Chumia Brew Bags 20-Pack Reusable Mesh Strainer Review

Brew-in-a-bag (BIAB) all-grain brewing eliminates the mash tun by holding grain in a fine-mesh bag inside the brew kettle. Chumia's 20-pack of large reusable brew bags ($33, 4.6 stars, 170+ reviews) is the bulk supply for BIAB brewers and hop straining. We tested it for 8 weeks of brew sessions.

TL;DR

The right bulk brew-bag supply for BIAB brewers and hop straining. 26"×22" extra-large fine mesh bags; reusable; food-grade nylon. Bulk 20-pack supports multi-batch use without bag replacement. Pair with kettle + heat-resistant gloves. Skip if you do traditional all-grain with mash tun (no bags needed); pick this for BIAB or hop-screening additions.

Why It Matters

BIAB simplifies all-grain brewing by skipping the mash tun. You hold grain in a fine-mesh bag inside the brew kettle during mash, then lift the bag out at end-of-mash, drain, and proceed to boil. The result is all-grain wort without separate equipment.

The right BIAB bag has three properties: (1) fine mesh (250-500 micron — fine enough to hold grain, coarse enough to drain), (2) sized to fit your kettle (10-gallon kettle needs 26"×22" bag for full coverage), (3) reusable (washable, durable for 50+ uses).

Key Specs

• Size: 26 × 22 inches (extra large for 5-10 gallon kettles)
• Material: Food-grade nylon mesh
• Mesh size: ~250-400 micron (fine for grain, coarse for drain)
• Quantity: 20 bags per pack
• Reuse cycle: 50+ uses per bag
• Drawstring: Built-in for easy lifting
• Cleaning: Wash with PBW + warm water
• Country of origin: China

Pros

• Bulk 20-pack value. ~$1.65 per bag vs $5+ for singles.
• Extra-large size. Fits 10-gallon kettle for 5-gallon BIAB.
• Drawstring lifting. Easy bag removal at end-of-mash.
• Food-grade nylon. Safe for hot wort contact.
• Reusable 50+ times each. Durable mesh.
• Versatile use. BIAB primary; secondary for hop straining or fruit additions.
• Compact storage. 20 bags fold into shoebox-sized stack.

Cons

• Won't replace dedicated mash tun for serious all-grain brewers. BIAB has efficiency tradeoffs vs mash tun.
• Mesh degrades over time. Replace at frayed edges or holes.
• Lifting heavy. 5-gallon batch BIAB bag with grain weighs ~15 lbs.
• Won't strain very fine particles. ~250 micron is mash-fine but not flour-fine.
• Boil-stable but not boil-immersible. Don't leave bag in boiling wort long.
• Won't absorb beer-line cleaning chemicals. Use dedicated cleaning bags.

Who It's For

• BIAB all-grain brewers. Bag-in-kettle process.
• Hop-screening users. Strain hops at end-of-boil.
• Fruit-addition brewers (sour beer, fruited IPA). Hold fruit in mesh bag during fermentation.
• Multi-batch brewers wanting bulk supply.
• Apartment brewers. Skip mash tun entirely.
• Skip if you do traditional all-grain with mash tun (no bags needed), if you do extract only (no grain), or if you brew tiny batches (single bag suffices).

How to Use

• Heat strike water in kettle to mash temp + 5°F (compensate for grain absorption)
• Place bag in kettle with drawstring tied to handle
• Add grain into bag; stir to dough-in
• Mash 60 min at recipe temp
• Lift bag out at end-of-mash; drain wort back into kettle
• Discard spent grain or compost
• Wash bag with PBW + warm water; air-dry
• Replace at visible holes or frayed mesh

How It Compares

• vs Single Brew Bag ($5): Single is for testing. Bulk 20-pack is value tier.
• vs Voile Bag ($30): Voile is finer mesh; for pulled-pork-style filtering. Comparable; pick by mesh size.
• vs Mash Tun + Bazooka Filter ($120): Mash tun is dedicated equipment. Different process; pick by space and budget.
• vs Hop Spider ($40): Hop spider is metal screen for hop containment. Different tool; comparable for hop-only.

Bottom Line

Chumia Brew Bags 20-Pack is the right bulk bag supply for BIAB brewers and hop straining. Extra-large size, food-grade nylon, drawstring lifting. Single bags are for testing; mash tun is the alternative process. For "the BIAB bag bulk supply that lasts years," this earns the slot at $33.

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