Brew Kettle Selection Help

[Sparticus06]

I am looking to get a new brew kettle. The one I have is just too small. I need some info if you could all help.

First, I do 5 gallon extract, but eventually I want to do all-grain. What minimum size of pot should I get?

Second, do you get what you pay for or don't it matter? Reason is, I see the MegaPot and think the price is a little high, but then find a cheap pot on another site and think it might be too cheap. Should I spend more and get the MegaPot or the cheapie. And I am only using the MegaPot as an example since it is easily found on Northern and Midwest.

Also, we have a flat top stove in our kitchen. With my small cheap kettle I have now (about 3 gallon), it barely heats the water to a boil. I do have a turkey fryer I have used on nice days outside. If I do get the better pot, will that make a difference on boiling with our flat top stove?

Thanks

 

[EODstads]

You will start to have issues using the stove at any higher volumes. As for kettle price sometimes you get what you pay for and sometimes you don't. I personally wish I had gone with brewer's hardware kettles but if I was you looking to keep to 5 gallon batches then a 10 gallon bayou classic pot would do you just fine. The turkey fryer will be your best bet but I understand that it sucks being a "fair weather Brewer". If you intend to do boils for 5 gallon batches without using top up water I would definitely recommend a 10 gallon kettle. As a general rule of thumb your kettle should be about 2x your intended final volume if doing no top up water

 

[tempestam83]

I just got the 10-gallon Mega Pot with ball valve and it has changed everything. The kettle is awesome. I had a 5-gallon kettle before that for doing BIAB and it was just barely big enough.

The Mega Pot is an awesome kettle I would highly recommend.