Home brewing systems

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In the microbrewery, cost and efficiency often result in the use of a mash tun that can double as a lauter tun (see the next chapter for more information on this step in the brewing process). In the large-scale brewery, when performing mashes on large batches, or when using malt that has been milled using a hammer mill, the use of a separate vessel for separating the spent grains from the wort is necessary.

• Making a custom mash cap (YouTube)

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/forum/threads/new-ebrewing-setup-ebiab-or-eherms.647412/

Braumeister with LOB kit is the only all-in-one system feasible for LOB without major customization.

Single-vessel systems

In essence, a basic "brew in a bag" system provides a method of lautering that eliminates the need for multiple vessels. During the mash, the grain is contained in a mesh bag, which can then be lifted out of the kettle before the boil. This is a good starter system for all-grain brewing due to its simplicity. With the appropriate kettle, it can also be upgraded to a multi-vessel system later if the brewer decides to pursue more advanced methods.

Advantages

• Most simple
• Lowest cost
• Lowest space requirement (compared to multi-vessel systems)

Disadvantages

• Increased wort oxidation
• Lower wort clarity, leading to various potential problems:
  • Scorching during the boil
  • Haze
  • Decreased flavor stability
• Lifting the grain may be difficult (heavy, hot, and sticky) unless an overhead pulley system is used
• Pre-milled grain from most suppliers may not be optimal (too coarse)
• Possible decreased efficiency (compared to using a sparge)

Heat should generally not be directly applied to the bottom of the kettle because the bag can melt, among other potential problems (see Mashing).

After lifting out the bag, brewers using a pulley system may leave the bag hanging over the kettle to allow the wort to more fully drain during the boil. However, this will introduce quite a bit of oxygen, decreasing flavor stability.

k-rims .. tends to overheat the mash at the bottom, which can affect fermentability.

Basic requirements

• Kettle, typically twice the volume of beer that will be made
• Bag
• Optional/recommended: pulley system
• All the other basic brewing equipment (see Brewing)

Wilser bags are high quality and widely recommended. Wilser also offers a pulley system. Paint strainer bags are a low budget option, but are widely considered to be inferior quality.

Behind the basics

The BIAB method allows simple batch sparging by dunking the bag of grain in a second vessel filled with water (such as a bucket) after the mash. This process is mutually exclusive with preventing wort oxidation.

A single vessel BIAB system can also recirculate and step mash with a RIMS or K-RIMS.

Multiple vessel systems

A multi-vessel system (typically 2 or 3 vessels) utilizes a vessel besides the kettle which is used to hold the mash, called a "mash tun".

• lauterhexe ... helix coil