BIAB: The Easiest Method for All-Grain Brewing

You've brewed with malt extract and want to take the next step? Brew In A Bag (BIAB) is the easiest way into all-grain brewing!

What is BIAB?

With BIAB, you mash the grain in a large fabric bag directly in your brew pot. After mashing, you simply lift out the bag - done! No separate lautering, no additional vessels.

The idea: Everything in one pot, maximum simplicity.

Advantages of BIAB

Why BIAB is Perfect for Beginners:

• ✅ Minimal equipment - One pot and one bag are enough

• ✅ Less space - No lautering equipment needed

• ✅ Faster - No time-consuming lautering and sparging

• ✅ Cheaper - Investment under €50

• ✅ Less cleaning - Only one pot to clean

• ✅ Full control - You mash with real grain

What You Need

Basic Equipment for BIAB:

EquipmentRecommendationBudget

Large potStock pot 30-40L€40-80
Mash bagNylon or polyester, fine mesh€15-25
ThermometerDigital, long probe€10-20
Stirring spoonLong, stainless steel or wood€5-10

Tip: A stock pot with a spigot is ideal - you can use it for other brewing methods later!

The Right Mash Bag

Look for:

• Fine mesh (approx. 200-400 micron) - No husks in the wort

• Heat resistant - Must withstand boiling liquid

• Large enough - Should hang loosely over the pot rim

• Drawstring or handles - For easy lifting

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Preparation

1. Fill pot with all water needed (e.g., 30L for 20L final volume)

2. Heat to mash-in temperature (e.g., 68°C)

3. Hang mash bag over pot rim and secure

Important: With BIAB you use ALL water at once - no separate sparge!

2. Mashing In

1. Slowly pour grain into the bag

2. Stir thoroughly - no clumps!

3. Check temperature (should be around 66-68°C)

4. Cover and rest for 60 minutes

Tip: During the rest, insulate the pot with blankets to maintain temperature.

3. The Key Step: Lifting the Bag

After the rest comes the most important step:

1. Carefully lift - The bag is heavy and hot!

2. Let it drain - Hang over pot or place in strainer

3. Optional: Gently squeeze - Carefully, not too hard!

4. Wait - Let drain for 10-15 minutes

Helpful tricks:

• Place kitchen stool or broom handle across pot, hang bag from it

• Work in pairs - one holds, one lifts

• Use heat-resistant gloves!

4. Boiling

From here, everything is like extract brewing:

1. Bring wort to boil

2. Add hops according to schedule

3. Boil for 60-90 minutes

4. Cool and pitch yeast

Tips for Better Efficiency

BIAB efficiency is typically somewhat lower than traditional lautering (60-70% vs 70-80%). Here's how to get more:

1. Mill Finer

With BIAB you can mill finer than with traditional lautering since the bag filters. This increases efficiency!

2. Squeeze the Bag

Yes, you can squeeze the bag! Contrary to old wisdom ("Never squeeze!"), modern tests show: squeezing yields more wort without negative effects.

3. Dunk Sparge (Optional)

After the first lift:

1. Briefly dunk bag in a bucket of hot water (about 75°C)

2. Let soak for 5 minutes

3. Let drain again

4. Add liquid to wort

4. Longer Rest

60 minutes is minimum, 75-90 minutes can improve efficiency further.

BIAB vs. Traditional Lautering

AspectBIABTraditional

Equipment1 pot + bagMash tun + lauter tun
Space neededMinimalMore space required
TimeShorterLautering takes 30-60 min
Efficiency60-70%70-80%
Investment~€50-100~€200-400
ComplexitySimpleMore steps

Avoiding Common Mistakes

1. Not Enough Water

With BIAB you need more water than you think. Calculate about 3-4 liters per kg of grain for absorption.

2. Bag Touching Pot Bottom

If the bag touches the hot bottom, it can melt! Solution: Place a rack or inverted strainer on the bottom.

3. Lifting Too Fast

Lift slowly! The grain soaks up water, the bag gets heavy. Jerky lifting = tear or burn.

4. Overheating When Reheating

If you add heat during the rest: lift bag out first or stir very carefully!

Recipe Adjustments for BIAB

Since efficiency is lower, you need to adjust recipes:

Rule of thumb: Use about 10-15% more grain than traditional recipes call for.

Or use our Recipe Wizard - it calculates amounts automatically!

Conclusion

BIAB is the perfect entry into all-grain brewing:

• Simple - One pot, one bag, done

• Cheap - Under €100 investment

• Effective - Complete control over your beer

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🎯 Ready for Your First BIAB Brew?

We've prepared three BIAB tutorial recipes for you - complete with step-by-step instructions, timers and tips!

➡️ Discover BIAB Recipes

Choose your style:

• 🍊 Golden Pale Ale - Citrus & hops, 5.2% ABV

• 🍺 BIAB Helles - Classic malty, 5.0% ABV

• 🌾 Simple Wheat Beer - Banana & clove, 5.0% ABV

Or start even simpler with our Extract Tutorial.

Cheers! 🍺