2015 Louisiana

    I've heard the same thing. One of my buddies swears against it (i doubt he's ever tried it). He does a tea bag sparge instead of squeezing and usually hits about 75 percent if im not mistaken
     
    #7 ghostinthemachine, Aug 27, 2015
  8. GetMeAnIPA

    GetMeAnIPA Pooh-Bah (2,473) Mar 28, 2009 California
    Pooh-Bah

    Thanks for the link! I have control over my ph and temp so I am gonna squeeze away!!
     
    #8 GetMeAnIPA, Aug 27, 2015
  9. GetMeAnIPA

    GetMeAnIPA Pooh-Bah (2,473) Mar 28, 2009 California
    Pooh-Bah

    Based on the link provided by MCbanjomike I feel ok to squeeze. Especially with the more I hear it's ok. I'll just have to make sure I keep track of my results and if my beers don't become harsh and excessively bitter when squeezing I'll continue. If I am noticing an increase of harsh bitterness I'll stop.
     
    #9 GetMeAnIPA, Aug 27, 2015
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  10. ghostinthemachine

    ghostinthemachine Initiate (0) Aug 14, 2015 Louisiana

    Just finished brewing and the beer is in the fermenter. I miss judged the water. I put 8.25 gallons in and had to boil some off and ended up boiling too much off. 4.5 gallons in the fermenter at 1.071 O.G.....this is gonna be a big beer yall
     
    #10 ghostinthemachine, Aug 30, 2015
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