malc

Recipes 

MY wife bought me a new kettle for Christmas. Love the thought. The problem is she was trying to make it as much of a surprise as possible, so she didn't ask for a lot of details. She ended up buying a 20 gallon kettle with thermometer and valve.
This would be great except the rest of my equipment is set up for only 5 gallon batches. I use a cooler for my MLT and HLT. I am thinking of just exchanging for a 10 gallon kettle, but wanted to maybe get some opinions here. Thanks.

Zamial

Recipes 

20 gallons is pretty big. If it were me I would NOT exchange down to the 5 gallon brewery but I would go to a 12-15 gallon kettle and start brewing double batches x2 the beer in roughly the same amount of time. Unless you have a great pipeline set up and 5 gallon batches are just fine for you, then and only then would I down size to a 8-10 gallon pot. (and possibly weasle in some other needed equipment.)

__________________
“I'm not drunk, I'm from Wisconsin.”
We have been out drinking your state since 1848!

bubbachunk

Recipes 

It would really depend on your beer consumption. I am in a similar debate in the fact that I am looking to buy a couple boilmakers from Blichmann and even though I only want to do 3-5 gal batches right now, do I bite the bullet and fork over the extra cash to have 20 gallon pots. Tough question when you realizing you are already spending 300+ dollars on each pot....

bottlebomber

Recipes 

I feel your plight brother. I will graciously exchange you my 10 gallon kettle for your 20.

JonK331

Recipes 

20 gallons seems like kind of an awkward size. Kinda big for even ten gallon batches. I'd probably exchange it for a 10 and get some ingredients with the extra dough.

bottlebomber

Recipes 

I thought 10 gallons was going to be ample, until I had to do a strong scotch ale with a 9 gallon preboil.

igotsand

Recipes 

I would keep the 20 gallon kettle, no more boilovers!!
Its overkill, but you never know if you want to start brewing 10 gallon batches...
Or
Keep it as your HLT and do double batches!!

I have a 26gallon kettle and do 15-17 gallon batches in it....

igotsand

ETOHonboard

Recipes 

dont downgrade the pot.....upgrade everything else!
just kiddin, I would go with the 10 gallon brews as well

Toga

Recipes 

as far as kettles go bigger is better. No more boil overs as mentioned above. Even if you start doing 10 gallon batches you will not have to worry about boil overs

BrewMU

Recipes 

I'd keep it until I could get a mash tun to match it.