Upgrade too big?

I have brewed 4 batches since I started in January using Extract/Steeping/PM in a 5 gallon (canning) pot. I want to upgrade my pot to accommodate a full 6.5 gallon boil for AG brewing. I spotted a pot on craigslists for cheap, but it is a "Bayou Classic" 82 Qt stainless steel and I am not sure if that would be too big?

Are there downsides to using such a large pot for standard 5 gallon batches? I don't think I am ready yet for 10 gallon batches, but I don't really want to upgrade again. (Could this pot be too big for even 10 gallon batches?)

Any advice is appreciated.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000FTYKGQ/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

For boiling 6 - 7 gallons it will be fine and if you ever want to move up to 10 gallon batches you won't have to buy another pot.

I've done a 5 gallon batch in my 30 gallon pot without any problem....

I really think that a 20 gallon pot is way too big for a 5 gallon full volume boil.....10 gallons I could see but not 5. This is more appropriate for a 15 gallon boil if you ask me. Of course this depends largely on how you plan to chill the wort, etc. Are you using a water bath, immersion chiller, counterflow? If you use this pot for a 5 gallon batch and you plan on using an immersion chiller.....forget it. Most of the chiller will likely remain above the wort becaue it will be spread out thinly at the bottom of the pot. If you plan to use a water bath.....well ok you could do it if you really wanted to. If you plan to use a counter flow chiller and drain through a ball valve....ok you could probably make this work too.

You've only got 4 batches under your belt so you're probably not real shure about your brewing future yet? If there are any thoughts in your head about brewing bigger batches down the road and this is really as good a deal as you say it is.....I would go ahead and buy it......but that's just me. You can always re-sell later.

If you think that 5 gallon batches are for you and there is little chance of ever bumping up batch sizes......I would honestly reccomend finding a smaller pot.

Hope this helps

BBL_Brewer said:

...this is really as good a deal as you say it is.....I would go ahead and buy it......but that's just me. You can always re-sell later.

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Now, I have not seen the quality of the pot yet, but how does $40 sound?

Thanks for the advice, I am going to get it and keep it stashed away for when I move to large volumes.

I think I will also have to move out of the kitchen before I use at 20 gallon pot or SWMBO will be quite displeased.

Monster Mash said:

I've done a 5 gallon batch in my 30 gallon pot without any problem....

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30 gallons? What is your normal batch size in that monster?

40 bones sounds pretty awesome for a 20 gallon pot

Stainless Steel right?

For $40 buy it and then resell it and buy yourself a bunch of equipment for smaller batches.

I can guarantee that pot from Bayou is Aluminum (Which is what I brew in... there's no problem with it). I just picked up a 13 gallon tamale pot for $30 at Super H Mart (It's an Asian grocery), and I really enjoyed brewing my first 5 gallon AG batch in it - I doubt it will accommodate a 10 gallon batch though.

You'll have more problems than your wife if you do 5 gallons in the kitchen though, you'll have a broken stove that never got your wort to a boil.

As long as the pot is in good condition, not beat to hell and back again, and has no leaks, go for it... But it the sides look like the Maine coastline, move on to the next deal... I would also ask to have it filled with water while you're there to check for leaks. Especially where the handles are riveted on... Never know, it could be a flawed pot, and unless you check it out before paying, you could be getting a hunk of scrap metal...

If it does check out as all good, then you have a pot for 10+ gallon batches... Add a decent propane burner and you're one step closer to a solid rig...

BBL_Brewer said:

If you use this pot for a 5 gallon batch and you plan on using an immersion chiller.....forget it. Most of the chiller will likely remain above the wort becaue it will be spread out thinly at the bottom of the pot.

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I use a 50' immersion chiller in a 20 gallon Blichmann. It sticks only halfway into the wort for a 5 gallon batch but works perfectly, and it's 3/8ths stainless to boot.

leviticus said:

You'll have more problems than your wife if you do 5 gallons in the kitchen though, you'll have a broken stove that never got your wort to a boil.

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True?

I've got a gas range with a "power plus" burner (I don't know the BTUs- but it gets hotter than normal burners). I thought a pot upgrade was all that was standing between me an an AG batch (BIAB-style)... I was hoping the other upgrades like propane burner, cooler mash tun, etc. could be delayed a while longer (saving for a garage fridge for summer brewing).