erikrocks

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Sorry, I failed to mention that buying USA is also extremely important to my decision making process. Blichmann uses US parts for the vast majority of the time, and none of his stuff is assembled in China or any other 3rd World Country.

Also, as I've stated before, I really love the Boilermaker site gauge.

bja

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You also failed to read this.

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Life is tough. It's tougher if you're stupid.

erikrocks

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Hmm--I'm not so sure about that. I just sent an email off to Blichmann...

5DollsBrewery

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Thanks so much for the replies.

If I go with the 15 gallon wont I have to worry about
Excess boil off due to larger surface area as I brew my 5gallon batches?

Are sight glasses on them easy to clean?

Thanks much for the prompt answers. Love this place.

Jukas

Recipes 

I do mostly 5.5 - 6gal batches and have the 15g blichmann. I probably boil off a little more than if I had gone with a 10gal pot, because I'm assuming that the 10gal is a slightly smaller diameter than the 16" of the 15gal.

However, having 8.5gal preboil come up almost to the top at the start of the hot break and not having to worry about boilover, not having to use fermcap or having to turn the burner down was worth it to me. I doubt my boiloff is more than .25g over what it would be in a 10gal pot.

If I ever move to doing 10gal batches I'd likely need to either really manage the kettle, or move to a 20gal for my boils and keep the 15 for a mashtun.

Calichusetts

Recipes 

Sight glasses are absolutely pointless...I've got a 1 foot lab thermometer that I can hitch up to the top of my kettle...I filled my kettle and marked off what temp marking was what volume. I've never failed to hit my intended post boil volume to withing half a quart. I'd rather have to wipe off a thermo then clean a sight glass, and I would never pay for one. Just my opinion but I have never seen the need for these. Then again I am in indoor brewer so season and humidity play a smaller role in my boils.

Just to reinforce that idea. I did my first recipe this morning with leaf instead of pellet, and my first brew under 8%. Estimated absorption from hops and loss of absorption from less grain and still hit my mark. Just had to delay my 10 minute addition by 3 minute

Its the first page of my brew log. I mark what temp (C and F) equals what volume and then do some simple math to find the exact amount each degree (or five degrees) is per quart. Very simple, takes 10 minutes tops, and you can even be heating up your water while doing it so it actually doesn't take up an extra time.

Gear101

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He is the one to set the stanard!!!

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Island Time Brewery

Keg 1=Black Caesar Imperial Stout by Island Time Brewery
Keg 2=(IPA) Islamorada Pale Ale by Island Time Brewery
Keg 3= Zombie Dust
Keg 4= Goose Island Matilda
Keg 5= Cigar City Jai Alai
Keg 6= Bell's Hopslam


Stainless is Painless

"I am allergic to grass. Hey, it could be worse. I could be allergic to beer." - Greg Norman

Seven

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If getting things as cheaply as possible is important to you then Blichmann kettles probably aren't for you.

They are worth the money in my opinion... but only you can decide if it's "worth it" to you.

Other kettles will work fine too... I would have no problem using a keggle or a bayou classic or whatever else out there.

Definitely consider getting a 15-gallon kettle instead of the 10-gallon. I wish I had.

Sight glasses aren't pointless. Some people consider them a useful tool.

Make sure to use the supplied heat shield when boiling to protect the thermometer and sight glass because contact with direct flame can damage them.

ArcaneXor

Recipes 

SpikeBrewing,

are your kettles 18-gauge stainless? Judging by the site description, they are close to 20-gauge.

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The Fiesty(sic) Goat Brewery est. 2007 & Clusterfuggle Experimental Ales est. 2009
Planned: Fat Man Porter, sLambic II, Brettennial Falcon IPA, Flanders Red, Orange Blossom Mead
Primary: Winexpert Riesling Ice Wine, sLambic I
Secondary: Flanders Red
Kegged:Black or Blue EyePA, Cherrywood-aged Crystal Stout,
2013 dump volume: ~2 gallons

SpikeBrewing

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They are 1mm thick which converts roughly to 19 gauge.

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