The Brew Bag Blog

In 2013, craft brewers reached 7.8 percent volume of the total U.S. beer market, up from 6.5 percent the previous year. Additionally, craft dollar share of the total U.S. beer market reached 14.3 percent in 2013, as retail dollar value from craft brewers was estimated at $14.3 billion, up from $11.9 billion in 2012. Go here to read the rest of the article.    http://www.brewersassociation.org/pages/media/press-releases/show?title=brewers-association-announces-2013-craft-brewer-growth

Why, yes Wilbur, there can be too much water in the mash tun. But can there be too little as well? Let's start by listing the ways wort can get into the boil kettle. In no significant order: 1. Batch sparging - mashing at water too grain ratios of ~1.25 per pound and then adding water in large batches to rinse the wort into the boil kettle - faster than fly sparging - no arm or pump needed.  2. Fly Sparging - a spinning arm held above the wort delivers water in an even composition so as to gently wash...

Many of the sparge brewers I talk to about BIAB scratch their heads when they hear that the brew in a bag method is a no sparge method. Nearly all of them say "but what about all the sugars that get left behind in the grain, aren't you losing valuable fermetables?" At issue is not whether no sparge "loses" fermentable sugar, but how much is actually in the boil kettle. While it is true that the grain bag after lifting from the mash tun has sugars remaining, at what point is sparging a zero return effort? The concept of brew...

We got the news today that we've been selected to present at the American Homebrewer's Association 36th Annual National Conference. http://www.homebrewersassociation.org The topic - Brew In A Bag - It Really Works! That's great news and a strong sign that the Brew In A Bag method of brewing is beginning to take hold in the USA (thanks Australian brewer's).   I can't confirm this, but a FB'er posted on my announcement of the presentation, that Brad Smith, the designer of Beersmiith, and very competent brewer and blogger, gave a BIAB presentation at the National Homebrew Conference in 2012. I hope...

What began as a simple problem ended with a great product that has already been used by many brewers with positive results - and re-orders!  When I started brewing a few years ago, I did what most folks do - I watched, asked, and watched some more. On February 12, 2011 I bought my first extract kit and gave it a whirl. That first one was a Bavarian Hefeweizen, mostly because my wife likes that style, and I was working the plan towards mutual happiness. It turned out OK, drinkable, not bad, really. It was worth doing after all, and...