Dieffenbach
Member
- Joined
- Oct 21, 2012
- Messages
- 14
- Reaction score
- 2
I want to thank the hundreds of members whose previous posts I have already read in preparation for the journey I am about to begin.
I feel I need to preface my question with a short background. Right now I brew 1 gallon at a time on the stove inside all-grain BIAB style. In general, my system works great, but I am ready to move on. I am currently planning my 5-gallon system and the crucial item I haven't yet selected is my brew kettle. This will be the largest cost component for my new system and I want to make sure I really end up with the piece of equipment that will serve me best.
I know I want a 10 gallon pot (and I know there will be a handful of you that tell me I will want to do 10-gallon batches and this pot will be useless to me and I should go for a 15 gallon pot now). For those individuals, I am dead set on a 10-gallon pot. I am leaning towards a custom kettle from Spike Brewing, but I am concerned with the 1mm bottom thickness. The other pot I am considering is a MegaPot because of its 5mm bottom thickness. I prefer the welded couplings and the customer service I have received from Spike Brewing. I am not concerned about the quality of either pot or their ability to hold liquid.
However, does anyone have any insight as to whether or not the kettle's bottom thickness will significantly impact my ability to maintain mash temperatures? I understand that the thicker pot will retain more heat, but will it retain enough heat that I don't need to insulate my pot or throw a sleeping bag over it?
I BIAB for simplicity. I would prefer not to have to insulate my pot or throw a sleeping bag over it, but I may have no choice. At this point I am not prepared to implement a RIMS system or a HERMS system. However, due to this concern I am giving considerable thought to the use of mashing with a bag inside a cooler. Thank you in advance to those willing to help settle my anxiety
I feel I need to preface my question with a short background. Right now I brew 1 gallon at a time on the stove inside all-grain BIAB style. In general, my system works great, but I am ready to move on. I am currently planning my 5-gallon system and the crucial item I haven't yet selected is my brew kettle. This will be the largest cost component for my new system and I want to make sure I really end up with the piece of equipment that will serve me best.
I know I want a 10 gallon pot (and I know there will be a handful of you that tell me I will want to do 10-gallon batches and this pot will be useless to me and I should go for a 15 gallon pot now). For those individuals, I am dead set on a 10-gallon pot. I am leaning towards a custom kettle from Spike Brewing, but I am concerned with the 1mm bottom thickness. The other pot I am considering is a MegaPot because of its 5mm bottom thickness. I prefer the welded couplings and the customer service I have received from Spike Brewing. I am not concerned about the quality of either pot or their ability to hold liquid.
However, does anyone have any insight as to whether or not the kettle's bottom thickness will significantly impact my ability to maintain mash temperatures? I understand that the thicker pot will retain more heat, but will it retain enough heat that I don't need to insulate my pot or throw a sleeping bag over it?
I BIAB for simplicity. I would prefer not to have to insulate my pot or throw a sleeping bag over it, but I may have no choice. At this point I am not prepared to implement a RIMS system or a HERMS system. However, due to this concern I am giving considerable thought to the use of mashing with a bag inside a cooler. Thank you in advance to those willing to help settle my anxiety