I am tired of boil-over with my 8 gallon pot, so looking to upgrade to 10 gallon. Comparing the Anvil to the MegaPot. Those that own either, pro and cons?
Anvil or Megapot for Upgrade?
- Thread starter Kuntry
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I would stick with propane heat (or stove top) unless you plan to go 220v power supply. Takes a long time at 110v in an AIO system. I went... 8 gallon, bigger pot with propane outside to a 220v Brewzilla 35L. The big pot was used for a long time with the AIO Brewzilla for a dunk sparge, so it wasn't wasted. Good luck.
Also ... BIAB and grains is a fun part of the journey and offers lots more variations for flavor and individual tastes. Good luck on the road to Brewmeister!
OP
OP
I am sticking with Propane heat. Have been doing all grain for over 8 years. Just getting tired of boil-over when brewing 5 gallon batches that are 6.5 plus preboil. Plus I can use my 8 gallon as a hot liquor tank. I haven't convinced myself to do BIAB yet as i like my igloo cooler Mash tun. Thanks for the good words.
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Why are you limiting yourself to Anvil or MegaPot? Though it's a detail that most don't seem to pay much attention to, I always look at the dealers pictures of the interior to assess just how polished the surface is....a more polished surface such as you get with Spike or Blichmannn means faster and easier cleaning as opposed to the less-polished, brushed finish that both the Anvil and MegaPot appear to have. Not that big a deal, but since this is a long-haul purchase I'd go with 'Buy Once, Cry Once.' ...if it's a matter of cost, I can attest that the inside of most sanke kegs have a more polished surface that either of your choices and since you're using a propane burner anyway, why not just get a sanke and cut the top off? ...dead cheap and a heavier gauge steel that does well with propane.
..just my 2-cents.
..just my 2-cents.
OP
OP
Thanks for your 2-cents, they are legitimate, but I'm really looking for pros and cons of these two specific pots. I've locked in my price range and ease of use. I don't mind a few stains.Why are you limiting yourself to Anvil or MegaPot? Though it's a detail that most don't seem to pay much attention to, I always look at the dealers pictures of the interior to assess just how polished the surface is....a more polished surface such as you get with Spike or Blichmannn means faster and easier cleaning as opposed to the less-polished, brushed finish that both the Anvil and MegaPot appear to have. Not that big a deal, but since this is a long-haul purchase I'd go with 'Buy Once, Cry Once.' ...if it's a matter of cost, I can attest that the inside of most sanke kegs have a more polished surface that either of your choices and since you're using a propane burner anyway, why not just get a sanke and cut the top off? ...dead cheap and a heavier gauge steel that does well with propane.
..just my 2-cents.
Since you're brewing on propane, why limit to 10 gallons? If you go to 15 you can do full batches of high gravity brews.
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Yep. Go 15 gallons. I have a 10 and a 15. Ten is mostly retired.
Go with 15 if you can.
Ditto. I started with an 8, and had a time walking that fine line to avoid boil overs. I caught a great deal on Craigslist for a 10 gallon SS Brewtech kettle that has worked great. Then, I decided I wanted to do some 10 gallon batches and caught a sale on a Delta 15.
I still use all three; the 8 for heating water, the 10 for 5 gallon batches, and the 15 for 10 gallons. I like the flexibility and not having to risk boil overs.
I will also add that I have turned the heat down a bit too as I have learned that a hard rolling boil is not necessary for brewing beer.
I still use all three; the 8 for heating water, the 10 for 5 gallon batches, and the 15 for 10 gallons. I like the flexibility and not having to risk boil overs.
I will also add that I have turned the heat down a bit too as I have learned that a hard rolling boil is not necessary for brewing beer.
You can solve your boil over issue by using Fermcap S. Just a couple of drops as soon as the boil starts rolling will knock it down. As for upgrading to larger kettles I have use the Anvil Foundry 10.5 (on 120v) with great success but there is a limit to how much grain they will hold. If you like to make high gravity beers as I do you will want a larger vessel. As others have suggested 15 gallon kettles are perhaps the most versatile in this regard.
If you like the Anvil but also want larger capacity you should look into the Anvil Foundry 18. It will cost more and unlike the Foundry 10.5 (and 6.5) which are switchable between 120v and 240v the Foundry 18 only works with 240v. One advantage I have seen with the Foundry units that not all other all-in-ones have is a delay start timer allowing you to fill the kettle with your strike water volume and then programing it to start later. I fill mine the night before brew day and program it to start heating the next morning then by the time I roll out of bed it's ready to dough-in.
