How to Brew In A Bag (BIAB): Simple Way To All Grain Brewing

If you’ve been homebrewing with extract or part grain kits and are ready to take your craft beers to the next level, Brew in a Bag (BIAB) is a great way to get started with all grain brewing. BIAB gives you the full flavour, freshness, and control of traditional all grain methods, without the cost or complexity of multi-vessel or all-in-one brewing system.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through what BIAB is, why it’s ideal for beginners and seasoned brewers alike, and how our Dark Rock BIAB Bags and Stainless Steel Brewing Pans make the process simple and reliable.

What is Brew in a Bag (BIAB)?

Brew in a Bag is an all grain homebrewing technique that allows you to mash and lauter in a single vessel. Instead of using separate mash tuns, false bottoms, and lauter tuns, you place your crushed grains inside a fine mesh BIAB bag inserted into your brewing pan.

Once mashing is complete, you lift the bag out, allow it to drain, and your wort is ready to boil. It’s one of the simplest and most accessible ways to brew full flavour all grain beer at home.

Why Choose Brew in a Bag?

BIAB has become a popular choice for homebrewers because it:

1. Saves Time and Space: With fewer pieces of equipment to set up, clean, and store, BIAB is perfect for homebrewers with limited space.
2. Reduces Costs: A single brewing vessel and a grain bag are more affordable than a full all grain setup or all-in-one system.
3. Delivers High Quality Results: BIAB produces excellent beers with full control over your ingredients and process.
4. It’s Beginner Friendly: The straightforward process makes it accessible for those new to all grain brewing.

What You Need to Get Started

To begin your BIAB journey, you’ll need the following equipment:

1. Stainless Steel Brewing Pan (12L, 20L & 30L): Our Dark Rock pans are ideal for mashing and boiling, offering durability and even heat distribution.
2. BIAB Straining Bag: Choose a small, medium, or large straining bag to fit your pan size.
3. Ingredients: Your choice of grains, hops, yeast, and water. Our award winning all grain beer kits are perfect for beginners and fully compatible with BIAB.
4. Brewing Essentials: A thermometer, hydrometer, and a heat source (like a kitchen stove or gas burner).

Brewing using the BIAB home brew method

Here’s a step-by-step guide to brewing your first BIAB batch:

1. Heat Your Water: Fill your brewing pan with the required amount of liquor (brewing water) and heat it to your target strike temperature (typically 65-70°C).
2. Insert the Grain Bag: Place the BIAB bag in the pan, ensuring the edges are secured over the rim.
3. Mash In: Slowly pour your crushed grains into the bag, stirring to prevent clumps. Maintain the mash temperature for 60 minutes.
4. Lift and Drain: Once mashing is complete, carefully lift the grain bag out of the pan and and gently “dunk” it a few times (like a giant tea bag) to maximise sugar extraction. Let it drain over the pan for several minutes.
5. Top Up Water if Needed: If you lose water through grain absorption or want a specific pre-boil volume, top up to your required level now.
6. Boil the Wort: Bring the wort to a boil, add hops as per your recipe, and follow standard boiling procedures.
7. Cool, Transfer and Ferment: After boiling, cool your wort quickly and transfer it to a sanitised fermenter to pitch the yeast.

Why Choose the Dark Rock Brewing Pan?

The Stainless Steel Brewing Pans from Dark Rock Brewing are engineered for both beginner and advanced BIAB brewers. Its durable stainless steel construction ensures even heat distribution and long term reliability. The available 12L, 20L and 30L capacity gives you flexibility for a variety of batch sizes, while the integrated handles make handling easier. We also supply small, medium and large BIAB straining bags which are compatible with each of our pans.

Tips for Success

• Keep Everything Sanitised: Sanitation is key to great beer, so clean all your equipment thoroughly.
• Monitor Your Temperatures: Use a reliable thermometer to maintain consistent mash, boil and fermentation temperatures.
• Stir Well at Grain Mash In: Prevents clumps and improves extraction.
• Don’t Rush the Grain Bag Drain: A slow, natural drain leads to better efficiency and cleaner wort.
• Experiment and Enjoy the Process: BIAB offers the flexibility to tweak recipes and experiment with different ingredients.

Final Thoughts

Brew in a Bag is one of the easiest and most rewarding ways to enjoy all grain homebrewing. With Dark Rock’s Stainless Steel Brewing Pans and premium BIAB bags, you’ll have everything you need to brew flavourful, commercial quality beers in your own kitchen.

Ready to begin your all grain home brewing journey? Visit our store or shop online today to pick up your Dark Rock BIAB essentials and start brewing incredible beer at home.