# BIAB efficiency **URL:** \ **Category:** Brewing Processes\ **Created:** [November 3, 2012, 9:30am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/biab-efficiency/11883 "2012-11-03T09:30:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jklinck](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/jklinck/32/9312_2.png) [@jklinck](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/jklinck)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2012, 9:30am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/biab-efficiency/11883/1 "2012-11-03T09:30:56Z")
I’m curious what type of efficiency people are getting with BIAB? I’m especially curious about anyone that is measuring mash pH. ---
**Author:** ![weithman5](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/weithman5/32/9958_2.png) [@weithman5](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/weithman5)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2012, 2:27pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/biab-efficiency/11883/2 "2012-11-03T14:27:22Z")
i don’t boil in a bag but i mash in a bag, not quite the same thing.  however i run around 70 percent. i do check my ph with strips on occasion but i really don’t make any adjustments. ---
**Author:** ![erockrph](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/erockrph/32/13330_2.png) [@erockrph](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/erockrph)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2012, 2:40pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/biab-efficiency/11883/3 "2012-11-03T14:40:43Z")
I do my mash in a cooler instead of my kettle, but it’s essentially BIAB since I do full-volume/no sparge. Plus, I squeeze my bag. I just mash in the cooler to help hold temp during the mash. I hit 80-81% brewhouse efficiency with a fine crush. If my grains aren’t crushed as fine as I’d like (I don’t have a mill yet), then my BE is in the 72-74% range. I don’t have a pH meter yet, but I use Brunwater and shoot for 5.3 for most beers. So far, so good. ---
**Author:** ![beersk](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/beersk/32/13414_2.png) [@beersk](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/beersk)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2012, 6:10pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/biab-efficiency/11883/4 "2012-11-03T18:10:45Z")
I’ve only done 2 batches, but I got around 80% efficiency.  I mill pretty fine, gap is set at .030" on my barley crusher. As Jake Keeler says, I goose it to keep the mash temp in line.  I mash in my kettle, have a steamer rack on the bottom (so I don’t scorch the bag or grain) with a chain going up to the handles so I can pull it out after the mash. I like it a lot.  Today will be my first time doing full volume mash.  The last 2 batches I did partial volume mashes, like I used to with a cooler setup. Brew in a bag is a kick ass method. Oh, and I do 3 gallon batches, so it suits me pretty well. ---
**Author:** ![beerlord](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/beerlord/32/12231_2.png) [@beerlord](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/beerlord)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 10:12pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/biab-efficiency/11883/5 "2012-11-08T22:12:53Z")
I  don’t get caught up on efficiency since I have my BIAB down but every now and again I check and am usually between 78 and 83%. I’m very pleased with my beers as are all my beer-snob friends. ---
**Author:** ![a10t2](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/a10t2/32/6257_2.png) [@a10t2](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/a10t2)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 11:35pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/biab-efficiency/11883/6 "2012-11-08T23:35:08Z")
Unless you’re squeezing wort out of the grains, it will be the same as a batch sparge with the same volumes. ---
**Author:** ![mpietropaoli](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/mpietropaoli/32/8340_2.png) [@mpietropaoli](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/mpietropaoli)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2012, 2:12am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/biab-efficiency/11883/7 "2012-11-09T02:12:12Z")
75-80% squeezing the bag and a single batch sparge. ---
**Author:** ![ultravista](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@ultravista](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/ultravista)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2012, 2:19am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/biab-efficiency/11883/8 "2012-11-09T02:19:38Z")
I mash in a bag too and get anywhere from 75% to 80%. Most of the time, I mash for 60 to 90 minutes as I’m doing things around the house. Post-mash, I “dunk” sparge and squeeze my bag too 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![beersk](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/beersk/32/13414_2.png) [@beersk](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/beersk)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2012, 2:53am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/biab-efficiency/11883/9 "2012-11-09T02:53:05Z")
