aluminum kettle

[kyky1214]

new to brewing, I have a 8 gallon aluminum kettle that I have laying around and was wondering if I can use it as a boil kettle?

 

[homebeerbrewer]

I've never used aluminum, but it should be ok. Is it new, or has it been used before for something else? If it's new, season it by boiling water for a while.

 

[jtratcliff]

yes... You'll want to clean it well then boil some water in it first, to establish the protective oxide layer (it'll turn a dark grey). Then you should be good to go.

 

[seatazzz]

My BK is a 12 gallon aluminum kettle from Costco, and it does very well. Although depending on the batch size you are planning, 8 gallons is a little short. If you're only doing partial mash or extract, you're fine. Just don't plan on doing more than 7 gallons (at the start of boil) or you'll have a big mess on your hands (and stove, and floor, and whatever else might be in the way), unless you do a VERY gentle boil. Contrary to popular belief, you don't need a super vigorous boil to get the most out of hops, or your wort. And you can always turn up the heat once the volume is down enough.

 

[kyky1214]

I've never used aluminum, but it should be ok. Is it new, or has it been used before for something else? If it's new, season it by boiling water for a while.

its not new, I've had it for 5 years now and use it for all sorts of things. I'm just going to boil the hell out of it just to make sure it doesn't impart any off flavors. Just trying to save some money up before buying a nice kettle

 

[BrewingAroundtheRrealm]

I have a 10 gallon aluminum kettle. Works great for 6.5 gallon batches. You should be able to do 5 gallon batches with out issue.

 

[DVCNick]

In in terms of size it will probably be okay for a 5-gallon batch most of the time but I will just say that a boil over a really sucks and foam can come up very quickly depending on what you're doing. I would target a kettle that is double your intended batch size as soon as you can.

 

[grampamark]

The OP didn’t mention batch size. When I started all grain brewing I used an 8 gal kettle for a BK for 5 gal batches-for about 3 batches. I bought a 10 gal kettle and use the 8 for an HLT.

I use an 8 gal, aluminum, turkey fryer for 2.5 gal, full volume, no sparge, BIAB at our city house. With a 5-6 lb grain bill and 4 gal of water, that has worked out quite well.

 

[kyky1214]

My BK is a 12 gallon aluminum kettle from Costco, and it does very well. Although depending on the batch size you are planning, 8 gallons is a little short. If you're only doing partial mash or extract, you're fine. Just don't plan on doing more than 7 gallons (at the start of boil) or you'll have a big mess on your hands (and stove, and floor, and whatever else might be in the way), unless you do a VERY gentle boil. Contrary to popular belief, you don't need a super vigorous boil to get the most out of hops, or your wort. And you can always turn up the heat once the volume is down enough.

So my kettle is 7.5 gallon. I eventually want to work my way up to BIAB in the next couple weeks, with that I am a little worried with boiling over especially when adding hops or the hot break. Is it a good idea to boil with a lower water volume and then add more towards the end of the boil?

 

[Stormcrow]

So my kettle is 7.5 gallon. I eventually want to work my way up to BIAB in the next couple weeks, with that I am a little worried with boiling over especially when adding hops or the hot break. Is it a good idea to boil with a lower water volume and then add more towards the end of the boil?

I personally do that all the time. I've been producing three gallon batches BIAB on my stove with a four gallon kettle. It's trickier than BIAB is supposed to be, but very doable. I mash with less water than you would for full batch, then do a type of "sparge." Still a little short, I wind up adding a little water right at flameout to reach the desired full volume. It helps that my stove doesn't produce a very raucous boil. (Throttling back the heat might help in your case too. ) Even with all the monkeying around, I wind up
with 70% efficiency. Nonetheless, a ten gallon kettle is definitely in my future.