Blichmann Boilermaker Reviews

[MNBugeater]

I have been searching the boards for someone that actually has the new Blichmann Boilermaker kettles/tuns to review and discuss their features, qualities, likes, dislikes, but have not been able to find actual discussion of the product other than drooling of their design or complaining over their price...Both of which seem justified.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=55153&highlight=blichmann

I hope this thread turns into a review of the Blichmann Boilermaker kettles. I have them on order; a 20 Gallon Brew Kettle with Screen, and a 15 Gallon Mash Tun with False Bottom. Forum member 'korndog' also has 1 or more on order. If anyone else has them on order, or better yet, actually has one in hand already; Could you provide a review on the kettles and performance of the boil screen and/or false bottom, or other features you either like or dislike?

I will follow up as soon as I get them.

MNBugeater

 

[Reverend JC]

Baudette!! nice. roll through there every year on the way to Canada. Love eating at Rosies, the ribs are great!

 

[MNBugeater]

Give me a heads up next time you come through....homebrew on tap. I am good friends with the owners of Rosalies. Ribs arent the best thing on the menu BTW...

 

[67coupe390]

I noticed in the williams cat. that the bottoms of them are single ply and look thin. http://www.williamsbrewing.com/BOILERMAKER_10_GALLON_FALSE_BO_P2061C251.cfm The 50 gal pot I have is at least a 1/4" thick and tri-ply. And the other thing that I don't care for is the sight glass. It seems like another thing to clean but thats just me. It would be cool to just get what you want for add-ons
When I was looking for a big A@# pot it took me a while to find them so its nice to see them easier to get. I think I may buy one sometime so I'll be watching this thread.

 

[korndog]

I have the 15 gallon kettles. They are very nice but I have had trouble with the boil screen clogging. I never had any issues with my Bazooka screen and never used a hop bag. I have had two stuck brews now and will have to use bags in the future. I whirlpooled on knockout as suggested in the instructions, but to no avail. I think the product is simply not designed well for large hop additions directly to the kettle. I am a big fan of Blichmann products.

 

[MNBugeater]

Good info and good to know, korndog.

I am planning my first brew both with the Blichmans and my new brew stand tomorrow. I was hoping for last weekend, but had to postpone until tomorrow.

I'll follow up here with my experiences tomorrow night.

I have the 15 G MT and a 20G Boil kettle. They have the false bottom and boil screen respectively. I am using march pumps to transfer liquid and came up with these dead space amounts.

Mash Tun - I pumped until the hoses were mostly air and I had about 350 mL (~1.5) Cups of liquid remaining.
Boil Kettle - Also pumped until hose was mostly air and remaining liquid was about 1200 mL (< 5 Cups)

I thought this dead space was pretty respectable.

 

[Tonedef131]

I was in the market for a new pot recently, right around the time they came out, and as soon as I saw they had a single ply bottom I didn't even consider them. I ended up going with a 15 gallon Megapot with spigot and thermometer and I could not be any happier, the thing is so beautiful that I get all misty eyed when I look at it. I have some other Blichmann products that I absolutly love, but they really dropped the ball on these pots. They put on a bunch of stuff you don't need and left out the single most important feature on a boil kettle.

 

[auto]

I am waiting on a 15 Gallon Boilermaker, what is the ETA from time ordered? I am even holding off any more brews until it arrives. Well going to try the Apfelwein today.

 

[MrFebtober]

I was under the impression that having a multi-ply/super thick bottom wasn't really necessary. In theory, it seems beneficial, but in practice I've never heard of anyone having scorching issues using keggles, which would certainly qualify as single-ply (though I don't know how thick that SS is compared with other kettles).

That said, those Blichman kettles do seem quite pricey and come with features not everyone would want (i.e. I have no need for a temp probe on my kettle).

 

[EdWort]

I have the 15 gallon kettles. They are very nice but I have had trouble with the boil screen clogging. I never had any issues with my Bazooka screen and never used a hop bag. I have had two stuck brews now and will have to use bags in the future. I whirlpooled on knockout as suggested in the instructions, but to no avail. I think the product is simply not designed well for large hop additions directly to the kettle. I am a big fan of Blichmann products.

