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You are here: Home --> Forum Home --> Brewing Forum --> Brewing Discussion --> Apartment BIAB brewing options- Stove is a PITA

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TheBeginnersBrew
Nashville, TN
2 Posts


Hello

I have a 15 gallon Megapot that I do full volume BIAB 5 gallon batches in. I do this inside on my kitchen stove (it reaches over 2 electric burners which works). 

This works ok, however every little bit of wort that spills (which is a lot because I have to lift the heavy ass bag out of the big ass pot from a ladder) and it ends up being burned into my stove top which SWMBO does not like.

I'm looking for alternatives. I want to stay with BIAB. I have a really large balcony but the apartment outlaw'd propane gas grills. it also has planks so I dont' think I could brew out there or mash out there because the danger of hot wort falling below is too much.

What's my alternative? It woudl be awesome if I could mash somewhere, use a pulley system to lift the bag and not have to worry about spilling on my stove. However, It's way too heavy to move the whole pot. 

What do y'all think? 




Posted 34 days ago.

tracebusta
Charter Member
Somerville, MA
155 Posts


I can think of a couple options (though I'm sure there are more):

1 - Smaller batches. If you get yourself a 6-7 gallon pot you could easily do 3 gallon batches. The smaller amount would be easier to handle and hopefully produce fewer spills.

2 - Get a cooler and MiaB (mash in a bag). You wouldn't need to worry about outfitting it with a manifold or a braided hose if you keep using the bag for your grains.

As an aside: if you pick up a razor blade scraper, the black, burned-on wort on the stove gets a lot easier to clean up. My, uh... friend... has had a few spills and this seems to work well.




Posted 34 days ago.

vinpaysdoc
Charter Member
High Point, NC
321 Posts


I've never done BIAB, so, I'm not sure I can help you with that. 

I do 5 gallon all-grain batches in the house with little problems. I haul the 10 gallon Rubbermaid cooler outside to empty it and have no problems with spilling. I also don't have any problems with bugs. 

I do have a little longer time for the wort to come to boil in a 10 gallon SS pot on a single electric stove burner, but, it gets there. 

Good luck figuring out something!




Posted 34 days ago.

skitzo2000
Pittsburgh, PA
42 Posts


Have you considered Mash in a bag?  Brulosopher covered that a while back on his brewing simply post.   You could at least mash with the cooler on the floor that way you dont need the ladder and whatever spillage you might have would be easier to clean, and not on the stove.



Posted 34 days ago.

uberg33k
Charter Member
The Internet
314 Posts


You could also buy an induction cooktop.  There a bunch of 3500W ones out there that run on 220V that can easily boil batches in the size range you're talking about.

I know what you're saying ... this is 'merica and I don't know nuttin' about no 220V.  Your drier runs on 220V.  You can set up a large board over the washing machine (leaving the washing machine door open) and use the  drier plug to run the induction heater.  If you have a boil over, it goes into the washer.  Cleanup?  Just run the washer on the quickwash setting and you're done.

Biggest concern there is making sure whatever shelving system/board you use can hold the weight, but once you have that figured out, you're golden.

And yes, I know this isn't totally ideal, but you're dealing with brewing in small spaces and you have to get a little creative.




Posted 34 days ago.

tracebusta
Charter Member
Somerville, MA
155 Posts


                     If you have a boil over, it goes into the washer.  Cleanup?  Just run the washer on the quickwash setting and you're done.

That's fucking brilliant.




Posted 34 days ago.

uberg33k
Charter Member
The Internet
314 Posts


Occasionally I pull something good out of my nethers.  Actually, it's an idea I'd been playing with for a while.  It's a play on the "bottle over the dishwasher door" thing.

Also, OP ... Fermcap S.  Use it, love it.




Posted 34 days ago.

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