What is BIAB?
BIAB (Brew In A Bag) is the simplest and most affordable method for brewing real all-grain beers. You mash crushed malt in a large nylon bag directly in your brew kettle, lift out the bag after the rest, and boil the wort — all in a single pot. No separate lauter tun, no complex 3-vessel setup. BIAB typically delivers 60–70% brewhouse efficiency and works for any beer style, from light Helles to Imperial Stout.
Choose Your BIAB Recipe
American Pale Ale with citrus aromas
Classic Munich Helles - malty & easy-drinking
Bavarian Hefeweizen with banana & clove
Must Have
- •Large pot (30-40L)
- •Mash bag (BIAB Bag)
- •Thermometer
- •Hydrometer or Refractometer
- •Fermenter (25-30L) with airlock
- •Long stirring spoon
- •Heat-resistant gloves
Nice to Have
- •Rack/strainer for pot bottom
- •Pulley/hook for lifting bag
- •Immersion chiller
- •Stock pot with spigot
For Bottling
- •Bottles (20x 0.5L or 40x 0.33L)
- •Bottle caps + capper OR swing-top bottles
- •Bottling tube/siphon
💡 Total BIAB investment: about €50-100. A stock pot from the hardware store and a mash bag from the homebrew shop are enough!
Why BIAB?
What is BIAB (Brew in a Bag)?
BIAB is the simplest method for all-grain brewing. You mash your grains in a nylon bag directly in your brew kettle, lift out the bag, and boil the wort — all in a single pot, with no separate lauter tun required. Perfect for beginners transitioning from extract to all-grain.
What efficiency can I expect with BIAB?
With BIAB you can typically achieve 60–70% brewhouse efficiency. By using a finer crush, performing a dunk sparge, or extending your mash time to 75–90 minutes, you can push efficiency to 70–75%.
BIAB vs. traditional lautering — which is better?
BIAB is ideal for beginners and small batches: cheaper equipment (under €100), less gear, less cleanup. Traditional 3-vessel lautering offers higher efficiency and is better suited for large batches, but requires significantly more equipment and experience.
What pot size do I need for BIAB?
For a typical 5-gallon (20-liter) batch, you need a pot with at least 8–10 gallon (33–35 liter) capacity. The pot must be large enough to hold all the water plus the mash bag. A stock pot from the hardware store works perfectly.
Can I brew any beer style with BIAB?
Yes! BIAB works for virtually any beer style — from light Helles and IPA to big Imperial Stouts. For high-gravity brews (e.g. Bock, Doppelbock), a dunk sparge with hot water helps you hit your target original gravity.
How can I improve my BIAB efficiency?
Four tips: 1) Use a finer crush than with conventional systems, 2) Gently squeeze the bag after lifting it out, 3) Perform a dunk sparge with hot sparge water, 4) Extend the mash time to 75–90 minutes.