Have you emailed John Blichmann about the clogging? I'd like to know his take on it.

 

[korndog]

Have you emailed John Blichmann about the clogging? I'd like to know his take on it.

Hi Ed
I will email John. He is very responsive to questions and should lend some insight. I used bags in my last brew and the kettle drained fine. Prior to that, i have never used hop bags, and always had good luck with my Bazooka screen.

KD

 

[EdWort]

That will be good to know. Are you using one to mash in? If so, how are you using it and how do you sparge?

 

[korndog]

That will be good to know. Are you using one to mash in? If so, how are you using it and how do you sparge?

Ed
I bought a kettle with the false bottom as a Mash Tun for my rig. I will be finished with it this week and plan on trying it out this weekend, perhaps. I usually don't sparge, but when I do for larger batches, it is batch style. I look forward to seeing how the innovative false bottom works out.

KD

 

[MNBugeater]

The false bottom works great. I have a 15G MT with false bottom and the 20G boil kettle.

I too had a very small issue at the end of my transfer. I didnt really consider it stuck, but there was a little more left behind that when I calibrated with just water.

 

[MNBugeater]

I was in the market for a new pot recently, right around the time they came out, and as soon as I saw they had a single ply bottom I didn't even consider them. I ended up going with a 15 gallon Megapot with spigot and thermometer and I could not be any happier, the thing is so beautiful that I get all misty eyed when I look at it. I have some other Blichmann products that I absolutly love, but they really dropped the ball on these pots. They put on a bunch of stuff you don't need and left out the single most important feature on a boil kettle.

You really don't need a multi-ply bottom in a kettle like this. A single ply is just more susceptible to hot spots due to "less" even distribution of heat. Considering the type of burners we use and the fact that we arent making a thick soup this isnt an issue. Its even less of an issue with a false bottom.

I've used my two kettles and couldn't be happier with the features. None of which I think are stuff you "don't need".

 

[korndog]

You really don't need a multi-ply bottom in a kettle like this. A single ply is just more susceptible to hot spots due to "less" even distribution of heat. Considering the type of burners we use and the fact that we arent making a thick soup this isnt an issue. Its even less of an issue with a false bottom.

I've used my two kettles and couldn't be happier with the features. None of which I think are stuff you "don't need".

Correct. SS does tends to have hot spots even on multi-ply. I have used copper for cooking for 25 years and nothing distributes heat like it, but of course it's not practical for our purposes. My 100.00 soup pot now sells for $800.00!

 

[EdWort]

The false bottom works great. I have a 15G MT with false bottom and the 20G boil kettle.

I too had a very small issue at the end of my transfer. I didnt really consider it stuck, but there was a little more left behind that when I calibrated with just water.

How much did it leave behind? I can't wait to use mine. My weekends are tied up for a while.

 

[MNBugeater]

How much did it leave behind? I can't wait to use mine. My weekends are tied up for a while.

Mash Tun - I pumped until the hoses were mostly air and I had about 350 mL (~1.5) Cups of liquid remaining.
Boil Kettle - Also pumped until hose was mostly air and remaining liquid was about 1200 mL (< 5 Cups)

I thought this dead space was pretty respectable.

 

[MNBugeater]

That said, those Blichman kettles do seem quite pricey and come with features not everyone would want (i.e. I have no need for a temp probe on my kettle).

Well, I guess they aren't selling each kettle for a specific purpose such as boil kettle, mash tun, etc. They sell the pot and you make it what you want by adding a false bottom or boil screen. To me, if ever want to mash in my 20G boil kettle all i have to do is get a new false bottom and you can never have too many thermometers.

 

[MrFebtober]

Well, I guess they aren't selling each kettle for a specific purpose such as boil kettle, mash tun, etc. They sell the pot and you make it what you want by adding a false bottom or boil screen. To me, if ever want to mash in my 20G boil kettle all i have to do is get a new false bottom and you can never have too many thermometers.

That's a good point. More buying options are always a good thing, so I do welcome any new kettles/vessels to the market. Plus, that knockout-style false bottom does seem pretty kickass.

