brewinginct

Recipes 

I've been looking for a bigger stainless steel pot so that I can eventually do 5 gallon all grain batches and the most affordable option I can find are half barrel kegs (yes, they're legally obtained.)

My question is if a 15.5 gallon brew pot would be too big for 5 gallon batches? Are there any advantages/disadvantages to using a brew pot where you're only boiling in a third of the pot? Should I hold off on using a half barrel as a keg/mlt until I want to do 10 gallon batches?. Thanks.

jppostKW

Recipes 

i have used a half bbl keggle for 5 gallon batches for the past year no problems what so ever even better is the fact that when the time for 10 gallon batches comes you dont need to get a bigger pot always buy bigger than you think you will need.

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Diesel Fuel Brewery

whatsleftofyou

Recipes 

I brew 5g batches in a 15g aluminium kettle and have never had a problem. You certainly don't have to worry about boil overs!

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My Bar Build
Primary: Rhubarb Berliner Weisse
Secondary: American Barleywine
On Tap: Orange Chocolate Stout, Belgian Wit, Chocolate Rye Ale, Belgian Singel, American Pale Ale
Bottled: PB&J Sweet Stout, Belgian Saison, Brown Porter

Special Hops

Recipes 

go ahead and get the 1/ bbl. then when you are ready to step up to 10 gal batches you are good to go.

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KANATENAH BREWERY
On Tap:Foreign Extra Stout, ESB
Fermenting: Fools Gold IIPA
Up Next: Oatmeal Stout

IrregularPulse

Recipes 

I'm assuming there was a small typo. The 1/2 barrel will be plenty big enough for 10G batches as well

It will be be just fine for 5G batches, but don't take the headspace for granted. I've boiled over a 5G batch more than once in my keg

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Tap Room Hobo

I should have stuck to four fingers in Vegas. :o - marubozo

Gfei

Recipes 

I almost boiled over last night with 5 gallons in a keg... Works great for 5 gallon batches though.

Yooper

Recipes 

Yes, you do! I've boiled over 5 gallon batches in a keggle. Even just starting with 6.5 gallons, you can boil over. I've done it more than once, too, because I'm a slow learner.

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Broken Leg Brewery
Giving beer a leg to stand on since 2006

Special Hops

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Typo - yes. Meant 1/2 bbl

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KANATENAH BREWERY
On Tap:Foreign Extra Stout, ESB
Fermenting: Fools Gold IIPA
Up Next: Oatmeal Stout

OhioClone

Recipes 

Same here...I use a 22 gal pot to do 5/10/15 gal batches. I think I get more spontaneous boil overs on the 5gal batches than with the 10 or 15.

It may have to do somewhat with me being more diligent when there is not as much head space (like for a 15 gal batch), but I really do not think that is the only reason.

Other than that, should be no issue doing whatever size batch you can within the size of your kettle.

whatsleftofyou

Recipes 

Huh...I've never even come close to having a boil over, but everyone's system is different I guess.

__________________
My Bar Build
Primary: Rhubarb Berliner Weisse
Secondary: American Barleywine
On Tap: Orange Chocolate Stout, Belgian Wit, Chocolate Rye Ale, Belgian Singel, American Pale Ale
Bottled: PB&J Sweet Stout, Belgian Saison, Brown Porter