If you like the Anvil but also want larger capacity you should look into the Anvil Foundry 18. It will cost more and unlike the Foundry 10.5 (and 6.5) which are switchable between 120v and 240v the Foundry 18 only works with 240v. One advantage I have seen with the Foundry units that not all other all-in-ones have is a delay start timer allowing you to fill the kettle with your strike water volume and then programing it to start later. I fill mine the night before brew day and program it to start heating the next morning then by the time I roll out of bed it's ready to dough-in.
I upgraded from a 10 gallon Polarware kettle to a 20 gallon MegaPot and have not looked back. I appreciate the extra headspace for small batches and having a 20 gallon kettle allows me to make up to three 6 gallon batches of beer at once.
My advice, particularly since you are direct-fire: is to go bigger than you think you'll need. You'll never curse having too much space and you'll never have too little room for the next brewday.
Also, upgrade your burner to a Hellfire or similar. I tried lots of different burners until I bought a Hellfire and I consider that one a sound investment as well.
Brockness Monster
Well-Known Member
I have an 8 gallon Megapot. I like the heavier bottom for better heat distribution, the laser etched marking on the inside and the reinforced band at the top rim of the kettle. I also haven't had any boil overs except the one time I started with 7.9-ish gallons pre-boil for an extended boil time, normally my pre-boil is 6.7 gallons. I don't have an Anvil, so I can only give you my opinion on the Megapot.
In regard to BIAB, I am doing that with the bag in my mash tun (10-gallon igloo) and a single batch sparge and getting 83-85% efficiency. Almost requires having your own grain mill to get those numbers though. Far less work and time than fly sparge.
In regard to BIAB, I am doing that with the bag in my mash tun (10-gallon igloo) and a single batch sparge and getting 83-85% efficiency. Almost requires having your own grain mill to get those numbers though. Far less work and time than fly sparge.
I have Anvil’s 5 gallon pot. They don’t sell it anymore. I like it alot for my 3 gallon batches. Its not flimsy, built well. Nice handles that are easy to grab even with oven gloves. I have not had any issues cleaning it. Every so often I use a little Barkeeper’s Friend. Internal gallon volume markings. Their bigger pots have to be built about the same.
I have other Anvil stuff like their bench capper and their heavy duty brew spoon. I like everything I have from them.
If you want to do BIAB you’ll find the thermometers on these pots are a PITA. With the Anvil pots there is no option to not get a thermometer. I ordered a plug from Blichmann for a few bucks and ditched the thermometer. The plug has worked perfectly. I don’t know if Megapot sells one with no thermometer.
I have other Anvil stuff like their bench capper and their heavy duty brew spoon. I like everything I have from them.
If you want to do BIAB you’ll find the thermometers on these pots are a PITA. With the Anvil pots there is no option to not get a thermometer. I ordered a plug from Blichmann for a few bucks and ditched the thermometer. The plug has worked perfectly. I don’t know if Megapot sells one with no thermometer.
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For the price of either the Anvil or Megapot in 10G that both use weldless fittings, you can the 16 gallon Beast that has the same basic qualities but with welded ports.
https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/beastkettle16.htm
The best part is that it's sized for no sparge BIAB should you decide to give it a try in the future. Really no down sides.
https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/beastkettle16.htm
The best part is that it's sized for no sparge BIAB should you decide to give it a try in the future. Really no down sides.
15/16 gallons is not really that big. It's about 16" in diameter. Almost all the propane burners out on the general market can handle it and certainly 100% of the ones marketed by homebrewing suppliers can.
A Hellfire burner is designed to work with kettles up to 30 gallons. It is no problem to fit a 15-20 gallon kettle on it.
There are some cheap ones out there. Alton Brown has a video about deep frying a turkey and he talks about it as part of that. Theres one three legged burner with a pot on it he half heartedly kicks and a leg falls off and it goes right over. If you’re not cheaping out buying one made in Sri Lanka at the dollar store and are getting a nice burner like an Anvil burner or something sold for homebrewing they’re pretty solid. Agreed you have to be careful.
You can get some pretty decent burners on the cheap if you look. I bought this one last summer and I am tickled with it. It is very well made, plenty big (16”x16”), and puts out a lot of heat. It really cut my time to reach a boil with a 10 gallon batch. I bought it new through eBay.
That looks like a solid design
Agreed. That's why I said almost all.
When I do a search for outdoor propane burner, I had to scroll for a while before I found any questionable ones. If I had to describe ones that I wouldn't trust with a full 15 gallons of liquid, it's the ones where the legs are just bent up flat bar. If the legs are angle iron or square tubing, you're fine.
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