Buying a new Kettle...Is Bigger Always Better?

[originalben]

I'm doing BIABs right now and am going to buy a new kettle. Bayou Classic 82 or 62qt, both have the inner ss baskets.
Basically the same price, the 82qt actually a couple bucks less and local pickup.
My hesitation is that I still am doing predominately 5 gal. batches.
Is the 82 qt just too damn big for 5 gal. batches? Damn thing is huge lookin'.

Anyway, probably overthinking it.

 

[rosier9]

i've heard "that's what she said"

 

[brewmonk]

uh, 82 qts sounds like it equals more than 20 gallons.

if you can use it, then, great. if not, then don't.

HOWEVER, if it's the same burner stand, and it will fit a keg on it somehow, then get the cheaper one.

 

[originalben]

And I've heard...'That's just too big for this application'...but we're talking bout a kettle.
ha

 

[originalben]

uh, 82 qts sounds like it equals more than 20 gallons.

if you can use it, then, great. if not, then don't.

HOWEVER, if it's the same burner stand, and it will fit a keg on it somehow, then get the cheaper one.

I'm not really sure what that last sentence means

 

[originalben]

and your next post will be #1000

 

[wilserbrewer]

I guess the question is do you have aspirations to brew bigger batches? I have two 20 gallon kettles and they are big! So big I havent even used them yet...hah. I do 1/4 keg 7 gal batches and use an 11 gal ss and a 15 gal alum. IMO it's kinda like the three bears...find the one that fits just right.

While i'm sure you could do a 5 gal batch in a 20 gallon kettle, it might just be a stain in the bottom at the end of the boil

 

[originalben]

At this point, I can see doing some 10 gal batches, but they're fine in 15.5 gal kettles, right?
What happened is that I saw the 82qt in a store while shopping for grill stuff and just glanced at it briefly. It was mis-tagged as a 62qt kettle for $139. A week later I decided I was going to buy it, so I called to verify and 2 salesmen verified that it was a ss 62 qt kettle. Well...it just so happened that I received a Groupon or local version of it that day for a $30 credit at this store for $15. So, I took that to the store where the manager quickly corrected his people and said it was 82 qt and $169. With the $30 off I already have, I'm looking at $146.99 with tax.
The cheapest I can now find the 62 qt is straight from the manufacturer for $148 and change w/ shipping.
So, there's the dilemma, as I am trying to justify NOT getting the larger one, really.

Anyway, thanks for letting me vent so early in the morning...think I'll go listen to my blueberry Apfelwein bubblin away for a couple minutes...ahhh...very soothing if not for the rhino fart smell;^)