Now, if only there were more buying options for wort pumps (besides March) and burners (besides bayou classic).... I bet Blichmann's already working on engineering better versions of those items specifically for the brewer.

 

[MNBugeater]

Now, if only there were more buying options for wort pumps (besides March) and burners (besides bayou classic).... I bet Blichmann's already working on engineering better versions of those items specifically for the brewer.

I dont have any personal experience with them, but I'm hearing more and more people using the Little Giant pumps. As far as burners, there is quite a variety.

Hurricane, Multi Jet Style, Torch style, Wok burners...

I use the hurricanes. I like them but they are a little more susceptible to wind.

 

[korndog]

I dont have any personal experience with them, but I'm hearing more and more people using the Little Giant pumps. As far as burners, there is quite a variety.

Hurricane, Multi Jet Style, Torch style, Wok burners...

I use the hurricanes. I like them but they are a little more susceptible to wind.

I would love to see a hi-temp pump that could generate a REAL whirlpool.

 

[MNBugeater]

Follow up on the Boilermaker Brew Screen.

As korndog stated the clogging of the screen was an issue, I will second that.
I brewed an American Wheat last night with little hops and I had clogging issues. I can't imagine what an IPA would do to this thing.

I will be building a reusable hop bag for tomorrows session.
As of right now, it is my only complaint with the Boilermaker kettles. The false bottom is great, the sites tubes are indispensable, and the brewmometers are a nice affirmation that my probes are accurate and calibrated.

The Brew screen needs some work. It might be fine in a small 5 gallon batch, but its a one size fits all and it isnt sufficient for 10+ gallon batches.

 

[EdWort]

The Brew screen needs some work. It might be fine in a small 5 gallon batch, but its a one size fits all and it isnt sufficient for 10+ gallon batches.

So I'm wondering if it's worth the $40 if the darn thing does not work as advertised. That's pretty disappointing.. I was hoping the whirlpool method would work fine with this puppy.

 

[MNBugeater]

So I'm wondering if it's worth the $40 if the darn thing does not work as advertised. That's pretty disappointing.. I was hoping the whirlpool method would work fine with this puppy.

Ed, it might. I think some of the problem is that I have been recirculating through my CFC when I chill. So I imagine that constant draw pulls alot into the boil screen.

Im switching to an immersion chiller this weekend, but I was still planning on recirculation with the pump to create a whilrpool. I may have to change that technique and not pump/recirc anything until I perform a manual whirlpool.
Then draw the wort off into the fermentor.

 

[EdWort]

I'm planning to recirculate with my 50' of 1/2" copper immersion chiller, but I intend to remove before attempting to whirlpool.

 

[MNBugeater]

I thought one of the huge benefits was to whirlpool while chilling for greater effect...

 

[korndog]

Ed, it might. I think some of the problem is that I have been recirculating through my CFC when I chill. So I imagine that constant draw pulls alot into the boil screen.

Im switching to an immersion chiller this weekend, but I was still planning on recirculation with the pump to create a whilrpool. I may have to change that technique and not pump/recirc anything until I perform a manual whirlpool.
Then draw the wort off into the fermentor.

I brewed a 5 gallon DIPA batch and the screen was so clogged that I actually had a hard time cleaning it. I have not tried gravity draining into a grant. Maybe that would help. For now, I am using hop bags, but am concerned about hop utilization for late additions and whirlpool hops.

 

[MNBugeater]

+1 on cleaning that boil kettle screen. I had to use an old toothbrush to get the hops out of the tight folds in the screen mesh. Difficult indeed. And this was NOT a high hop beer.

Larry--
Did you ever send an email off to John Blichmann as mentioned in a different thread? I wonder what his input would be?

 

[korndog]

+1 on cleaning that boil kettle screen. I had to use an old toothbrush to get the hops out of the tight folds in the screen mesh. Difficult in deed. And this was NOT a high hop beer.

Larry--
Did you ever send an email off to John Blichmann as mentioned in a different thread? I wonder what his input would be?

Not yet. I'll get on it today.