If any of you have ever read any of my Warcraft blogs, you know that I have a tendency to dive into one thing, and then the next week, change my mind completely.
I think I’m sorta coming to that here as well. But not quite. I’m talking about the Biab.
No there is nothing wrong with it. Just wanna make that clear. I have no problems brewing Biab and the beers come out just as good. I made a beer biab that I have made 20 times before the old way, and I see no difference what so ever.
But that said,, I found there is a give and take between Biab and your normal everyday mashing in a cooler. And have not yet seen the point of changing everything over.
A couple of misconceptions that a brand new biab brewer might not even notice, but an traditional all-grainer will.
1- You use less equipment.
I would say that is close, but not entirely true. It would be more true to say you use slightly different equipment.
It may seem like you are just mashing in the pot and not in a cooler, therefore you have less eq, But… I found that having the right blankets or insulation, and draining items counts as necessary equipment. And even though I have all the equipment to do many many many all grain brews,, I really did not and still do not have the correct blankets or insulation to perform a flawless Biab.
If I were to buy the needed correct insulation it would cost me almost exactly the same as just buying a cooler to mash in.
2-Biab is easier than traditional mashing. Um no.
If you have fancy pids and pods and lights and switches,, then maybe. but just your everyday barebones, biab vs. cooler. No.
Every biab I have done has been pretty much constant watching, tending and waiting. I will agree that some/most of this is due to #1 up there. Not having the proper blanketing equipment. But to me it sure seem like I need to pay far more attention to little things that I don’t with the cooler.
While not overly excruciating, the need to be wrapping then unwrapping to heat for two minutes, then wrapping back and waiting to do it again eventually is gonna wear on you. Especially when you are very used to the set it and forget it style of the cooler. This may be a little dramatic, but that how I feel during every bag brew.
And as far as being physically easier.. ha! No again. Sure the pulleys and ropes and all that look all cool, but your still moving this 10lb or so bag of grain that is now soaked near scalding water.
With the cooler you drain off what ever amount of wort you can safely carry and dump it, 3-4 times. When you need to move the grain its been drained.
And again, adding an awesome easy drainage system adds to more equipment needed to be bought our built. And there isn’t just a standard,, each system needs its own system. (did that make sense?)
Now I know this sounds like I now hate Biab. Nope.
It also sounds like I’m giving up Biab. Nope.
But I have realized there is a time and place for it. My 3 gallon system is staying with the bag. It was built specifically for it. But my regular all grain system, both the 5 and 13 gallon were not built for it. So yes,, I “can” use it as a Biab. There really is no benefit to do so.
If I were a “brand new, still buying my equipment, still learning the process” brewer, Going full Biab is perfectly fine. And so is the kettle and cooler method. I just do not see an advantage of one over the other.
So the give and take for each ultimately balances themselves out in the end, almost exactly. meaning the ultimate decision is really which system you have a preference for.
If you have one or the other now, I see no reason to change to the other. Except curiosity maybe.
9stripe Brewing 