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Pelikan · 12-07-2008, 03:54 PM

Was in Wal*Mart yesterday, grabbing a small fridge for my brews. I thought I'd give the pot section a look, just for the hell of it. Out of all the stores I've been in, only specialty cookware places had anything larger than 16 quart, but lo and behold the 'mart had good quality, 22 quart stainless pots, with the heavy, heat dispersing bottoms. $49.99 each...grab two and split your five gallon boil between them.

I feel a little salty that I paid the same amount for one of those flimsy "econo" pots at my LHBS, but it's okay. I grabbed a top of the line 20 quart at a cookware place that was going out of business, so it all evens out in the end.

talleymonster · 12-07-2008, 04:20 PM

They also have a large aluminum tamale pot right now as well. I can't remember the capacity of hand.

noremorse1 · 12-07-2008, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pelikan

Was in Wal*Mart yesterday, grabbing a small fridge for my brews. I thought I'd give the pot section a look, just for the hell of it. Out of all the stores I've been in, only specialty cookware places had anything larger than 16 quart, but lo and behold the 'mart had good quality, 22 quart stainless pots, with the heavy, heat dispersing bottoms. $49.99 each...grab two and split your five gallon boil between them.

I feel a little salty that I paid the same amount for one of those flimsy "econo" pots at my LHBS, but it's okay. I grabbed a top of the line 20 quart at a cookware place that was going out of business, so it all evens out in the end.

Good find sir. Its now on sale for 42.99.

Walmart.com: Tramontina 22-Quart Stainless Steel Stockpot: Kitchen & Dining

hungrymonkey · 12-07-2008, 06:20 PM

I bought one last month for $53.

Its a decent deal now at $42.

**BlindLemonLars** · 12-07-2008, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pelikan

$49.99 each...grab two and split your five gallon boil between them.

I'd rather spend the $100 on one of these...equipped with thermometer and ball valve, and perfect for 7 gallon all-grain boils.

BREWPOT / HLT 9 GALLON HOMEBREW

Pelikan · 12-07-2008, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlindLemonLars

I'd rather spend the $100 on one of these...equipped with thermometer and ball valve, and perfect for 7 gallon all-grain boils.

BREWPOT / HLT 9 GALLON HOMEBREW

The construction on those is fairly flimsy, and the bottoms are just as thin as the rest of the pot. In other words, it doesn't have that thick base to absorb and distribute the heat...leads to scorching, etc. I've seen them at my LHBS. It's basically an econo pot with a cheap thermo + valve added.

Either way, some folks can't fit a pot that large on their stove. I'm limited to about 20-24 quart maximum for one pot, so I have to split my boil into equal halves. The Wal*Mart pot is the best value I've seen in that range.

**GNBrews** · 12-07-2008, 08:25 PM

Target should be doing their usual clearance sale of turkey friers as well. The posts are aluminum, and quite thin, but they certainly do the trick and come with a hurricane burner. I believe I paid ~$20-27 the last few years.

Deacon240 · 12-07-2008, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by talleymonster

They also have a large aluminum tamale pot right now as well. I can't remember the capacity of hand.

32qt. I got one for $20. Love that thing. Now that I have another 30qt aluminum pot I'm gonna mod the tamale steamer for all grain.

**BlindLemonLars** · 12-07-2008, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pelikan

The construction on those is fairly flimsy, and the bottoms are just as thin as the rest of the pot. In other words, it doesn't have that thick base to absorb and distribute the heat...leads to scorching, etc.

I don't know, too much is made of that. It's definitely important for cooking, not so much for brewing. I brewed a dozen or so batches with a cheap aluminum turkey fryer that was extremely thin...there was never a hint of scorching. Scorching is more of a concern for extract brewers, and they shouldn't be adding extract while the pot is over the heat source anyhow. And thousands of brewers use keggles, which have thin bottoms.

My current kettle is a high-quality stainless stockpot, with the heavy "sandwiched" bottom. (It's the same pot that is commonly sold by brewships as a "mega pot.") It works fine, but it sure takes a LOT longer to heat up compared to my old thin kettle.

I guess I just can't see paying $50 for a pot that virtually any homebrewer is quickly going to outgrow.

Edcculus · 12-07-2008, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlindLemonLars

I guess I just can't see paying $50 for a pot that virtually any homebrewer is quickly going to outgrow.

That would be my concern. My 30 quart pot is barely big enough to boil enough wort for a 5 gallon batch.

I've also not had a problem with scorching. Scorching becomes a problem with jet burners (I dont have one), extract (I'm all grain), and higher gravity boils.