bigjohnmilford

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Making the jump soon. How does this look for starters? Will the pot be big enough for a full boil? We'll be doing 5 gallon batches.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp;jsessionid=YYN0VZUACIGTPLAQBBLCCONMCAEFAI WE?id=0043326&type=pod&cmCat=cat21404_feature3&_re questid=15287

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Think with your dipstick Jimmy.

BREW N QUE

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I use a similar setup. The only problem is the pot is just barely big enough, but that is a good place to start. You can always get a bigger pot later and still use the burner.

s3n8

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I would look for a larger pot if you can find one. It would be worth the extra $$ I think. I have a 30 qt, and if you are planning on doing all-grain full boils, you will need more room. I boil off 1 - 1.5 gallons in 60 minutes, and like to put 5.5 G in the fermenter. Foam control drops or not... aint big enough.

I would look for 40 qt minimum, otherwise you are gonna be topping off with tapwater.

RodfatherX

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30qt is fine for me. Just watch out for when it 1st starts to boil and your hops additions. I use a $1 spray bottle from dollar tree to spray down the foam. I have no probs keeping the 6.5 gallons contained after the hot breaks.

Evan!

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32 qts is my absolute minimum for mid-gravity beers. I prefer my 60-qt kettle...once you hit hotbreak and spray/stir/lower the burner level, you can leave it pretty much unattended outside of your hop/IM/IC additions. 30 qt has never been enough for me. I have 2 of them because they came with my walmart turkey fryers, but I just use them for heating sparge water. And heaven forbid if you want to brew a high-gravity beer with excess preboil volume!

IIWY, I'd get the bayou classic patio cooker (doesn't come with a kettle, and is much more efficient and better at heating), and get a big (50-60QT) aluminum pot from instawares. I think mine was like all of $70 shipped for the 60qt. One of the best investments I've made!

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Aristocratic Ales, Lascivious Lagers

.planned:
•Scottish 80/- •Sweet Stout •Roggenbier
.primary | bright:
98: Moss Hollow Soured '09 72: Oude Kriek 99: B-Weisse 102: Brett'd BDSA 104: Feat of Strength Helles Bock 105: Merkin Brown
.on tap | kegged:
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98: Yorkshire Special 100: Maple Porter 89: Cidre Saison 101: Steffiweizen '09 (#3)

PseudoChef

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I agree with Evan!. Spend the extra money now to save it later.

I bought the cheap-o turkey fryer set and the burner sucks and I don't even use the pot anymore.

With the 60qt (I got mine for $50 (new) at a hispanic flea market) you can do big beers and move to 10 gal batches if you want to.

McKBrew

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I didn't want to discourage you when I first read the thread, but "bigger is better" applies to pots as well as some other things. Mine is 40qt and is perfect for 5-6 gallon batches.

Rhoobarb

Recipes 

IMO, no. That will hold 7-1/2 gals. For most five gal. batches, you'll be boiling from roughly seven gals. down to five. A 30qt. pot leaves you little room for boil-over protection. You'll have to watch that thing like a hawk and fight to keep everything contained during the ramp-up to boil.

I'd get a 40qt. if at all possible. That is what I started AG with and I'm glad I did. That set up looks nice, otherwwise; especially for the price. Just too bad that pot isn't 40qts.

bigjohnmilford

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Thanks everyone. I kinda knew that was going to be the case. But, that is why I enjoy this forum so much. So much knowledge to tap into.

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Think with your dipstick Jimmy.

bigjohnmilford

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I agree whole heartedly that bigger is always better.

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Think with your dipstick Jimmy.