BIAB question, multiple bags?

I need to build a new mash tun, and in the meantime I’ve been doing BIAB batches. One of the drawbacks is when the grain bill starts to get a little big, the mash bag starts to get a lotta heavy.

So I was wondering if I could just split the grains between, say, three medium bags? I was wondering if anyone had tried this, and if there would be any drawbacks. Maybe some grains wouldn’t mash as well as others or something like that? I don’t know.

It’d make it easier for me to do my mini “sparge”, as I would be able to handle the grains more easily as I rinse them with a little hot water.

Thanks for any help!

I have seen several posts about guys using multiple bags. Don’t see why it wouldn’t work. It’s all in the same water at the same temp.

Ron

I agree it shouldn’t really matter with BIAB. Have you considered using something to hang your bag from while it’s draining into the kettle? Then you wouldn’t have to hold it.

I know @dannyboy58 uses a pulley system so he doesn’t have to lift the bag at all. He’s lazy like that but he taught the folks at Weihenstephan to brew like this. :wink:

1 Like

Loopie, Ive thought about mashing in the garage and using a pulley, but right now i save the propane by mashing in the brew tun on the kitchen stove.

I didn’t know Weihenstephan used biab. Must be an enormous bag!

It is and I heard they use a crane to pull it.

Yes I have used up to 3 bags with large grainbills. Had some anxious moments the first time I tried to lift a 15 pound grainbill _wet_with no one home to help…yikes. Now I routinely use two bags with average grainbills and get them onto large strainers ASAP and have one draining into the BK and the other on a 5 gallon pot left over from my extract days. Or a third bag if necessary on yet another pot. Then the sparging commences.