Bayou Classic Stainless Brew Kettle (16 Gallon)

I am considering the 16 Gallon Bayou Classic Stainless Brew Kettle.
I have looked but not seen much online about this kettle. The price point for me is good. Has anyone ever used this kettle? Thanks.

 

I use a Bayou Classic turkey fryer pot for an oil quench tank for blacksmithing. I don't know about the pot that you are looking at, but the one problem that I had was that you had better not plan on filing the pot above the handle because mine leaks around the rivets.
Edit: It looks like some people on here have had similar problems with leaking on the purpose built brewing kettles.

 

Thanks for input. Any alternatives at this price?

 

We have a 15gal kettle, 2pc valve and thermometer that runs for $255 shipped. Not sure what the Bayou price is but I know you'll like ours more!

 

Ive Been Using The Bayou Classic 10 Gal With No Problems. I Actually Just Ordered A 16 Gal Today. Not Sure Why My Phone Caps Each Word.

 

Regarding the Spike Brewing kettle-- can you post a link to the product?

 

You can click on their logo.

 

Here ya go, www.spikebrewing.com

 

Got The Bayou Classic Today. The Handles Are Welded So I Don't Think They Will Be leaking

 

That is certainly an improvement over the turkey fryer. It was designed to only be filled up like halfway with cooking oil, so they just riveted the handles on. That wasn't a problem with 5 gallons of oil, but when I haas to put 7 in for quenching a long blade, it dribbled pretty badly.

 

I bought a boyou classic a few years ago. Sent it back after the first brew because it was leaking out the handles. Never again!

 

Barnacle Bob-- can you please let me know how the kettle works once you use it for a brew. Thanks

 

It will probably be a month or two before I use it but I also have the 10 gallon which has the same features and it works great.

 

i have two of these Bayou classic 16 gal pots. One with the thermometer and one without. Been using them for about a year and they work very well. Zero complaints from me...

 

Not sure if it exactly the same pot you are referring to, but I have a 62QT (15.5 gallon) Bayou Classic. The handles are welded on. I have had it a couple of years now and I think it works great, no issues.

 

I can't seem to find that particular kettle.

Lee

 

Lee,

Here it is:

$210, 15gal kettle - www.spikebrewing.com/collections/15-gallon-stainless-kettle
$20, 2pc valve - www.spikebrewing.com/accessories/2pc-valve
$25, thermometer - www.spikebrewing.com/accessories/products/thermometer

Total: $255 shipped

 

I have the 16-gal Bayou brew kettle with thermometer and spigot. I use it as my boil kettle, and it works very well for that. I prefer my Blichmann for mashing, since there is much less dead space under the false bottom compared to the Bayou.

 

I have a the Bayou Classic 10 Gallon Stainless Steel 6 piece Brew Kettle Set, which sells on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009SKU4PE/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20) for $225 with free shipping if you have Amazon prime. It's a solid piece of gear, with the following caveats:

(1) The temperature gauge is inferior. It's accurate, but it is apparently not hermetically sealed as heavy condensation collects on the inside of the glass on brew day and persists for several days. Eventually, this will probably affect the internal components and the accuracy. The company replaced mine free of charge, but the replacement had the same problem. Solution: $30 thermometer from morebeer.com.

(2) You will eventually get minor spots of corrosion/discoloration on the kettle – especially around the welded handles. It's not bad, and doesn't appear to get worse beyond a certain point. How bad? You can't really see it from 4-5 feet away.

(3) The "stainless steel" ball valve and/or some of its parts will likely have rust on the inside. Soak it for a week in lime-a-way and it will go away permanently.

(4) the false bottom is useless – too much dead space for a mash tun. This is not a problem for me as I use it for a boil kettle and use an igloo cooler for my MLT.

Lastly, you will see "Bayou Classic 10 Gallon Stock Pots" that look exactly like the brew kettle on various sites for $125-ish with no thermometer, false bottom, and no filter screen. BE AWARE this item does not have a tri-ply bottom. It works fine for boiling wort, but unlike the boil kettle with the tri-ply bottom, the stock pot will scorch higher-gravity worts if you don't stir constantly and heat gently leading into the boil.

I have both the boil kettle and the stock pot. Here's a pic of both after six months of weekly (yes really) use:

 

I have a 10 Gallon Bayou - nice kettle. However, do NOT dismiss Spike's kettles. Damn nice!

I have a 45gallon from Spike - I love it.

Price is, as we know, the big decision. But don't skimp if you need the handles. I personally love the big riveted one I got 20 years ago from Cabelas - sorry, they don't sell them anymore.

 

I am indeed in the market for a bigger kettle and yours looks great. I may just order one up in the near future...

 

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007V493PG/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

Have read nothing but good things about these.
And I have even found them cheaper than that if you keep your eyes open.
Even has gallons and quarts marked inside.

 

I have this pot too. I see it is on Amazon prime right now for $99, I got mine on a lightening deal last year for $85.

Added a weldless ball valve with street elbow and barb (bargain fittings, $32 shipped). Went back later and added a sight glass from brewershardware ($30?).

This pot doesn't have the tri layer bottom of the other pot but I haven't had any issues with scorching. Maybe if you are a 10 gal extract brewer it would be issue but I just don't see it.

The rim inside is a bc "feature" that I guess is designed to work in combination with the steamer basket. Might be nice if you were doing brew in a bag with that steamer basket but for me it just makes the pot harder to clean than it needs tobe. It also means that to turn this thing into a mash tun you need to figure out how to get your false bottom past it (Jaybird looks to have best idea with his hinged FB). The BC false bottom that fits the BC brew kettle doesn't look like it will work with this kettle as I think its perimeter needs to rest on the rim (now moved to the bottom of the kettle). But as others have noted it leaves way too much dead space in the kettle anyway.

 

This is the 16-gallon version of the 10-gallon pot I own. If's a good pot; just know that this is their stock pot which differs from the brew kettle in that it does not have a tri-ply bottom.

 

We can guarantee you will not be disappointed. We know we have the best kettles on the market for the best value!



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TIG Welded Brewing Eq
www.spikebrewing.com

 

Thanks for all the input

 

Check out the Bayou Classic 16 gallon 4 piece brew set with lid, thermometer, and ball valve and its $156 + shipping. http://www.provantage.com/bayou-classic-464~7BAYC015.htm

 

suspicious that your first two posts are for links to send people to buy something...

 

I thought they were a good price and am personally using them as a happy customer. I find all too often people are quicker to write negative reviews over promoting products they like.