Mash in the Bag (can not call it Boil in Bag)

[DrunkenSatyr]

So.....since I have been almost 6 months without brewing and am getting frustrated with the class M pipe that I "want" to build my manifold out of, I have decided to try out a few brews with a bastardized version of the mash in a bag. I am still going to mash into a mash tun but will keep all the grains in a nylon bag. Run the pump to recirculate the wort and run it off to the kettle. Batch sparge in the bag then run all the collections through a 5 micron filter to eliminate any grain particles therefore reducing tannin. Rest is brew as normal. Will start off with a few simple brews that I have done tons of times to get a base line but I am expecting the ease of batch sparging with the eff. of fly since it is easy enough to recirculate and dunk the bag.


I am up for thoughts or expectations. It sounds way too easy to me but still seems to make better sense than just batch sparging alone. I will still continue on my quest to build the perfect manifold but in the mean time....I NEED TO BREW AGAIN DAMN IT!!!

[Evan!]

Given the inability to stir, I wonder if the efficiency would suffer. Might, might not. How big is this grain bag?

You thought about a simple SS domed false bottom? I love mine.

[DrunkenSatyr]

It would be a 5 gallon bag and yeah, I have thought about a false bottom but when I get a design in my head, I stick with it. This is more of a "do it with what I have around the house right now while I build what I want" kind of thing. Who knows, I may end up breaking down and going the false bottom, sparge arm way but for now, just need to get back in the game.

[MrMarbleHead]

You don't think that filtering pre boil will take out any of the stuff that you DO want in there? Not sure how big the sugar particles are, but I am sure that for filtering out grain husks and shit, you could get away with using some folded up cheese cloth or something along those lines.

[DrunkenSatyr]

I was thinking about a 5-10 micron filter.

[MrMarbleHead]

Shit, Sorry, Read that as .5 micron for some reason......Carry-on.

[blacklab]

I ran my first AG in an even more simple manner. I had my MLT with spigot, but no bullet screen installed yet. Stuck the bag in the cooler, then grain in the bag, and mashed like so. If you fold the bag over the edges of the cooler, you can stir when you need to.

[DrunkenSatyr]

Yeah, I have done that also (few stuck sparges ;) ) We are talking about the same thing though. This will still be in a cooler, grains in a bag. It is not ground breaking, just something to get me back in the freaking game without my manifold and not having to use extract...