First, let me apologize for ANOTHER 
post on kettles. I just need someone to talk me off the cliff, or give me a good push.
Ok, back into homebrew. All grain. Propane burner on the deck. Been doing small 2.5 gallon batches of BIAB in my steel kitchen stockpot (3.5 gallon), and chilling in tub of cold water. Tired of that and want to do 5 gallon batches. My head is swimming with all the possibilities (Aluminum vs Steel, immersion chillers vs plate chillers vs baths, pumps, BIAB vs BIABasket, ball valves, etc. I finally decided to just keep it super simple. I'm getting a kettle, and maybe a chiller.
I've decided on aluminum based off price, and ease of heating. This is the aluminum stock pot on Amazon. It's is 1/8 inch thick, and built in Canada (nice to support local). My dilemma is the sizes. There is an 8.75 gallon version, and then the next step up is 17 gallon. I really only want to do 5 gallon batches, but I keep reading advice where people say go bigger because you may want to do larger batches. If I go bigger, then I worry that 5 gallon might be too small for that size pot. And I worry that if I go to a larger 10 gallon batch, a 1/2" 50ft chiller won't be sufficient, and I'll need a plate chiller, which will require a ball valve and pumps, and...so you can see how neurotic I'm getting. I know it'll be easier (and cheaper) if I just stick with the 8.75 gallon pot. But am I going to regret it? I don't like strong beer, and don't care about the idea of making dubbels and tripels, so it is unlikely that I'm going to have a massive grain bill. And I hate the idea of having a stupidly large pot if I'm only going to do 5 gallons.
After all that information purging, I feel like I'm pretty much sold on the 8.75 gallon, unless you guys really push me toward 17 gallon, or some other option.
post on kettles. I just need someone to talk me off the cliff, or give me a good push.Ok, back into homebrew. All grain. Propane burner on the deck. Been doing small 2.5 gallon batches of BIAB in my steel kitchen stockpot (3.5 gallon), and chilling in tub of cold water. Tired of that and want to do 5 gallon batches. My head is swimming with all the possibilities (Aluminum vs Steel, immersion chillers vs plate chillers vs baths, pumps, BIAB vs BIABasket, ball valves, etc. I finally decided to just keep it super simple. I'm getting a kettle, and maybe a chiller.
I've decided on aluminum based off price, and ease of heating. This is the aluminum stock pot on Amazon. It's is 1/8 inch thick, and built in Canada (nice to support local). My dilemma is the sizes. There is an 8.75 gallon version, and then the next step up is 17 gallon. I really only want to do 5 gallon batches, but I keep reading advice where people say go bigger because you may want to do larger batches. If I go bigger, then I worry that 5 gallon might be too small for that size pot. And I worry that if I go to a larger 10 gallon batch, a 1/2" 50ft chiller won't be sufficient, and I'll need a plate chiller, which will require a ball valve and pumps, and...so you can see how neurotic I'm getting. I know it'll be easier (and cheaper) if I just stick with the 8.75 gallon pot. But am I going to regret it? I don't like strong beer, and don't care about the idea of making dubbels and tripels, so it is unlikely that I'm going to have a massive grain bill. And I hate the idea of having a stupidly large pot if I'm only going to do 5 gallons.
After all that information purging, I feel like I'm pretty much sold on the 8.75 gallon, unless you guys really push me toward 17 gallon, or some other option.