> [@beersk](#): > > I’ve only done 2 batches, but I got around 80% efficiency.  I mill pretty fine, gap is set at .030" on my barley crusher. As Jake Keeler says, I goose it to keep the mash temp in line.  I mash in my kettle, have a steamer rack on the bottom (so I don’t scorch the bag or grain) with a chain going up to the handles so I can pull it out after the mash. I like it a lot.  Today will be my first time doing full volume mash.  The last 2 batches I did partial volume mashes, like I used to with a cooler setup. > Brew in a bag is a kick ass method. Oh, and I do 3 gallon batches, so it suits me pretty well. So I did the full volume last Saturday evening.  I got right at 75% efficiency.  Solid. Crushing finer is the key to getting a good efficiency with brew in a bag. I also mash for 75 minutes or so, but I’m not entirely sure that’s necessary. ---
**Author:** ![dmtaylor](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/dmtaylor/32/9644_2.png) [@dmtaylor](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/dmtaylor)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2012, 12:48am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/biab-efficiency/11883/10 "2012-12-18T00:48:29Z")
I get 81% when I do “sparge” by rinsing the grains with some hot water.  I’m not going to sparge anymore in future and figure my efficiency will fall probably to low 70s.  BIAB is a very viable method, especially for small batches (I make 3 gallons or less) although I have a friend whose grandmother sewed him an enormous pillowcase and he makes 15-gallon batches with BIAB.  He has a pulley system to lift the grain bag out and to let it drip out.  He loves it and wouldn’t have it any other way.  Awesome. ---
**Author:** ![amh0001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f04885/32.png) [@amh0001](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/amh0001)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2012, 3:45am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/biab-efficiency/11883/11 "2012-12-18T03:45:17Z")
I have have done BIAB for about 10-15 batches now. I have my own mill so my crush is always the same. I have seen anywhere from 64-81% efficiency. I think it is important to squeeze the bag. I have had no problems with tannin this way. I think the large swing in efficiency is some what do to adjuncts. For instance I had lower efficiency with a 50% wheat beer. I also measure my PH with strips, but I can barely tell where its at. It seems like orange is from 4-6 PH lol. Maybe I need some different strips. ---
**Author:** ![jrdunne](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/jrdunne/32/4550_2.png) [@jrdunne](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/jrdunne)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2012, 3:06pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/biab-efficiency/11883/12 "2012-12-18T15:06:43Z")
> [@dmtaylor](#): > > I have a friend whose grandmother sewed him an enormous pillowcase and he makes 15-gallon batches with BIAB. You’re friend has an awesome grandmother.  I hope he makes her a batch of whatever she wants whenever she wants it. ---
**Author:** ![weithman5](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/weithman5/32/9958_2.png) [@weithman5](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/weithman5)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2012, 3:46pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/biab-efficiency/11883/13 "2012-12-18T15:46:57Z")
> [@beersk](#): > > I mash in my kettle, have a steamer rack on the bottom (so I don’t scorch the bag or grain) with a chain going up to the handles so I can pull it out after the mash. I like it a lot.  . as mentioned i mash in a bag then everything else as normal. however i have my eye on a seafood steamer kettle at the store. it has about 6gallons and about two inches up is a circumferential indent for the steamer basket to rest on.  i have been meaning to see if there is room below this where i could drill through and place my electric element.  then i would have an electric steamer kettle and i could skip the mash in the cooler part and control my mash temps directly with the electric element ---
**Author:** ![beersk](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/beersk/32/13414_2.png) [@beersk](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/beersk)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2012, 4:55pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/biab-efficiency/11883/14 "2012-12-18T16:55:39Z")
> [@weithman5](#): > > > [@beersk](#): > > > > I mash in my kettle, have a steamer rack on the bottom (so I don’t scorch the bag or grain) with a chain going up to the handles so I can pull it out after the mash. I like it a lot.  . > > as mentioned i mash in a bag then everything else as normal. however i have my eye on a seafood steamer kettle at the store. it has about 6gallons and about two inches up is a circumferential indent for the steamer basket to rest on.  i have been meaning to see if there is room below this where i could drill through and place my electric element.  then i would have an electric steamer kettle and i could skip the mash in the cooler part and control my mash temps directly with the electric element That’s cool, give it a go. The brews in a bag batches I did were disappointing to me. But I think there may have been something else causing the issue, not to do with brewing in a bag. I replaced my siphon hose and it seems to be fine. I might try brewing in a bag again sometime, but for now I’m back to 4 gallon batches in a 5 gallon cooler. More to clean, but whatevs. Brew day, for me, is typically around 4 hours with a 60 minute mash and 60 minute boil. So no big deal. ---
