brew pot question

[tnsen]

Greetings hopheads.....going to pull the trigger on a bigger brew pot....I plan on doing biab, question....will a 10 gallon pot be big enough for a max size 6 gallon batch, as in ,I want to end up with 6 gallons in the primary when its all said and done. thankx......Tom

 

[bobbrews]

It depends on the boil off rate, which can depend on a number of factors. You may have to start with 8.5 gallons to reach 6 gallons at the end of the boil whereas I may only require a 7 gallon boil to reach the same 6 gallons. To be on the safe side, I would get a 15 gallon kettle. The large kettle will also give you more peace of mind when it comes to alleviating boilover worry.

 

[Cromwell]

Not really. To end up with 6 gallons in the primary, you'll want about 8 gallons in the pot so you can boil off a couple. Add 10-20 lbs of grains in there and you're done. You could get by with small beers, or in a pinch by adding water after you pull the bag out, but you really want 15 gals.

 

[kwingert]

The problem with using a big pot with BIAB is holding the bag open while you mash in. If the bag will fit over the edges of the pot and rest on the bottom, then you don't have too many problems. If the pot is too big then you have to wrangle with the bag while trying to mash in.

So you can buy a pot that fits the bag or make bags that fit the pot. Another idea is to use some DME or LME to boost your OG. This allows you to use a smaller pot.

 

[tnsen]

well thankx for the replies...looks like a 15 gallon pot is on my wish list......

 

[DoubleAught]

I use an 11 gal turkey fryer pot with the insert to BIAB. The biggest beer I was able to do was a Westmalle Tripel clone. It was 16 lbs of grain and 7.5 gallons of water. I was at max capacity but it worked well.

 

[tnsen]

do you use the bag in the insert??...I have never seen those turkey fryers up close so I dont know exactly what there all about...they are on my ..."to check out list"...

 

[DoubleAught]

do you use the bag in the insert??...I have never seen those turkey fryers up close so I dont know exactly what there all about...they are on my ..."to check out list"...

Yes, for one it keeps the bag off the bottom of the pot, and two it allows me to lift the insert via a rope and pulley to let it drain/press the wort out of the grain. I tried it without the insert and it was a huge PITA trying to handle a 150 degree grain bag.

It works for me, everyone has their own technique.

 

[GoodDogShelby]

What ever you were planning on getting, go bigger. I am a newbie and bought a very nice 8 gallon pot that I've already outgrown.

 

[FATC1TY]

Yeah I'm going to ask for a 15 gallon pot with a temp probe and valve for christmas I think this year. I plan to move to all grain around that time, so that should work well.

 

[eastoak]

a ten gallon kettle is plenty big for a 6 gallon BIAB, i started out with a 7.5 gallon kettle and never had a problem making 5-6 gallon batches. a 15 gallon kettle could be a challenge for a 6 gallon batch depending on tall or wide it is you may find it awkward to keep the bag above the rim. even so i always advocate getting a few kettle sizes, i have a 5, 10, and 2 keggles.

 

[djfriesen]

I can do a 7 gallon batch in my 10 gallon pot. A few drops of Fermcap makes boilovers go byebye, and I can start with 9 gallons preboil. After boiloff and with hop/grain absorption losses, this usually puts me right at 7 gallons into the bucket. If you ever want to go bigger, though, I'd definitley recommend getting a bigger pot. I just don't know how easy BIAB will be. You might have to get/make a custom bag for the bigger pot.