So I think I may be able to swing a new feature of my equipment as a wedding gift. I think I will have to decide b/w a SS 7.5gallon fermenter or a 10gallon brew pot. I see benefits of both (as I hate certain aspects of each process). Do you have any thoughts? Both would essentially cost the same (~300-400).
Brew Pot or Fermenter
- Thread starter dphornguy
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Got it.
Right now I have been running basics.
For a brew kettle I have a stainless 7.5gal that I have been using (doubles as turkey fryer). I would like to look at 10-15gal because ever since I went to AG I have found it hard to brew more than 3gal without overflow issues.
For fermenting I have a couple glass carbuoys (6.5 and 5 gallon).
Not related, but I have a 10 gallon and 5 gallon homemade mash tun.
Carboys are perfectly fine for fermenting beer. As you've discovered however, a 7.5 gallon pot is tight for a full boil, all-grain batch. My thought is why pay all that money to upgrade by just 2.5 gallons? I have a 15 gallon and love it! Works great and allows the occasional 10 gallon batch...
Okay, first if you're boiling 3 gallons and coming close to a boil over in a 7.5 gallon pot, I am curious as to how hard the boil is because I can do 7 gallons in a 10 gallon pot and just after the hot break, I do a rolling boil just fine.
But either way, You have more than enough to spend $300 and get both. If you're married to glass carboys you can afford another 6.5 gallon carboy as well as a 10 gallon pot. I like the Concord Kettles found on eBay but you'd want to drill those out yourself because his holes are a bit higher than necessary. If you don't want to bother with that then the Bayou Classic kettles found on Amazon are great. I love my 10 gallon. If you want larger then I think they do have larger. You can easily get what you need for about $300.
If you can only choose one, I choose kettle and maybe a 15 gallon one. I assume you only brew one batch at a time so you can always brew and bottle/keg then brew etc.
But either way, You have more than enough to spend $300 and get both. If you're married to glass carboys you can afford another 6.5 gallon carboy as well as a 10 gallon pot. I like the Concord Kettles found on eBay but you'd want to drill those out yourself because his holes are a bit higher than necessary. If you don't want to bother with that then the Bayou Classic kettles found on Amazon are great. I love my 10 gallon. If you want larger then I think they do have larger. You can easily get what you need for about $300.
If you can only choose one, I choose kettle and maybe a 15 gallon one. I assume you only brew one batch at a time so you can always brew and bottle/keg then brew etc.
It's pretty straightforward: a 5 gallon batch typically starts with a ~7gallon wort preboil until it is boiled down to 5 gallons. That leaves no room for boil overflow when you add components during the boil or ever at first. As I said, I find it hard to do MORE than 3 gallons without an issue. at 3 gallons I am fine, but I want more.
As for a 15 v. 10 gal size, I suppose I don't have a real good reason. especially as it will have the valve to help.
mjohnson
Well-Known Member
If you're already doing fermentation control, yeast starters, etc, I'd get a bigger pot. Fermenting in buckets is fine. But watching a boil kettle that's filled within .5 inches of the top is a pain.
I was in the same boat as you with the turkey fryer pot. I opted to get a 15 gallon Tall Boy kettle. Its a bit taller than wide, so 5 gallon batches are easy. Highly recommended. $150 at many online retailers.
I was in the same boat as you with the turkey fryer pot. I opted to get a 15 gallon Tall Boy kettle. Its a bit taller than wide, so 5 gallon batches are easy. Highly recommended. $150 at many online retailers.
As a wedding gift? Wow! Where'd you find a woman that would tolerate that?! As is i second the BK options above over the fermentor.