**Author:** ![weithman5](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/weithman5/32/9958_2.png) [@weithman5](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/weithman5)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2012, 5:14pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/biab-efficiency/11883/15 "2012-12-18T17:14:46Z")
the cooler is pretty easy and i still put all the grains in a bag. just lift them out of the cooler in the bag, clean up is a snap. this is similar to the kettle i found [http://img1.targetimg1.com/wcsstore/TargetSAS//img/p/10/82/10827023.jpg](http://img1.targetimg1.com/wcsstore/TargetSAS//img/p/10/82/10827023.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![beersk](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/beersk/32/13414_2.png) [@beersk](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/beersk)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2012, 7:15pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/biab-efficiency/11883/16 "2012-12-18T19:15:57Z")
> [@weithman5](#): > > the cooler is pretty easy and i still put all the grains in a bag. just lift them out of the cooler in the bag, clean up is a snap. > > this is similar to the kettle i found > > [http://img1.targetimg1.com/wcsstore/TargetSAS//img/p/10/82/10827023.jpg](http://img1.targetimg1.com/wcsstore/TargetSAS//img/p/10/82/10827023.jpg) Oh, nice! So that steamer rack goes on the bottom of the kettle? If so, that’d be just about perfect for brewing/mashing in a bag. No scorching the bottom of the bag. ---
**Author:** ![ultravista](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@ultravista](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/ultravista)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2012, 8:26pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/biab-efficiency/11883/17 "2012-12-18T20:26:32Z")
I mash in a bag, compress the bag to get “leftover” runnings after the first sparge. During a typical brew, I collect from 5 to 7 quarts after the bag drains. Those leftovers are condensed on the stove and dumped into the kettle when the volume is about a quart or so. This is super condensed and typically over 1.220 (where my refractometer stops). It’s a super-shot of highly condensed wort. ---
**Author:** ![weithman5](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/weithman5/32/9958_2.png) [@weithman5](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/weithman5)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2012, 8:33pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/biab-efficiency/11883/18 "2012-12-18T20:33:47Z")
> [@beersk](#): > > > [@weithman5](#): > > > > the cooler is pretty easy and i still put all the grains in a bag. just lift them out of the cooler in the bag, clean up is a snap. > > > > this is similar to the kettle i found > > > > [http://img1.targetimg1.com/wcsstore/TargetSAS//img/p/10/82/10827023.jpg](http://img1.targetimg1.com/wcsstore/TargetSAS//img/p/10/82/10827023.jpg) > > Oh, nice! So that steamer rack goes on the bottom of the kettle? If so, that’d be just about perfect for brewing/mashing in a bag. No scorching the bottom of the bag. right.  if there is enough room below that ring, i can put my electric element in it and then also have an electric steamer.  at first glance it is a very close fit, but i haven’t actually measured it. ---
**Author:** ![weithman5](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/weithman5/32/9958_2.png) [@weithman5](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/weithman5)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2012, 11:01pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/biab-efficiency/11883/19 "2012-12-18T23:01:38Z")
so now i am more interested in making an electric steamer/brewer with shelf.  found this from bayou classic [http://www.walmart.com/ip/Bayou-Classic-Stainless-Spigot-Pot/21721738?findingMethod=Recommendation:wm:RecentlyViewedItems](http://www.walmart.com/ip/Bayou-Classic-Stainless-Spigot-Pot/21721738?findingMethod=Recommendation:wm:RecentlyViewedItems) ---
**Author:** ![beersk](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/beersk/32/13414_2.png) [@beersk](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/beersk)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 2:40pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/biab-efficiency/11883/20 "2012-12-19T14:40:09Z")
That’s cool, it’s too bad it’s from Walmart. But I really like the Bayou Classic kettles. For small batches though, it’s not really necessary to have the spigot. I’m fine with no spigot with 4 gallon batches. But if I did anything bigger than 5 gallons, I’d want one probably. [Next page](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/biab-efficiency/11883.md?page=2)