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mcaustin · 04-16-2007, 02:55 AM

Ok guys, I know that the standard answer here will be to make a keggle, but SWMBO just bought me an 8 gal SS kettle for my birthday last month, and my friend just dropped off a Sanke keg at my house yesterday afternoon. He had offered it to me quite a while ago, well before I got the kettle from SWMBO.

So now, I'm in the process of figuring out what to do with it since I now have a kettle that really is big enough for my 5 gallon batches. I just started with all grain batches, and so also just got a 48 qt mash tun.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

Austin

**Lil' Sparky** · 04-16-2007, 03:11 AM

Well, you can use one or the other as a HLT. Typically I think you would use the larger one as the kettle.

You can also use it as a MLT, but you said you just got a cooler for that.

I guess the last option is as a fermenter. I think there are some DIY threads on this.

casebrew · 04-18-2007, 07:36 PM

Make the keggle. It's twice as efficient to make ten gallons at a time.

**Dude** · 04-18-2007, 07:38 PM

I'd make it into an HLT and you can always switch back and forth if you need a bigger kettle. Put a sightglass on it and a ball valve and you are golden.

**the_bird** · 04-18-2007, 07:42 PM

Convert the keg into a keggle. No boilover worries. Ever.

Use the 8-gallon kettle as a HLT if you fly sparge. If you batch, it's a good size for heating your sparge water.

Or, you now have options if you want to explore building a direct-fired mash tun.

Personally, though, I *love* my keggle. I would never think about using an 8-gallon pot in its place.

Cheesefood · 04-18-2007, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_bird

Convert the keg into a keggle. No boilover worries. Ever.

Use the 8-gallon kettle as a HLT if you fly sparge. If you batch, it's a good size for heating your sparge water.

Or, you now have options if you want to explore building a direct-fired mash tun.

Personally, though, I *love* my keggle. I would never think about using an 8-gallon pot in its place.

Yup. I boiled over in an 11 gallon pot (now my HLT).

Make something like this badboy with all your new kettles:

http://powersbrewery.com/

Todd · 04-18-2007, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_bird

Convert the keg into a keggle. No boilover worries. Ever.

Use the 8-gallon kettle as a HLT if you fly sparge. If you batch, it's a good size for heating your sparge water.

Or, you now have options if you want to explore building a direct-fired mash tun.

Personally, though, I *love* my keggle. I would never think about using an 8-gallon pot in its place.

My keggle just boiled over with 6.5 gallons of wort in it. had to mention it.

gnef · 04-18-2007, 08:56 PM

haha. i know the feeling. i use foam control in the boil, as well as during fermentation now too.

Nehoc · 04-20-2007, 11:12 PM

I'll be tackling a 1/2 barrel project this weekend, converting it to a HLT. I already have the stack of sawzall blades and very nice earplugs ready to go. I'll be making a trip to my local welding shop to put in a female fitting though, just easier in all ways than dealing with weldless fittings.

-Nehoc

mcaustin · 05-03-2007, 09:40 PM

Update:

I'm building the keggle, and will be using my 8 gal pot to heat sparge water

The also means that I have to build a new frame for my turkey fryer burner since the keg doesn't fit too well on top of the turkey fryer. Went ahead and picked up a venturi (from the $4 wortwizzard thread) and will be building my CFC soon.

I guess what all this means is that the brewery is temporarily closed for upgrades! Guess it's a good thing that I have 2 batches on tap and one ready for secondary

Austin