Looking to purchase a brew pot, have some questions - Page 2

robertvrabel · 02-02-2010, 02:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oceanselv

Don't buy stainless and use it on an electric stove. I tried that using a partial boil and had nothing but trouble. With an electric stove and stainless you have very little control over your temperature because you have to turn the element all the way up to transfer the heat to the kettle. If you cannot use a gas stove use an aluminum pot or buy yourself a turkey fryer.

You may spend a little more money if you go with a turkey fryer or a banjo burner. In the end it will be worth it. You can brew outside where boilovers are not a big problem and you will not burn out the electric heating element on your stove by using it for something it was not designed for.

Do you think this SS economy brew pot from Austin Homebrew will be fine on my stove, since it is really thin? I just can't even find a good price for an aluminum one... I figure this one would act like similar since its really thin but I'm not sure. Seems like this is my best option.

thristy · 02-02-2010, 03:23 AM

Look on ebay I got a 40 qt pot with encapsuled bottom s/s brand new for 40 bucks. If you buy a thin bottom pot youll be sorry starting from the first brew

robertvrabel · 02-02-2010, 12:39 PM

After doing some more research based on the feedback... I've found an aluminum 40qt pot, for about $52 with lid after shipping.

Anyone have objections to this one? http://www.foodservicewarehouse.com/update-international/apt-40/p4857.aspx

arxix · 02-02-2010, 02:03 PM

Here is the 60Q I use:
http://www.katom.com/158-5813160.html

I love katom.com and last year I spent over $20K with them(I own a restaurant). They are easy to work with and return to if there is a problem. Check them out.

-Alan

gtpro · 02-02-2010, 03:18 PM

Heres the one I just bought, http://www.instawares.com/aluminum-stock-pot-o-apt-40.upi-apt40.0.7.htm came out to like $50 shipped, its restaurant quality, thick aluminum.

EricCSU · 02-02-2010, 04:59 PM

My first brewpot was a 6gallon economy brewpot from Austin Homebrew. I just got a 15gallon super brew pot, got the hole drilled and added a ball valve. There is a picture on this thread.

I am very happy with the new pot. It is a significantly higher quality pot with thicker walls and a very thick bottom. It heated very fast and after sticking the thermapen in random spots, there is only a 1 degree difference at every spot in the pot. I put the extract in which the burner was on (and stirred while doing so of course) and it did not scorch. It was nice not having to lift the pot to transfer the wort to the carboy.

It is much more expensive, no doubt. Personally, my attitude is that I would rather spend more for higher quality and enjoy using it for a long, long time.

If you are only doing 5gallon batches, I would get the 10gallon pot. I wanted the flexibility to do 10gallon batches in the future, so I got the 15gallon pot.

However, I can totally understand if you go with a less expensive option. And you will probably make great beer with it. I just want to say that the super brew pot is fantastic.

Eric

EricCSU · 02-02-2010, 05:00 PM

By the way, have you tried to boil 7 gallons on the stove? My stove can't do it.

Just something to look into.

Eric

robertvrabel · 02-02-2010, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EricCSU

By the way, have you tried to boil 7 gallons on the stove? My stove can't do it.

Just something to look into.

Eric

I have not since I don't have a pot big enough... but with my aluminum 5 gallon one, I was able to boil 4 gallons on the stove without a problem, had to turn it down once it went. I figure doing a 5 gallon batch with a little over 5 gallons of water shouldn't be a problem? I don't plan on ever doing more than 5 gallon batches since I'm the only one who drinks it (aside from giving some out to people I know).

Worst case if it doesn't work, I will just do partial boils and do full boils outside eventually. Either way it'll be better for me to do 3-4 gallons in a 10 gallon pot than sticking with my 5 gallon one and trying to squeeze as much water in the wort w/o boiling over... that is no fun!

EricCSU · 02-02-2010, 05:14 PM

You can definitely make good beer with partial boils, so no worries about that.

If you want 5 gallons in the keg (or bottles), you really need to boil 7 gallons. The 7 gallons boils down to 6 gallons. Six gallons turns into 5.5 after losses to hop matter, then 5.5 turns into 5 once you transfer due to trub losses.

I just didn't want you to get dissapointed if you wanted to do full boils on the stovetop. It can be done, but not by many stoves and most people have to tweak their brewpots to do it.

Eric